The Second Red Scare and the Unmaking of the New Deal Left

Landon Storrs's audiobook explores how the Red Scare of the 1940s and 1950s led to the suppression of talented government workers associated with social democracy, many of whom were women or linked to progressive movements. Using newly declassified records, the narrative reveals how disloyalty accusations were often broadly applied, silencing left-leaning policymakers and narrowing political dialogue. Storrs uncovers the significant presence of women and leftist advocates within the civil service and examines how fears and stereotypes about gender influenced the persecution. The story illustrates how this period of the Second Red Scare undermined the reform ambitions of the New Deal and stifled discussions around social policy in government.