What they wanted in most instrumental terms was for the United States to not enter World War II. MADDOW: Very good question and one of the things that I think is oddly and sort of disturbingly most relevant to what's happened in our world in recent years. What did Hitler's government want from the congressman?

I found it so remarkable, as I'm sure all your listeners did, that there were sitting congressmen and senators in collusion with an agent from Hitler's Germany, somebody who they knew was an agent from Hitler's Germany. GROSS: Well, I hope they get to pick your brain (laughter) for the movie because you know so much. It is - even just hearing you say those words, the words Steven Spielberg associated with something that I'm working on, it's very overwhelming. RACHEL MADDOW: Oh, Terry, thank you so much for having me. And congratulations on the news that Steven Spielberg optioned your podcast for a movie, which makes perfect sense because it's about World War II and it's about antisemitism. Rachel Maddow, welcome back to FRESH AIR. She recently cut back to hosting only Monday nights and special coverage so that she could devote more time to deeply reported longform projects like 'Ultra.' Yesterday, it was announced that Steven Spielberg's production company optioned the movie rights for 'Ultra.' Maddow says there's a reason to know this history now because calculated efforts to undermine democracy, foment a coup, spread disinformation, overt actions involving not just a radical band of insurrectionists, but actual serving members of Congress working alongside them, it's terrible, but it's not unprecedented.įor 14 years, Maddow hosted MSNBC's flagship weekday evening show. In 1944, the plots led to the largest sedition trial in U.S. The group opposed America entering World War II. Those congressmen were associated with the America First Committee, a group with many antisemitic leaders. Senate and House of Representatives to launder and spread Nazi propaganda, often at taxpayers' expense. He also colluded with over 20 sitting members of the U.S. These groups worked with an agent from Hitler's government named George Viereck.

government by force in the lead up to World War II. My guest, Rachel Maddow, has a new hit podcast series called 'Ultra' in which she reports a little-known story about an ultra-right pro-Nazi movement that plotted to overthrow the U.S.

Rachel maddow's new book