In today's episode of I Am Refocused Radio, we dive into one of the most turbulent and consequential periods in American history—the violent 1872 Louisiana gubernatorial election. Joining us are CNN’s Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash and bestselling author David Fisher, who co-wrote the riveting new book America's Deadliest Election. This powerful narrative uncovers the little-known story of an election that pushed democracy to the brink, resulting in hundreds of murders, street warfare, and the rise of white supremacist violence.

Through their exploration of the Colfax Massacre—the deadliest incident of racial violence during Reconstruction—and the legal and political fallout that followed, Dana and David reveal unsettling parallels to today’s deeply divided political landscape.

ABOUT DANA BASH AND HER BOOK AMERICA'S DEADLIEST ELECTION 

CNN anchor and chief political correspondent Dana Bash has written her first book, AMERICA'S DEADLIEST ELECTION: The Cautionary Tale of the Most Violent Election in American History with bestselling author David Fisher. 

AMERICA'S DEADLIEST ELECTION recounts the extraordinary election that led to hundreds of murders, warfare in the streets of New Orleans, two governors of Louisiana - and changed the course of politics in our country. The Election of 1872 was the most contentious in American history. After both parties complained of corruption, neither candidate would concede, two governors claimed office and chaos erupted. Rival newspapers engaged in a bitter war of words, politicians plotted to overthrow the government, and their supporters fought in the streets and attempted assassinations. The entire country watched in grim fascination as the wounds of the Civil War were ripped open and the promise of President Grant's Reconstruction faltered in the face of violent resistance and the birth of the Ku Klux Klan. 

In this riveting book, Dana Bash and David Fisher tell the incredible, little-known story of the election that pushed democracy to the breaking point, and sparked historic events including:

• The Colfax Massacre, in which at least 150 Black men were killed by white supremacists.

• The extraordinary train race from New York to New Orleans for control of the state government.

• The election of the first black Congressman from Louisiana in the face of violent resistance.

• The Supreme Court ruling that ended Reconstruction and became the foundation of Southern segregation, changing the American legal system for the next century

AMERICA'S DEADLIEST ELECTION is an eye-opening warning of what's at stake and what it takes to protect our democracy. 

DANA BASH BIO 

Dana Bash is CNN's chief political correspondent and the anchor and host of Sunday morning's State of the Union, serving as the network's lead reporter covering campaigns and Congress. She regularly acts as a moderator for CNN's political town hall specials and debates, including CNN's first debate of the 2020 election cycle in Detroit. She has conducted sit-down interviews with major players in the political sphere during 2016, including Donald Trump, Senators Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Bernie Sanders, and Governors Jeb Bush and John Kasich. She is based in Washington, DC. 

America's Deadliest Election: The Cautionary Tale of the Most Violent Election in American History

https://a.co/d/hEGOstr