The year is 2002. Weekly news magazines dominate the political agenda in New York and Washington. A young journalist named Michael M. Hastings is an intern at The Magazine, wet behind the ears and determined to turn his internship into a full-time position. The one reporter at The Magazine who seems to actually work, A.E. Peoria, has just returned from Chad. Instead of reporting on the genocide he was told by his editors to focus on mobile phone outsourcing, as it's more relevant. And then, suddenly the United States invades Iraq and all hell breaks loose.