Steven Johnson

Steven Johnson, author of The Infernal Machine, dives into the explosive intersection of labor unrest and anarchism in 1892. He explores the dramatic assassination attempt on industrialist Henry Clay Frick by anarchist Alexander Berkman, fueled by his partnership with Emma Goldman. Johnson discusses how this pivotal moment not only highlighted the urgent struggles between workers and capital but also paved the way for the rise of modern law enforcement under J. Edgar Hoover, reshaping society’s approach to activism, dissent, and political violence.