From 1946 to 1958, Joseph and Stewart Alsop’s thrice-weekly “Matter of Fact” column for the New York Herald Tribune reached millions and became required reading for government officials, diplomats, and opinion leaders. The brothers were consummate Washington insiders, cultivating an extensive network of sources to break news and offer fresh insight. Their guiding principle was to deliver at least one new fact in every column—prioritizing investigative reporting over mere punditry.

Yoder’s account delves into the Alsops’ major journalistic crusades, including early advocacy for U.S. involvement in Indochina, opposition to Senator Joseph McCarthy, defense of J. Robert Oppenheimer, and the campaign to address the so-called “missile gap”. Joseph Alsop’s close relationships with policymakers, his role as an informal adviser to John F. Kennedy, and his controversial support for escalation in Vietnam are all explored in detail, illustrating the complex interplay between journalism and statecraft.