This event was recorded at Politics & Prose Bookstore in Washington, DC, on July 2, 2013. Following up his 2010 The Promise, which assessed the early years of Obama's first term, Alter here examines the president's 2012 re-election, which he calls a "crossroads" for both Obama and the country. Alter's analysis considers the effects of the ongoing economic crisis, the strong challenge mounted by Republicans, and the Democrats' difficulty marshalling support from minority activists.