Synopsis

It Can’t Happen Here is set in an alternate 1936, where President Roosevelt is primaried, and

loses the election to Democratic Senator ‘Buzz’ Windrip. Windrip has run on a staunch populist

platform, including nationalizing the banks and monopolies, putting a cap on wealth, investing in

war-time industries, and instituting a universal income of $5000 per person. However, his plan

comes with some caveats: all leftists, African-Americans, Jews, atheists, and women are barred

from working and voting, and he advocates removing the power of Congress to vote against the

President’s laws, claiming desperate times call for desperate measures.

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The show revolves around Doremus Jessup, a local liberal reporter who lives with his wife and

three adult children in Fort Beulah, Vermont. Jessup is among the small group of Windrip

dissenters in Fort Beulah but dismisses Windrip’s campaign as unable to win. Nonetheless,

Windrip wins with the help of several endorsements and the dissatisfaction of the United States

with establishment politicians failing to end the Great Depression.