Daniel J. Hopkins examines how American politics has become nationalized, with voters increasingly focused on Washington while state and local politics fade into irrelevance. This transformation contradicts the federalist design that envisioned citizens engaged primarily with their immediate governments and only secondarily with the national government. Hopkins marshals extensive data to show that Americans' knowledge of and engagement with local politics has declined dramatically while national politics has become all-consuming. He traces how this shift accelerated with the nationalization of media, the rise of political parties as polarized brands, and the increasing importance of presidential politics. The book examines consequences: state and local elections have become referendums on national parties rather than local concerns, voters support candidates whose policies may harm their communities, and meaningful political differences across states erode. Hopkins argues that nationalization undermines accountability, as voters cannot evaluate local governments whose actions they do not follow. He examines whether technology and social media exacerbate these trends or offer possibilities for re-localizing political attention. The book provides essential context for understanding why American federalism often fails to deliver the diversity and responsiveness its advocates promise, and what reforms might restore meaningful local democracy.