The novel follows a fictional "Inside the Beltway" talk-show host whose career and life is altered forever when he is abducted by aliens.

John O. Banion is a well-known pundit, who hosts a popular Sunday-morning television show (similar to Meet the Press).

When he returns from this abduction he completely abandons his old life and redevotes all his energy to pressuring Congress and the White House to investigate the alien threat.

As the truth about Majestic is discovered, the agency is ultimately forced to disband and the charges against Banion are dropped, although his life as a "Beltway insider" is ruined.

One of the minor characters in the book, Karl Cuntmore, is an author of popular political thriller novels who presents himself as a defense expert.

The character is suspected to be a swipe at the popular political thriller novels of author Tom Clancy, whom Buckley had criticized in the past.