After surviving the events of Transmetropolitan: Year of the Bastard, outlaw journalist Spider Jerusalem is revitalized and ready to cover the presidential election in all of its dark glory. When he learns of the vicious murder of political consultant Vita Severn, one of the few people in the world that he liked, Spider mounts a full scale attack on both candidates. Determined to uncover any and all hidden truths about the contenders, he conducts two irreverent interviews with the incumbent President and his rival, the Smiler. In the end, what he learns shocks and confuses even him.