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MSNBC to Present New Documentary ‘King of the Apocalypse’

KING OF THE APOCALYPSE – THE INSIDE STORY ON THE RISE OF OATH KEEPERS LEADER STEWART RHODES – TO AIR ON MSNBC SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2

Through The Narrative of One Family Torn Apart, Documentary Tells the Story of Political Unrest and the Rise of Militia Groups in the U.S. 

MSNBC Films and Sky present a Noble Beast and Sky Studios production, in association with NBC News Studios

(January 22, 2025 – NEW YORK) – Two days after President Trump pardoned defendants charged in the Jan 6 Capitol attack, MSNBC Films announced the premiere of King of the Apocalypse on MSNBC on Sunday, Feb. 2 at 9 p.m. ET. 

The documentary delves into the heart of the American right-wing militia movement and traces the origins of Stewart Rhodes – whose sentence for sedition was commuted on Monday – and his evolution from little-known libertarian blogger to leader of the militant group the Oath Keepers. Featuring rare interviews with Rhodes, the story is told through the perspective of his deradicalized son, Dakota Adams, and ex-wife, Tasha Adams, who share a trove of personal home videos and their thoughts about Stewart’s path to Jan 6, as well as detailed accounts of their escape from his ideology.

Directed by Dan Vernon (House of Maxwell) and produced by Ted Bourne (The CircusPower Trip), King of the Apocalypse was also previously released in Europe via Sky Documentaries on Jan. 22. 

The documentary was inspired by Mike Giglio’s September 2020 article in The Atlantic, “A Pro-Trump Militant Group Has Recruited Thousands of Police, Soldiers, and Veterans,” an in-depth investigation of the ways Rhodes tapped into a deep current of anxiety in the U.S. As the film’s narrator, Dakota explains how the Oath Keepers went viral, drawing in members of law enforcement and veterans — and even active-duty soldiers — who became disgruntled with perceived government overreach and felt purposeless and disenchanted after serving in the Forever Wars. Throughout the film, Dakota sheds light on the ideology his father represents, how decades-old ideas have been made more mainstream and tailored to the political moment, and increasingly more ingrained in U.S. culture and politics.

King of the Apocalypse was shot over several years, during which Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the assault on the US Capitol. Throughout Rhodes’ imprisonment, a new generation of militia leaders have continued to emerge, such as Mike Dunn of the Boogaloo Bois, who has said January 6th was only a “dress rehearsal” and has openly called for civil war here in the U.S.. While Dakota finds his way out of the revolutionary life for which he says he was groomed since childhood, Mike Dunn is drawn in deeper. 

As it all unfolds, Tasha and the family remain on edge, confronting their feelings about Rhodes’ arrest, trial, conviction and possible release as well as the uncertainty of their post-Oath Keepers identity.

“News about the Oath Keepers played out on the world stage, especially after Stewart Rhodes was arrested, but I wanted to tell the unheard and nuanced story behind this movement,” said Director Dan Vernon. “This is more than a political narrative — it’s also a story about a father and son relationship, which unravels like a Shakespearian tragedy. It felt like our unique perspective was through Stewart Rhodes’s son, Dakota, who had been indoctrinated into his father’s movement for as long as he could remember.”

King of the Apocalypse is a co-production of MSNBC Films, Noble Beast, Sky and Sky Studios in association with NBC News Studios. The film is directed by Dan Vernon produced by Ted Bourne for Noble Beast and executive produced by Mike Giglio. Rashida Jones, Rebecca Kutler and Amanda Spain serve as Executive Producers for MSNBC Films; Liz Cole, Molly O’Brien and Elizabeth Fischer are Executive Producers for NBC News Studios; Vesna Cudic is Executive Producer for Sky Studios; Bruce Fletcher and Tom Barry are Executive Producers for Sky UK. 

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Press Contacts: 

Elektray.Gray@nbcuni.com 

Tucker.Wilson@nbcuni.com