David A. Vise, formerly a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter for The Washington Post, is a senior advisor at New Mountain Capital, a leading New York–based private equity firm. He also serves as executive director of Modern States Education Alliance. Vise is the author of three previous books, including the New York Times bestseller The Bureau and The Mole. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife and daughters.

Mark Malseed, a former researcher for Bob Woodward, is a founder and research director at Synoptos, a global media intelligence firm. He has contributed to The Washington Post and other publications. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife and two sons.