Distraction by Bruce Sterling

Set in a near-future America collapsing under political chaos, Senator Anthony “the Fox” White recruits media-savvy, fast-talking operative Oscar Valparaiso to save a failing research facility. Oscar battles corrupt politicians, anarchist protest movements, hacktivist factions, and a mad-scientist breakthrough that could destroy the entire country. The bikers, bioengineered foods, neural hacks, and experimental AI give the book a manic cyberpunk energy. A major twist erupts when Oscar learns the real threat isn’t scientific — it’s political sabotage designed to fracture the nation forever.