Bob Gilbert's fourth novel, "A Firm State of Heart," takes place in Washington, D.C. Its protagonist, Minneapolis writer Samuel Meckler, is crafting a long poem that's trying to rise above the chaos of the Trump presidency. Meckler supports himself by working as a waiter at Tadich Grill, an upscale Washington restaurant located on Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the US Capitol. His interaction with congressmen, senators, foreign diplomats, tourists and media personalities gives him an eyewitness understanding of American politics. His social life takes him into DC cultural salons, ghetto trap houses, and Capitol Hill watering holes. His affair with a famous broadcaster coincides with the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic recession, and the death of George Floyd in his hometown. Ultimately, "A Firm State of Heart" is about an idealist trying to formulate a new American narrative in a digital age rife with cynicism and rage.