Trumpocracy

The Corruption of the American Republic

By: David Frum

Narrated by: David Frum, James Anderson Foster

Best-selling author, former White House speechwriter, and Atlantic columnist and media commentator David Frum explains why President Trump has undermined our most important institutions in ways even the most critical media has missed, in this thoughtful and hard-hitting book that is a warning for democracy and America's future.

"From Russia to South Africa, from Turkey to the Philippines, from Venezuela to Hungary, authoritarian leaders have smashed restraints on their power. Media freedom and judicial independence have eroded. The right to vote remains, but the right to have one's vote counted fairly may not. Until the US presidential election of 2016, the global decline of democracy seemed a concern for other peoples in other lands.... That complacent optimism has been upended by the political rise of Donald Trump. The crisis is upon Americans, here and now."

Quietly, steadily, Trump and his administration are damaging the tenets and accepted practices of American democracy, perhaps irrevocably. As he and his family enrich themselves, the presidency itself falls into the hands of the generals and financiers who surround him.

While much of the country has been focused on Russia, David Frum has been collecting the lies, obfuscations, and flagrant disregard for the traditional limits placed on the office of the presidency. In Trumpocracy, he documents how Trump and his administration are steadily damaging the tenets and accepted practices of American democracy. During his own White House tenure as George W. Bush's speechwriter, Frum witnessed the ways the presidency is limited not by law but by tradition, propriety, and public outcry, all now weakened. Whether the Trump presidency lasts two, four, or eight more years, he has changed the nature of the office for the worse, and likely for decades.

In this powerful and eye-opening book, Frum makes clear that the hard work of recovery starts at home. Trumpocracy outlines how Trump could push America toward illiberalism, what the consequences could be for our nation and our everyday lives, and what we can do to prevent it.

©2018 David Frum (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Concise summary of Trump

Well written summary of the Trump disaster with thoughtful analysis. Seems to carry more weight as it's written by a life long republican.

it is what it says it is.

I'll be listening to this again. There are aspects of the rise od radical right wing ideology that i thought i had a solid grip on until i heard this book and took a double take on my previous understsnding of the subject matter and I think thats what makes a work of any kind "good."

Read this book

Every citizen of the United States should read this book, especially Republicans. It is that important.

A well written summing up of Trumpocracy.

Since the time of the election and after I have listened to David Frum speak with reasoned calmness about the 4 alarm fire that is the trump administration. Since I think there is truth that we tend too much to shut out views we don't agree with I listened to his insights. It was time well spent.

END the NIGHTMARE

EXCEPTIONAL WORK! You will indeed find that you are reading current.. There NEEDS IMPEACHMENT NOW

Amazed at what he got away with.

Most of this account I recall during the Trump presidency and it’s good to have a synopsis of what happened.

I Just Hope You're Right

Worthwhile, thoroughly researched, well-written. I hope to keep my optimism, despite finding such a thought...difficult, at present. It is very hard to continue to believe in the system that can be subverted by such an obvious racist, sexist, entitled opportunist (to say nothing of potentially criminal.) The hardest thing for me was recognizing in the interim between election day and the inaugural that like. I just did not WANT to be the bigger person. It's a whine, it's unAmerican to say so, but it's how I felt. It is my hope that by continuing to educate myself on all schools of political thought and by helping in any way I can fight back against this administration, that I can reclaim some sblance of the belief I once had in the American government and culture writ large.

This book, from someone whom I otherwise disagree with on many fronts, was an excellent way to reaffirm the belief that even across the aisle, Americans have common goals: a good life for us, our children, our families and our friends. A system that trades highs and lows between parties, but as a "wise man once said" -- the arc of history is long but bends towards justice.

Thank you for the book.

Direct, Accurate. On the Money.

Makes the rational case for why this is not politics as normal, the dangers facing our way of life and showing us the way forward out of this abyss.

Trumpocracy is a MUST Read.

Frum masterfully dissects the unparalleled attacks on American Democracy as seen through the ignorance, complicity and abject shredding of rules, norms, and Constitutional values in the hands of Trump and his enablers. Yet he manages to conclude on an inspiring note, appealing to the Resilience and Determination of the American Spirit itself.

Something to think about

This really puts a lot of what is in the news together. A lot of supporting evidence. Everything in perspective. Obviously he really doesn't like Trump and I wonder how that affects his judgement. Still a very good and interesting book.