Where Tyranny Begins

The Justice Department, the FBI, and the War on Democracy

By: David Rohde

Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin

Over the course of his presidency, Donald Trump intimidated, silenced, and bent to his will Justice Department and FBI officials. He sowed public doubt in both agencies so successfully that when he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election, he paid little political cost and, despite an unprecedented array of criminal indictments, easily won the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election.

In Where Tyranny Begins, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Rohde investigates the strategies Trump systematically used to turn the country's two most powerful law-enforcement agencies into his personal political weapons. Rohde also reveals how, during the Biden years, Justice Department non-partisan 1970s norms that Attorney General Merrick Garland reinforced inadvertently helped Trump, and could fail to deliver a trial and legal accountability by Election Day 2024.

Where Tyranny Begins exposes how ill-suited both the DOJ and FBI are to serve as checks on abuses of presidential power. A round of historic reforms equivalent to the post-Watergate reforms that stabilized American democracy in the 1970s are immediately needed. A five-word warning coined by the English philosopher John Locke in 1689 captures the stakes in 2024: "Where-ever law ends, tyranny begins."

©2024 David Rohde (P)2024 Tantor

History!

In deoth Factual reporting brought to light much of which I wasn't aware. Every American shoukd read it.

Review of why we fired trump

In 2020. We can’t go back to that chaos and lawlessness. Where Tyranny Begins gives us the sobering facts about trump which gives me bone chilling reasons why he must never be give the awesome powers of the Presidency again.

The clarity of the history

It was well written and very informative of the facts around the Trump legal issues

The creeping misuse of the presidency and the courts throughout the 20 and 21 centuries.

It seems that the lack of shame and no value of the history of the US and the willingness-to commit crimes and claim that he has the right as president to commit these crimes has put the US democracy in grave danger.

Vital chronological recap of events

For me, this book became a cap audible “page“ once I started listening to it, I could not stop. I finish this book in one sitting. The details of political turmoil rolling the United States. Currently this book should be required reading all voters in the 24 election cycle. That’s how much I like it.

Democrats read this book

Excellent account of the most corrupt president in the history of the United States. He must be stopped.

Very well done

Excellent book. Detailed how the FBI and the Justice Department are being negatively affected by Trump and the right wing. Highly recommend

An insightful discussion of the rule of law

An insightful discussion of the rule of law. Certainly unfriendly to Trump and his legal maneuvering. A reflection of why interpretation and management of legal issues should be impartial. Is our legal system capable of impartiality and setting the discovery of truth as its highest value.

“Where Tyranny Begins” Captures the Attempted Coup

Especially if you thought you paid attention to the various attempts to discard the rule of law for a megalomaniac’s desire for power, you will benefit from listening to this account of the White House turmoil under #45. TFG failed due to his own incompetence, and the incompetence of those who were willing to do his bidding, despite the failings of people who knew better, or should have known better.

Far too many people have stopped thinking, and became victims of their own pride, and social networks. Will America be that lucky twice, or will the MAGAs actually win? I hope we don’t find out that our education system, & our justice system has failed us.

There are enough factual accounts of what Trump’s game really was, to get a competent jury to convict him. Of course there are also folks who would indict a baloney sandwich. This account won a Pulitzer Prize because it does a good job of being fair, without equating everything. Well worth the time & effort! Highly recommended.

Detailed Facts

I learned more about how politics actually work and about various important individuals within that realm.