Blowback [electronic resource] : A Warning to Save Democracy from Trump's Revenge

Title:

Author:

Description:

-- Blowback is also a surprisingly emotional and self-critical portrait of a dissenter, whose own unmasking provides a vivid warning about what happens when we hide the truth from others and, most importantly, ourselves.

Publisher:

Atria Books,

Date:

2023

Digital Format:

CLOUDLIBRARY EPUB

Language:

English

Summary

The author behind the "eye-popping" (CNN) #1 New York Times bestseller A Warning presents an urgent look at how our deeply divided nation is setting the stage for "The Next Trump."

After a chaotic and violent first Trump presidency, Miles Taylor knew one thing for sure: Trump would be president again, whether he was on the ballot or not. Taylor knew intimately that Trumpism was overtaking the Republican Party and was bound to mount a vigorous comeback. Now, following the 2024 presidential election, his prophecy has come true.

With Blowback , the formerly "Anonymous" official is back with bombshell revelations and a sobering national forecast. Through interviews with dozens of ex-Trump aides and government leaders, Taylor predicted what could happen inside "Trump 2.0." What sounds like a political thriller--from questionable presidential powers and CIA betrayals to angry henchmen and assassination plots--is instead America's political reality, as Taylor uses untold stories to shed light on the ex-President's unfulfilled plans, the dark forces haunting our lives, and how we can thwart the rise of extremism in the United States.

Blowback is also a surprisingly emotional and self-critical portrait of a dissenter, whose own unmasking provides a vivid warning about what happens when we hide the truth from others and, most importantly, ourselves.

Reviews (1)

Choice Review

Among the increasing number of books and articles written about the Trump presidency, Blowback is one of the most revelatory. A former insider in the Trump administration, Taylor provides insights into both Donald Trump's personality and the manner in which he made everyday policy decisions. The book is also a cautionary tale about the fate of American democracy should Trump, or another Trump-like politician, be elected in 2024. Taylor, a national security expert, served in the Department of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2019, including as chief of staff. In 2018, he published an anonymous essay in The New York Times detailing Trump's misconduct as president. Subsequently, he agreed to write a piece for The Washington Post entitled, "At Homeland Security, I Saw Firsthand How Dangerous Trump Is for America." In his prologue, Taylor argues that if Americans want to save democracy from the "Next Trump, we need to fully understand the threat he or she will pose" (p. 9). In the course of explaining this threat, Taylor relies on his own experiences, "first-person interviews with the people who know the MAGA movement's plans," accounts from Trump's former inner circle, and "insights from the country's leading democracy doctors" to understand "how dire the situation has become" (p. 9). Summing Up: Recommended. General readers, advanced undergraduates through faculty, and professionals. --Jack Robert Fischel, emeritus, Millersville University