A searing, vital investigation of the Republican Partyâs dangerous campaign to rewrite history in real time, from the Emmy Award-winning Rachel Maddow Show producer and bestselling author of The Impostors.
âThere is nobodyâŚwho has more influence on the way I think about politics than Steve Benen.â âRachel Maddow
For as long as historical records have existed, authoritarian regimes have tried to rewrite history to suit their purposes, using their dictatorial powers to create myths, spread propaganda, justify decisions, erase opponents, and even dispose of crimes.
Today, as Americaâs Republican Party becomes increasingly radicalized, itâs not surprising to see the GOP read from a similarly despotic script. Indeed, the party is taking dangerous, aggressive steps to rewrite historyâand not just from generations past. Unable to put a positive spin on Trump-era scandals and fiascos, GOP voices and their allies have grown determined to rewrite the stories of the last few yearsâfrom the 2020 election results and the horror of January 6th to their own legislative recordâtreating the recent past as an enemy to be overpowered, crushed, and conquered. The consequences for our future, in turn, are dramatic.
Extraordinarily timely and undeniably important, Steve Benenâs new book tells the staggering chronicle of the Republican partyâs unsettling attempts at historical revisionism. It reveals not only how dependent they have grown on the tactic, but also how dangerous the consequences are if we allow the party to continue. The stakes, Benen argues, couldnât be higher: the future of democracy hinges on both our accurate understanding of events and the end of alternative narratives that challenge reality.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.