Devils' Advocates
"Deeply reported and compellingly told, Kenneth Vogel's Devils' Advocates shines a light into the underground world of foreign cash, Washington lobbyists, and the selling of American policy to outsiders. This book hits at the perfect moment, giving invaluable insight into why foreign interests are so powerful in Washington." --#1 New York Times bestselling authors Jonathan Allen and Amie ParnesNew York Times investigative reporter Kenneth P. Vogel takes us inside Washington's murky foreign lobbying industry, providing an unsparing look at the politically connected and morally flexible Americans who get rich working on behalf of brutal dictators, corrupt oligarchs, and pitiless arms dealers.The foreign influence business, comprised of shadowy operators who quietly shape U.S. foreign policy while producing massive paydays for themselves, has existed for decades, often unnoticed by Americans. In recent years, it began generating more controversy and scrutiny, thanks to the larger-than-life characters who gained access to power starting in Donald Trump's first presidential term.Among them is Robert Stryk, who dresses more like a cowboy than a traditional lobbyist. He had failed at several businesses before bluffing his way into relationships in Washington and around the world, quickly amassing wealth, influence, and a reputation for taking deals no one else would dare to touch.Meanwhile, Rudy Giuliani, once "America's Mayor," found his fading star rising again under Trump. Giuliani leveraged his position as Trump's personal lawyer into deals with foreign interests who saw him as a direct line to the president. Hunter Biden, too, the son of the future president, was no stranger to the business, having capitalized on his father's connections since the elder Biden's days as a senator and vice president.As the new wave of foreign influence peddlers spent millions on fast cars, pricey cigars, and flashy watches, their stories weaved together in ways that subverted American foreign policy interests. Some became headline-grabbing scandals. Others are being revealed here for the first time.Using exclusive sources, thousands of documents, and on-the-ground reporting, Vogel takes readers from an oligarch's wooded compound outside Kyiv and a South American presidential palace to the halls of power in Washington, DC, and inside the CIA. Devils' Advocates shines a harsh light on the people, places, and deals behind this seedy--and often absurd--industry, and provides a never-before-seen look at this billion-dollar business that is often at odds with American values like human rights and democracy.This gripping work of political nonfiction reveals the hidden mechanics of the foreign influence machine: Pay-to-Play Politics: Follow the money from brutal dictators and corrupt oligarchs to the Americans--like Rudy Giuliani and Hunter Biden--who get rich representing them.On-the-Ground Reporting: Journey from an oligarch's compound outside Kyiv to the halls of power in Washington, DC, with a veteran reporter who documents it all.Political Scandals Uncovered: Discover the stories behind headline-grabbing scandals and those revealed for the first time through thousands of exclusive documents and sources.The Architects of Influence: Explore the roles of key figures like Paul Manafort and Robert Stryk who pioneered and perfected the billion-dollar business of selling American policy.
Patriots and Propaganda
In the turbulent years of China's War of Resistance against Japan (1931-1945), a unique and complex narrative unfolded far from the battlefields - in Australia. Patriots and Propaganda: Chinese Australians and the politics of loyalty, 1930s-1940s delves into the intricate web of Chinese wartime propaganda efforts, revealing how the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) and Chinese Australian communities mobilised support for China's struggle against Japanese aggression.Patriots and Propaganda uncovers the multifaceted relationships between China, Australia, and the Australian Chinese diaspora, highlighting the political, racial and class dynamics that shaped these interactions.Bolin Hu explores the pivotal role of Chinese-language newspapers and schools in preserving Chinese heritage and loyalty; the intense political rivalries within the Australian Chinese community; and the profound impact of memorial services and fundraising campaigns on fostering Chinese patriotism and community cohesion. Hu also brings to light the diverse contributions of various Chinese Australian groups - including leftists, women, and Australian-born Chinese - to China's war effort, and the fierce propaganda battles between Chinese and Japanese authorities on Australian soil.Patriots and Propaganda offers a nuanced exploration of the socio-political dynamics within the Australian Chinese community, while challenging the traditional narrative of distant allies, presenting new evidence and perspectives on the Sino-Australian relationship during a critical period in history.
Going Europe or Going Dutch?
The European Union has a huge impact on the government and policies of its member states. It is thus surprising that the ways in which national governments attempt to shape EU policies is a topic seriously understudied. This book discusses relevant academic insights and presents a framework for analysing national interest representation. The empirical part discusses the EU policy of the Dutch government throughout the 1990s and presents a reconstuction of the negotiations on two internal market directives. It thereby offers both for academics and practitioners a clear oversight of the making of European poliices and the relevant moments and instruments for national interest representation.
Liberals with Attitude
LIBERALS WITH ATTITUDE DOCUMENTS THE SIXTEEN MONTHS IN 1991-92 between the brutal beating of Rodney King by four police officers that was captured on a home video camera and the resignation of LAPD chief Daryl Gates. Gates was reviled by local Black and civil liberties communities because of the pattern of racism in the department, and he was uniquely powerful because of the structure of the Los Angeles City Charter.The triumphant effort to get Gates to step down and to amend the City Charter to prevent another unaccountable chief was led by Tom Bradley, the first Black mayor of the city. Bradley assembled a team that included future US secretary of state Warren Christopher, the local ACLU, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Members of the local media, the burgeoning "gangsta rap" culture of LA, and civil rights activists were among those supportive of Bradley's agenda.Author Danny Goldberg was the chair of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California during those years and was personally acquainted with the leaders of the fight against Gates. He interviewed several dozen people who were involved in the events, and got access to the papers of Stanley Sheinbaum, who was the president of the Los Angeles Police Commission. Goldberg's insider saga demonstrates that cooperation between the political left and center is required to overcome white grievance and unaccountable power.tween the political left and center is required to overcome white grievance and unaccountable power.
How to Overcome Childhood Trauma
Discover the Path to True Healing and Emotional Renewal Are the shadows of your past still holding you captive? Many carry invisible wounds from childhood trauma that silently shape their thoughts, emotions, and relationships. This compassionate guide sheds light on the deep roots of that pain and offers a roadmap to reclaim your life. With clarity and understanding, it reveals how trauma affects your brain and body, and why survival mechanisms you didn't choose continue to influence your behavior. Imagine breaking free from cycles of guilt, shame, and self-doubt that have defined your story for far too long. Through practical, heartfelt advice, you'll learn how to recognize your triggers and gently nurture your inner child. This book offers powerful tools to set healthy boundaries without fear or guilt and shows you how to silence the critical voice inside that undermines your worth. It's more than just recovery-it's about reparenting yourself with kindness and building a foundation of genuine self-love. Inside, you'll find effective techniques-from mindfulness and cognitive behavioral strategies to somatic practices-that empower you to regain control and rewrite the narrative of your life. Whether you're navigating relationships, seeking to maintain lasting progress, or determining when to reach out for further support, this guide walks beside you every step of the way. Step into a future where peace replaces pain and emotional freedom becomes your reality. Your journey toward healing is possible, and this book is the companion you need to begin transforming old wounds into newfound strength and resilience.
The Hour of the Predator
A CHILLING ASSESSMENT OF THE DISINTEGRATING WORLD ORDER: the rise of autocratic regimes, erosion of traditional diplomacy, and growing influence of tech billionaires and unregulated AI "The one book you absolutely need to read in order to understand current politics" -- Anne Applebaum, author of the New York Times bestseller Autocracy, Inc. Blending the internationally bestselling author's personal insight with startling historical comparisons to the days of Machiavelli and the Spanish conquest of Mexico, Giuliano Da Empoli's The Hour of the Predator is a timely and incisive examination of the shifting power dynamics in global politics, where traditional government institutions find themselves increasingly outmatched by technology tycoons and autocratic strongmen: geopolitical predators who shape the world through brute force, ceaseless deception, and chaotic disruption. Drawing on his experience as a political advisor to a former Italian Prime Minister, Da Empoli takes the reader on an eye-opening journey around the international political circuit--from New York to Riyadh, and from the United Nations to Mohammed bin Salman's Ritz-Carlton-- and through the looking glass to a world of ruthless power struggles, where the tech lords already seem to inhabit another world and AI is already out of control. The Hour of the Predator is the latest book from the internationally bestselling author of The Wizard of the Kremlin, which has been translated into thirty-five languages and is now being adapted for a major movie by Olivier Assayas starring Jude Law as Vladimir Putin.
Charlie Kirk Quotes
Few voices have inspired more young Americans to stand for faith, freedom, and truth than Charlie Kirk. From his early days speaking on college campuses to building one of the largest student movements in America, Kirk's passion for truth and courage in the face of cultural opposition have defined a generation.Compiled by Felicity Graham Cohen, Charlie Kirk Quotes: The Courageous Life and Legacy of Charlie Kirk the Unauthorzied Version gathers his most powerful, thought-provoking, and motivational words-statements that challenge readers to think clearly, live boldly, and defend the principles that made America free.Through these quotes you'll discover: Faith & Truth - why conviction, not popularity, shapes true leadershipCourage & Leadership - how to stand firm when culture demands compromiseFreedom & Responsibility - the moral backbone of the American experimentEducation & Influence - how ideas shape nations and generationsLegacy & Vision - inspiring the next generation to speak boldlyCharlie Kirk as the Founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization educating and mobilizing students to champion free markets, limited government, and individual liberty. Since founding TPUSA in 2012, he has expanded it to tens of thousands of chapters nationwide.Charlie Kirk Quotes is more than a keepsake-it's a manual for courage and conviction. Whether you're a student searching for purpose, a teacher guiding the next generation, or a patriot determined to preserve liberty, this book offers daily inspiration to: These quotes distill years of wisdom gained on battlefields of ideas-from classrooms to Congress-and invite readers to carry the torch of truth into every arena of life.He is also the author of The MAGA Doctrine and The College Scam and hosts The Charlie Kirk Show, one of the most-listened-to conservative podcasts in the USAKirk's message-rooted in truth, courage, and responsibility-has transformed classrooms, communities, and campuses. He reminds us that truth is not relative and freedom and faith are not negotiable.Every copy sold supports The Charlie Kirk Publishing Scholarship and Turning Point USA, empowering young authors, thinkers, and leaders to stand courageously for biblical truth and constitutional freedom. Your purchase helps equip future voices who will shape the moral and cultural direction of our nation.His latest book Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your LifeNot affiliated with Charlie Kirk or TPUSAA portion of proceeds will go to TPUSA
Charlie Kirk Quotes
Few voices have inspired more young Americans to stand for faith, freedom, and truth than Charlie Kirk. From his early days speaking on college campuses to building one of the largest student movements in America, Kirk's passion for truth and courage in the face of cultural opposition have defined a generation.Compiled by Felicity Graham Cohen, Charlie Kirk Quotes: The Courageous Life and Legacy of Charlie Kirk the Unauthorzied Version gathers his most powerful, thought-provoking, and motivational words-statements that challenge readers to think clearly, live boldly, and defend the principles that made America free.Through these quotes you'll discover: Faith & Truth - why conviction, not popularity, shapes true leadershipCourage & Leadership - how to stand firm when culture demands compromiseFreedom & Responsibility - the moral backbone of the American experimentEducation & Influence - how ideas shape nations and generationsLegacy & Vision - inspiring the next generation to speak boldlyCharlie Kirk as the Founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization educating and mobilizing students to champion free markets, limited government, and individual liberty. Since founding TPUSA in 2012, he has expanded it to tens of thousands of chapters nationwide.Charlie Kirk Quotes is more than a keepsake-it's a manual for courage and conviction. Whether you're a student searching for purpose, a teacher guiding the next generation, or a patriot determined to preserve liberty, this book offers daily inspiration to: These quotes distill years of wisdom gained on battlefields of ideas-from classrooms to Congress-and invite readers to carry the torch of truth into every arena of life.de, impacting millions of students. He is also the author of The MAGA Doctrine and The College Scam and hosts The Charlie Kirk Show, one of the most-listened-to conservative podcasts in the USAKirk's message-rooted in truth, courage, and responsibility-has transformed classrooms, communities, and campuses. He reminds us that truth is not relative and freedom and faith are not negotiable.Every copy sold supports The Charlie Kirk Publishing Scholarship and Turning Point USA, empowering young authors, thinkers, and leaders to stand courageously for biblical truth and constitutional freedom. Your purchase helps equip future voices who will shape the moral and cultural direction of our nation.His latest book Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your LifeNot affiliated with Charlie Kirk or TPUSAA portion of proceeds will go to TPUSA
The Collapse Files
What if the greatest threat to our world isn't sudden disaster-but slow, invisible unraveling? This gripping investigation traces the rise and fall of once-mighty civilizations-from the fall of Rome to the vanished cities of the Khmer and Maya-to reveal a sobering truth: collapse follows a pattern. And we're repeating it.More than a history of ruins, this book is a roadmap through the forces that shape human destiny. Drawing from systemic risk history, ecological studies, and cultural anthropology, it shows how civilization collapse happens not through singular catastrophes, but through a convergence of ignored warnings, institutional decay, and elite overreach. Yet from these collapses rise lessons-on adaptation, humility, and the surprising strength of legacy systems that endure long after the fall.For curious readers of global history, systems thinkers, and anyone seeking lessons from fallen empires, this is a revelatory look at how power erodes and resilience is built. It's for those asking: what survives when a world ends? How can understanding the end of civilizations help us rethink today's most pressing challenges-from climate change to political fragmentation?Inside the book discover: - How ancient civilizations overreached and cracked under ecological or social pressure; - Why cultural resilience matters more than military power; - What the collapse of empires reveals about globalization today; - Why nostalgia and myths often cloud the real causes of societal failure; - How to spot the early signals of systemic breakdown in our own worldWhether you're drawn to the Maya, the Ottomans, or the shadow of modern overreach, this book will change how you see the past-and sharpen how you navigate the future.
Fear as Fuel
Why do free societies surrender their freedoms when fear strikes? And who benefits when panic becomes policy?This gripping expos矇 reveals how crisis politics is engineered to reshape public behavior, manufacture consent, and legitimize sweeping powers that would be unthinkable in calmer times. From pandemic and political control to the rise of the surveillance state, it uncovers the playbook used by governments to amplify fear, silence dissent, and reframe emotional manipulation as national security.Drawing on insights from political psychology of fear, social behavior, and modern propaganda tactics, this book dissects real-world examples-from post-9/11 laws to lockdown-era mandates-to show how fear is not just a response to danger, but a tool of fear-based propaganda and influence. It reveals how crises are declared, enemies are invented, and emotional narratives override rational judgment-all while the public believes they're acting freely.For readers of politics, psychology, media, and power-this is a must-read for anyone who senses that something deeper is at play behind the headlines. Whether you're a student of history, a concerned citizen, or simply someone who wants to stay alert in an age of emotional manipulation in government, this book equips you with a powerful framework to recognize the patterns.By the final page, you'll see fear not as a warning-but as a weapon. And you'll never look at a state of emergency the same way again.Perfect for readers searching how fear is used in politics, propaganda in modern democracies, and the hidden tools behind authoritarianism in times of crisis.
The History of the Future
What if the future you believe in was never truly yours to imagine? From ancient empires to Silicon Valley, those in power have always used the illusion of "what comes next" to shape belief, behavior, and control. This book uncovers the untold history of how governments, corporations, and ideologues have scripted the future-not as prediction, but as propaganda.Blending cultural analysis, political theory, and media insight, it explores how predictive power and politics go hand in hand. From empires and imagination to Silicon Valley techno-utopias, the most influential actors don't just adapt to the future-they manufacture it. You'll see how narrative control and society are deeply entangled, how future forecasting can justify inequality, and why today's innovations often mask old agendas.This is a book for the deeply curious-the readers who question the news cycle, who sense that every optimistic launch pitch or global trend report comes with hidden motives. For policy watchers, tech skeptics, cultural critics, and anyone grappling with the ethics of tomorrow, it delivers sharp, evidence-backed revelations.By the final page, you won't just think differently about the future-you'll see it differently. You'll know how to recognize when a future as propaganda is being sold to you. You'll reclaim the tools to ask: who controls the future, and who gets left out when that future is built.A vital read for those seeking clarity in an age of cultural manipulation through futurism, this is your lens to pierce the narratives and reclaim the horizon.
Fear as Fuel
Why do free societies surrender their freedoms when fear strikes? And who benefits when panic becomes policy?This gripping expos矇 reveals how crisis politics is engineered to reshape public behavior, manufacture consent, and legitimize sweeping powers that would be unthinkable in calmer times. From pandemic and political control to the rise of the surveillance state, it uncovers the playbook used by governments to amplify fear, silence dissent, and reframe emotional manipulation as national security.Drawing on insights from political psychology of fear, social behavior, and modern propaganda tactics, this book dissects real-world examples-from post-9/11 laws to lockdown-era mandates-to show how fear is not just a response to danger, but a tool of fear-based propaganda and influence. It reveals how crises are declared, enemies are invented, and emotional narratives override rational judgment-all while the public believes they're acting freely.For readers of politics, psychology, media, and power-this is a must-read for anyone who senses that something deeper is at play behind the headlines. Whether you're a student of history, a concerned citizen, or simply someone who wants to stay alert in an age of emotional manipulation in government, this book equips you with a powerful framework to recognize the patterns.By the final page, you'll see fear not as a warning-but as a weapon. And you'll never look at a state of emergency the same way again.Perfect for readers searching how fear is used in politics, propaganda in modern democracies, and the hidden tools behind authoritarianism in times of crisis.
Tokens
Longlisted for the Financial Times Schroders Business Book of the Year Award 2023 BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: GQ, Los Angeles Times, Wired The essential guide to this new landscape of NFTs, Web3, Crypto and DAOs and a warning of the political consequences of what happens when platform capitalism comes for the money in your pocket Wherever you look, money is being re- placed by tokens. Digital platforms are issuing new kinds of money-like things: phone credit, shares, gift vouchers, game tokens, customer data--the list goes on. But what does it mean when online platforms become the new banks? What new types of control and discrimination emerge when money is tied to specific apps or actions, politics or identities? Tokens opens up this new and expanding world. Exploring the history of extra- monetary economies, Rachel O'Dwyer shows that private and grassroots tokens have always haunted the real economy. But as the large tech platforms issue new money-like instruments, tokens are suddenly everywhere. Amazon's Turk workers are getting paid in gift cards. Online streamers trade in wishlists. Foreign remittances are sent via phone credit. Bitcoin, gift cards, NFTs, customer data, and game tokens are the new money in an evolving economy. It is a development challenging the balance of power between online empires and the state. Tokens may offer a flexible even subversive route to compensation. But for the platforms them- selves they can be a means of amassing frightening new powers. An essential read for anyone concerned with digital money, inequality, and the future of the economy.
The Storm Is Here
"Searingly captures a country being torn apart both by phantom grievances and by genuine social injustice." --The New Yorker "[An] important book . . . Mogelson points to a bracing existential truth." --The New York Times The New Yorker's award-winning war correspondent returns to his own country to chronicle its accelerating civic breakdown, in an indelible eyewitness narrative of startling explanatory power After years of living abroad and covering the Global War on Terrorism, Luke Mogelson went home in early 2020 to report on the social discord that the pandemic was bringing to the fore across the US. An assignment that began with right-wing militias in Michigan soon took him to an uprising for racial justice in Minneapolis, then to antifascist clashes in the streets of Portland, and ultimately to an attempted insurrection in Washington, D.C. Those dispatches were only the beginning. This is the definitive eyewitness account of how--during a season of sick­ness, economic uncertainty, and violence--a large segment of Americans became convinced of the need to battle against dark forces plotting to take their country away from them. It builds month by month, through vivid depictions of events on the ground, from the onset of covid-19 to the attack on the US Capitol-- during which Mogelson followed the mob into the Senate chamber--and its echoes in Donald Trump's return to power five years later. Bravely reported and beautifully written, The Storm Is Here is a unique record of the moment at which American democracy began to crumble.
The United States of Disconnection
The United States of Disconnection is more than a book - it's the beginning of a movement.Therapist and writer Darren Elliott names what millions have felt but struggled to articulate: America is living through narcissistic abuse on a national scale. From family homes to the Oval Office, patterns of gaslighting, blame-shifting, and fear-based control have been normalized.This book asks urgent questions readers are already asking: What's wrong with America? Can America change? How do we heal political abuse and division? It reveals how admiring the wrong traits - domination over empathy, cruelty over compassion - has reshaped our culture. What we admire, we eventually become. Fear shuts down empathy and love, and it has been weaponized against us.It's time to admire the traits of honesty, kindness, acceptance, and love. Let's move towards those traits, one relationship at a time.That's what our growing collection of free resources are here for.Narcissism is not an identity. It is a trauma adaptation. And what is adapted can be reshaped.With clarity and warmth, Elliott offers: Insight into how narcissistic abuse patterns affect families, churches, and politics.Recognition of how cultural gaslighting has warped truth and trust.Tools for breaking Fear Loops and practicing Love Loops(TM) of connection.Free companion guides and book club tools to spark conversations of healing.For readers of Bren矇 Brown, Harriet Lerner, Terry Real, and Gabor Mat矇, this is both timely and timeless: a roadmap for cultural recovery and a love letter to reconnection.���� Book clubs & small groups: Free discussion guides available at TheNarcissismRecoveryProject.com, LoveLoops.love, and WakeUpGuides.com.
Aiocracy
What would the world look like if artificial intelligence held the reins of political power?In this provocative and timely exploration, Dael Astra unveils a bold vision of governance in the age of algorithms. AIocracy: A Future Governed by AI examines how artificial intelligence is already shaping laws, policies, economies, and human rights, and what it could mean if AI takes an even greater role in decision-makingDrawing on rigorous research and vivid real-world examples, Astra reveals both the promise and the peril of an AI-led future. Could AI-driven governance eliminate human bias, corruption, and inefficiency, ushering in a new era of fairness and progress? Or will it open the door to digital authoritarianism, eroding freedom and human dignity?Blending sharp analysis with compelling storytelling, Astra invites readers to wrestle with urgent questions at the intersection of technology, politics, and ethics. AIocracy is essential reading for policymakers, technologists, scholars, futurists, and citizens who care about the future of democracy and society itself.The age of AI governance is no longer science fiction. It is fast approaching, and humanity must decide whether to resist, regulate, or embrace it.
Patriots and Propaganda
In the turbulent years of China's War of Resistance against Japan (1931-1945), a unique and complex narrative unfolded far from the battlefields - in Australia. Patriots and Propaganda: Chinese Australians and the politics of loyalty, 1930s-1940s delves into the intricate web of Chinese wartime propaganda efforts, revealing how the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) and Chinese Australian communities mobilised support for China's struggle against Japanese aggression.Patriots and Propaganda uncovers the multifaceted relationships between China, Australia, and the Australian Chinese diaspora, highlighting the political, racial and class dynamics that shaped these interactions.Bolin Hu explores the pivotal role of Chinese-language newspapers and schools in preserving Chinese heritage and loyalty; the intense political rivalries within the Australian Chinese community; and the profound impact of memorial services and fundraising campaigns on fostering Chinese patriotism and community cohesion. Hu also brings to light the diverse contributions of various Chinese Australian groups - including leftists, women, and Australian-born Chinese - to China's war effort, and the fierce propaganda battles between Chinese and Japanese authorities on Australian soil.Patriots and Propaganda offers a nuanced exploration of the socio-political dynamics within the Australian Chinese community, while challenging the traditional narrative of distant allies, presenting new evidence and perspectives on the Sino-Australian relationship during a critical period in history.
Antidemocratic
"Chilling and convincing, Antidemocratic is a must-read." --Heather Cox Richardson, author of Democracy Awakening"David Daley has been at the absolute forefront of educating us about the theft of our elections by radical Republicans determined to subvert everyone else's power to choose their own leaders. An absolute warrior for democracy." -- Rick Perlstein, New York Times bestselling author of Nixonland and ReaganlandIn 1981, a young lawyer, fresh out of Harvard law school, joined the Reagan administration's Department of Justice, taking up a cause that had been fomenting in Republican circles for over a decade by that point. From his perch inside the Reagan DOJ, this lawyer would attempt to bring down one of the defining pieces of 20th century legislation--the Voting Rights Act. His name was John Roberts.Over thirty years later in 2013, these efforts by John Roberts and the conservative legal establishment culminated when Roberts, now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, wrote Shelby County vs. Holder, one of the most consequential decisions of modern jurisprudence. A dramatic move that gutted the Voting Rights Act, Roberts's decision--dangerously premised on the flawed notion that racism was a thing of the past--emboldened right-wing, antidemocratic voting laws around the country immediately. No modern court decision has done more to hand elections to Republicans than Shelby.Now lauded investigative reporter David Daley reveals the urgent story of this fifty-year Republican plot to end the Voting Rights Act and encourage minority rule in their party's favor. From the bowels of Reagan's DOJ to the walls of the conservative Federalist Society to the moneyed Republican resources bankrolling restrictive voting laws today, Daley reveals a hidden history as sweeping as it is troubling. Through careful research and exhaustive reporting, he connects Shelby to a well-funded, highly-coordinated right-wing effort to erode the power of minority voters and Democrats at the ballot box--an effort that has grown stronger with each election cycle. In the process Roberts and his conservative allies have enabled extreme partisan gerrymandering to become the law of the land, while fringe conservative theories about our elections infiltrate the foundations of our democracy.Timely and alarming, Daley offers a powerful message that, while Shelby was the misguided end of the Voting Rights Act, it was also the beginning of something far darker.
Complicit
A Sunday Times BestsellerFrom one of Britain's most celebrated political journalists, a fearless and forensic indictment of British complicity in the destruction of Gaza.In a gripping narrative informed by original reporting, Peter Oborne tells how Britain's Conservative and Labour parties converged to back Israel's criminal assault--in the process occupying disturbing common ground with the far right.Rather than challenge this political cartel, British media colluded in its misrepresentations. The shocking result was that, as British authorities helped Israel set Gaza as well as international law aflame, almost everything the public was told about this momentous conflagration was untrue.When citizens still turned out in their hundreds of thousands to demand a ceasefire, roiling the nation's politics as they stayed faithful to the ancient British tradition of popular protest in defence of liberty, the political-media machine bared its fangs. The investigative reporting in this book exposes the methods by which peaceful demonstrations were smeared as "hate marches".Formerly chief political commentator at the Daily Telegraph and Spectator, Oborne knows the British establishment from within. In this book he names names and provides receipts. His demand is accountability--for atrocities, and their accomplices.
The History of the Future
What if the future you believe in was never truly yours to imagine? From ancient empires to Silicon Valley, those in power have always used the illusion of "what comes next" to shape belief, behavior, and control. This book uncovers the untold history of how governments, corporations, and ideologues have scripted the future-not as prediction, but as propaganda.Blending cultural analysis, political theory, and media insight, it explores how predictive power and politics go hand in hand. From empires and imagination to Silicon Valley techno-utopias, the most influential actors don't just adapt to the future-they manufacture it. You'll see how narrative control and society are deeply entangled, how future forecasting can justify inequality, and why today's innovations often mask old agendas.This is a book for the deeply curious-the readers who question the news cycle, who sense that every optimistic launch pitch or global trend report comes with hidden motives. For policy watchers, tech skeptics, cultural critics, and anyone grappling with the ethics of tomorrow, it delivers sharp, evidence-backed revelations.By the final page, you won't just think differently about the future-you'll see it differently. You'll know how to recognize when a future as propaganda is being sold to you. You'll reclaim the tools to ask: who controls the future, and who gets left out when that future is built.A vital read for those seeking clarity in an age of cultural manipulation through futurism, this is your lens to pierce the narratives and reclaim the horizon.
The Maga Doctrine
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER"Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions and millions of people." -- President Donald TrumpThe movement that brought Donald Trump to the White House has better ideas than the old right or the new left. It's time that the rest of America started listening. In The MAGA Doctrine, Charlie Kirk explains once and for all why the principles of America First and traditional values have found an audience among young people all over the country.The Tea Party began as a protest for patriots who feared Big Government, but President Trump has become a hero for patriots who are against Big Everything: Silicon ValleyBig PharmaThe mediaHigher educationDeep state swamp monstersKirk describes why it took Trump, a reality TV superstar, to see past the sclerotic and power-hungry institutions, from the United Nations and Google to Harvard and Viacom, working to crush real America. The MAGA Doctrine is all about giving you a say in the future of America and a hand in making it happen.As the mainstream media churn out lies about the "real reasons" behind the new conservative agenda, this book is a powerful reminder of the true ideals of freedom and greatness that swept Donald Trump to the presidency. The MAGA Doctrine urges a restoration of self-rule by a populace long taken for granted by its rulers.
Antisemitism
History teaches that antisemitism is a disease which begins with the Jews but does not end with them. Once antisemitism is unleashed, it knows no bounds and can attack the very fabric of society. This deadly strain of hatred often turns against other minority groups too, not to mention foundational democratic values, beginning with equal rights and equal protection before the law. Therefore, antisemitism should be viewed as a universal human rights issue of importance to all, and not solely as a parochial Jewish or Israeli concern. Antisemitism: What Everyone Needs to Know^(R) explores how, in the 21st century, antisemitism is once again resurgent. In recent years, the FBI reported that well over half of all religiously motivated hate crimes in the United States targeted Jews, even though Jews comprise just over two percent of the population. It is striking how little understood antisemitism, including the term itself, still is. This extends quite widely to political leaders, educational authorities, law enforcement and the judiciary, civic groups, and media outlets. Polls have also shown how knowledge of the Holocaust, which was widely considered to be a firewall against the resurgence of antisemitism, is declining, notwithstanding ongoing attention to the topic in education, museums and memorials, and culture.
Surviving the 21st Century
Explore freedom, power, and the biggest challenges of the twenty-first century with two extraordinary thinkers Two world-renowned figures of contemporary politics come together to discuss timeless topics and debate alternatives for the future: Jos矇 "Pepe" Mujica, former president of Uruguay and an ex-guerrilla whose message of sustainability and common sense won him an international following, and Noam Chomsky, who revolutionized linguistics and has become a beacon for radical thinking around the world. From the meeting of these peerless figures emerge reflections on the major global issues of our time: climate change, corruption, populism, the crisis of capitalism, and the logic of the market economy, among many others. Chomsky and Mujica emphasize throughout the values required to survive the challenges of the twenty-first century and build a new world: democracy, freedom, purposeful living, and friendship. Brought together by filmmaker Sa繳l Alv穩drez, these two radical elders share passion, politics, and wisdom.
A Time to Stand
A powerful tribute to the enduring spirit of America--our liberty, our land, our hopes, our memories, our faith, and the beauty of our culture that we seek to restore. Evocative, heartfelt, and rich with nostalgia, Michael Finch's A Time to Stand captures the beauty of our land and the values that shaped our greatness, urging us to remember and restore what made us truly free.
The Heritage Guide to the Constitution
A Neutral and Thorough Accounting of the Constitution's Original Meaning Over the past two decades, the federal judiciary has increasingly grounded its cases in the Constitution's original meaning. Students, scholars, lawyers, and judges are now expected to understand and apply the text, history, and tradition of the Constitution. The Third Edition of The Heritage Guide to the Constitution will provide a comprehensive starting point to research these issues from before, during, and after the Constitution's adoption. The Heritage Guide will provide all Americans with an authoritative and accessible introduction to our foundational charter. The 216 essays in the Third Edition of The Heritage Guide were authored by more than 150 distinguished jurists, scholars, and practitioners. Each essay was carefully reviewed to ensure they were of the highest quality and accuracy, while maintaining a neutral approach. This once-a-decade publication strives to be the definitive compendium about each provision of the Constitution.
Decoding the Maga Idea
What does "Make America Great Again" really mean to the millions who embrace it-and to those who oppose it? In an era of unprecedented political division, few phenomena have reshaped American society as profoundly as the MAGA movement. From a campaign slogan to a cultural force, it has redefined political discourse, challenged institutional norms, and revealed deep fractures in the American experiment that many thought had healed. Decoding the MAGA Idea goes beyond the headlines and partisan rhetoric to provide the first truly comprehensive examination of this transformative movement. Through meticulous research and objective analysis, David Hart explores the historical roots, philosophical foundations, and lasting impact of a political phenomenon that continues to shape America's future. This groundbreaking book reveals: The deeper historical and ideological currents that gave rise to Trump and MAGA How economic anxiety, cultural change, and institutional distrust created the perfect storm The movement's complex relationship with American traditions of populism and nationalism How MAGA has transformed the Republican Party and challenged Democratic assumptions The real impact on America's democratic institutions-both damage and resilience Competing visions for America's role in an increasingly multipolar world What the movement's evolution means for the future of American democracy Drawing on extensive research, expert interviews, and contemporary analysis, Hart provides readers across the political spectrum with the tools to understand one of the most significant political developments of our time. Neither a celebration nor a condemnation, this book offers something more valuable: clarity. Whether you're a supporter seeking to understand your movement's deeper significance, a critic trying to comprehend its appeal, or simply an American citizen navigating our fractured political landscape, this book provides essential insights into the forces reshaping our nation. From the Tea Party's populist uprising to January 6th's constitutional crisis, from trade wars to culture wars, Decoding the MAGA Idea connects the dots to reveal how we got here-and where we might be heading. In a time when Americans seem to inhabit different realities, this book offers a bridge to understanding across the political divide. GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!!!
Listening to the Constitution of the Law
Imagine standing outside the marble steps of the Supreme Court, watching the doors swing open as nine justices file in-each carrying the weight of the Constitution and the hopes of millions. You wonder: What really happens behind those closed doors? How do these men and women, with families and flaws like yours, decide the cases that shape your rights, your children's future, and the very meaning of freedom in America? This book pulls back the curtain on the nation's highest court, revealing the human stories, fierce debates, and daily pressures that never make the headlines. You'll walk through the halls with justices as they wrestle with the toughest questions of law and life, balancing their duty to the Constitution with the demands of parenthood and the pull of ordinary American life. You'll see how landmark decisions are made-not by distant figures, but by real people facing impossible choices. Whether you're a student, a parent, a teacher, or simply someone who cares about justice and democracy, this book gives you the inside story you've always wanted. It explains the Court's work in plain language, strips away the myths, and shows why the original meaning of the Constitution still matters for every generation. Don't settle for soundbites or secondhand opinions. Step inside the Marble Palace and discover the truth for yourself. If you want to understand how the Supreme Court shapes your life-and why its decisions will echo for decades-this is the book you can't afford to miss. Buy your copy now and see the Constitution come alive like never before.
Promise and Performance
This is the first comprehensive review of the Albanese Labor Government. It seeks to provide a critical but balanced assessment of the Albanese Government's first term. The academic and expert contributors to this edited volume have been asked not just to review what happened but to assess whether the Albanese Government has made its mark on Australian government and if so in what ways. Was it 'reformist' in the Hawke-Keating style, or was it 'reformist' in the more traditional Labor mode like some regard the Whitlam Government? Is there a leading reform that has made life better for Australians in a measurable way? Was its successes or failures of its own making or the result of trends outside its immediate control?Contents Promise and Performance: An Introduction - Scott Prasser1 The Albanese Government's Election Performances - Malcolm Mackerras2 How Albanese and Chalmers have Created a New Narrative of Australian Politics - Greg Melleuish3 Labor's Federal Election Performance in Queensland - John Mickel4 The Dutton-led Opposition in Labor's First Term - Peter van Onselen5 The Public Service under Albanese - Paddy Gourley6 Creating a New Standards Regime and a Safer Workplace for Parliament - Maria Maley7 The Albanese Government's Public Inquiries: Targeting Political Opponents? - Scott Prasser8 The Australian Economy over the Albanese Government's First Term - Gene Tunny9 Fiscal Policy under the Albanese Government, 2022-2025 - Saul Eslake10 Perverse Productivity Policies: Rhetoric vs Reality - Gary Banks11 The Albanese Government's Industrial Relations Program - Richard Calver12 Energy and Environment Policy - Aynsley Kellow13 Aviation Policy: A Reluctance to Reform? - Peter Forsyth14 Labor's Higher Education Agenda: A La-La-Land Wish List- Salvatore Babones15 The Voice Debacle - Gary Johns16 The Drift of Australian Foreign Policy - Michael Easson17 Defence Policy - David Lee18 The Albanese Government Record on Government Services and Digital Transformation - Mike Kelly19 Religious Freedom: Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Bride - Mark Spencer20 Anyone for Footy? A Policy in Search of a Goal: The Albanese Government's PNG NRL Initiative - Andrea Wallace21 Lessons for the Future - Scott Prasser
Now What?
Commentator Gene Nichol offers inspiration and ideas for blazing a progressive path forward in North Carolina, a decidedly purple state.In the 2024 election cycle, there was good news and bad news for North Carolina progressive politics. The people elected a Democratic Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and managed to obtain a tiny toehold with the General Assembly. However, Trump prevailed in the state and nationally--leaving a large number of progressives with a lot of political energy and no place to go. So, what now? What next? Gene Nichol writes to those who are well aware of the issues that North Carolina and the country at large now face. This book tackles the all-important question of how progressives can continue to move the state forward, tackling the opposition and their own flagging spirits.
The Responsibility of Intellectuals in the Age of Fascism and Genocide
The Responsibility of Intellectuals in the Age of Fascism and Genocide is Boston Review's 50th anniversary issue. This milestone issue features many of our longtime contributors, including Robin D. G. Kelley, Vivian Gornick, and Elaine Scarry, and celebrates classics from our archive. In this issue, historian and Boston Review contributing editor Robin D. G. Kelley revisits Noam Chomsky's landmark 1967 essay, "The Responsibility of Intellectuals," published near the height of the Vietnam War. The essay's dissident injunction--that those in privileged positions have a duty to "speak the truth and expose lies"--remains a powerful call to conscience, Kelley argues, but the anti-fascist and anti-colonial struggles of even earlier decades reveal its limits, and they show how to refuse and resist complicity in our own age of fascism and genocide. Political philosopher Martin O'Neill, Palestinian human rights lawyer Jennifer Zacharia, and historian David Waldstreicher expand on what this moment requires--of intellectuals, of journalists, and of us all. Also in the issue, Vivian Gornick reviews Shulamith Firestone's Airless Spaces, Elaine Scarry challenges the wisdom that Plato banished the poets, Brandon M. Terry interviews political scientist Cathy Cohen about social movements and the future of Black politics, Joelle M. Abi-Rached exposes the contradictions of the liberal international order over Gaza, Samuel Hayim Brody reviews three memoirs on the Arab Jewish world destroyed by colonialism, David Austin Walsh explains what Zohran Mamdani's triumph means for the future of the Democratic Party, and Sandeep Vaheesan looks to the New Deal to assess the "abundance" agenda. Plus, seven writers reflect on notable essays from our archive in a special anniversary feature: Susan Faludi on Vivian Gornick and anti-feminism Naomi Klein on William Callison + Quinn Slobodian and the global right Jay Caspian Kang on Ol繳fẹ́mi O. T獺穩w簷 and identity politics Ryu Spaeth on Merve Emre and the personal essay Lea Ypi on Joseph Carens and amnesty Nathan J. Robinson on Noam Chomsky and U.S. foreign policy Rick Perlstein on Elaine Scarry and democracy after 9/11
Progressive Stage Imprisonment
Progressive stage imprisonment requires prisoners to advance through reformative phases, with the goal of ultimately returning inmates to society better equipped to avoid criminal behaviour and positively contribute to their communities. This system was likely first proposed in the 1779 Penitentiary Act and implemented in Gloucestershire. Since then, it has taken various forms in different contexts, including a hybrid model recommended for nationwide adoption in an 1811 parliamentary committee report, combining successful elements from the Gloucester Penitentiary and Nottinghamshire House of Correction systems. Thus far, while the system has achieved only partial success, failures appear attributable to problematic implementation rather than intrinsic faults. After nearly a century s dormancy, an evolved form of progressive imprisonment is proposed going forward. This book provides a comprehensive history of the system s iterations from local to global scales, analysing prospects and limitations. It charts the chequered past of progressive incarceration while laying the groundwork for its potential future success.
A Real Right to Vote
Why it's time to enshrine the right to vote in the Constitution Throughout history, too many Americans have been disenfranchised or faced needless barriers to voting. Part of the blame falls on the Constitution, which does not contain an affirmative right to vote. The Supreme Court has made matters worse by failing to protect voting rights and limiting Congress's ability to do so. The time has come for voters to take action and push for an amendment to the Constitution that would guarantee this right for all. Drawing on troubling stories of state attempts to disenfranchise military voters, women, African Americans, students, former felons, Native Americans, and others, Richard Hasen argues that American democracy can and should do better in assuring that all eligible voters can cast a meaningful vote that will be fairly counted. He shows how a constitutional right to vote can deescalate voting wars between political parties that lead to endless rounds of litigation and undermine voter confidence in elections, and can safeguard democracy against dangerous attempts at election subversion like the one we witnessed in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. The path to a constitutional amendment is undoubtedly hard, especially in these polarized times. A Real Right to Vote explains what's in it for conservatives who have resisted voting reform and reveals how the pursuit of an amendment can yield tangible dividends for democracy long before ratification.
The New Censorship
A ground-breaking guide to how the media's self-censorship in the face of populist politics threatens democracy. 'Riveting' - Arash Azizi, The Atlantic 'Exceptional' - Michael Hauser-Tov, Haaretz 'Profound, compelling, and fascinating' - Emily Maitlis, The News Agents 'A must-read' - Professor Silvio Waisbord, former president of the International Communication Association As we find ourselves in a time of democratic decay all over the world, with relentless attempts to undermine truth and facts and unprecedented technological tools to spread disinformation and incite violence, brave journalism is needed more than ever. In The New Censorship esteemed academic, former journalist and activist Ayala Panievsky focuses on the unfortunate and unexpected mechanisms through which today's media has inadvertently amplified the anti-democratic movement that looms over our societies. From the birth of 'the strategic bias' to weaponising liberal norms against liberal democracy, the populist right has found a way to exercise a more effective and socially acceptable type of silencing and manipulation. Instead of banning stories, they spread flows of disinformation, which take hours and days to debunk. Instead of silencing, they shout louder. Instead of blue-pencilling, they employ fake users, bots, and outrageous smear campaigns to dominate the conversation. Heavy-handed censorship is unnecessary when one can manipulate people to censor themselves, or simply stop listening. Based on cutting-edge empirical research, personal experience in newsrooms and parliament corridors and a decade of living under populism in power in Israel, Panievsky will not only explain how we got here but also lay out what we all could (and should) do to restart the conversation and protect our right to know. Reviews Don't miss this fascinating, rivetingly written book! -- Arash Azizi, The Atlantic Ayala Panievsky's new book is exceptional. It's almost the only text that delves into the question of what journalists can actually do to better deal with populists - and to my great surprise, it will be as compelling to journalists' viewers and listeners. -- Michael Hauser-Tov, Haaretz Ayala puts the public's right to know at the heart of her argument. And she shows that failure 'to know' can, literally, kill you. [...] Her arguments are profound, compelling, and fascinating. And as ever, I read her words with awe, and a deep gratitude I can call her my inspiration - but also, my friend. -- Emily Maitlis, The News Agents The New Censorship is a thoughtful, well-researched and compellingly personal analysis of the playbook for tyranny. As Ayala Panievsky makes clear, the media is far too often complicit in its own destruction, largely by treating the destabilizing propaganda of right-wing regimes as legitimate press. That failure to recognize and counter an existential challenge has grave consequences for more than one nation. -- James LaRue author of On Censorship Panievsky's book is an important, necessary, masterful study of how anti-democratic movements persecute and censor media dissent, and how journalists respond to attacks. With original insights and lively writing, the book closely examines common threads across countries, and delivers a persuasive argument on how the 'new censorship' works. A must-read for anyone interested in understanding the multiple challenges that contemporary journalism confronts. -- Professor Silvio Waisbord, former president of the International Association of Communication
The Civic Bargain
A powerful case for democracy and how it can adapt and survive--if we want it to Is democracy in trouble, perhaps even dying? Pundits say so, and polls show that most Americans believe that their country's system of governance is being "tested" or is "under attack." But is the future of democracy necessarily so dire? In The Civic Bargain, Brook Manville and Josiah Ober push back against the prevailing pessimism about the fate of democracy around the world. Instead of an epitaph for democracy, they offer a guide for democratic renewal, calling on citizens to recommit to a "civic bargain" with one another to guarantee civic rights of freedom, equality, and dignity. That bargain also requires them to fulfill the duties of democratic citizenship: governing themselves with no "boss" except one another, embracing compromise, treating each other as civic friends, and investing in civic education for each rising generation. Manville and Ober trace the long progression toward self-government through four key moments in democracy's history: Classical Athens, Republican Rome, Great Britain's constitutional monarchy, and America's founding. Comparing what worked and what failed in each case, they draw out lessons for how modern democracies can survive and thrive. Manville and Ober show that democracy isn't about getting everything we want; it's about agreeing on a shared framework for pursuing our often conflicting aims. Crucially, citizens need to be able to compromise, and must not treat one another as political enemies. And we must accept imperfection; democracy is never finished but evolves and renews itself continually. As long as the civic bargain is maintained--through deliberation, bargaining, and compromise--democracy will live.
Penthouse 2 Whitehouse;cave House 2 Presidential Palace
In a world where global dynamics shift with each passing day, the intricate dance between nations plays out on the grand stage of international relations. "Penthouse to Whitehouse; Cave House to Presidential" offers a gripping exploration into the labyrinthine corridors of power, where ambition, espionage, and diplomacy intermingle in a high- stakes game of survival and supremacy. As the subtitle suggests, this is a tale of three monumental deals, each with the potential to alter the course of history. At the heart of this narrative lies a Chinese spy with an unexpected allegiance-a figure who, against the backdrop of traditional enmity, finds admiration in the most unlikely of places: the leadership of Donald Trump. Through the eyes of this enigmatic operative, readers are plunged into the hidden world of covert operations and strategic maneuvers that often go unnoticed by the public eye.The story unfolds against the backdrop of an increasingly tense geopolitical landscape, where the specter of silent invasion looms large. With the stakes higher than ever, the delicate balance between trade, war, or wipeout becomes a pivotal theme.
The War on Tariffs
In The War on Tariff, readers embark on a compelling journey through the complex landscape of global trade, illuminating how tariffs serve as both tools of economic policy and instruments of political power. This thought-provoking work delves into the historical context of tariffs, revealing their dual nature, their potential to bolster domestic industries, and the unintended consequences that can ripple through economies, sparking inflation and disrupting international relations. The book explores the rise of nationalism and its intersection with tariff policies, illustrating how economic measures can inflame tensions and lead to authoritarian regimes, with fascism often lurking in the shadows of economic despair. By examining case studies from around the world, this narrative unveils the delicate balance between protecting local economies and fostering global cooperation. Richly researched and rigorously argued, The War on Tariff offers vital insights for policymakers, business leaders, and concerned citizens alike. It challenges readers to rethink their perceptions of international trade, revealing that understanding tariffs is essential to navigating an increasingly polarized world. Discover the profound implications of tariffs on our shared future. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intricate dance of economics and politics.
The War on Tariffs
In The War on Tariff, readers embark on a compelling journey through the complex landscape of global trade, illuminating how tariffs serve as both tools of economic policy and instruments of political power. This thought-provoking work delves into the historical context of tariffs, revealing their dual nature, their potential to bolster domestic industries, and the unintended consequences that can ripple through economies, sparking inflation and disrupting international relations. The book explores the rise of nationalism and its intersection with tariff policies, illustrating how economic measures can inflame tensions and lead to authoritarian regimes, with fascism often lurking in the shadows of economic despair. By examining case studies from around the world, this narrative unveils the delicate balance between protecting local economies and fostering global cooperation. Richly researched and rigorously argued, The War on Tariff offers vital insights for policymakers, business leaders, and concerned citizens alike. It challenges readers to rethink their perceptions of international trade, revealing that understanding tariffs is essential to navigating an increasingly polarized world. Discover the profound implications of tariffs on our shared future. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intricate dance of economics and politics.
U.S. Government and Politics Simplified
Become a more informed citizen with this clear and comprehensive guide to the founding principles of American government and the political processes that shape everyday life. The American political system can be challenging to navigate. In a time when the political climate can be contentious, understanding our system of government is more important than ever. This comprehensive guide covers the basics of U.S. politics in clear, easy-to-follow format, beginning with the founding principles of government and concluding with a nonpartisan look at today's political parties, elections, and public policy. It covers: The origin of the U.S. Constitution and other key documents. The distribution of power in American democracy and the responsibilities of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.Present-day politics and the role of the media and special interest groups in shaping public policy.Learn about the underlying processes that affect all Americans, including the establishment of civil liberties, the role of the Electoral College, and how policy decisions are made. Suitable reading for supplement coursework in high school government or civics classes or college political science classes, U.S. Government & Politics Simplified covers everything you need to know about the American political system.
Crisis and Leviathan
Crisis and Leviathan is Higgs' masterwork on how government grows in size, scope, and power in response to real or imagined "crises." From war to economic upheavals, government overreach endures long after each crisis has passed, impinging on civil liberties and fostering extensive corporate welfare. Few topics are as timely as the growth of government. To understand why government has grown, Robert Higgs asserts, one must understand how it has grown. This book offers a coherent, multi-causal explanation, guided by a novel analytical framework firmly grounded in historical evidence. More than a study of trends in governmental spending, taxation, and employment, Crisis and Leviathan is a thorough analysis of the actual occasions when and the specific means by which Big Government developed in the United States. More than an abstract account, it names names and highlights the actions of significant individuals. The author examines how 20th-century national emergencies--mainly wars, depressions, and labor disturbances--have prompted federal officials to take over previously private rights and activities. When the crises passed, a residue of new governmental powers remained. Even more significantly, each great crisis and the subsequent governmental measures went hand in hand with reinforcing shifts in public beliefs and attitudes toward the government's proper role in American life. Integrating the contributions of scholars in diverse disciplines, including history, law, political philosophy, and the social sciences, Crisis and Leviathan makes compelling reading for all those who seek to understand the transformation of America's political economy over the past century.
Wake Up America
In 1968, civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer called for Americans to "wake up" if they wanted to "make democracy a reality." Today, as Black communities continue to face challenges built on centuries of discrimination, her plea is increasingly urgent. In this exhilarating anthology of original essays, Keisha N. Blain brings together the voices of major progressive Black women politicians, grassroots activists, and intellectuals to offer critical insights on how we can create a more equitable political future.These women draw on their diverse experiences and expertise to speak to three core themes: claiming civil and human rights, building political and economic power, and combating all forms of hate. We hear from Black Lives Matter cofounder Alicia Garza, who argues that Black communities must organize to wield increased political power; EMILYs List president Laphonza Butler, who spells out ways to fight for women's reproductive rights; and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who delineates practical, thorough steps toward tangible reparations. Additional incisive essays include those by former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner; prison abolitionist Mariame Kaba; disability rights activist Andra矇a LaVant; Boston's first woman and first Black mayor, Kim Michelle Janey; and others at the forefront of the ongoing fight for social justice.In addressing our most pressing issues and providing key takeaways, Wake Up America serves as a blueprint for the steps we can take right now and in the years to come.
The Rainbow Chaser
"This is a superb book--beautifully written, engaging, and punchy. It tells Bob Livingston's own great American story, gives an inside view of historical events, and provides a trenchant analysis of two phenomenon that are corrupting our justice system--Lawfare and the thuggish behavior of a certain prosecutors fixated on headhunting rather than justice."--WILLIAM P. BARR, former Attorney GeneralFORMER CONGRESSMAN BOB LIVINGSTON HAS A WARNING FOR ALL AMERICANSLAWFARE IS A WEAPON THAT IS DESTROYING THE UNITED STATES AND RUINING PEOPLE'S LIVESTHE POLITICIZATION OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM MUST END NOWLawfare has been with us since the inception of the country. Both Democrat and Republican prosecutors and investigating agents have misused their authority to pursue otherwise innocent victims over time. But with the arrival of Hillary Clinton at the White House, the practice was refined in tandem with her efforts to pursue all those who offered public criticism about her husband and the Clinton Administration. She was and is as corrupt as anyone in American politics. Her "war rooms" in the White House, the Senate, and at the State Department sowed the seeds for ongoing corruption within the Department of Justice.Former Attorney General Merrick Garland, once denied a seat on the Supreme Court, adopted the practice of incredible abuse of the American judicial system with relish to accommodate the horribly corrupt Biden presidency and the Democrat agenda. AG Garland was unrestrained in his persecution of innocent Americans, be they protestors at school board meetings, religious and right to life advocates, non-violent January 6'ers, current and former Republican Members of Congress, and last but certainly not least, the past and current President of the United States. In THE RAINBOW CHASER, former Congressman Bob Livingston lays-out the abuses of power and the weaponization the judicial system that almost destroyed him, his company and staff, his family, and many more innocents, and offers solutions to this national disgrace, including pushing Congress to waive all immunity from prosecutors or investigators who without probable cause target and persecute individuals for personal or political reasons. And once provided full due process, such persons should be held accountable civilly or criminally for misusing their awesome power of state over an individual.Livingston's much praised first book, The Windmill Chaser, is a gripping and inspirational memoir recounting his life and work through his days in Congress and work with the Robert Livingston Group. And THE RAINBOW CHASER serves as its worthy sequel, and an indictment of corrupt political warfare being waged on the innocent, and rejection of abuses by specific individuals in the Democrat Party who transgress the American Constitution for political and personal ends. As a former prosecutor and assistant U.S. Attorney at the DOJ in New Orleans - who worked with the FBI--Livingston is the right person to wage a war of righteous integrity on abuses of the judicial system and bring those guilty of breaking the law for personal gain to justice.
Ungoverning
How a deliberate dismantling of political institutions undermines the essential work of government In this unsettling book, Russell Muirhead and Nancy Rosenblum trace how ungoverning--the deliberate effort to dismantle the capacity of government to do its work--has become a malignant part of politics. Democracy depends on a government that can govern, and that requires what's called administration. The administrative state is made up of the vast array of departments and agencies that conduct the essential business of government, from national defense and disaster response to implementing and enforcing public policies of every kind. Ungoverning chronicles the reactionary movement that demands dismantling the administrative state. The demand is not for goals that can be met with policies or programs. When this demand is frustrated, as it must be, the result is an invitation to violence. Muirhead and Rosenblum unpack the idea of ungoverning through many examples of the politics of destruction. They show how ungoverning disables capacities that took generations to build--including the administration of free and fair elections. They detail the challenges faced by officials who are entrusted with running the government and who now face threats and intimidation from those who would rather bring it crashing down--and replace the regular processes of governing with chaotic personal rule. The unfamiliar phenomenon of ungoverning threatens us all regardless of partisanship or ideological leaning. Ungoverning will not be limited to Donald Trump's moment on the political stage. To resist this threat requires that we first recognize what ungoverning is and what it portends.
How to Interpret the Constitution
From New York Times bestselling author Cass Sunstein, a timely and powerful argument for rethinking how the U.S. Constitution is interpreted The U.S. Supreme Court has eliminated the right to abortion and is revisiting other fundamental questions today--about voting rights, affirmative action, gun laws, and much more. Once-arcane theories of constitutional interpretation are profoundly affecting the lives of all Americans. In this brief and urgent book, Harvard Law School professor Cass Sunstein provides a lively introduction to competing approaches to interpreting the Constitution--and argues that the only way to choose one is to ask whether it would change American life for the better or worse. If a method of interpretation would eliminate the right of privacy, allow racial segregation, or obliterate free speech, it would be unacceptable for that reason. But some Supreme Court justices are committed to "originalism," arguing that the meaning of the Constitution is settled by how it was publicly understood when it was ratified. Originalists insist that their approach is dictated by the Constitution. That, Sunstein argues, is a big mistake. The Constitution doesn't contain instructions for its own interpretation. Any approach to constitutional interpretation needs to be defended in terms of its broad effects--what it does to our rights and our institutions. It must respect those rights and institutions--and safeguard the conditions for democracy itself. Passionate and compelling, How to Interpret the Constitution is essential reading for anyone who is concerned about how the Supreme Court is changing the rights and lives of Americans today.
Electoral Politics in India
Electoral Politics in India: Dynamics and Democratic Dilemmas is a timely and incisive edited volume that provides a comprehensive analysis of India's evolving electoral democracy. Synthesising a wide range of scholarly contributions, this work examines the historical evolution, current challenges, and future prospects of democratic practice in India. Grounded in both classical and contemporary democratic theory, it engages with foundational thinkers such as James Bryce, Robert Dahl, Joseph Schumpeter, Giovanni Sartori, and Arend Lijphart, alongside prominent Indian scholars like Rajni Kothari, Yogendra Yadav, and Christophe Jaffrelot. A key strength of the volume is its intersectional and multidisciplinary approach, examining how caste, religion, region, gender, and class influence electoral outcomes, alongside the impact of social media, campaign finance, and digital technologies on democratic participation. Crucially, the book does not refrain from confronting the pressing concerns of democratic regression. It provides a trenchant critique of the post-2014 political landscape, marked by majoritarian populism, centralised authority, and institutional erosion and evaluates the 2024 general election as a potential turning point in resisting authoritarian trends. The inclusion of comparative perspectives, particularly on women's political representation in India and Sri Lanka, further enhances the analytical richness of the volume. The volume not only documents the current state of democracy but also calls for civic vigilance, inclusive participation, and institutional renewal to safeguard India's constitutional ethos. Overall, this edited book is a valuable academic contribution for scholars, students, policymakers, and anyone interested in the state of democracy in India.
Electoral Politics in India
Electoral Politics in India: Dynamics and Democratic Dilemmas is a timely and incisive edited volume that provides a comprehensive analysis of India's evolving electoral democracy. Synthesising a wide range of scholarly contributions, this work examines the historical evolution, current challenges, and future prospects of democratic practice in India. Grounded in both classical and contemporary democratic theory, it engages with foundational thinkers such as James Bryce, Robert Dahl, Joseph Schumpeter, Giovanni Sartori, and Arend Lijphart, alongside prominent Indian scholars like Rajni Kothari, Yogendra Yadav, and Christophe Jaffrelot. A key strength of the volume is its intersectional and multidisciplinary approach, examining how caste, religion, region, gender, and class influence electoral outcomes, alongside the impact of social media, campaign finance, and digital technologies on democratic participation. Crucially, the book does not refrain from confronting the pressing concerns of democratic regression. It provides a trenchant critique of the post-2014 political landscape, marked by majoritarian populism, centralised authority, and institutional erosion and evaluates the 2024 general election as a potential turning point in resisting authoritarian trends. The inclusion of comparative perspectives, particularly on women's political representation in India and Sri Lanka, further enhances the analytical richness of the volume. The volume not only documents the current state of democracy but also calls for civic vigilance, inclusive participation, and institutional renewal to safeguard India's constitutional ethos. Overall, this edited book is a valuable academic contribution for scholars, students, policymakers, and anyone interested in the state of democracy in India.
Let Not My Country Die. The Harsh, Prophetic Reality of Old and New Apartheid
The world claims that apartheid ended in South Africa more than 30 years ago, but it never truly left. Instead, it is spreading, and life for South Africans is now becoming worse than it was during the old apartheid years. The time to heal is about to expire. South Africa is an autocratic backsliding democracy, and is on the brink of a major collapse. Credo Mutwa prophesied about South Africa's future and its possible coming "Armageddon of Africa." However, the African National Congress (ANC) and the communists labeled Mr. Mutwa as a supporter of old apartheid. They dismissed his belief that people of various cultures and religions should be free to be "apart" from other people, tribes, and religions, while still connecting to each other with love and support.Mr. Mutwa said: "I call your attention to the sordid spectacle of what is happening in Soweto at this moment, and ask you whether what is happening in Soweto is in South Africa's interests or not-especially in these days when conflict shows every sign of escalating in our country. I call on you to abolish the councils everywhere in South Africa and replace them with groups of people who would have the interests of their people at heart, and who would take an oath in public to run clean administrations in the Black townships." Indaba, with love, must start NOW. South Africa needs to become a country of self-governing states (well-governed states, like Florida and Texas in the USA), or through Balkanization, or become separate countries; otherwise, South Africa, forcing communism-jihadi to its people, will be forced it into a civil war, a starvation war, that will turn it into the worst "apart hate" place and the last one on the African continent. Read Credo Mutwa's 1986 book, his widely regarded prayer for South Africa, after the Introduction, the essays, and the forthcoming commented editions of his call to save our country, South Africa. The introduction, chapters, his recent prophecies, and the following essays will provide commentary to help you think deeply and consider the precise options. The chapters illustrate what South Africa was like during the era of "old apartheid" over 40 years ago. The commentary and essays compare those times to the current situation under what is referred to as "new apartheid," which must be eliminated.
Getting Russia Right
As US-Russian relations scrape the depths of cold-war antagonism, the promise of partnership that beguiled American administrations during the first post-Soviet decades increasingly appears to have been false from the start. Why did American leaders persist in pursuing it? Was there another path that would have produced more constructive relations or better prepared Washington to face the challenge Russia poses today? With a practitioner's eye honed during decades of work on Russian affairs, Thomas Graham deftly traces the evolution of opposing ideas of national purpose that created an inherent tension in relations. Getting Russia Right identifies the blind spots that prevented Washington from seeing Russia as it really is and crafting a policy to advance American interests without provoking an aggressive Russian response. Distilling the Putin factor to reveal the contours of the Russia challenge facing the United States whenever he departs the scene, Graham lays out a compelling way to deal with it so that the United States can continue to advance its interests in a rapidly changing world.Also available as an audiobook.
