Unchecked

The Untold Story Behind Congress’s Botched Impeachments of Donald Trump

By: Rachael Bade, Karoun Demirjian

Narrated by: Courtney Patterson

Length: 17 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

A revealing, behind-the-scenes examination of how Congress twice fumbled its best chance to hold accountable a president many considered one of the most dangerous in American history. The definitive—and only—insider account of both Trump impeachments, as told by the two reporters on the front lines covering them for The Washington Post and Politico.

In a riveting account that flips the script on what readers think they know about the two impeachments of Donald Trump, Rachael Bade and Karoun Demirjian reveal how—and why—congressional oversight failed when it was needed most.

Unchecked weaves a vivid narrative of how House Democrats under the lead of a cautious speaker, Nancy Pelosi, hesitated for months to stand up to Trump—and then pulled punches in their effort to oust him in a misguided effort to protect themselves politically. What they left on the cutting room floor would come back to haunt them, as Republicans seized on their missteps to whip an uneasy GOP rank-and-file into line behind Donald Trump, abandoning their scruples to defend a president who some privately believed had indeed abused his power.

Even after Trump incited a mob to violently attack the Capitol—a day the authors recount in minute-by-minute, stunning detail — Democrats pressured their own investigators to forego a thorough investigation in the name of safeguarding the Biden agenda. And Republicans, fearful of repelling a base they needed for re-election, missed their best moment to turn their backs on a leader they secretly agreed was destructive to democracy.

Sourced from hundreds of interviews with all the key players, the authors of Unchecked pull back the curtain on how both parties pursued political expediency over fact-finding. The end result not only emboldened Trump, giving him room for a political comeback, but also undermined Congress by rendering toothless their most powerful check on a president: the power of impeachment. A dramatic and at times crushing work of investigative reporting, Unchecked is both a gripping page-turner of political intrigue and a detailed case study for historians and political scientists searching for answers about the unravelling of checks and balances that have governed American democracy for centuries.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Rachel Bade and Karoun Demirjian (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

Exceptional Journalism

This is a well documented and argued work of investigative journalism. Its topic, the power of the legislature to check a rogue president, should be of interest to all Americans. Politics have always driven outcomes in Congress and the presidency. However, there must be times when principal overrides political instincts. This is a must read for historians, political, scientist, and Americans in general.

Brilliant!

Excellent journalism and laying out the facts on both sides. Too bad those in power won’t read this and remember so we won’t be doomed to repeat history.

DT's Never-ending Toxic Grift is Exhausting

A rehash of recent history regarding DT's illegal grifts at everyone else's expense, and the Democrats total inability to catch this criminal. It is painful to recall and realize that years later DT continues to outfox his detractors despite his obvious guilt. Bade does a fine job of recounting all the dramas and surprises as they unfolded themselves at the time.

Seemed to be unbiased account .

I believe this to be an unbiased telling of actions engulfing Jan 6 attack on the Capital.
I would recommend all people who question the Wrongful acts read it thoroughly.

The most detailed version of the events

Thorough doesn’t even begin to describe the amount of detail that’s contained here. Every state of consequence has multiple chapters outlining the path to getting the election right. It’s a fascinating listen

Good book, but missed one mark

As someone that desires facts without trying to manipulate the reader’s perspective, I feel this book delivered. But I believe that they missed the mark on the public’s interest. Yes we want to move on, but we also want to ensure this can never happen again. The proof is in the elections.

Great

A Great political thriller. Thought it might be a bit dry but not at all.

Journalists with a bias. But enjoyed it!

Good reporting but “journalists” enter their own opinions and biases way too much. Bade is a cheerleader for democrats. But book is still enjoyable.

Wrong narrator

This narrator would be fine for children's literature but did not fit here. Too many details (pepperoni pizza smell in a room I will never see) slowed the story sapping it of the drama which it naturally possessed.