Backroom Deals in Our Backyards

How Government Secrecy Harms Our Communities and the Local Heroes Fighting Back

De: Miranda S. Spivack

Narrado por: Kristin James

Most Americans are likely to encounter the effects of government malfeasance or neglect close to home—from their governors, mayors, town councils, school boards, police, and prosecutors. In fact, deals shrouded in darkness are regularly made at the state and local levels, often the result of closed-door discussions between governments and industry without any scrutiny whatsoever from the public. Too often, residents are intentionally kept on the outside, struggling to get information about significant issues affecting their communities—from car crashes and dirty drinking water, to failing safety gear—until the backroom deals are done and it's too late to challenge them.

Backroom Deals in Our Backyards tells the story of five "accidental activists"—people from across the United States who started questioning why their local and state governments didn't protect them from issues facing their communities and why there was a frightening lack of transparency surrounding the way these issues were resolved. The secret deals, lies, and corruption they uncover shake their faith in government but move them to action.

For fans of Chain of Title and Superman's Not Coming, Spivack's revealing take on a hidden dimension of American politics will outrage and educate anyone who cares about the forces shaping their own communities.

©2025 Miranda S. Spivack (P)2025 Tantor Media

Backroom Deals in our Backyards: Most valuable was the summary of strategies for others to use if in a similar situation.

Kristin James, the talented narrator, made the biggest difference for me. I may not have even finished the book without. She kept me highly engaged throughout all of the case studies until the end of the book. She brought these issues to life.

Secrecy to hide hide side deals between industry and government.

We need to expect our government to do it’s work openly and make it easy to get public information easily available.