The Destructionists

The Twenty-Five Year Crack-Up of the Republican Party

By: Dana Milbank

Narrated by: Dana Milbank

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • A scalding history of twenty-five years of Republican attempts to hold on to political power by any means necessary, by a hugely popular Washington Post political columnist

"A thorough and scathing account of how the Republican Party fell prey to Trumpism."—The New York Times Book Review

In 1994, more than 300 Republicans under the command of obstructionist and rabble-rouser Congressman Newt Gingrich stood outside the U.S. Capitol to sign the Contract with America and put bipartisanship on notice. Twenty-five years later, on January 6, 2021, a bloodthirsty mob incited by President Trump invaded the Capitol.

Dana Milbank sees a clear line from the Contract with America to the coup attempt. In the quarter century in between, Americans have witnessed the crackup of the party of Lincoln and Reagan, to its current iteration as a haven for white supremacists, political violence, conspiracy theories and authoritarianism.

Following the questionable careers of party heavyweights Newt Gingrich, Karl Rove, Mitch McConnell, and Rudy Giuliani, and those of many lesser known lowlights, Milbank recounts the shocking lengths the Republican Party has gone to to maintain its grip on the American people.

A good review to answer how we got here

This is a good review to show how bad or improper actions will have serious consequences in following years. This book explains when bad politicians are allowed a platform then later there are more difficult challenges to the core of democracy. This book should become a film documentary for a wider audience to understand who are/were our elected officials.

Connecting the Dots

This mandatory reading for all those who want to understand how we got to the politics of hate. I am 74 years old. I lived through all the sign post Milbank covers. I really needed someone to connect the dots for me…he did just that. I am greatly indebted to him!

Meticulous

Meticulously researched, this will anger, horrify, and terrify you. A "must" read. Please read it before you vote.

Great Summary

Nothing new in Dana's book, but it provides a great summary of where we are as a nation. It's a cold bucket of water on the head to hear such a point by point review of where the GOP is today.

Incredible

This book pulled everything out of my memory and put it together to make it make sense.