This Will Not Pass

Trump, Biden and the Battle for American Democracy

De: Jonathan Martin, Alexander Burns

Narrado por: Dennis Boutsikaris

The “blockbuster” (The Guardian) New York Times bestseller, a shocking, definitive account of the 2020 election and the first year of the Biden presidency by two New York Times reporters, exposes the deep fissures within both parties as the country approaches a political breaking point.

This is the authoritative, “deeply reported” (The Wall Street Journal) account of an eighteen-month crisis in American democracy that will be seared into the country’s political memory for decades to come. With stunning, in-the-room detail, New York Times reporters Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns show how both our political parties confronted a series of national traumas, including the coronavirus pandemic, the January 6 attack on the Capitol, and the political brinksmanship of President Biden’s first year in the White House.

From Donald Trump’s assault on the 2020 election and his ongoing campaign of vengeance against his fellow Republicans to the behind-the-scenes story of Biden’s selection of Kamala Harris as his running mate and his bitter struggles to unite the Democratic Party, this book exposes the degree to which the two-party system has been strained to the point of disintegration. More than at any time in recent history, the long-established traditions and institutions of American politics are under siege as a set of aging political leaders struggle to hold together the changing country.

Martin and Burns break news on most every page, drawing on hundreds of interviews and never-before-seen documents and recordings from the highest levels of government. This “masterful” (George Stephanopoulos) book asks the vitally important (and disturbing) question: can American democracy, as we know it, ever work again?

©2022 Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Commanding and compelling

A command and compelling historiography and commentary on the consequences of the 2020 presidential election, including the Jan. 6th insurrection, Trump’s election interference. But also Biden’s first year in office and his administration’s efforts to achieve its major legislation such as infrastructure that involved satisfying members within his party and Republican not beholden to Trump. This is about the machinations of governing in a dysfunctional Congress, about the bewildering hold of members of Congress who have created Trump into a cult of personality, a man that leaders of our Allies fear would destroy our democracy and our leadership in the free world.

Solid book, well rounded

I liked that the book encompassed the end of the Trump administration and beginning of Biden’s. I felt it was well-researched and thorough. However, I’ve listened to a LOT of books about the 45th POTUS, and I didn’t feel this was offered anything revolutionary or novel. It’s well written and composed and narration was pretty good.

Great read, bad reading

Excellent book, a lot of care and effort went into its crafting.
But you’d think they would have made sure the narrator knew how to pronounce all the names of politicians, staff and world leaders whose names are so often butchered.

Essential

Loved this! I want them to write companion books every year or 18 months. I feel like I am reading a detailed history book, but I know the characters. Essential!!

The story of our times.

I can’t believe I ate the whole thing (I may have sleep through some). This book will be an interesting read after we’re all gone and very few people would know or care about democracy.

A Must Read

This is a riveting account of what happened leading up to, as well as, during and after January 6. Well researched, written, and narrated.

Republican House Conference Calls

WOW! To hear the MTG, the Ohio State coach sex abuse enabler Jordan, Trump bootlicker McCarthy, and a few other fringe members, all recorded on tape in closed Republican House meetings after Jan 6th blaming everything but the big fat orange elephant in the room, for their woes is worse than anyone ever thought. The recordings are at the end of the very interesting book. But also to hear Constitution-first House Republicans call them out as hypocrites and liars, is also extremely interesting. Don’t quit listening till you’ve heard the recordings!

Somewhat new info

By now, most of us know what the last few years were like. Some of us have even been in denial about the last gasps of the Trump regime: COVID, election deniers, January 6th, etc. So I'm not sure if people need to hear more.
The only new info that's interesting are the last 2 chapters, which features actual audio of GOP committee members trying to move forward after the riot after blaming Trump for not accepting defeat.

Skewed Slightly to Left, but Good Inside Recap

Although definitely favors the Dems and Biden, it does a good job of giving an inside view of Congressional activities before and after Jan. 6. Shows politics Trumps all.

Excellent Book

I loved this book. “This Will Not Pass” tells one of the most important stories of contemporary history. It is a very important story on understanding the why. How did our politics get to this point? How do our politics still remain so bitterly divided today? It is that book that seeks to answer those questions. It seeks to explain the political division and aftermath beyond and before 1/6, but how 1/6 served as the catalyst for deeper partisanship and division. A must read.