Politics & Government
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The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics After 2020
A probing and illuminating analysis of the current state of American politics, focusing on Donald Trump's lie about election fraud, by the White House Bureau Chief of Politico and the host of MSNBC's Way Too Early.
Jonathan Lemire uncovers that "The Big Lie," as it's been termed, isn't just about the 2020 election. It's become a political philosophy that has only further divided the two parties.
Donald Trump first tried it out in 2016, at an August rally in Ohio. He said that perhaps he wouldn't accept the election results in his race against Hillary Clinton, that the election was "rigged." He then mentioned it at more rallies and even at one of the fall debates. He didn't have to challenge the result that year, but the stage was set. When he lost in 2020, he started the lie back up again and to devastating results: an insurrection at the Capitol in January 2021.
Republicans are still wholly under Trump's sway. From his retirement at his Florida and New Jersey clubs he meets with Republican officials, aspiring candidates, and advisers and demands loyalty about this twisted way of thinking. And Democrats still deal with him as their opposition party is driven by a blatant lie. The parties aren't divided by the aisle―they're on different planets.
In the more than five tumultuous, paradigm-shifting years of Donald Trump's presidency and beyond, his near-constant lying has become a fixture of political life. It is inextricably linked with how his party behaves, how the Democrats respond to it, and how he remains relevant, even after a decisive loss in 2020. Jonathan Lemire brings his connections, profile, and dogged reportorial instincts to bear in his first book that explores how this phenomenon shapes our politics.
Written with sharp political insight and detailed with dozens of interviews, The Big Lie is the first book to examine this unprecedented and tenuous moment in our nation's politics.
Jonathan Lemire uncovers that "The Big Lie," as it's been termed, isn't just about the 2020 election. It's become a political philosophy that has only further divided the two parties.
Donald Trump first tried it out in 2016, at an August rally in Ohio. He said that perhaps he wouldn't accept the election results in his race against Hillary Clinton, that the election was "rigged." He then mentioned it at more rallies and even at one of the fall debates. He didn't have to challenge the result that year, but the stage was set. When he lost in 2020, he started the lie back up again and to devastating results: an insurrection at the Capitol in January 2021.
Republicans are still wholly under Trump's sway. From his retirement at his Florida and New Jersey clubs he meets with Republican officials, aspiring candidates, and advisers and demands loyalty about this twisted way of thinking. And Democrats still deal with him as their opposition party is driven by a blatant lie. The parties aren't divided by the aisle―they're on different planets.
In the more than five tumultuous, paradigm-shifting years of Donald Trump's presidency and beyond, his near-constant lying has become a fixture of political life. It is inextricably linked with how his party behaves, how the Democrats respond to it, and how he remains relevant, even after a decisive loss in 2020. Jonathan Lemire brings his connections, profile, and dogged reportorial instincts to bear in his first book that explores how this phenomenon shapes our politics.
Written with sharp political insight and detailed with dozens of interviews, The Big Lie is the first book to examine this unprecedented and tenuous moment in our nation's politics.
Editorial Reviews
"A trenchant analysis. . . . This dispatch on the state of American politics hits the bull's-eye." ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Readers Top Reviews
Jenn CorradoBever
Lemire is a superb writer. I’ve read a few books about trump and this one stands out. It’s focused on the big lies and details how trump was talking about voter fraud long before 2020 Ive read a few books about trump. this one is the best.
RamonJenn Corrado
This insightful take on Trump’s election lies traces its provenance to the start all while adding context and reporting. Lemire clearly saw it all from the campaign trails in 2016 and 2020, the grind of daily White House reporting and everything in between—including Helsinki when he challenged Trump like no other reporter had done. This is the best work to emerge from the Trump presidency for merging comprehensive detail and big picture analysis.
Charles StratisRa
A story of fact describes the birth of deceit and lies , that are ruining America,
JAMES DCharles St
John Lemire will be remembered for the four words he asked Donald Trump in Helsinki in 2018 - "Who do you believe?" Though that question challenged the President's opinions on Vladimir Putin and his own intelligence agencies, it has become the mantra for American politics in the years since. In a world where facts are fungible and disinformation rampant, asking 'Who do you Believe" is the central question in American Politics. 'The Big Lie' is not another pseudo-memoir by an insider trying to launder their reputation and trade on gossip, but a serious book; a well-reported dive into the politics of facts, truth and the future of American democracy.
Mark J ChristyJAM
Jonathan Lemire is the guy who asked Trump in front of Putin in Helsinki whether he believes his own intelligence agencies or the Russians. This is an excellent book that details how Trump set the stage for the big lie in 2016 and then went harcore with the big lie after he LOST the election in 2020. Jonathan's insights and commentary are spot-on. This is one of those books that you won't be able to put down until you finish!
