First published 2026
Political lies have become weapons that undermine elections, justify illegal deportations, and spark insurrections against peaceful transfers of power. Mueller investigation prosecutor Andrew Weissmann argues that false claims by figures like Donald Trump pose an existential threat to American democracy, yet our legal system offers no recourse when politicians lie to voters. While lying about businesses or individuals brings fines and prison time, deceiving the electorate remains legally untouchable. Weissmann contends this gap stems not from the First Amendment but from outdated assumptions about what law can control. He proposes reimagining courtrooms as forums for separating fact from fiction in political discourse. The Biden administration's adherence to old norms proves insufficient for this crisis. Weissmann presents both diagnosis and cure, showing how legal tools already exist to combat toxic political deceit. His slim treatise serves as a playbook for stopping Trump and preventing similar threats from emerging. The solution requires abandoning traditional approaches and rebuilding democratic systems from the courtroom upward.
Genres: american, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism
Setting: America, United States
Period: 21st Century
240 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company