by Jake Sherman
First published 2019
The 2018 midterm elections transformed Congress into a battleground where survival meant everything. Sherman takes readers inside the savage political warfare that erupted as both parties fought for control of the House and Senate. The conservative Freedom Caucus clashed with Speaker Paul Ryan in a torrid power struggle. Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination threw the Senate into chaos amid sexual assault allegations. Across America, primary battles turned vicious as candidates scrambled for advantage. President Trump's unpredictable tweets could upend any situation in moments. Sherman and co-author Anna Palmer gained unprecedented access to party leadership, witnessing the dealmaking and betrayals firsthand. They chronicle the strategy sessions and impulsive decisions that shaped America's political future. This blow-by-blow account reveals the hidden machinations within Congress, where backstabbing became routine and compromise seemed impossible. The book captures a moment when American democracy faced its greatest test, with the nation's direction hanging in the balance.
Genres: political-science, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, american-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: backstabbing, betrayal, dealmaking, power-struggle
Setting: America
Period: 2018
432 pages · Hardcover · Crown