The Curse of Demagogues
Eli Merritt
The Curse of Demagogues: Lessons Learned from the Presidency of Donald J. Trump is a collection of 32 essays by 22 writers that make the case that the pathway back to a healthy American democracy is for citizens to understand demagogues and defend against them.
More than any other book in print, The Curse of Demagogues makes the story of Donald Trump's rise to the White House coherent and understandable. Trump, a demagogue, gained ascendancy in a laissez-faire political culture wherein neither the Republican Party nor the other gatekeepers of democracy, including the news media, effectively counteracted him. Once in the highest office in the land, Trump devolved into authoritarianism in order to retain power, as demagogues are well-known to do.
The book has three overarching aims. First, it constitutes a short history of Trump's years in the White House (and his first two campaigns for president) as told from the perspective of scholars, journalists, and legal experts who specifically warned the public about his dangers as a demagogue in real time. Second, the collection is a detailed primer on demagogues and the multifarious ways they poison the vital organs of constitutional democracy. Third, the book is an urgent call to restore gatekeepers to their essential role as defenders of democracy against demagogues.
To revivify our once great democracy, we must defend it against demagogues by strengthening gatekeeping systems within political parties, the media, and the US Congress (powers of impeachment, conviction, and disqualification from future office), and through vigorous civics, ethics, and media literacy education for grades K-12.
As Eli Merritt, editor and contributor, writes in the book's introduction:
"The enemy of democracy is not a Democrat or Republican. It is a demagogue."
©2022 Eli Merritt (P)2023 Peter Lerman
Duration - 4h 4m.
Author - Eli Merritt.
Narrator - Peter Lerman.
Published Date - Sunday, 01 January 2023.
Copyright - © 2022 Eli Merritt ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
The Curse of Demagogues: Lessons Learned from the Presidency of Donald J. Trump is a collection of 32 essays by 22 writers that make the case that the pathway back to a healthy American democracy is for citizens to understand demagogues and defend against them. More than any other book in print, The Curse of Demagogues makes the story of Donald Trump's rise to the White House coherent and understandable. Trump, a demagogue, gained ascendancy in a laissez-faire political culture wherein neither the Republican Party nor the other gatekeepers of democracy, including the news media, effectively counteracted him. Once in the highest office in the land, Trump devolved into authoritarianism in order to retain power, as demagogues are well-known to do. The book has three overarching aims. First, it constitutes a short history of Trump's years in the White House (and his first two campaigns for president) as told from the perspective of scholars, journalists, and legal experts who specifically warned the public about his dangers as a demagogue in real time. Second, the collection is a detailed primer on demagogues and the multifarious ways they poison the vital organs of constitutional democracy. Third, the book is an urgent call to restore gatekeepers to their essential role as defenders of democracy against demagogues. To revivify our once great democracy, we must defend it against demagogues by strengthening gatekeeping systems within political parties, the media, and the US Congress (powers of impeachment, conviction, and disqualification from future office), and through vigorous civics, ethics, and media literacy education for grades K-12. As Eli Merritt, editor and contributor, writes in the book's introduction: "The enemy of democracy is not a Democrat or Republican. It is a demagogue." ©2022 Eli Merritt (P)2023 Peter Lerman Duration - 4h 4m. Author - Eli Merritt. Narrator - Peter Lerman. Published Date - Sunday, 01 January 2023. Copyright - © 2022 Eli Merritt ©.
Language:
English
Opening Credits
Duration:00:00:17
Introduction
Duration:00:12:27
Section 1 essay 2
Duration:00:10:34
Section 1 essay 1
Duration:00:07:57
Section 1 essay 4
Duration:00:08:25
Section 1 essay 5
Duration:00:09:43
Section 1 essay 6
Duration:00:07:18
Section 1 essay 7
Duration:00:15:31
Section 1 essay 10
Duration:00:05:45
Section 2 essay 15
Duration:00:07:22
Section 2 essay 16
Duration:00:13:41
Section 1 essay 11
Duration:00:08:11
Section 2 essay 12
Duration:00:07:21
Section 2 essay 13
Duration:00:12:25
Section 2 essay 14
Duration:00:06:42
Section 2 essay 17
Duration:00:09:15
Section 2 essay 18
Duration:00:05:08
Section 2 essay 19
Duration:00:06:40
Section 3 essay 20
Duration:00:07:41
Section 3 essay 21
Duration:00:11:58
Section 3 essay 22
Duration:00:09:16
Section 3 essay 23
Duration:00:05:09
Section 3 essay 24
Duration:00:07:08
Section 3 essay 25
Duration:00:13:24
Section 3 essay 26
Duration:00:06:59
Section 3 essay 27
Duration:00:05:56
Section 3 essay 28
Duration:00:08:35
Section 3 essay 29
Duration:00:07:16
Section 3 essay 30
Duration:00:05:34
Ending Credits
Duration:00:00:54