(Reviewed by JD Jung)
“You can’t understand the Trump phenomenon unless you understand the role that independent media on the right has played in terms of social media, in terms of amplification of his message, in terms of getting his fake news across.”
Democrats have yet to create a strategy to compete with the right-wing media environment. How can they create a message that is delivered to the audience that most needs to hear it? How can they get it out effectively? Why are Democrats held to higher standards than Republicans?
Political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen explores these questions in depth as well as how shamelessly Republicans use anti-democratic techniques to stay in power, in Shameless: Republicans’ Deliberate Dysfunction and the Battle to Preserve Democracy. These tactics include gerrymandering, voter suppression, manipulating the courts and the Electoral College.
Cohen explains the history of this Republican strategy, back to the 1971 “Powell memo”, including Reagan instilling public distrust in our institutions, political hostility and media manipulation from Newt Gingrich in the 1990’s and the REDMAPing (Redistricting Majority Project ) of the 2010’s.
Opinions from Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin (inc. the forward), former Minnesota senator Al Franken, journalist Mehdi Hasan and other political contributors add to this essential read.
This must-read book not only suggests what Democrats can do to effectively get their message out, but also what we, as citizens, can do preserve our democracy. And isn’t that a worthwhile struggle for every American?
