New Year: Renewed Resistance Reading List

Ah, where to begin? It is a 2020, and Trump has been impeached, but is still in power as of this writing.

It is likely “Dumpty” will retain power until the next Presidential election due to a thoroughly compromised and/or corrupt Republican-controlled Senate. As written in the United States Constitution, the House of Representatives "shall have the sole Power of Impeachment" (Article I, section 2) and "the Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments…[but] no person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two-thirds of the Members present" (Article I, section 3). The president, vice president, and all civil officers of the United States are subject to impeachment.

Should we ever find our way to justice after this debacle of a “presidency”, nearly every officer appointed under Trump would be impeached and later tried in a court of law for their criminality and, in some cases, treasonous activities. For now, however, we will continue to resist this heinous administration and its policies of cruelty and grift.

To provide some cheer as we ring in the New Year, here is a suggested reading list of new books for everyone to dig into and enjoy from the trenches:

1. Dumpty, The Age of Trump in Verse by John Lithgow. This New York Times Bestseller little gem is pure delight. Lithgow runs through the gamut of corrupt figures and actions in this administration, exposing them all in clever verse. It is surprisingly thorough in covering the nasty characters who were quickly pushed out of the headlines by Trump’s next distraction. Published by Chronicle Prism, an imprint of Chronical Books, it is available in major bookstores and online.

2. The Impeachers: The Trial of Andrew Johnson and the Dream of a Just Nation by Brenda Wineapple. Not a quick read but a deeply satisfying one. According to Pulitizer Prize winning author Ron Chernow, “In this superbly lyrical work, Brenda Wineapple has plugged a glaring hole in our historical memory through her vivid and sweeping portrayal of President Andrew Johnson’s 1868 impeachment. She serves up not simply food for thought but a veritable feast of observations on that most trying decision for a democracy: whether to oust a sitting president. Teeming with fiery passions and unforgettable characters, The Impeachers will be devoured by contemporary readers seeking enlightenment on this issue. . . . A landmark study.” High praise and well-deserved. History provides context as well as insight into our current state of affairs.

3. Magic for the Resistance: Rituals and Spells for Change by Michael M. Hughes. This satiric work is published by Llewellyn and available in new age bookstores and online.

4. Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic by David Frum. Frum is as gloomy as they come and a displaced conservative, but he writes exceedingly well about this administration. Available at major bookstores and online.

5. It’s Even Worse Than You Think, What the Trump Administration is Doing to America by David Cay Johnston. Another New York Times’ bestseller, this heavy book details the border wall madness particularly well.

6. Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine K. Albright. Insightful and historical book written by the first woman Secretary of State. The only issue with her book is that we already all feel that warning. Available at major bookstores and online.

7. Run for Something: Don’t Just March; A Real-Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself by Amanda Litman. Litman is the co-founder of “Run for Something.” Published by Atria Books and available online.

8. Yes We (Still) Can: Politics in the Age of Obama, Twitter, and Trump by Dan Pfeiffer. This book gives practical advice relating to how we use social media to fight back. Available online.

9. The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir by Samantha Power. This Pulizer Prize-winning author worked in the Obama White House. Her new book is available in major bookstores and online.

10. Yes to the Wind: A Memoir of Love and Death, Hope and Resistance by Ady Barkan. One of the great heroes to come out of this resistance movement, Barkan is a must read. AOC wrote the Foreword. Published by Atria Books, Barkan’s memoir is available in major bookstores and online.

Although a host of books have been written by Trump former White House “insiders” who left or were booted out due to lack of sufficient fealty to Trump, I am not including those books here. Steve Bannon and their ilk use their money for rather evil, white nationalist purposes globally, so let’s not give them any more cash. Nor should we fund the cheat and lying fraud Spicy Sean Spicer.

This list is just a start but a good one. Enjoy, keep resisting, and reframe those arguments. Happy New Year.