Steve Kornacki
The Red and the Blue
The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism
Ecco, 2018
What's inside?
The 1990s set the stage for years of political gridlock and animus.
Recommendation
It’s tempting to look at the 1990s as a golden age of American politics. Foreign wars were quick and decisive, economic growth was robust and federal budgets were balanced. But, in fact, it was a decade that set the stage for the current politics of gridlock and discord, journalist Steve Kornacki argues in this detailed recap of the political trajectories of Newt Gingrich – who plays a central role in Kornacki’s tale – and Bill Clinton. Seeking to launch a conservative revolution, Gingrich brought a new brand of bare-knuckle politics to a House of Representatives where compromise had, previously, ruled the day. Kornacki serves up a neutral retelling of the politics of the 1990s, and he barely mentions Donald Trump. But this history leaves little doubt that Trump is a direct descendant of Gingrich, not to mention the tough-talking ’90s figures Ross Perot and Pat Buchanan.
Summary
About the Author
Steve Kornacki is a national political correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Roll Call and The New York Times.
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