The Truce: Progressives, Centrists, and the Future of the Democratic Party

by Hunter Walker

An inside story of the Democratic Party at a moment of great peril.

Even before the cataclysmic 2016 election, the Democratic Party had long been at war with itself―yet Joe Biden’s narrow victory in 2020 bridged the divide. Facing the dire threat of a second Trump administration, Democrats forged an unlikely but effective coalition that stalled Trumpism at the ballot box and enacted a raft of consequential legislation. But how long can the uneasy peace hold, and can Biden win again?

The Truce is a definitive history of a half-decade of upheaval in the Democratic Party in which a new generation aggressively pursued their progressive ideals while the powerful, centrist establishment adapted to remain in command. Journalists Hunter Walker and Luppe B. Luppen illuminate this story of backroom maneuvering and political strategy with new revelations about pivotal events and exclusive, on-the-record comments from activists, campaign operatives, members of Congress, Biden White House aides, Senator Bernie Sanders, and former president Barack Obama.

The Truce explores the major fault lines that define Democratic politics today and asks big questions about the future of the party. Will economic or social justice hold primacy at the top of the Democratic agenda? Who will lead the major wings of the party after two defining figures, Biden and Sanders, exit the stage? The Truce surveys the major shifts underway, from the rise of the Squad and new Democratic leadership in the House to a complete overhaul of the primary process. By digging into the divide between left and center, Walker and Luppen expose the creeping generational and political tensions that Biden has―for the moment―kept at bay.

An engrossing work, and a surprising page-turner, The Truce grapples with the dangers that threaten American democracy and the complicated cast of characters who are trying to save it.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 23, 2024

Reviews

[Greg Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Truce is a brief and selective history of the Democratic Party from 2015 to the present. The truce refers to is an implicit understanding between the centrist and the progressive wings of the party that they are each better off working together than letting disagreements fracture the party. By using the analogy of a truce, the authors acknowledge that this understanding may not last and the future is yet to be determined.

I found the book a rather quick and compelling read. For someone who follows the U.S political scene by reading the daily news, The Truce might at first seem a rehash of events about which the reader is already familiar. But it becomes apparent quickly that the stories are told in greater depth thanks to the original reporting and interviews conducted by the authors. Interesting sketch portraits of Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, the Squad, Pramila Jayapal, and others, emerge from these stories. The book also covers relevant institutional structures such as the reporting failures from the 2020 Iowa caucuses, the challenge of legislation around the existence of the filibuster, redistricting, and the changes to the Democratic primary calendar for 2024 and beyond.

For those who follow politics at the surface but would like a somewhat deeper dive without getting too mired in minutiae, I recommend this book. Its assessment of where things stand in late 2023/early 2024 will provide a useful frame of reference for the election campaigns in 2024 and beyond.

[Vladimir · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm left not knowing what the truce is, Biden being a nice guy?

Why pick Harris if, as administration insiders say, she didn't have the juice? If Biden just wanted somebody who wouldn't be a primary rival, pick a young progressive instead of a cop.

If there's a truce, why did obama not suggest warren should drop out and unify with biden, the way he told other candidates? And why did Obama want bernie people to be involved in task forces instead of cabinet positions or as VP?

Subtitle of Truce is "progressives, centrists, and the future of the democratic party". But the story is of progressives being friendly with biden, while right wing blue dogs and problem solvers caucus etc get their way. The book likes to use the title "radical centrist" but that doesn't mean anything, why not admit conservatives and reactionaries control the party.

And how friendly is Biden anyway? On pp220-21, Biden explicitly makes an agreement with Cuomo for Cuomo to stay out of the presidential race in order for one of them (Biden) to defeat the left.

[Barbara Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading "The Truce" in 2025, the outcome of the 2024 election is simultaneously old news and daily outrages. So I wanted to understand why the Democratic Party has continued to fail in the 21st century, and what can turn this around.

I have no love of Bernie Sanders and how he has played Democrat when it suited him. But "The Truce" helped me understand the value of how other progressives have chipped away at much-needed changes to the party.

This book overall demonstrates consistently excellent research and reporting. Even though I already knew a lot about what happened, I was fascinated by the behind-the-scenes details and candid interviews. And I learned a lot.

Will the Truce hold? I think it will, especially as both centrists and progressives join together on fundamental democratic rights. "...Building political momentum is not a matter of adopting broadly popular positions, or being personally popular, but of sticking with what you believe in and pushing the whole debate in the right direction."

[Hindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the next general election on the horizon, I gave this entertaining book a read. I am someone who cares deeply about current events, but political theatrics and inauthenticity gives me headaches. This book gave me enough political theater to understand the current political landscape without getting too far into the back-and-forth nonsense. The overviews of various current events gave me some feels throughout as I read about the actions leaders I believe in took to address important causes in the face of political gridlock and party politics. The book summarizes and analyzes the evolution of the Democratic Party over the last ten years, contextualizing where the party is today. I learned a lot, laughed at the political drama, and came away with a bit more skepticism and a bit more hope. Writing this in May 2024, I can’t help but wonder how this book will age.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immensely insightful and riveting stories and analysis of the various factions of the Democratic party. As a person who lives far outside the Beltway, I found this book to be detailed, fact-based, well-written, and helpful in understanding all the inflection points that got the party where it is today. It's an excellent primer as we approach the 2024 election.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and informative look at the intra-party dynamics for Dems from like 2016-23. The focus was on the gains made by the more progressive wing of the party and the ways in which that wing forged common cause with President Biden. Definitely very inside baseball but I found it interesting.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good overview of the way that Biden worked with the various factions of the democratic party leading up to and through his presidency as well as info on the progressive movement post-2016. Easy to read and great scene setting/ storytelling for a book focused on politics.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much politics for me.
Did not finish.
Thanks to Goodreads and the authors for my copy.

[Robin C. Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The truce

Interesting read if you want to understand what's going on in Democratic party and how they got organized. Was curious so this was interesting

[Harry Smith]

Helpful reporting, interesting read, but oh dear the Harris stuff 😬

🤞 - 10/4/24

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good history of the machinations in the Democratic party between 2008 and today. If you have followed this stuff, a lot of it will be old news. But there is a lot of what actually went on behind the scenes that makes it a worthwhile read.