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Stench: The Making of the Thomas Court and the Unmaking of America
A blistering expose of Clarence Thomas and the conservative regime of corruption that has usurped the Supreme Court — by a Democratic activist and former Republican political operativePublic confidence in the Supreme Court has plummeted to new lows in the last few years – and for good reason. In the past three decades, six conservative justices have gained a supermajority through questionable a dubious intervention in a presidential election, perjury during Senate testimony, and a GOP Senate Leader’s unethical blockade of a Supreme Court nomination. Behind this strategic dismantling of our Supreme Court is a vast, well-funded political machine—backed by the extreme right-wing Federalist Society, the notoriously secretive Catholic organization Opus Dei, and GOP megadonors operating from behind closed doors.Armed with an insider’s perspective from his time within the conservative movement, David Brock reveals how the efforts to stack the court in service of extreme right-wing interests stem from a decades-long strategy to weaponize our judicial system into an extension of the Republican party itself. Stench investigates the ethics scandals that surround Clarence Thomas and his wife, the rightwing activist Ginni Thomas, culling new material from Thomas’ accusers, along with original reporting and Brock’s first-hand knowledge of the inner workings of the GOP. Stench is a staggering expose, one that only Brock could write—exhaustive in its research and revelatory in its access to the world of what has effectively become the Thomas Court.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published September 17, 2024
55 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
David Brock
123 books32 followersDavid^Brock.
There is more than one author by this name in the database.
David Brock is a journalist currently living in Washington, DC. He started out in professional journalism with a piece in "The Wall Street Journal", that caught the attention of John Podhoretz, who was assigned with starting a magazine for the conservative daily newspaper, "The Washington Times".
He worked as a news reporter for a while at "Insight" (the Washington Times' magazine) until eventually moving up to work for the paper, itself. His prominence in the conservative movement as a journalist got him a job at the American Spectator. During his time at the Spectator, Brock became very well known for filing "hatchet jobs" against then-President Bill Clinton (William Jefferson Clinton) and the first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
He wrote the hugely popular book, "The Real Anita Hill", which attempted to paint Anita Hill (who accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment while he was being confirmed to the Court) as being a liar who could not be trusted (Brock labeled her "a bit nutty and a bit slutty").
He eventually "broke" with the conservatives and went on to try to make amends for his character assassination and fabrication of the truth while he was in the movement.
He detailed these fabrications and denounced much of his own earlier work in his 2002 book, "Blinded By The Right".
He is now the CEO and founder of "Media Matters for America", a progressive media watchdog group thats mission is to find and correct conservative misinformation in the mainstream press.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Regis
There is more than one author by this name in the database.
David Brock is a journalist currently living in Washington, DC. He started out in professional journalism with a piece in "The Wall Street Journal", that caught the attention of John Podhoretz, who was assigned with starting a magazine for the conservative daily newspaper, "The Washington Times".
He worked as a news reporter for a while at "Insight" (the Washington Times' magazine) until eventually moving up to work for the paper, itself. His prominence in the conservative movement as a journalist got him a job at the American Spectator. During his time at the Spectator, Brock became very well known for filing "hatchet jobs" against then-President Bill Clinton (William Jefferson Clinton) and the first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
He wrote the hugely popular book, "The Real Anita Hill", which attempted to paint Anita Hill (who accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment while he was being confirmed to the Court) as being a liar who could not be trusted (Brock labeled her "a bit nutty and a bit slutty").
He eventually "broke" with the conservatives and went on to try to make amends for his character assassination and fabrication of the truth while he was in the movement.
He detailed these fabrications and denounced much of his own earlier work in his 2002 book, "Blinded By The Right".
He is now the CEO and founder of "Media Matters for America", a progressive media watchdog group thats mission is to find and correct conservative misinformation in the mainstream press.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Regis
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 12, 2025
David Brock brings forth this detailed assessment and derailment of the current US Supreme Court, arguing that it is not only pushed far to the right, but also headed by the destructive arch-conservative Clarence Thomas. Brock explores the shift in the Court from the time Thomas joined in 1991, as well as the influences that have pulled judicial decisions in a rightward direction. All the while, Brock explores Thomas and those closest to him through a biographical lens, particularly those who have helped push the Court away from legal rulings and towards bring the lapdog of powerful conservative views. Well-argued and full of poignant sentiments, Brock shines light on something many will have seen through media assessments.
While the general public has shown a significant lack of confidence in the US Supreme Court, David Brock argues that many found it shocking that the country’s legal foundation is in question. Brock explores this drop over the last three decades, a time when six conservative Justices have been nominated and confirmed, permitting the right to gain a massive majority on the Court. They have done significant damage to the country and made sure to turn the Court from the final arbiter of legal matters to becoming a plaything of the radical right and Evangelical Christians. All this, with a powerful Justice sitting there and taking the reins of power from the Chief Justice for himself.
Brock opens with a reassessment of Clarence Thomas, whose selection in 1991, helped highlight the start of the influence by the Federalist Society and Leonard Leo. This group has ensured that Evangelical Christians are able to steer their extreme views into rulings and restrict constitutional interpretation over time. Happy to serve as a place for powerful donors can have their views pushed, the Society has used subtle means to steer nominations from the White House and ensure they are pushed through Congress. While it is subtle, the group has effectively made sure to twists views only after securing seats. Brock makes sure to show the progression and the ways in which those six Justices contorted themselves to ensure they were confirmed.
Brock argues that the Federalist Society made sure to choose their best mouthpieces, even when they were not qualified for the Court. He shows that decisions by these Justices helped to push things to the right, with interpretations that baffle legal scholars and Court historians alike. Added to this, speeches made that push far-right views that should ensure recusal on certain topics, but which has only served as a red flag warning before it is ignored. Brock effectively shows that this was the slow and somewhat subtle movement, but put together is a glaring clue to how the country lost a woman’s right to choose, the ultimate goal for the Federalist Society.
This was the goal of Justice Thomas, whose support by the Society helped push him into being the puppetmaster of the Court. Chief Justice John Roberts is the technical titular head of the current US Supreme Court, though Thomas has shown that he pulls the strings as the longest-serving arch-conservative Justice and the one blowing the dog whistle. David Brock ensures the reader that there is little desire by the Court to pretend they are doing anything but pushing an extremist view, as they find themselves above the law, literally and figuratively. Supported by an equally ugly dog whistle blower in the White House and with congressional leaders pushing through judicial nominees who have no right to hold such power, the Federalist Society keeps pushing an agenda out of sync with the country’s core values. The problem is that while the public can correct the pathway every two to six years for two of the Branches of Government, the Court is free from any real check other than by the nine Justices themselves. Sickening, but realistic, and clearly exactly what the Federalist Society wants for themselves.
While David Brock opens this book with a strong mea culpa for choosing to support Clarence Thomas in the early 1990s, that about face will be taken by many as lessening the impact of the details within this book. True, I was guarded as I listened to the book, but stacking facts and pointing to historical events through which I lived helped me see that this was not simply a means to correct course on the Court. Brock lays the groundwork to show that the Federalist Society has significantly influenced US Supreme Court nominations and helped to destroy constitutional precedents to ensure Evangelical sentiment marries the far-right racist views in America, leaving many on the wayside, none more flagrant than women who lost their right to choose. Sobering chapters make sure the reader can connect the dots and leaves them with their jaws on the floor. What’s next? One can only surmise it will be even more disastrous and exactly what Clarence Thomas hoped to see!
Kudos, Mr. Brock, for an eye-opening account of events that help push it once more to the brink.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
While the general public has shown a significant lack of confidence in the US Supreme Court, David Brock argues that many found it shocking that the country’s legal foundation is in question. Brock explores this drop over the last three decades, a time when six conservative Justices have been nominated and confirmed, permitting the right to gain a massive majority on the Court. They have done significant damage to the country and made sure to turn the Court from the final arbiter of legal matters to becoming a plaything of the radical right and Evangelical Christians. All this, with a powerful Justice sitting there and taking the reins of power from the Chief Justice for himself.
Brock opens with a reassessment of Clarence Thomas, whose selection in 1991, helped highlight the start of the influence by the Federalist Society and Leonard Leo. This group has ensured that Evangelical Christians are able to steer their extreme views into rulings and restrict constitutional interpretation over time. Happy to serve as a place for powerful donors can have their views pushed, the Society has used subtle means to steer nominations from the White House and ensure they are pushed through Congress. While it is subtle, the group has effectively made sure to twists views only after securing seats. Brock makes sure to show the progression and the ways in which those six Justices contorted themselves to ensure they were confirmed.
Brock argues that the Federalist Society made sure to choose their best mouthpieces, even when they were not qualified for the Court. He shows that decisions by these Justices helped to push things to the right, with interpretations that baffle legal scholars and Court historians alike. Added to this, speeches made that push far-right views that should ensure recusal on certain topics, but which has only served as a red flag warning before it is ignored. Brock effectively shows that this was the slow and somewhat subtle movement, but put together is a glaring clue to how the country lost a woman’s right to choose, the ultimate goal for the Federalist Society.
This was the goal of Justice Thomas, whose support by the Society helped push him into being the puppetmaster of the Court. Chief Justice John Roberts is the technical titular head of the current US Supreme Court, though Thomas has shown that he pulls the strings as the longest-serving arch-conservative Justice and the one blowing the dog whistle. David Brock ensures the reader that there is little desire by the Court to pretend they are doing anything but pushing an extremist view, as they find themselves above the law, literally and figuratively. Supported by an equally ugly dog whistle blower in the White House and with congressional leaders pushing through judicial nominees who have no right to hold such power, the Federalist Society keeps pushing an agenda out of sync with the country’s core values. The problem is that while the public can correct the pathway every two to six years for two of the Branches of Government, the Court is free from any real check other than by the nine Justices themselves. Sickening, but realistic, and clearly exactly what the Federalist Society wants for themselves.
While David Brock opens this book with a strong mea culpa for choosing to support Clarence Thomas in the early 1990s, that about face will be taken by many as lessening the impact of the details within this book. True, I was guarded as I listened to the book, but stacking facts and pointing to historical events through which I lived helped me see that this was not simply a means to correct course on the Court. Brock lays the groundwork to show that the Federalist Society has significantly influenced US Supreme Court nominations and helped to destroy constitutional precedents to ensure Evangelical sentiment marries the far-right racist views in America, leaving many on the wayside, none more flagrant than women who lost their right to choose. Sobering chapters make sure the reader can connect the dots and leaves them with their jaws on the floor. What’s next? One can only surmise it will be even more disastrous and exactly what Clarence Thomas hoped to see!
Kudos, Mr. Brock, for an eye-opening account of events that help push it once more to the brink.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
September 27, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up. While book addresses Thomas and his wife's actions, it actually focuses on far more. The book shows how ultra conservative groups have funneled money into politics to help guide many court appointments. There is documentation and evidence to show that several current Supreme Court Justices committed perjury to gain their seats. And it highlights Leonard Leo's role in gaining control of the courts.
I will say that some of the book felt dry and unorganized. I also initially struggled with the fact that the author of this book also authored a big that trashed Anita Hill. He does apologize and accepts blame for his role in hurting her.
I will say that some of the book felt dry and unorganized. I also initially struggled with the fact that the author of this book also authored a big that trashed Anita Hill. He does apologize and accepts blame for his role in hurting her.
October 4, 2024
Infuriating but important
January 12, 2025
finishing this post-election was ROUGH… like, bestie, you have nooooo idea how bad things are going to get i wish any of your optimistic discussions of the 2024 election panned out
January 15, 2025
David Brock was once a Republican operative who did a lot of mud-slinging against the Clintons. He “converted”, and now runs Media Matters for America, which pulls back the curtain on Fox News, Newsmax, and other right-wing propagandists.
This book is about the current Supreme Court and the scandals involving each of the 6 conservative members.
This book is about the current Supreme Court and the scandals involving each of the 6 conservative members.
October 21, 2024
As a born-again Democrat, David Brock cannot resist sounding feverish as he outlines the corruption of today’s Supreme Court, its barely concealed connections to right wing Christian nationalism, and the ways in which these developments have benefited Donald Trump. The tone is somewhat off putting for someone like me who doesn’t want to be drawn into tit-for-tat debates or what-aboutism, but I do understand his passion, on the eve of what might be the most consequential election of my lifetime. Brock traces the increasing tight relationships among the Federalist Society, Opus Dei, and Leonard Leo as intentional shapers of the Court; from that standpoint, the book reminded me a little of Jane Mayer’s ‘Dark Money,’ in that right wing intellectuals know how to play the long game and are patient enough to do it. The book revisits the very painful treatment received by Anita Hill at the hands of senators who should have known better, during the Clarence Thomas hearing. Once Trump accommodated these nationalist influencers by appointing Kavanagh, his hearing was Thomas revisited; Brock recounts the way the evidence was ignored (again) in that instance. As someone who was taken in by Thomas, Brock saves special ire for him—justifiably—and in the end he outlines eight counts for impeachment against the justice. These range by failure to disclose to conflict of interest, thanks to his activist wife’s actions. It’s a clear cut case, but will anyone take it up? In the meantime, the Supreme Court is one more American institution that seems undeserving of the American people’s faith and respect.
November 23, 2024
If you have found yourself angry at recent supreme court decisions or trying to figure out why other people are mad about recent decisions, then this is the perfect book to read. This book is a deep dive into the making of our current supreme court, going back to the Nixon era. It took an entire movement of conservative wealthy backers to finally make their vision, our reality. Most Americans are unaware of how twisted the system has become and as a result find feelings of hopelessness with every ruling. This book is informative, but it can also be a little angering. It highlights the fact that if we want a government that is FOR THE PEOPLE, we need to overturn the Citizen’s United v. FEC ruling. Until dark money is out of politics, actual American dreams will not exist. David Brock is a former conservative operative who worked to get some of our justices seated. He has since changed his philosophies and offers insider information in a non-biased, fact-filled way. All this information is out there to be found but when people have money the truth has a funny way of not making a splash. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to make a difference in the world, to anyone who is asking themselves, “well, what can I do now”
October 18, 2024
REVIEW: I believe the seatings on the SCOTUS is THE most important 9 chairs in the United States today. I vote based on who I believe will keep the court to the Right. Hard stop. You won’t change my mind and I won’t change yours so let’s move on from there. I read whatever is available on the Court and I am decently educated on it - eh, ok at least a solid 7 out of 10 and I like to read opposing views.
So I picked up STENCH by David Brock.
Brock spends almost 300 pages apologizing to Anita Hill. For those that don’t know, you should Google “David Brock, Anita Hill.” Brock has an axe to grind with Justice Clarence Thomas (and wife, Virginia) and he grinds it down to the handle. His mea culpas fall short and it boils down to “I cut my teeth as a hatchet man for the Right now I’m going to bury that hatchet in the foreheads of a bunch of dead conservatives from the 1970’s/ 80’s and call it history.”
There’s nothing here. David Brock’s MO has always been one attempt after another of hit jobs based on innuendo and anonymous “sources.” This is no different.
So I picked up STENCH by David Brock.
Brock spends almost 300 pages apologizing to Anita Hill. For those that don’t know, you should Google “David Brock, Anita Hill.” Brock has an axe to grind with Justice Clarence Thomas (and wife, Virginia) and he grinds it down to the handle. His mea culpas fall short and it boils down to “I cut my teeth as a hatchet man for the Right now I’m going to bury that hatchet in the foreheads of a bunch of dead conservatives from the 1970’s/ 80’s and call it history.”
There’s nothing here. David Brock’s MO has always been one attempt after another of hit jobs based on innuendo and anonymous “sources.” This is no different.
September 28, 2024
September 28th, 2024
Normally I keep this in the "Private notes" section but it ran too long, so this is my review, I guess,
September 22nd, 2024 (Red Lobster, bathroom, etc.): read prologue - ch. 2 (pp. 28)
September 23rd, 2024 (after midnight): read ch. 3-4 (pp. 29-58)
September 23rd, 2024 (lunch @ Sbarro): read ch. 5-6 (pp. 59-80)
September 23rd, 2024 (evening @ library): read ch. 7-11 (pp. 81-124)
September 25th, 2024 (after midnight)*: read ch. 12-15 (pp. 125-162)
September 26th, 2024 (before midnight): read ch. 16-18 (pp. 163-206)
September 27th, 2024 (lunch @ Chipotle): read ch. 19-20 (pp. 207-237)
September 27th, 2024 (@ library): read ch. 21, pp. 238 - 244 (paragraph ends at top)
September 27th, 2024 (before midngiht): read ch. 21, pp. 244 (first new paragraph) - end of main text (pp. 278)
September 28th, 2024 (right after midnight): read appendix, pp. 279-285
Normally I keep this in the "Private notes" section but it ran too long, so this is my review, I guess,
September 22nd, 2024 (Red Lobster, bathroom, etc.): read prologue - ch. 2 (pp. 28)
September 23rd, 2024 (after midnight): read ch. 3-4 (pp. 29-58)
September 23rd, 2024 (lunch @ Sbarro): read ch. 5-6 (pp. 59-80)
September 23rd, 2024 (evening @ library): read ch. 7-11 (pp. 81-124)
September 25th, 2024 (after midnight)*: read ch. 12-15 (pp. 125-162)
September 26th, 2024 (before midnight): read ch. 16-18 (pp. 163-206)
September 27th, 2024 (lunch @ Chipotle): read ch. 19-20 (pp. 207-237)
September 27th, 2024 (@ library): read ch. 21, pp. 238 - 244 (paragraph ends at top)
September 27th, 2024 (before midngiht): read ch. 21, pp. 244 (first new paragraph) - end of main text (pp. 278)
September 28th, 2024 (right after midnight): read appendix, pp. 279-285
January 15, 2025
I really wanted to enjoy this book.
However, so much of what the author writes about both Thomas and Bret Kavanaugh. I appreciate David Brock listing his past mistakes in regards to his support of Thomas. However, it almost seems that the book should have been written about Thomas's wife whom he had direct contact with. Stench was instead written about Thomas and others and when past poor behaviors were discussed Brock continually stated he had not witnessed the behaivor but "other people" had. Where as he had specific text messages along with his own meeting to prove his points about Thomas's wife. This is where the book fell apart for me.
Anyway the book still brought up some salient points which are still worth while discussing.
This finished copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. Huge thanks to Knopf for my review copy!
However, so much of what the author writes about both Thomas and Bret Kavanaugh. I appreciate David Brock listing his past mistakes in regards to his support of Thomas. However, it almost seems that the book should have been written about Thomas's wife whom he had direct contact with. Stench was instead written about Thomas and others and when past poor behaviors were discussed Brock continually stated he had not witnessed the behaivor but "other people" had. Where as he had specific text messages along with his own meeting to prove his points about Thomas's wife. This is where the book fell apart for me.
Anyway the book still brought up some salient points which are still worth while discussing.
This finished copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. Huge thanks to Knopf for my review copy!
November 19, 2024
You can also see this review, along with others I have written, at my blog, Mr. Book's Book Reviews.
Mr. Book just finished Stench: The Making Of The Thomas Court And The Unmaking Of America, by David Brock.
This is an excellent book on Thomas and the Supreme Court. The author looks at both Thomas’s life and career, along with other events that have helped shape the court.
Among the many highlights of the book are coverage of his confirmation, his hypocrisy involving affirmative action, the truth about Robert Bork’s failed nomination, the Federalist Society and Leonard Leo, Ginny Thomas, the stolen 2000 election, ethical problems involving Thomas and Alito, Kavanaugh and his involvement in the Clinton investigation, Citizen’s United and the grounds for Thomas’s impeachment.
I give this book an A+ and inducted it into the Hall of Fame. As soon as I finished it, I also got the audiobook edition so I can also listen to it.
Goodreads requires grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A+ equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews, and Goodreads.
Mr. Book finished reading this on November 12, 2024.
Mr. Book just finished Stench: The Making Of The Thomas Court And The Unmaking Of America, by David Brock.
This is an excellent book on Thomas and the Supreme Court. The author looks at both Thomas’s life and career, along with other events that have helped shape the court.
Among the many highlights of the book are coverage of his confirmation, his hypocrisy involving affirmative action, the truth about Robert Bork’s failed nomination, the Federalist Society and Leonard Leo, Ginny Thomas, the stolen 2000 election, ethical problems involving Thomas and Alito, Kavanaugh and his involvement in the Clinton investigation, Citizen’s United and the grounds for Thomas’s impeachment.
I give this book an A+ and inducted it into the Hall of Fame. As soon as I finished it, I also got the audiobook edition so I can also listen to it.
Goodreads requires grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A+ equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews, and Goodreads.
Mr. Book finished reading this on November 12, 2024.
January 24, 2025
The author is a former conservative proponent and author, by his own admission, of writing a book that he knew falsely accused Anita Hill of fabricating evidence against Clarence Thomas during his congressional Supreme Court hearing. Is this a strident anti-Thomas screed? Yes. Are the arguments he makes compelling? Also yes. Does it come across as an over-the-top attack? At times, yes, but in the main it raises important issues and arguments that put into question the legitimacy of Thomas himself and more broadly the entire Supreme Court. A very interesting but dispiriting and maddening read.
September 26, 2025
This is a very enlightening book for me. Some of what's discussed occurred when I was in my mid-20s and not paying too much attention to judges, judicial hearings, and the like. Other events are more recent and I am more familiar with.
It's sickening how big money from the ultra rich and powerful has corrupted our courts and government. Fringe ideas and beliefs have influenced our country because no one who could stop it has. Where does that leave our democracy? This book was published in 2024. So much has happened in a year.
I think the book is well written and well researched.
It's sickening how big money from the ultra rich and powerful has corrupted our courts and government. Fringe ideas and beliefs have influenced our country because no one who could stop it has. Where does that leave our democracy? This book was published in 2024. So much has happened in a year.
I think the book is well written and well researched.
June 3, 2025
A fairly exhaustive examination of the ways that the Republican Party and the Federalist Society hand picked judges to overturn Roe and got Bush elected. All of the current Republican picks have lied under oath. So many questionable things were done, yet the Democrats seem to be paralyzed to do much. 16 of the last 21 justices have been put forth by Republicans. It’s time to seriously reform the court and to send lifetime tenure.
December 1, 2025
Interesting read on the current state of the Supreme Court.
Took this with a grain of salt as Brock makes it more than clear that he has a history of writing hit pieces. This is just a hit piece at his former political base.
There was good insight into the activities of the Federalist Society, Leonard Leo and both Clarence and Ginni Thomas. There were some decent suggestions made at the end of the book.
Glad I read, but overall I don't think it was groundbreaking.
Took this with a grain of salt as Brock makes it more than clear that he has a history of writing hit pieces. This is just a hit piece at his former political base.
There was good insight into the activities of the Federalist Society, Leonard Leo and both Clarence and Ginni Thomas. There were some decent suggestions made at the end of the book.
Glad I read, but overall I don't think it was groundbreaking.
September 19, 2024
Average reporting many that have read less news and about the history of the United States Supreme Court may find better.
While I appreciate the author’s honesty regarding his past work mistakes, just like in the book description this is written in an antipathetic political way that detracts from the message.
Was surprised to read about the recent job and salary for the wife of Justice Roberts.
While I appreciate the author’s honesty regarding his past work mistakes, just like in the book description this is written in an antipathetic political way that detracts from the message.
Was surprised to read about the recent job and salary for the wife of Justice Roberts.
November 18, 2024
Brock started as an advocate for C Thomas v Anita Hill. Then after gathering more information became an advocate to impeach Thomas. Another book about unrestrained power in Washington which means the wishes and opinions of most Americans are ignored or trampled. The Supreme Court has unrestrained power brought about by unrestrained dark money.
June 5, 2025
Decent book that reads more like a standard Democratic diatribe against the current Supreme Court than Thomas specifically. I thought his chapters on the Kavanaugh hearings and Ginni Thomas’s friends were the weakest, while his chapter on Ken Starr was the strongest albeit not relevant to Thomas himself.
September 7, 2025
An important book, whatever its flaws in writing style, for any American to read as to how we got where we are in the 2020's and Fascism of the Trump administration. Brock had a front row seat for a couple of decades, watching Leonard Leo pull together not only a fascist cadre of ultra conservative Catholic politicians, but Project 2025 itself. Leo realized in the 1970s that packing the Supreme Court with conservative, activist judges was the way to power. He was not wrong, sadly. Skip around and read the parts that interest you the most, it's not necessary to read beginning to end straight through, but please DO read it, it's the story of American fascism, which sealed our fate when Citizens United was blessed by the corrupt Supreme Court. Sandra Day O'Connor was the last brick in the wall to steal the election for Bush II, when she stopped the voting in Florida count in 1999 so the issue was done and she could retire to Arizona. Her supposition that she needed to take care of her ill husband when she finally left the court was b.s.
January 24, 2025
No one better than a convert to expose the other side. In this case, Christian Nationlists who are intent on taking over our country and who have taken over our Supreme Court. This book chilled me to the bone and left me wondering why Democrats are such wimps in comparison.
January 7, 2025
A book for haters (complimentary)
March 3, 2025
Washington, D. C.
June 11, 2025
Really good book; it puts current events into perspective.
July 15, 2025
Very informative. Left me disheartened and distressed.
February 9, 2025
If you’ve ever wondered how the United States got into our current political situation, start by learning about how the Supreme Court was corrupted by the Federalist Society. Brock reports the actions taken over the past three decades by extremists to bring us to this point and the need for judicial reform.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews