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Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past
A searing, vital investigation of the Republican Party’s dangerous campaign to rewrite history in real time, from the Emmy Award-winning Rachel Maddow Show producer and bestselling author of The Impostors.
“There is nobody…who has more influence on the way I think about politics than Steve Benen.” —Rachel Maddow
For as long as historical records have existed, authoritarian regimes have tried to rewrite history to suit their purposes, using their dictatorial powers to create myths, spread propaganda, justify decisions, erase opponents, and even dispose of crimes.
Today, as America’s Republican Party becomes increasingly radicalized, it’s not surprising to see the GOP read from a similarly despotic script. Indeed, the party is taking dangerous, aggressive steps to rewrite history—and not just from generations past. Unable to put a positive spin on Trump-era scandals and fiascos, GOP voices and their allies have grown determined to rewrite the stories of the last few years—from the 2020 election results and the horror of January 6th to their own legislative record—treating the recent past as an enemy to be overpowered, crushed, and conquered. The consequences for our future, in turn, are dramatic.
Extraordinarily timely and undeniably important, Steve Benen’s new book tells the staggering chronicle of the Republican party’s unsettling attempts at historical revisionism. It reveals not only how dependent they have grown on the tactic, but also how dangerous the consequences are if we allow the party to continue. The stakes, Benen argues, couldn’t be the future of democracy hinges on both our accurate understanding of events and the end of alternative narratives that challenge reality.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
“There is nobody…who has more influence on the way I think about politics than Steve Benen.” —Rachel Maddow
For as long as historical records have existed, authoritarian regimes have tried to rewrite history to suit their purposes, using their dictatorial powers to create myths, spread propaganda, justify decisions, erase opponents, and even dispose of crimes.
Today, as America’s Republican Party becomes increasingly radicalized, it’s not surprising to see the GOP read from a similarly despotic script. Indeed, the party is taking dangerous, aggressive steps to rewrite history—and not just from generations past. Unable to put a positive spin on Trump-era scandals and fiascos, GOP voices and their allies have grown determined to rewrite the stories of the last few years—from the 2020 election results and the horror of January 6th to their own legislative record—treating the recent past as an enemy to be overpowered, crushed, and conquered. The consequences for our future, in turn, are dramatic.
Extraordinarily timely and undeniably important, Steve Benen’s new book tells the staggering chronicle of the Republican party’s unsettling attempts at historical revisionism. It reveals not only how dependent they have grown on the tactic, but also how dangerous the consequences are if we allow the party to continue. The stakes, Benen argues, couldn’t be the future of democracy hinges on both our accurate understanding of events and the end of alternative narratives that challenge reality.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
Audible Audio
Published August 13, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
August 14, 2024
The truth is scary, but empowering- great narration by Rachel Maddow
This book puts the lies and manipulations of the past few years, those that you knew but just couldn’t explain and some that you didn’t quite comprehend, into a clear, albeit still mind-boggling format.
The author spells them out with clarity and precision like in a text book, yet with compelling storytelling and interest, so it is easy to follow. I was left with the feeling that we just lived through the twilight zone and know, more than ever, how similar this is to the abuse I’ve encountered in a past narcissistic relationship. This is a good reminder as we enter the final stretch before the election. Those who said he wouldn’t be “that bad” before 2016 (he was worse) and may be saying “calm down, he won’t be that bad” now (he will be even worse) could benefit from reading this.
This book puts the lies and manipulations of the past few years, those that you knew but just couldn’t explain and some that you didn’t quite comprehend, into a clear, albeit still mind-boggling format.
The author spells them out with clarity and precision like in a text book, yet with compelling storytelling and interest, so it is easy to follow. I was left with the feeling that we just lived through the twilight zone and know, more than ever, how similar this is to the abuse I’ve encountered in a past narcissistic relationship. This is a good reminder as we enter the final stretch before the election. Those who said he wouldn’t be “that bad” before 2016 (he was worse) and may be saying “calm down, he won’t be that bad” now (he will be even worse) could benefit from reading this.
August 16, 2024
Great overview of our recent political history with a focus on how leaders use various tactics to change public impression or narrative. As I follow politics fairly closely, most of the examples were familiar to me. I may try to come back to add specific examples from the book for things I was not aware of. Each section focused on a specific moment in politics which I thought was a great way to have the book organized.
The chapters included January 6th insurrection (was it Antifa, FBI, peaceful tourists, or people dressed as Trump supporters; etc.?); the Covid Pandemic (Too much counting; it will just go away; Trump left Biden a beautiful plan; Trump had no plan for it from Obama; etc.) the border wall (Mexico paid for it; Was it 50 miles or 500 miles of wall completed?; It was perfect and worked perfectly; etc.); plus many more.
Basically we were presented with examples where points of rhetoric “were thrown at the wall to see which would stick” in order to change the public’s understanding of what took place.
No answer was given as to why someone can “see” something with their own eyes and yet believe narratives that discount what they actually saw. That’s probably a psychological or sociological journal topic.
It does cover why the use of propaganda tactics being used by GOP leaders is dangerous to a Democracy and gives examples of how those tactics have been used by Authoritarian governments in the past. I would have enjoyed a glossary on that. I think I read the synopsis of a book that does cover that. (I’ve added the info below - haven’t read it but sounds like it fits the bill.)*
The only issue I can see with this book is that it may be out just in time but also it’s out way too soon. We continue to see these kinds of tactics in our politics today and it doesn’t look like that will end anytime soon. Sadly, an update will be needed by this time next year with several additional chapters (in my opinion).
*Book for a broader understanding:
Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes (1965/1973) (French: Propagandes; original French edition: 1962) is a book on the subject of propaganda by French philosopher, theologian, legal scholar, and sociologist Jacques Ellul.
The chapters included January 6th insurrection (was it Antifa, FBI, peaceful tourists, or people dressed as Trump supporters; etc.?); the Covid Pandemic (Too much counting; it will just go away; Trump left Biden a beautiful plan; Trump had no plan for it from Obama; etc.) the border wall (Mexico paid for it; Was it 50 miles or 500 miles of wall completed?; It was perfect and worked perfectly; etc.); plus many more.
Basically we were presented with examples where points of rhetoric “were thrown at the wall to see which would stick” in order to change the public’s understanding of what took place.
No answer was given as to why someone can “see” something with their own eyes and yet believe narratives that discount what they actually saw. That’s probably a psychological or sociological journal topic.
It does cover why the use of propaganda tactics being used by GOP leaders is dangerous to a Democracy and gives examples of how those tactics have been used by Authoritarian governments in the past. I would have enjoyed a glossary on that. I think I read the synopsis of a book that does cover that. (I’ve added the info below - haven’t read it but sounds like it fits the bill.)*
The only issue I can see with this book is that it may be out just in time but also it’s out way too soon. We continue to see these kinds of tactics in our politics today and it doesn’t look like that will end anytime soon. Sadly, an update will be needed by this time next year with several additional chapters (in my opinion).
*Book for a broader understanding:
Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes (1965/1973) (French: Propagandes; original French edition: 1962) is a book on the subject of propaganda by French philosopher, theologian, legal scholar, and sociologist Jacques Ellul.
February 10, 2025
This was a summary recap of the last decade of political machinations of the Republican Party with a focus on the Trump years and his feverish followers. It was validating in my observations but just touches the surface of the issues. I am more interested in WHY people are so obsessed with him and why they just accept (and even celebrate) everything he says when much of it is blatant obvious lies. How have average Americans become basically cult followers? Where has critical thinking gone? Why do people who proclaim a higher morality support someone who is everything but. Is this really the best human the Republican Party has to offer?
I listened to the audiobook which was well paced. There we’re supposed to be some supplemental PDF materials to go along with the audiobook, but they were not provided in my Libby copy from the library.
I listened to the audiobook which was well paced. There we’re supposed to be some supplemental PDF materials to go along with the audiobook, but they were not provided in my Libby copy from the library.
September 11, 2024
This was a great, short read. It's been a while since I stormed through a Trump book like Republicans stormed the capitol. But wow, this was really good. It read fast, not dwelling long between the milestones.
The premise of the book has been on my mind a while now, as we trudge though our new American Orwellian dystopia. Being post-truth.
Politicians have fudged facts or outright lied since the beginning. But when the electorate wants that, craves that... then there might be problems. When a politician faces no consequences for spouting obvious untruths, but instead is rewarded, then we might want to check ourselves.
And of course, the audiobook being read by Dr. Maddow was a real treat too.
The premise of the book has been on my mind a while now, as we trudge though our new American Orwellian dystopia. Being post-truth.
Politicians have fudged facts or outright lied since the beginning. But when the electorate wants that, craves that... then there might be problems. When a politician faces no consequences for spouting obvious untruths, but instead is rewarded, then we might want to check ourselves.
And of course, the audiobook being read by Dr. Maddow was a real treat too.
September 18, 2024
To be perfectly frank, I borrowed this audiobook from my library because I misremembered the title of "The Ministry of the Future". But I read the blurb and thought, "well why not."
My biggest issues fall into two questions:
1. Who is this for?
2. How does Benen think we got here?
If you lived through the last few years and have barely paid attention, there is nothing new here. If you are conservative, you probably won't read or believe this. You can't combat misinformation if the faithful followers of that misinformation assume this entire project is a lie -- and making the title a call to 1984 isn't exactly subtle. The steel man I can offer is this book offers a record of recent political action from a mainstream, liberal perspective.
As a leftist, I find the aim of this book to be shallow. Why do so many people choose to believe a false narrative? How did the right end up in this situation? Is "fact checking" even helpful when the audience who needs it most believes your faction is of the literal devil?
This book is fine. I just wanted more, and I don't think it will achieve what it wants to.
My biggest issues fall into two questions:
1. Who is this for?
2. How does Benen think we got here?
If you lived through the last few years and have barely paid attention, there is nothing new here. If you are conservative, you probably won't read or believe this. You can't combat misinformation if the faithful followers of that misinformation assume this entire project is a lie -- and making the title a call to 1984 isn't exactly subtle. The steel man I can offer is this book offers a record of recent political action from a mainstream, liberal perspective.
As a leftist, I find the aim of this book to be shallow. Why do so many people choose to believe a false narrative? How did the right end up in this situation? Is "fact checking" even helpful when the audience who needs it most believes your faction is of the literal devil?
This book is fine. I just wanted more, and I don't think it will achieve what it wants to.
August 21, 2024
Probably the scariest book I've ever read. The story of rampant misinformation and the re-writing of history as it is being made is one we can never forget. The Republican Party was gutted by Donald Trump and all that remains of it are liars who are not only willing, but eager, to strip away their integrity and morality to gain some political power. The comparisons of current American politics to George Orwell's 1984 are eerily similar. The fact that so many people are susceptible to the outright lies and propoganda put out by MAGA is truly alarming even after understanding how meticulous and planned out the misinformation campaigns are in targeting people. I hope we start doing better as a country by shutting down behavior like this and recognizing it for what it is. This book is an absolutely critical read. Anyone who asks why I don't support Trump is getting a copy of this book.
September 15, 2024
A difficult read but such an important topic to fully explore. Definitely a warning, we could end up in Orwell’s world if we lose our right to vote.
August 18, 2024
We have very short memories. This slim volume is a great refresher for the electorate before November.
September 3, 2024
Steve Benen’s Ministry of Truth is a timely reminder of the tumultuous reign of a tyrannical leader, the dishonest elected partisan leaders and the right-wing media who aided him with rewriting history.
Politics can be a dirty business but when a leader with authoritarian tendencies comes to power, it becomes a lesson in lies and manipulations that hide the horrible truth. Donald Trump proved to have the worst policies that hurt the American people yet with complicit allies and a right-wing echo chamber, his lies became the “truth” for his followers.
Trump’s time in office began with a Russia investigation that proved beyond a reasonable doubt that his 2015-16 campaign eagerly accepted everything Russia offered them to help propel him into office. Yet with a partisan Attorney General who spun the final report with lies proved to deceive a willing GOP into believing Trump’s claims of innocence. Of course, his political allies and a complicit media right leaning media repeated those same lies until the GOP followers fell hook, line, and sinker for Trump’s “alternate facts”.
Thus began a four-year term in which Trump and his cronies lied and manipulated events which were fully in the public eye into innocuous happenings. A phone call with the Ukrainian President where Trump tried leverage military aid for dirt on a political opponent became a “perfect” phone. A deadly disease which took hundreds of thousands of lives was “nothing more than the flu”. Less than fifty miles of new border that Americans paid for was conflated with hundreds of miles of repaired border wall and is now a “promise kept”. Never mind that Mexico never paid for the wall nor were hundreds of new wall built.
Trump’s worst lie about a stolen election now leaves millions distrustful of the process in which Americans elect new leaders. Because Trump could not admit he lost the 2020 election, he turned his loss into an attack on the country’s elections. Not only are voters suspicious of the process, his lies are directly responsible for several states enacting laws that suppress and intimidate voters.
These are just a few examples of topics covered in Ministry of Truth. Steve Benen fully dissects and explains how the Trump and the GOP use lies and disinformation to distort and change the truth about embarrassing and shameful events. This well-documented book is proof that people are willing to believe outrageous propaganda that conforms with their opinions and worldviews. A cautionary book that should make people wonder why someone is telling to distrust anyone but them.
Politics can be a dirty business but when a leader with authoritarian tendencies comes to power, it becomes a lesson in lies and manipulations that hide the horrible truth. Donald Trump proved to have the worst policies that hurt the American people yet with complicit allies and a right-wing echo chamber, his lies became the “truth” for his followers.
Trump’s time in office began with a Russia investigation that proved beyond a reasonable doubt that his 2015-16 campaign eagerly accepted everything Russia offered them to help propel him into office. Yet with a partisan Attorney General who spun the final report with lies proved to deceive a willing GOP into believing Trump’s claims of innocence. Of course, his political allies and a complicit media right leaning media repeated those same lies until the GOP followers fell hook, line, and sinker for Trump’s “alternate facts”.
Thus began a four-year term in which Trump and his cronies lied and manipulated events which were fully in the public eye into innocuous happenings. A phone call with the Ukrainian President where Trump tried leverage military aid for dirt on a political opponent became a “perfect” phone. A deadly disease which took hundreds of thousands of lives was “nothing more than the flu”. Less than fifty miles of new border that Americans paid for was conflated with hundreds of miles of repaired border wall and is now a “promise kept”. Never mind that Mexico never paid for the wall nor were hundreds of new wall built.
Trump’s worst lie about a stolen election now leaves millions distrustful of the process in which Americans elect new leaders. Because Trump could not admit he lost the 2020 election, he turned his loss into an attack on the country’s elections. Not only are voters suspicious of the process, his lies are directly responsible for several states enacting laws that suppress and intimidate voters.
These are just a few examples of topics covered in Ministry of Truth. Steve Benen fully dissects and explains how the Trump and the GOP use lies and disinformation to distort and change the truth about embarrassing and shameful events. This well-documented book is proof that people are willing to believe outrageous propaganda that conforms with their opinions and worldviews. A cautionary book that should make people wonder why someone is telling to distrust anyone but them.
Read
September 4, 2024If I were to have a complaint it would be over the structuring of the book. I think that the topics as chosen make sense, but their ordering leaves a lot to be desired; particularly when we start to get to cross referencing the topics as discussed. It's a little drier than I typically like my non-fiction to be, but it's so short that it's not really a major compliant. In some ways that allows for Benen to really get to the point. At the same time it also means that there isn't as much discussion of the topics so much as it feels like they are presented and not really delved into beyond what you see on the tin. It's worth a read, but I don't think you need to rush out to pick up a copy.
January 16, 2025
I thought this was a well-researched book, but it was trying to make a complex political scene too black and white. Although many of the points made were valid, I feel like it failed to identify the pitfalls of the Democratic party as well.
December 9, 2024
Basically a summary of the presidential run and administration of 45.
September 8, 2024
It feels surreal to realise we are living in a world which a decade ago could have fallen under the dystopic category with millions preferring to believe deception and constant lies (as they call them "alternative facts")... This book is a great and easy to read overview of some of the biggest propaganda spins by the Republicans of the recent past, trying to change the media narrative of verifiable information that doesn't fit their preferred reality. Coordinated political propaganda in hopes people won't bother to fact check. Sadly it's not a practice limited to the US, it is a tactic practiced by some well known dictators and some politicians across the globe who likely wish to follow the same path. Don't fall for "Don't believe your lying eyes" and check for reputable and reliable sources of information.
February 15, 2025
It’s easy to forget how much he lies. Remember ‘Mexico will pay for the wall?’ Remember when he said that they would build 400 miles of wall and it ended up being 46? Remember when he said that he had completed the wall?
It doesn’t scratch the surface, but the book is more about the attempt by the Republicans to rewrite recent history. Most alarming in how J6 has somehow become a day of love when almost every Republican condemned on J7.
It’s awful and alarming and it appears to be working. You should read it, but be prepared for a depressing time.
It doesn’t scratch the surface, but the book is more about the attempt by the Republicans to rewrite recent history. Most alarming in how J6 has somehow become a day of love when almost every Republican condemned on J7.
It’s awful and alarming and it appears to be working. You should read it, but be prepared for a depressing time.
August 26, 2024
A really excellent recap of the lies that have changed how a large chunk of the country views the Trump administration. I’m always behind by like 50 podcasts, but if you are not then it might be worth it to listen to the audiobook - read by Rachel Maddow.
August 16, 2024
This book didn't provide much in the way of new information for me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Rachel Maddow's narration was very well done, and it was very easy to digest.
November 7, 2024
You know how the past few years have felt like a very intense episode of The Twilight Zone? You *KNOW* what you've seen [Jan 6th ], watched [], and read [all the debunked lawsuits and voter-fraud claims ], yet all of that is constantly [and consistantly ] refuted by the former president, his minions, [and surprisingly and regretfully, the MSM because apparently DRAMA sells and makes formerly excellent journalists sellouts and makes the conspiracy-theory touters *king* ] and you are left confused, disoriented [and if you are like me, extremely pissed off ]. Thankfully, excellent books like this are being written [and bringing sanity back to the confusion ] and we can learn how the breakdown of truth into lies is happening [sometimes in very real time ] and how it is breaking down our very democracy [do not believe for ONE SECOND that the former president knows nothing about Project 2025 ] and threatens to topple it completely [VOTE!! VOTE!! VOTE!!].
This book shows how the GOP is trying to rewrite history, even as it is happening [and they very much want the parts of history they don't like or agree with to go far away ], and what we, the ones fighting for truth, democraxy, and justice, can do to combat it and keep the truth alive.
If you choose to listen to the audiobook, it has excellent narration. Rachel Maddow is a fantastic narrator [and I hope she narrates more books ]; she speaks in a clear and concise way and breaks down the book in that straightforward way of hers. She made a very difficult book much easier to digest.
This is a *MUST-READ* book and I highly recommend it. It is one of the MOST important book to read right now. For democracy. For all we have known and loved. For the truth. Always, for the truth.
Thank you to NetGalley, Steve Benen, and Mariner for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book shows how the GOP is trying to rewrite history, even as it is happening [and they very much want the parts of history they don't like or agree with to go far away ], and what we, the ones fighting for truth, democraxy, and justice, can do to combat it and keep the truth alive.
If you choose to listen to the audiobook, it has excellent narration. Rachel Maddow is a fantastic narrator [and I hope she narrates more books ]; she speaks in a clear and concise way and breaks down the book in that straightforward way of hers. She made a very difficult book much easier to digest.
This is a *MUST-READ* book and I highly recommend it. It is one of the MOST important book to read right now. For democracy. For all we have known and loved. For the truth. Always, for the truth.
Thank you to NetGalley, Steve Benen, and Mariner for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2025
A quick read, that is largely a rehashing of the bait-and-switch / lies of the GOP under Trump. Fifty years from now, this might be really relevant, but in May of 2025 it's all too fresh in my mind. If you read Heather Cox Richardson's nightly recaps this is all stuff you already know. It's all very relevant, but Benen's The Impostors: The Terrifying True Tale of How the Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American Democracy is a better, and more relevant, read as of today.
November 15, 2024
The bias is so thick that it’s hard to take in any of this without feeling as though I’m being sold something. The facts would speak for themselves if you let them. Id love a book that allows me to learn without feeling like I’m living in an Orwellian world where I’m being told what to think. This contributes to the problem.
August 20, 2024
Truth and consequences
Depressing and illuminating, You’ll want to buy multiple copies to send to your crazy, Trumpy brother-in-law and his clueless friends. If only they would read it with an open mind….
Depressing and illuminating, You’ll want to buy multiple copies to send to your crazy, Trumpy brother-in-law and his clueless friends. If only they would read it with an open mind….
May 19, 2025
Steve Benen’s "Ministry of Truth" attempts to address one of the most urgent political phenomena of our time: the increasingly brazen falsification and misrepresentation of verifiable recent history by Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Positioned as a high-level investigation rather than a granular fact-checking exercise, the book argues that Trump and his allies have engaged in a systematic campaign of falsifying recent history to serve political ends. The title "Ministry of Truth" refers to the fictional government agency in George Orwell’s "1984" tasked with rewriting historical records—a metaphor Benen uses to underscore the deliberate and strategic rewriting of fact under Trumpism.
Benen's work fits into a growing body of literature examining the political consequences and underlying enablers of Trumpism and disinformation. Previous works like "Network Propaganda" (Benkler, Faris, and Roberts, 2018) explain the media ecosystem enabling the spread of right-wing falsehoods, highlighting the role of asymmetrical media structures. Meanwhile, "Identity Crisis" (Sides, Tesler, and Vavreck, 2018) goes further by analyzing not only race and identity in the 2016 election but also how mainstream and partisan media both challenged and inadvertently amplified Trump’s misinformation. These books contextualize the media's role in shaping public understanding and illustrate the groundwork that allowed more systemic factual distortions to take hold during the Trump presidency. Benen’s book builds on these foundations but shifts the focus from media behavior or voter psychology to the strategic construction of political narratives that contradict previously established facts—including the Republican Party’s own past positions.
The book is strongest in its eloquent documentation of how these falsehoods are constructed and reinforced. It doesn't claim to introduce new revelations; rather, it connects disparate events over the Trump era—from 2016 through 2024—to present a coherent picture of how a political movement repeatedly rewrites its own record. Benen doesn’t just show contradictions; he shows how those contradictions are absorbed, normalized, and recycled for political purposes. His goal is to sound an alarm, and in this, he succeeds.
What emerges most forcefully, at least from my reading, is an informal blueprint for how large-scale lies are manufactured. While the book itself does not explicitly identify or analyze this pattern, one can observe it in many of the cases Benen documents. Trump frequently makes statements that blur the line between hyperbole and outright falsehood—often vague, informally phrased, or syntactically confusing—and typically disseminated through his private social media platforms. When these statements are challenged, defenders tend to shield them from scrutiny by recasting them as mere expressions of personal opinion or rhetorical flourish, rather than assertions of fact. This framing discourages fact-checking by positioning the statements outside the realm of empirical accountability. Yet, through repetition and citing, these very "opinions" are soon repurposed and treated as factual premises for subsequent, even more disconnected or fabricated claims. As these distortions are repeated and layered, they form a manufactured version of reality that becomes increasingly difficult to unravel, with each rhetorical step resting on the normalized falsehoods of previous ones.
The book stops short, however, of analyzing this pattern in depth. While readers can infer the mechanism of propaganda-as-rhetoric, Benen doesn’t delve into the psychological or technological dynamics that sustain it. Other books, like Ryan Holiday’s "Trust Me, I’m Lying" (2012), offer deeper critiques of how viral media confuses popularity with truth. In the age of algorithm-driven content, the popularity of a message often functions as a substitute for its accuracy, a dynamic that, while not explicitly identified or analyzed by Benen, becomes increasingly clear through the accumulation of examples he presents—leading readers like myself to recognize the underlying mechanism at work.
This analytical gap is compounded by another shortfall: the book’s failure to engage meaningfully with internal divisions within the Republican Party. While Benen rightly underscores the party’s enabling role in Trump’s rise, he tends to conflate Trump and the GOP into a single entity. This is not a careless or incidental framing—Benen repeatedly refers to Trump as 'the Republican' or 'the Republican president,' a rhetorical choice that is neither common in media discourse nor widely adopted in scholarly treatments of the Trump era. This deliberate phrasing suggests an intentional effort to blur the lines between Trump’s personal actions and the broader identity of the Republican Party, reinforcing the conflation. This overlooks notable figures like Senator Jeff Flake—who authored "Conscience of a Conservative" in defiance of Trump—and Representative Liz Cheney, who sacrificed her political career to oppose Trump’s falsehoods. By failing to explore why such dissent failed to reshape the party, Benen misses a crucial part of the story.
The book also largely avoids investigating the psychology of belief among Trump’s supporters. While "Network Propaganda" attributes right-wing disinformation to media echo chambers, that can’t fully explain why so many voters accept falsehoods that contradict their own lived experiences or objective evidence. Benen documents the phenomenon but doesn’t seek to explain it, leaving readers with a sense of urgency but not understanding.
A further complication arises in Benen’s own narrative style. While I don't dispute his factual claims, he frequently supports them with quotes from partisan figures or legacy media outlets—sources that are readily dismissed by the very audiences he aims to persuade. More significantly, he often blurs the line between reporting and interpretation, particularly in the later chapters. This conflation of fact and opinion reflects the very rhetorical device Benen attributes to Trump: shielding false or misleading statements by packaging them as opinion or personal expression. That Benen employs the same technique he criticizes points to a deeper hypocrisy and highlights a systemic issue in political commentary. The widespread erosion of boundaries between fact and opinion is not exclusive to Trump or his supporters; it permeates the broader media ecosystem. Trump may have weaponized the technique, but he operates within an environment already compromised by this practice.
The conclusion, or lack thereof, is telling. Benen freely admits the book’s primary aim is to sound an alarm, not to offer remedies. He is not alone in this approach—David Frum’s "Trumpocracy," written by a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush and a prominent conservative voice, similarly paints a dire picture without presenting a roadmap forward. But this absence of solutions is not simply a limitation of scope; it is closely tied to the book's analytical shortcomings. Without probing the psychological mechanisms of belief, examining the internal dynamics of the GOP, or reflecting critically on his own rhetorical strategies, Benen lacks the foundation to propose meaningful responses. The book "Ministry of Truth" is a compelling synthesis of what many already know, but it does not take us further in understanding how to fix what has gone wrong—and in some respects, it participates in the very patterns that need to be dismantled.
Finally, the Orwellian parallel Benen draws is apt, but it also has limits. When the book was released in 2024, Trump and his supporters did not wield state power to suppress factual counter-narratives—truth was still accessible, and the machinery of democratic institutions still functioned, albeit shakily. But by mid-2025, under a second Trump presidency, the landscape may be shifting. Pressures on media, law, and education are growing, and the ability of institutions to resist authoritarian demands may be waning. In that sense, Benen’s alarm now feels prophetic.
"Ministry of Truth" is a well-written, thematically coherent, and timely contribution to the literature on Trump-era politics and disinformation. It succeeds as a warning but falters as a guide. The book offers a powerful synthesis of troubling developments, but its lack of analytical depth and failure to address core dynamics—such as the psychology of belief, intraparty dissent, and the media’s own complicity—limits its ability to provide meaningful recommendations. In spotlighting how Trump manipulates fact and fiction, Benen reveals a deeper problem: that such manipulation is enabled by structural flaws in political and media discourse, flaws that his own rhetoric sometimes reflects. What remains is a vivid but incomplete portrait of a democratic system under siege. The warning is urgent, but the path forward remains frustratingly vague.
Benen's work fits into a growing body of literature examining the political consequences and underlying enablers of Trumpism and disinformation. Previous works like "Network Propaganda" (Benkler, Faris, and Roberts, 2018) explain the media ecosystem enabling the spread of right-wing falsehoods, highlighting the role of asymmetrical media structures. Meanwhile, "Identity Crisis" (Sides, Tesler, and Vavreck, 2018) goes further by analyzing not only race and identity in the 2016 election but also how mainstream and partisan media both challenged and inadvertently amplified Trump’s misinformation. These books contextualize the media's role in shaping public understanding and illustrate the groundwork that allowed more systemic factual distortions to take hold during the Trump presidency. Benen’s book builds on these foundations but shifts the focus from media behavior or voter psychology to the strategic construction of political narratives that contradict previously established facts—including the Republican Party’s own past positions.
The book is strongest in its eloquent documentation of how these falsehoods are constructed and reinforced. It doesn't claim to introduce new revelations; rather, it connects disparate events over the Trump era—from 2016 through 2024—to present a coherent picture of how a political movement repeatedly rewrites its own record. Benen doesn’t just show contradictions; he shows how those contradictions are absorbed, normalized, and recycled for political purposes. His goal is to sound an alarm, and in this, he succeeds.
What emerges most forcefully, at least from my reading, is an informal blueprint for how large-scale lies are manufactured. While the book itself does not explicitly identify or analyze this pattern, one can observe it in many of the cases Benen documents. Trump frequently makes statements that blur the line between hyperbole and outright falsehood—often vague, informally phrased, or syntactically confusing—and typically disseminated through his private social media platforms. When these statements are challenged, defenders tend to shield them from scrutiny by recasting them as mere expressions of personal opinion or rhetorical flourish, rather than assertions of fact. This framing discourages fact-checking by positioning the statements outside the realm of empirical accountability. Yet, through repetition and citing, these very "opinions" are soon repurposed and treated as factual premises for subsequent, even more disconnected or fabricated claims. As these distortions are repeated and layered, they form a manufactured version of reality that becomes increasingly difficult to unravel, with each rhetorical step resting on the normalized falsehoods of previous ones.
The book stops short, however, of analyzing this pattern in depth. While readers can infer the mechanism of propaganda-as-rhetoric, Benen doesn’t delve into the psychological or technological dynamics that sustain it. Other books, like Ryan Holiday’s "Trust Me, I’m Lying" (2012), offer deeper critiques of how viral media confuses popularity with truth. In the age of algorithm-driven content, the popularity of a message often functions as a substitute for its accuracy, a dynamic that, while not explicitly identified or analyzed by Benen, becomes increasingly clear through the accumulation of examples he presents—leading readers like myself to recognize the underlying mechanism at work.
This analytical gap is compounded by another shortfall: the book’s failure to engage meaningfully with internal divisions within the Republican Party. While Benen rightly underscores the party’s enabling role in Trump’s rise, he tends to conflate Trump and the GOP into a single entity. This is not a careless or incidental framing—Benen repeatedly refers to Trump as 'the Republican' or 'the Republican president,' a rhetorical choice that is neither common in media discourse nor widely adopted in scholarly treatments of the Trump era. This deliberate phrasing suggests an intentional effort to blur the lines between Trump’s personal actions and the broader identity of the Republican Party, reinforcing the conflation. This overlooks notable figures like Senator Jeff Flake—who authored "Conscience of a Conservative" in defiance of Trump—and Representative Liz Cheney, who sacrificed her political career to oppose Trump’s falsehoods. By failing to explore why such dissent failed to reshape the party, Benen misses a crucial part of the story.
The book also largely avoids investigating the psychology of belief among Trump’s supporters. While "Network Propaganda" attributes right-wing disinformation to media echo chambers, that can’t fully explain why so many voters accept falsehoods that contradict their own lived experiences or objective evidence. Benen documents the phenomenon but doesn’t seek to explain it, leaving readers with a sense of urgency but not understanding.
A further complication arises in Benen’s own narrative style. While I don't dispute his factual claims, he frequently supports them with quotes from partisan figures or legacy media outlets—sources that are readily dismissed by the very audiences he aims to persuade. More significantly, he often blurs the line between reporting and interpretation, particularly in the later chapters. This conflation of fact and opinion reflects the very rhetorical device Benen attributes to Trump: shielding false or misleading statements by packaging them as opinion or personal expression. That Benen employs the same technique he criticizes points to a deeper hypocrisy and highlights a systemic issue in political commentary. The widespread erosion of boundaries between fact and opinion is not exclusive to Trump or his supporters; it permeates the broader media ecosystem. Trump may have weaponized the technique, but he operates within an environment already compromised by this practice.
The conclusion, or lack thereof, is telling. Benen freely admits the book’s primary aim is to sound an alarm, not to offer remedies. He is not alone in this approach—David Frum’s "Trumpocracy," written by a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush and a prominent conservative voice, similarly paints a dire picture without presenting a roadmap forward. But this absence of solutions is not simply a limitation of scope; it is closely tied to the book's analytical shortcomings. Without probing the psychological mechanisms of belief, examining the internal dynamics of the GOP, or reflecting critically on his own rhetorical strategies, Benen lacks the foundation to propose meaningful responses. The book "Ministry of Truth" is a compelling synthesis of what many already know, but it does not take us further in understanding how to fix what has gone wrong—and in some respects, it participates in the very patterns that need to be dismantled.
Finally, the Orwellian parallel Benen draws is apt, but it also has limits. When the book was released in 2024, Trump and his supporters did not wield state power to suppress factual counter-narratives—truth was still accessible, and the machinery of democratic institutions still functioned, albeit shakily. But by mid-2025, under a second Trump presidency, the landscape may be shifting. Pressures on media, law, and education are growing, and the ability of institutions to resist authoritarian demands may be waning. In that sense, Benen’s alarm now feels prophetic.
"Ministry of Truth" is a well-written, thematically coherent, and timely contribution to the literature on Trump-era politics and disinformation. It succeeds as a warning but falters as a guide. The book offers a powerful synthesis of troubling developments, but its lack of analytical depth and failure to address core dynamics—such as the psychology of belief, intraparty dissent, and the media’s own complicity—limits its ability to provide meaningful recommendations. In spotlighting how Trump manipulates fact and fiction, Benen reveals a deeper problem: that such manipulation is enabled by structural flaws in political and media discourse, flaws that his own rhetoric sometimes reflects. What remains is a vivid but incomplete portrait of a democratic system under siege. The warning is urgent, but the path forward remains frustratingly vague.
October 4, 2024
I wish everyone knew the contents of this book. It is the truth about rewriting history as a regular choice of th GOP and Fox News.
It also takes its title from the very real predictions or foretellings of George Orwell's 1984.
This book would be worth the time even just for knowing the actual triathlon about how many times Donald Trump deceived and ignored real people while he gave his fictitious narrative about the Covid crisis. What he did, and what he failed to do, affected the lives of millions of Americans. Then he adds to it by his incredibly fraudulent lies about how he got us through the crisis with the best handling imaginable, or how it was all Obsma and Biden's fault for not leaving a playback for pandemics (they had written an extensive step by step plan culled from their experience in minimizing the bola crisis).
The book exposes call the times he rewrote history with angry and ridiculous tweets, and how Fox News would pick up his narrative and run with it.
It's a book of incredible derltail and research exposing a plan that has been carried out by a party consistently in a minority but trying to claim vast accomplishment as the greatest Presidency in history. Or the greatest economy, when one need only look back to his predecessor Barack Obama 's GDP and other economic leadership that put us in a far better place. Trump's economic accomplishment are as false as his claims of success in business, or for his tax records used to defraud the IRS and pay no taxes year after year.
This book's purpose and gift is to tell the truth and expose the cons of history's greatest swindle of our people.
I'm so glad ai learned all that I learned as I read and came to understand the depths of the depravity of DJT, businessman and failed commander in Chief.
It also takes its title from the very real predictions or foretellings of George Orwell's 1984.
This book would be worth the time even just for knowing the actual triathlon about how many times Donald Trump deceived and ignored real people while he gave his fictitious narrative about the Covid crisis. What he did, and what he failed to do, affected the lives of millions of Americans. Then he adds to it by his incredibly fraudulent lies about how he got us through the crisis with the best handling imaginable, or how it was all Obsma and Biden's fault for not leaving a playback for pandemics (they had written an extensive step by step plan culled from their experience in minimizing the bola crisis).
The book exposes call the times he rewrote history with angry and ridiculous tweets, and how Fox News would pick up his narrative and run with it.
It's a book of incredible derltail and research exposing a plan that has been carried out by a party consistently in a minority but trying to claim vast accomplishment as the greatest Presidency in history. Or the greatest economy, when one need only look back to his predecessor Barack Obama 's GDP and other economic leadership that put us in a far better place. Trump's economic accomplishment are as false as his claims of success in business, or for his tax records used to defraud the IRS and pay no taxes year after year.
This book's purpose and gift is to tell the truth and expose the cons of history's greatest swindle of our people.
I'm so glad ai learned all that I learned as I read and came to understand the depths of the depravity of DJT, businessman and failed commander in Chief.
August 21, 2025
At the time of writing this review, all the 1 star reviews either do not include a written review or they did to only say that this book is biased with unsupported claims. I took those statements into consideration, as anyone should going into a political book, to think critically while digesting information. We all should be aware & mindful of the differences between misinformation, disinformation, & confirmation bias. While this book’s tone does deliver a bit more Democrat than Republican, it only does due to the events it discusses. Which are events that have been littered with conspiracies, overinflation by both sides of the news, and stir strong emotions among the public. I’d imagine most republicans, especially Trump loyalists, reading this book would become enraged & claim it’s all bias (like the 1 star reviews). I’d imagine democrats reading this book would nod along & perhaps inflate their confirmation bias (like some of the 5 star reviews). Independents, like myself, will read this & not see it as bias, since it’s all supported claims, but it’s just a left leaning delivery of tone. Regardless of tone, the information delivered still stands. This book picks apart the Republican events, domestic policy, national policy, scandals, professional behavior, foreign policy, results, and irregularities that took place approximately from 2016 to 2024. I got the ebook & audiobook both from my local library. The audiobook was good. The narrator wasn’t monotonous & had great cadence & inflection. She’s known as a political commentator, a news co-anchor, & she has her own show on cable. This book partners well with ‘On Disinformation’ by Lee McIntyre & ‘On Tyranny’ by Timothy Snyder.
May 31, 2025
This book serves as, essentially, a recap and breakdown of the communication strategies behind Trump’s campaigns and first time in office. Specifically, it examines the way he lied and shifted narratives at different times to specifically fit what he wanted to project publicly at that exact moment, truth be damned. This strategy of manipulating his followers’ memories and then training them to reject anyone pointing out this manipulation is heartbreaking (and Orwellian — see the title), and its success is evident in how the adoption of these flip flopping narratives worked. That said, while this was evidence-based and clear to read, it could have done a lot more to examine the “why” of what is occurring, how to push back against misinformation, or what comes next.
I’d recommend this to folks who want an understanding of why people say that Trump is a liar, that he spreads misinformation, or why they believe he can’t be trusted.
I’d recommend this to folks who want an understanding of why people say that Trump is a liar, that he spreads misinformation, or why they believe he can’t be trusted.
February 8, 2025
Oh boy. Okay. I think this should be required reading for all Americans. Obviously, given the current political landscape, this book wasn’t exactly a *fun* read, but it’s a fucking important one.
I found it was easier to listen to the audiobook rather than read it physically because the audiobook was read by Rachel Maddow, whose narration style and voice was perfect for this book. She was able to the edge off the often horrifying facts by wryly chuckling or tinting it with sarcasm. It made for a much less dry read, in my opinion.
I’ll finish this with a quote that I think sums this book up (and encapsulates what the GOP is doing right now):
“He tried to bully reality into submission expecting voters wouldn’t know the difference.”
I found it was easier to listen to the audiobook rather than read it physically because the audiobook was read by Rachel Maddow, whose narration style and voice was perfect for this book. She was able to the edge off the often horrifying facts by wryly chuckling or tinting it with sarcasm. It made for a much less dry read, in my opinion.
I’ll finish this with a quote that I think sums this book up (and encapsulates what the GOP is doing right now):
“He tried to bully reality into submission expecting voters wouldn’t know the difference.”
August 12, 2025
Having read his previous account of the GOP, I was excited by this book. His assertion that the GOP is a “post-policy party” was insightful, and nuanced.
Yet, unlike “Imposters”, this was an uninspired summary and attempt to fact check the countless distortions of the Trump regime. Disappointingly, Benen devotes virtually no time to exploring the rationale behind the GOP’s campaign to “rewrite the truth”, its origins, and even why such mendacity is wilfully embraced by large swathes of American society.
Instead, the author prefers to offer a hollow and sanctimonious critique of the contemporary Republican Party, failing to offer anything other than a contemptuous liberal sneer.
Yet, unlike “Imposters”, this was an uninspired summary and attempt to fact check the countless distortions of the Trump regime. Disappointingly, Benen devotes virtually no time to exploring the rationale behind the GOP’s campaign to “rewrite the truth”, its origins, and even why such mendacity is wilfully embraced by large swathes of American society.
Instead, the author prefers to offer a hollow and sanctimonious critique of the contemporary Republican Party, failing to offer anything other than a contemptuous liberal sneer.
September 6, 2024
This is well researched, well documented, and deeply compelling analysis of what was deemed early on in the Trump administration as “alternate facts” and how that has continued to foster divisiveness and animosity throughout our nation. The author does an excellent job explaining why former Republicans now usurped by the MAGA movement insist we not believe what we have seen with our own eyes or heard with our own ears and, instead, swallow the alternate reality that is altogether different and altogether unsubstantiated by reliable facts, documentation, and credible evidence. This should be required reading for everyone.
November 19, 2024
I'm normally not one to read nonfiction, but with how things are turning out, I'm going to have to spend more time with it. This was an absolutely wild ride. So many scandals, so many lies, it's hard to keep track of all of them. And several times through the book I found myself saying "oh yeah, I forgot about that". Which is in itself a scary thing to realize. Very quick read, very informative, and tons of citations to show the author really did do the work and took the time to research.
January 24, 2025
i cant believe trump just stays lying and people never question it. actually wild all the things he has spun yet his followers still believe everything he says. short book and informative but not anything i havent heard before, just more detailed and with stats to back it up. i will say i think its a little inflammatory that it points the finger the entire book that ALL republicans lie, but then again the entire GOP constantly backs up trump up so whatever.
December 3, 2024
This books was incredibly enlightening. I really enjoyed all of the information shared and how it was presented with solid evidence. My only wish is that the people who actually needed to hear this would pick it up, but unfortunately, I don’t think they’re open to any differing opinions. Even when it’s just the plain and simple truth.
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