What do you think?
Rate this book
Sinking in the Swamp: How Trump's Minions and Misfits Poisoned Washington
An eyewitness account of Donald Trump's clown car of lieutenants and lackeys who have polluted the corridors of power with their unprecedented awfulness.Two of Washington's most meddlesome reporters take readers on a deep dive into the murky underworld of President Trump's Washington, dishing the hilarious and frightening dirt on the charlatans, conspiracy theorists, ideologues, and run-of-the-mill con artists who have infected the highest echelons of American political power.For the past three years, reporting from the White House, the Trump hotel, and other dens of intrigue and influence, Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsaeng have revealed the sordid shenanigans of a rogue's gallery of Trumpworld incompetents and improbable A-listers -- earning them angry denunciations (or at least some vexed side-eye) from Trumpists such as the actor Jon Voight and Trump's former campaign czar and renowned obfuscator Corey Lewandowski as well as requisite threats of physical violence and ruin. Sinking in the Swamp will similarly pull no punches. Everyone from assorted Trump family members to Stephen Miller, Sean Hannity, and Diamond & Silk to Trumpworld's even more obscure accomplices will be plumbed, prodded, and exposed for their roles in the most shambolic moment in modern American political history. When they go low, Swin and Lachlan are right there with them, recorders running and notebooks at the ready.Sinking in the Swamp is an uncompromising account of the financial and moral degradation of our capital, told with righteous indignation and through the lens of key power players and foot soldiers whose own antics have often escaped the notice of the overworked press corps.As the 2020 election approaches, this page-turning, letting-it-all-hang-out narrative shows how the nation got to this nadir, tracing the story back to years before Trump's improbable run for the White House and cataloguing the stomach-turning moments that followed.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 11, 2020
88 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 11, 2020
This is a good book, but not a great book. I dont think I can even blame the authors. They try their best to bring us the inside dish on all the dipshits and mediocrities in the Trump administration and ecosystem. The problem is two fold: (1) Many of these stories had already been covered, especially the ones that tie into the Ukraine drama that got Trump impeached (not guilty) (2) The other problem is that after 4-5 years of the Trump train I think I am just inurred to how grubby the whole gang is and no new levels of depravity or uncharted heights of disgrace are revealed here.
The only flaw I can put on Asawin and Lachlan is too many forced attempts at Hunter S Thompson gonzo writing and stylistic flourishes.
The only flaw I can put on Asawin and Lachlan is too many forced attempts at Hunter S Thompson gonzo writing and stylistic flourishes.
June 27, 2020
I have stayed away from books regaling in the Trump Administration's ineptness, corruption and probably even treason. It is just so damned depressing on an every day basis. Like someone on Twitter said, I can't wait for the Joe Biden presidency so I can not think about the President of the United States for a whole 48 hours.
But I cracked this one open and, like a smooth whisky, just couldn't stop. The hook for this book was not Trump or the higher ups, but rather how rotten the entire tree was, all the way down to the lowest characters. Told in a profane, humorous, sarcastic, brutal fashion, these two Daily Beast reports spent each (short) chapter on another slime from the bottom of the swamp. Characters you both know (Sean Spicer, Hope Hicks and Sean Hannity) to some more quiet "powers" behind the throne.
And it really is rotten from top to bottom. And totally inept. And corrupt. Usually all three, in breathtaking fashion, taking their lead from the top child in the office. The title the authors wanted to use was *Another Shitstorm in Fucktown*, which perfect encapsulates the disaster in Washington DC.
A couple times I wondered why I was even reading this. I mean, I know how awful this administration is. And what a bunch of fools run the ship. But I did see a silver lining with this - due to their complete incompetence, there is literally no lasting policy changes happening. Sure, the court has been stacked. And sure, the rich and richer got their tax break. But given how much damage they could have done if any of them was the slightest bit competent, or even interested in governing, I still think we have gotten off lightlly.
One chapter talks about at the beginning of the term, when young, committed Republicans came to see this as their chance, after 8 years of Democrat rule, to finally got some policy changes done. Nope, not going to happen. If you had any kind of anti-Trump message anywhere in your past, that would immediately disqualify you. So you can already see how that would leave the talent pool pretty shallow. And even those that did make it in, quickly became disillusioned by the shitstorm going on. So I guess America was lucky. Imagine if they were competent what they could have gotten away with?
Anyway, it is a fun, easy read, as long as you don't fret too much. It ends even before the impeachment, although the last chapter is on the epitome of boobs, Lev & Igor. So inept as to make you gasp. Try the book out and it is a fun ride. Remember Scott Pruitt?
But I cracked this one open and, like a smooth whisky, just couldn't stop. The hook for this book was not Trump or the higher ups, but rather how rotten the entire tree was, all the way down to the lowest characters. Told in a profane, humorous, sarcastic, brutal fashion, these two Daily Beast reports spent each (short) chapter on another slime from the bottom of the swamp. Characters you both know (Sean Spicer, Hope Hicks and Sean Hannity) to some more quiet "powers" behind the throne.
And it really is rotten from top to bottom. And totally inept. And corrupt. Usually all three, in breathtaking fashion, taking their lead from the top child in the office. The title the authors wanted to use was *Another Shitstorm in Fucktown*, which perfect encapsulates the disaster in Washington DC.
A couple times I wondered why I was even reading this. I mean, I know how awful this administration is. And what a bunch of fools run the ship. But I did see a silver lining with this - due to their complete incompetence, there is literally no lasting policy changes happening. Sure, the court has been stacked. And sure, the rich and richer got their tax break. But given how much damage they could have done if any of them was the slightest bit competent, or even interested in governing, I still think we have gotten off lightlly.
One chapter talks about at the beginning of the term, when young, committed Republicans came to see this as their chance, after 8 years of Democrat rule, to finally got some policy changes done. Nope, not going to happen. If you had any kind of anti-Trump message anywhere in your past, that would immediately disqualify you. So you can already see how that would leave the talent pool pretty shallow. And even those that did make it in, quickly became disillusioned by the shitstorm going on. So I guess America was lucky. Imagine if they were competent what they could have gotten away with?
Anyway, it is a fun, easy read, as long as you don't fret too much. It ends even before the impeachment, although the last chapter is on the epitome of boobs, Lev & Igor. So inept as to make you gasp. Try the book out and it is a fun ride. Remember Scott Pruitt?
February 27, 2020
Another one of the myriad of books critical of Trump. Much of the information contained in it I already knew from other sources. The authors have a definite sarcastic attitude in their writing that slightly tainted the material for me. Probably the most bothersome was that there are no footnotes. If I had not read other, similar books, I might have been more impressed with this one.
April 10, 2020
I knew when I checked it out that this would be little more than a leftist anti-Trump screed and it did not disappoint. I was hoping to learn just a bit about liberal positions on the insider's view on Washington politics, and on that I was some disappointed.
March 5, 2020
A disparaging book with the sole obvious goal of offending "them" and help the losers feel good about themselves.
December 3, 2020
Closer to a 3.5. Much more tabloidy than I expected, but rather fitting for the end of the Trump era.
March 24, 2020
All the human scum that surrounds Donald J. Trump, the liar and narcissist-in-chief, described in all their venality and lust for scraps of power. So depressing that this zoo of vultures can be found at the upper reaches of our once-democratic country. I promise you can't read this book without a constant feeling of nausea.
September 13, 2020
I picked up this book hoping to read a reasonable, professional and honest accounting of serious concerns with the Trump administration.
This book offered nothing of the sort.
Every page has anonymous gossip, childish descriptions and/or outrageous hyperbole. The authors' weird use of first person in the book is off-putting and another example of their unprofessionalism.
On page 186 of this garbage pile they claim that Pete Hegseth is "the guy who almost killed that guy with an ax." So I took a look at the clip. If someone had almost been killed on-air during a media stunt wouldn't it have been a bigger story?
Hegseth and whoever set up the stunt, were dumbasses for the stunt without question. There is no way he should have been throwing an axe with people standing behind the target. As to the claim that Hegseth "almost killed that guy"? Nothing of the sort. No reasonable person could believe that claim watching the clip. The guy in question was hit in the arm by the handle of the axe. No need to go to the hospital. I wasn't wasting anymore time on this dumpster fire after seeing how divorced from reality their description was.
Anyone who gives this book a positive review should be ashamed of their review. This book is horribly-written, almost completely unsourced and incredibly juvenile. There are plenty of places people can go to post their hatred and/or disdain of Donald Trump. Ignoring the serious shortcomings of this book because of your personal feelings towards Trump doesn't make you a good book reviewer.
When a book is terrible it should be reviewed as such. Regardless of how much the authors 'own' the subject they savage in such a juvenile manner.
This book offered nothing of the sort.
Every page has anonymous gossip, childish descriptions and/or outrageous hyperbole. The authors' weird use of first person in the book is off-putting and another example of their unprofessionalism.
On page 186 of this garbage pile they claim that Pete Hegseth is "the guy who almost killed that guy with an ax." So I took a look at the clip. If someone had almost been killed on-air during a media stunt wouldn't it have been a bigger story?
Hegseth and whoever set up the stunt, were dumbasses for the stunt without question. There is no way he should have been throwing an axe with people standing behind the target. As to the claim that Hegseth "almost killed that guy"? Nothing of the sort. No reasonable person could believe that claim watching the clip. The guy in question was hit in the arm by the handle of the axe. No need to go to the hospital. I wasn't wasting anymore time on this dumpster fire after seeing how divorced from reality their description was.
Anyone who gives this book a positive review should be ashamed of their review. This book is horribly-written, almost completely unsourced and incredibly juvenile. There are plenty of places people can go to post their hatred and/or disdain of Donald Trump. Ignoring the serious shortcomings of this book because of your personal feelings towards Trump doesn't make you a good book reviewer.
When a book is terrible it should be reviewed as such. Regardless of how much the authors 'own' the subject they savage in such a juvenile manner.
February 23, 2020
The authors of this book expose all of the con artists working for Trump and also the loyalty of his fans. We have never had a President with such a disregard for the law and for the office he holds. This man was able to create division in our country and the authors explore the shadiness of this administration and the impact it has had on all of us.
February 25, 2020
I learned some new things from this latest in now a long series of books about the Trump presidency, but this is probably my least favorite. Written in an almost gossipy tone, some errors, it seems to almost be as much as the persona of these two journalists as anything else.
February 25, 2020
He certainly is the gift that keeps giving as far as books on politics go.
February 22, 2020
The swamp is even slimier than I imagined....
May 17, 2020
Essentially just a collection of salacious claims with a thesis that is already fairly well-established.
June 15, 2020
I have read most books about the insider view of the Trump business, political campaign and WH administration and by far, this work is the juicy, most salacious, deeply penetrating and revealing of how Trump functions, thinks and rules.
The authors have been closely observing not just the well know major players, but more perceptibly, the minor or nameless people, minions and misfits as the books title states, who drive much of the outlandish tweets, utterances and brainfarts of this President.
And few other books explain the influence of Fox News as Sinking in the Swamp does.
Some of my favourites quotes: "There’s a joke in national and political media circles about Hannity’s frequent interviews and conversations with the president and how gobsmackingly impossible it seems that someone with that much access to power can come away, almost each and every time, without breaking a single morsel of news. To any reasonable observer, it’s simpering propaganda, not even fun simpering propaganda."
They coined a term which begins, as best as one can hope, to define what it is we are in the midst of: "During the hectic months of mid-2017, unquestionably the most exhausting and excruciating time to be covering White House politics, we co-opted a term to describe the unending shitshow that surrounded us and in which we were forced to immerse ourselves daily. We called it “omnishambles,” a convergence of complete chaos, ineptitude, and scandal in which few really know what’s going on and fewer still what will come next."
Trump is living in a reality TV world and his use of twitter wielded as a sword against, as he sees it, injustice, often does as much harm to himself as he thinks it does to his enemies. WE know how he abuses people and how many people he has "fired" but few go onto those once guaranteed prime jobs once they leave the WH.
Beast White House correspondents Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsaeng provide a real inside view of the Presidents cranium, his hangers-on and trusted underlings, the gossip, extensive investigative research, superb insight all based on honest and professional journalism.
Some books meander along with moments of bliss, this book just screams at the speed of light and was hard to put down. You can sink your teeth into this one and come out gasping for breath!
The authors have been closely observing not just the well know major players, but more perceptibly, the minor or nameless people, minions and misfits as the books title states, who drive much of the outlandish tweets, utterances and brainfarts of this President.
And few other books explain the influence of Fox News as Sinking in the Swamp does.
Some of my favourites quotes: "There’s a joke in national and political media circles about Hannity’s frequent interviews and conversations with the president and how gobsmackingly impossible it seems that someone with that much access to power can come away, almost each and every time, without breaking a single morsel of news. To any reasonable observer, it’s simpering propaganda, not even fun simpering propaganda."
They coined a term which begins, as best as one can hope, to define what it is we are in the midst of: "During the hectic months of mid-2017, unquestionably the most exhausting and excruciating time to be covering White House politics, we co-opted a term to describe the unending shitshow that surrounded us and in which we were forced to immerse ourselves daily. We called it “omnishambles,” a convergence of complete chaos, ineptitude, and scandal in which few really know what’s going on and fewer still what will come next."
Trump is living in a reality TV world and his use of twitter wielded as a sword against, as he sees it, injustice, often does as much harm to himself as he thinks it does to his enemies. WE know how he abuses people and how many people he has "fired" but few go onto those once guaranteed prime jobs once they leave the WH.
Beast White House correspondents Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsaeng provide a real inside view of the Presidents cranium, his hangers-on and trusted underlings, the gossip, extensive investigative research, superb insight all based on honest and professional journalism.
Some books meander along with moments of bliss, this book just screams at the speed of light and was hard to put down. You can sink your teeth into this one and come out gasping for breath!
August 3, 2020
The title tells you what you will read about. Nothing really new, but well researched confirmation with details of much of the history we've been living through with our current president. Truly disappointing chapter of this country's life except that it has awakened a hunger for a leader with depth and bredth of experience and the humility to ask for help from people who have wisdom and knowledge to enlighten.
February 22, 2021
Their preferred title: Another Shitstorm in Fucktown: The Donald J. Trump Odyssey - wish they’d been able to use that!
Very irreverent, very honest, lots of new-to-me anecdotes. A very fast and easy read. With an admirably different focus than the rest of the books that have come out so far. Some characters I knew, some I didn’t, all highly relevant and interesting. Such a completely different and enjoyable tone than any other book. At least other truthful books.
Very irreverent, very honest, lots of new-to-me anecdotes. A very fast and easy read. With an admirably different focus than the rest of the books that have come out so far. Some characters I knew, some I didn’t, all highly relevant and interesting. Such a completely different and enjoyable tone than any other book. At least other truthful books.
May 9, 2020
The authors themselves compare this book to Wiseguy. The book that put focus on an underling, Henry Hill, to shine a light on the bigwig mob bosses. It is exactly what they do and succeed at so incredibly. This is a great book that through examining the actions and deeds of the folks surrounding him - it all shines a spotlight on the shitgibbon that Conald John Trump is. Loved it.
June 18, 2020
A depiction of the sordidness of Washington during the first 2.5 years of the Trump administration. As it went to print before the Impeachment proceedings, before the Pandemic with its campaign of misinformation and disinformation, and before the demonstrations and protests against systemic racism, one can only imagine what a “volume 2” might say if it came out now.
September 23, 2020
This book was pretty much what I hoped it would be: stories/anecdotes about the Trump admin told by sources in the trenches. Some I had heard before, many I had not. In the introduction, the authors said they were going for a perspective similar to that of foot soldier Henry Hill in Goodfellas.
The book was <300 pages and I found the content interesting and entertaining.
The book was <300 pages and I found the content interesting and entertaining.
July 3, 2020
At times snarky and sarcastic, this book is organized into small vignettes: easily digested and fact-driven from "real" (not fake) investigative journalists. Yet another look at the Trump presidency from the swamp Trump said he'd drain. Well done.
April 16, 2020
Interesting book that gives lots more detailed information about the circle of grifters, cons, and morons surrounding Trump.
April 28, 2020
THIS BOOK!!!
Read it, or listen to it. It says what needs to be said.
Read it, or listen to it. It says what needs to be said.
May 25, 2020
so I've read a lot of this before but this was a fresh perspective
August 19, 2020
A litany of corruption and ineptitude in the Trump administration
September 19, 2020
A hilariously-written account of much of what you already know.
I know it's serious matter, but sometimes I need a laugh in dark times.
I know it's serious matter, but sometimes I need a laugh in dark times.
June 1, 2021
Entertaining and fascinating account of the mid level operatives who worked with, in and on the fringes of Trumpworld.
September 5, 2021
Good grief. A group of grifters, scoundrels and villiani. Good book and a good narrator.
March 29, 2020
Like so many books about trump, this work is best tolerated in small doses only. I read a few chapters then a couple unrelated novels. Then a few more chapters and so on——. I’ve read so many books about this con man president and his sycophants, his hangers on, the gangsters. I know a few Trump lovers, and they are people who frequently intersperse conversations with the well-worn phrase, “I’m not racist, but...”
I did learn more about the background of some of the many trump world scandals by reading this book.
I suppose that is worthwhile. It was well-written and interesting in the way a multi-vehicle pile up can be.
And now this narcissist-in-chief is in charge while our health care professionals try to manage a deadly pandemic without protective masks, gloves, and gowns. The United States of America is no longer so “united.” Already plans are discussed to ration ICU care in some States. Our trump minions call for the elderly to be sacrificed to save the stock market. Today Rhode Island police are reportedly going door to door to flush out New Yorkers. Airports in Florida are said to be on alert to catch New Yorkers trying to come in. Reportedly, a police roadblock has been set up on Florida I 95 to head off New Yorkers attempting to enter the State. Wasn’t it only days ago that spring break revelers from around the country were welcomed to fill Florida’s bars and beaches?
What in the world is happening, America?
I did learn more about the background of some of the many trump world scandals by reading this book.
I suppose that is worthwhile. It was well-written and interesting in the way a multi-vehicle pile up can be.
And now this narcissist-in-chief is in charge while our health care professionals try to manage a deadly pandemic without protective masks, gloves, and gowns. The United States of America is no longer so “united.” Already plans are discussed to ration ICU care in some States. Our trump minions call for the elderly to be sacrificed to save the stock market. Today Rhode Island police are reportedly going door to door to flush out New Yorkers. Airports in Florida are said to be on alert to catch New Yorkers trying to come in. Reportedly, a police roadblock has been set up on Florida I 95 to head off New Yorkers attempting to enter the State. Wasn’t it only days ago that spring break revelers from around the country were welcomed to fill Florida’s bars and beaches?
What in the world is happening, America?
March 30, 2020
A delightful look at a very un-delightful subject, the nasty DC infested by Trump underlings, book-lickers, yes-men and criminals.....in short, a swamp. The writing style is wonderfully informal and helps keep the Trump-ine aura of sourness & failure off from “Sinking In the Swamp”.
May 1, 2020
Disappointing. The argument here is that we're going to get a Rosencrantz & Guildenstern take on the age of Trump, but most of what we end up with is a discussion of Appalling Minor Grifter #17 and an insistence that this reveals a great deal about how Trump's DC works. Which we get from the first few, so by the time we're on to Diamond & Silk, it's yet more about how their rise will show us, etc. What it shows us is that a bunch of liars, grifters, shameless hucksters, and nutsos grabbed Trump's coattails and rode them as far and fast as they could. Which we already knew. The book doesn't really tell us anything more than that, unfortunately, holding up yet another freakish specimen for our delectation but not showing anything new.
One of the most frustrating aspects of this whole period is the ironic convergence of Trump's endless empty promises with the frustrations of a literature that similarly promises bold new revelations but deals out the same few tired anecdotes and analytical truths. I dunno, maybe David Rohde's new one will break the string.
One of the most frustrating aspects of this whole period is the ironic convergence of Trump's endless empty promises with the frustrations of a literature that similarly promises bold new revelations but deals out the same few tired anecdotes and analytical truths. I dunno, maybe David Rohde's new one will break the string.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews