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Justice Is Coming: How Progressives Are Going to Take Over the Country and America Is Going to Love It
A manifesto that outlines the progressive vision, recent history and worldview ― by the founder of The Young Turks and co-founder of Justice Democrats.
The media can't stop talking about the gridlock in Washington, as if a handful of stubborn Republicans are the only thing standing between us and a fully-functional democracy. The reality is that our government was taken over by big business and their allies in both political parties. The getaway driver in this heist was corporate media. The good news is that the American people are very progressive. And soon progressives will take over Washington as well! And when they do, the great majority of Americans will love it.
In Justice Is Coming , The Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur presents two ideas that counter everything we hear from pundits and politicians on a daily one, progressives are correct on all issues, and two, America is actually a very progressive country. Millions of us know that we are a part of something larger, a movement that is already transforming Washington.
This compulsively readable manifesto seeks to apply the momentum we have already built to a concrete progressive agenda that activists, voters, and citizens can all rally around. It looks beyond Trump to the larger historical forces that have given us this unique political moment, and explains why we should fight, how we should fight, and how we will win.
Sharp-witted, persuasive, and inspiring, calling out toxic Republicans, politely-ineffectual Democrats, and mealy-mouthed media mavens in equal measure, Justice is Coming will give heart to Democrats and progressives who seek to change our politics and society for the better.
The media can't stop talking about the gridlock in Washington, as if a handful of stubborn Republicans are the only thing standing between us and a fully-functional democracy. The reality is that our government was taken over by big business and their allies in both political parties. The getaway driver in this heist was corporate media. The good news is that the American people are very progressive. And soon progressives will take over Washington as well! And when they do, the great majority of Americans will love it.
In Justice Is Coming , The Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur presents two ideas that counter everything we hear from pundits and politicians on a daily one, progressives are correct on all issues, and two, America is actually a very progressive country. Millions of us know that we are a part of something larger, a movement that is already transforming Washington.
This compulsively readable manifesto seeks to apply the momentum we have already built to a concrete progressive agenda that activists, voters, and citizens can all rally around. It looks beyond Trump to the larger historical forces that have given us this unique political moment, and explains why we should fight, how we should fight, and how we will win.
Sharp-witted, persuasive, and inspiring, calling out toxic Republicans, politely-ineffectual Democrats, and mealy-mouthed media mavens in equal measure, Justice is Coming will give heart to Democrats and progressives who seek to change our politics and society for the better.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 19, 2023
127 people are currently reading
3596 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
April 28, 2023
Whether you agree with Cenk or not, one thing is undeniable - this book has so much heart, hope, and enthusiasm. However you identify politically, Cenk presents a conversational style of tackling the many issues and challenges within politics. As a reader, it's as if you are listening to him talking with you. There's also unexpected humor and laugh-out-loud moments sprinkled throughout the chapters. The book is informative and offers ideas worth talking about.
Jump in if you're ready to find out how and why 'Justice is Coming.'
Jump in if you're ready to find out how and why 'Justice is Coming.'
January 29, 2022
A stunning achievement in political analysis and projection.
September 20, 2023
Yes yes yes, WHY IS NO ONE ELSE SAYING THIS!???!
September 24, 2023
Suffice it to say, if you’re looking at the one star reviews, you’ll notice that only ONE of them was posted after the book was actually released. The rest are too stupid to realize that it takes years to completely go through the process of writing and publishing a book when you aren’t a full time author. I doubt they were the target demographic for this book in the first place, given that.
So far, I have to say I’m actually really impressed with how much information I gleaned from this book. As a TYT podcast listener, I already knew that I was going to largely agree with Cenk’s stance on things (although I’m a flat out socialist whereas he’s understandably a democratic capitalist), but what I wasn’t expecting was just how deep down the rabbit hole our shithole country’s government corruption really goes. I’m not surprised, of course, but to say it didn’t shock me a little would be a lie.
It was quite refreshing to hear a third party stance about the way America has gone so horribly wrong, but that’s why I’m a TYT fan in the first place. I’m tired of rich old people working for other rich old people gaslighting about how what’s good for rich old people is good for everyone else when we all fucking know that it isn’t.
What I will say is my greatest takeaway from this book, and this coming from someone DEEPLY cynical, angry, and disenfranchised to the point that I genuinely hate my own country…was hope. The statistics Cenk cited added something concrete I hadn’t realized I was missing from the general discourse of where my fellow millennials and, better yet, the younger generations stand on the political spectrum. I was skeptical that their voices would make any more of a difference than the millennial voices but I’m walking away from this book with SINCERE hope for our future. Long live Gen Z and the progressives in this country who actually want to see it thrive rather than the conservatives who would rather watch it burn in the interests of a dollar.
Great read, very insightful, and as entertaining as it has been informative. Give it a shot, you won’t regret it.
So far, I have to say I’m actually really impressed with how much information I gleaned from this book. As a TYT podcast listener, I already knew that I was going to largely agree with Cenk’s stance on things (although I’m a flat out socialist whereas he’s understandably a democratic capitalist), but what I wasn’t expecting was just how deep down the rabbit hole our shithole country’s government corruption really goes. I’m not surprised, of course, but to say it didn’t shock me a little would be a lie.
It was quite refreshing to hear a third party stance about the way America has gone so horribly wrong, but that’s why I’m a TYT fan in the first place. I’m tired of rich old people working for other rich old people gaslighting about how what’s good for rich old people is good for everyone else when we all fucking know that it isn’t.
What I will say is my greatest takeaway from this book, and this coming from someone DEEPLY cynical, angry, and disenfranchised to the point that I genuinely hate my own country…was hope. The statistics Cenk cited added something concrete I hadn’t realized I was missing from the general discourse of where my fellow millennials and, better yet, the younger generations stand on the political spectrum. I was skeptical that their voices would make any more of a difference than the millennial voices but I’m walking away from this book with SINCERE hope for our future. Long live Gen Z and the progressives in this country who actually want to see it thrive rather than the conservatives who would rather watch it burn in the interests of a dollar.
Great read, very insightful, and as entertaining as it has been informative. Give it a shot, you won’t regret it.
October 12, 2023
I was just about to start my feedback on this title when I heard the news that Cenk Uyghur has announced he will run for president in 2024. This despite the fact that he is ineligible, due to the fact that he is a naturalized citizen. Although I know I should not base an opinion about his book based on current events, it’s hard to separate authors’ work from public life, in this case it makes a big difference that he is essentially launching a political stunt that will accomplish nothing except taking money from people and forcing the media to pay attention.
What does this have to do with the book? Uyghur sets out to prove that America isn’t really as “moderate/conservative” as the media would have us think. The culprit is the media, who depend on their corporate bosses to shape their agenda, and that’s why we hear so much about Joe Biden’s age and not Trump’s (even though Trump is only 3 years younger and in much poorer health. His main point is that Americans support abortion right’s, rights for LGBTQ people, voting rights, and the Green New Deal. He makes a number of valid points but presents them in a style that is more suited to the world of talk radio than a serious journalistic effort. Citations are careless and incomplete, he uses very informal language liberally (!) sprinkled with swear words. Even if I agreed with his assertions - and most of them, I do - this is not a book that will convince anyone who isn’t already on board.
There’s plenty of righteous anger out there right now. It’s muddying the conversation as the public ends up trusting no one. This book adds nothing to the conversation, and in fact makes things worse. The fact that Uyghur launches a presidential bid he knows he isn’t eligible for really makes me cynical about his writing.
What does this have to do with the book? Uyghur sets out to prove that America isn’t really as “moderate/conservative” as the media would have us think. The culprit is the media, who depend on their corporate bosses to shape their agenda, and that’s why we hear so much about Joe Biden’s age and not Trump’s (even though Trump is only 3 years younger and in much poorer health. His main point is that Americans support abortion right’s, rights for LGBTQ people, voting rights, and the Green New Deal. He makes a number of valid points but presents them in a style that is more suited to the world of talk radio than a serious journalistic effort. Citations are careless and incomplete, he uses very informal language liberally (!) sprinkled with swear words. Even if I agreed with his assertions - and most of them, I do - this is not a book that will convince anyone who isn’t already on board.
There’s plenty of righteous anger out there right now. It’s muddying the conversation as the public ends up trusting no one. This book adds nothing to the conversation, and in fact makes things worse. The fact that Uyghur launches a presidential bid he knows he isn’t eligible for really makes me cynical about his writing.
April 4, 2022
The author scams his viewers. 3 years and still no book.
February 15, 2024
Took pre-orders years ago...still no book---- scammers gonna scam
Updated:
Updated:
September 19, 2023
So far it's been insightful and hopeful. His faith in the progressive future of the American people is clearly described, and helps to provide a bit of optimism in tumultuous times.
September 19, 2023
With all of the authors generalizations I really wanted to dislike this book but having found myself agreeing with 99% of what she said and totally seeing the value of educating the public with the books just like this I finished it thinking one that this is common sense but that too there’s probably millions of Americans that need to read this. I really believe we should go back to the days we’re public office it was a part-time job and only paid so much because it seems the more money they get the more they want and from favors the politicians call pork and handshake agreements politicians are going to continue to ruin this country for the betterment of their bank account. I don’t think corporations should have any place in politics at all this was supposed to be a country for the people by the people in the ones in Washington DC were supposed to represent our opinions but it seemed they only represent their self and I don’t think just because someone says they’re a Democrat that makes them a good guy because back in the day Trump said he was a Democrat as well. As for this book it is sadly needed it is a short but very compelling read. I want to thank Saint Martin’s press and Net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
August 17, 2022
Where’s the book Chunk?
October 22, 2023
If you’re already a regular viewer of Cenk Uygur’s news and political show The Young Turks, this book won’t add much to what he already has to say about the state of our democracy and the way this country has been taken over by corporations buying off politicians. Narrated by the author, this book gives an open and honest perspective with a little tongue-in-cheek humor that the author is quite good at. In all honesty, he is much more animated on his show with his emotions laid bare.
Nothing is off limits and Cenk Uygur is fearless about exposing the corrupt and the ridiculous that we have elected to office. Now that he has announced his intention to run for President in 2024, I can wholeheartedly say this will be one interesting, if not entertaining, election.
My Final Verdict: Americans should be concerned at the very least at what our government and elected officials are doing right under our noses. I am nowhere close enough to being a political pundit, but Cenk Uygur offers an enlightening perspective to which we should listen. Give the book a go, form your own conclusions and then cast your vote.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Justice Is Coming from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Nothing is off limits and Cenk Uygur is fearless about exposing the corrupt and the ridiculous that we have elected to office. Now that he has announced his intention to run for President in 2024, I can wholeheartedly say this will be one interesting, if not entertaining, election.
My Final Verdict: Americans should be concerned at the very least at what our government and elected officials are doing right under our noses. I am nowhere close enough to being a political pundit, but Cenk Uygur offers an enlightening perspective to which we should listen. Give the book a go, form your own conclusions and then cast your vote.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Justice Is Coming from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2023
This book is a very comprehensive introduction to the American progressive ideology and how it is in actuality the ideology that is preferred by a majority of Americans but big business' interests tend to eclipse the interests of the general population. Uygur outlines how money in politics allows businesses to control our politicians and how failings on both sides of the aisle cause some citizens to vote against their own interests. He also gives examples of how traditional media support and encourage this system that works for business and against the citizen. Uygur does not simply bash one political party but shows how both sides work in tandem to encourage fighting amongst Americans while hiding the big picture of what we really believe. I hope people on both sides of the aisle give this book a chance to help us to work together for our common goals: health, happiness and a bright future for the country.
I received an advanced copy and am giving an honest review.
I received an advanced copy and am giving an honest review.
September 22, 2023
I am a postal worker who has been listening to TYT for about 10 years. Literally on the job delivering mail and listening to the best news network I have ever found. I’m saying this because that is my bias. This book is fantastic. It’s saying the quiet parts out loud, but in the positive direction. Not the way republicans say the quiet part out loud and demonstrating their bigotry.
This book lays out how we lost our democracy and gives an outline on how we can get it back. I have tried for years to get my conservative family to understand how backwards they are in their thinking. Not surprisingly, with little to no success. But I did get my right wing father to read this book. Let’s hope he finds it as informative and meaningful as I have.
Good job Cenk. Keep up the good fight.
This book lays out how we lost our democracy and gives an outline on how we can get it back. I have tried for years to get my conservative family to understand how backwards they are in their thinking. Not surprisingly, with little to no success. But I did get my right wing father to read this book. Let’s hope he finds it as informative and meaningful as I have.
Good job Cenk. Keep up the good fight.
April 3, 2024
I love this book!! I have followed TYT for almost 8 years off and on. I have been more active in politics since around the time when Trump took office. Cenk and Anna’s honest viewpoints and coverage on political issues features on TYT let me see that I am indeed progressive. I saw the corruption in politics and in the media that no one is talking about. I learned so much from reading this book about the history of our country and what we(as the American people) can do to make this country better for all of us. We need a better system that help everyday American that will lead to prosperity for all. Thank you Cenk for this book and hope you get on the New Yorks best seller’s list!!
September 29, 2023
Anyone with remote interest in politics or the future of the country needs to read this book. It takes you on a journey of crushing your in hope in showing you in depth how it all went wrong (with receipts!) and then builds you back up to feel hopeful.
November 29, 2024
An absolute must read.
January 2, 2024
A strong reminder of how progressive-minded I am. The book could have been about 2/3 the length and probably reordered some but it was worth the read.
Questions:
- I agree the numbers for the next generations line up with a progressive shift. But that assumes Trump doesn't become a dictator and that fair voting otherwise remains intact AND that young people actually vote. Soooo many that I know (CO and Chambana are full of them) feel irrelevant in a world run by old/rich people. Can we really assume it'll turn?
- What about small business? Not everything is a giant corporate machine.
- I wonder how much room there is for compromising with (or selling out to) big corporations that help us do the things we really need to do: aggrivoltaics, off-shore wind, high-speed rail, investment in infrastructure, space exploration. SpaceX has accomplished many things NASA never could, but Elon is a billioneer idiot who ruined Twitter, which for a time was like a system of public communication. I guess that's more or less the goal of corporate Democrats, but I'm willing to accept some of their corporate deals to get the Trumpers out before they make a dictator out of him.
- Have old religious/rich people who are drastically out of sync but still in power been the case forever? This seems to be getting worse at we become more and more of a gerontocracy - America has the oldest average age of politicians in the world and it's also the case in most areas of work or organization - be it civil service and big corporate.
- He didn't weigh in on labor. Having seen how it can be bad (at UIUC it's also gerontocracy; but socially-conservative AF and sort of the same corrupt contract inflation you see in the corporate world - or, say, police unions?) - seems like it's a complicated subject but they put a lot of money into politics too.
- A lot of Cenk's narrative is that structure is all-powerful - but his movement is about individuals. It's the classic debate but also one I constantly find myself saying "you can't just complain about stuff and demand it be fixed, you have to be part of the fix yourself" - I wish more of the book were about how to convince young folks to care. We've learned to ignore sensationalism, it's the stuff of Fox News. How do we give young folks ways to be involved on a simple day-to-day basis?
- The media being corrupt because of capitalism/corporations seems to stack up, I'm just not convinced it's as important as he makes it sound?
- Ultimately while I agree with Cenk I don't know what to do - if democracy remains intact the next decade I think we could see dramatic shifts in areas I care about, but ultimately the problems of gerontocracy and capitalism aren't likely to change. I suspect at some point the Millennials will become the main backers of the "meat lobby" and refuse to shift us to alternative sustainable foods, for instance.
Things I liked:
- Most of the main points of the book.
- Cenk makes a good point that "being neutral" or "moderate" isn't a reasonable approach if both options aren't reasonable, just because some people might believe 2+2 = 6, doesn't mean we should compromise at 5; things like climate change and vaccines seem to me like they fall in this category.
- I agree that it's likely much of the country holds views that are more progressive than the people/corporations in control - paid maternity leave, healthcare for all, concerns about cost of housing raising faster than income - hell even failing to fix daylight savings shows how we've baked opposition for opposition's sake into our government. The Lauren Boebert club goal: be obstructionist enough and nothing changes and the rich people stay rich.
- I am unsurprised that the Bible has a section about abortion being appropriate, just as I am unsurprised that most of the parts of it that are against being gay are more about rape. The whole deal behind Trumpism or QAnon is alternate facts, this is yet another strong example.
Things I didn't like:
- His sources aren't cited in the audiobook, but they do appear as footnotes in the actual text. They're generally news articles and polls that I'm reluctant to take as fact outright. I'd like to see more meta-analysis and understand sampling methods to take claims more seriously.
- The book takes speculative correlation leaps: politics being all about money is certainly bad but may not be why pay hasn't increased for general workers - that might be about unions or globalization or other stuff I haven't thought of; sometimes he fluidly jumps to conclusions like this without explaining.
- The threat of people getting most of their news from social media is real. Based on this 2020 PEW data https://www.pewresearch.org/journalis... - the more independent information channels is probably better for society overall but it also carries lots of conspiracy BS that isn't vetted whatsoever.
- Language: A lot of the language is pretty coercive-sounding: "just wait until you hear how bad it gets - you're gonna think blah blah" Don't try to build me up or tell me what to conclude before I've heard it. Convince me with data. His tone is often pretty condescending and dismissive, I would struggle to translate this material into a format that Trump people would listen to. The polarization and staunch language just contributes to the talking past one another.
- I went to visit the Wolf-PAC site, thinking I might back it, and it felt very "Trump" or "Fox News" to me because it has flashy WORLD ENDING HOMG type language all over. Recent videos on the Young Turks page are about Trump saying he wants to move a hundred thousand troops to the border - he just makes up shit like that all the time to get reactions, we needn't fall for those traps. I'm all about removing corruption and dealing with actual emergencies like climate change, but I'm not into motivating people to act out of fear and emotional response. I am, to the best I can be, an academic who cares about data and reasoned responses.
All that said perhaps the biggest thing I'll take from the book is that: yeah, I think I can call myself a progressive instead of a liberal.
... but I'd also accept socialist as a title too :)
Questions:
- I agree the numbers for the next generations line up with a progressive shift. But that assumes Trump doesn't become a dictator and that fair voting otherwise remains intact AND that young people actually vote. Soooo many that I know (CO and Chambana are full of them) feel irrelevant in a world run by old/rich people. Can we really assume it'll turn?
- What about small business? Not everything is a giant corporate machine.
- I wonder how much room there is for compromising with (or selling out to) big corporations that help us do the things we really need to do: aggrivoltaics, off-shore wind, high-speed rail, investment in infrastructure, space exploration. SpaceX has accomplished many things NASA never could, but Elon is a billioneer idiot who ruined Twitter, which for a time was like a system of public communication. I guess that's more or less the goal of corporate Democrats, but I'm willing to accept some of their corporate deals to get the Trumpers out before they make a dictator out of him.
- Have old religious/rich people who are drastically out of sync but still in power been the case forever? This seems to be getting worse at we become more and more of a gerontocracy - America has the oldest average age of politicians in the world and it's also the case in most areas of work or organization - be it civil service and big corporate.
- He didn't weigh in on labor. Having seen how it can be bad (at UIUC it's also gerontocracy; but socially-conservative AF and sort of the same corrupt contract inflation you see in the corporate world - or, say, police unions?) - seems like it's a complicated subject but they put a lot of money into politics too.
- A lot of Cenk's narrative is that structure is all-powerful - but his movement is about individuals. It's the classic debate but also one I constantly find myself saying "you can't just complain about stuff and demand it be fixed, you have to be part of the fix yourself" - I wish more of the book were about how to convince young folks to care. We've learned to ignore sensationalism, it's the stuff of Fox News. How do we give young folks ways to be involved on a simple day-to-day basis?
- The media being corrupt because of capitalism/corporations seems to stack up, I'm just not convinced it's as important as he makes it sound?
- Ultimately while I agree with Cenk I don't know what to do - if democracy remains intact the next decade I think we could see dramatic shifts in areas I care about, but ultimately the problems of gerontocracy and capitalism aren't likely to change. I suspect at some point the Millennials will become the main backers of the "meat lobby" and refuse to shift us to alternative sustainable foods, for instance.
Things I liked:
- Most of the main points of the book.
- Cenk makes a good point that "being neutral" or "moderate" isn't a reasonable approach if both options aren't reasonable, just because some people might believe 2+2 = 6, doesn't mean we should compromise at 5; things like climate change and vaccines seem to me like they fall in this category.
- I agree that it's likely much of the country holds views that are more progressive than the people/corporations in control - paid maternity leave, healthcare for all, concerns about cost of housing raising faster than income - hell even failing to fix daylight savings shows how we've baked opposition for opposition's sake into our government. The Lauren Boebert club goal: be obstructionist enough and nothing changes and the rich people stay rich.
- I am unsurprised that the Bible has a section about abortion being appropriate, just as I am unsurprised that most of the parts of it that are against being gay are more about rape. The whole deal behind Trumpism or QAnon is alternate facts, this is yet another strong example.
Things I didn't like:
- His sources aren't cited in the audiobook, but they do appear as footnotes in the actual text. They're generally news articles and polls that I'm reluctant to take as fact outright. I'd like to see more meta-analysis and understand sampling methods to take claims more seriously.
- The book takes speculative correlation leaps: politics being all about money is certainly bad but may not be why pay hasn't increased for general workers - that might be about unions or globalization or other stuff I haven't thought of; sometimes he fluidly jumps to conclusions like this without explaining.
- The threat of people getting most of their news from social media is real. Based on this 2020 PEW data https://www.pewresearch.org/journalis... - the more independent information channels is probably better for society overall but it also carries lots of conspiracy BS that isn't vetted whatsoever.
- Language: A lot of the language is pretty coercive-sounding: "just wait until you hear how bad it gets - you're gonna think blah blah" Don't try to build me up or tell me what to conclude before I've heard it. Convince me with data. His tone is often pretty condescending and dismissive, I would struggle to translate this material into a format that Trump people would listen to. The polarization and staunch language just contributes to the talking past one another.
- I went to visit the Wolf-PAC site, thinking I might back it, and it felt very "Trump" or "Fox News" to me because it has flashy WORLD ENDING HOMG type language all over. Recent videos on the Young Turks page are about Trump saying he wants to move a hundred thousand troops to the border - he just makes up shit like that all the time to get reactions, we needn't fall for those traps. I'm all about removing corruption and dealing with actual emergencies like climate change, but I'm not into motivating people to act out of fear and emotional response. I am, to the best I can be, an academic who cares about data and reasoned responses.
All that said perhaps the biggest thing I'll take from the book is that: yeah, I think I can call myself a progressive instead of a liberal.
... but I'd also accept socialist as a title too :)
January 27, 2024
An open letter to Republicans...
Now I'm not talking Conservatives, because in my opinion, those are two different things. If you have innately conservative values (pro-life, pro-gun, pro prayer in schools, etc...), that is ALL well and good and you are well within your rights to believe those things. That's what makes America great, the fact that we are each entitled to our beliefs and may be free from persecution due to our belief systems.
I'm talking REPUBLICANS. People who are in support of politicians who opperate within the Republican Party. This one goes out to you:
Please read this book. Please read at least the first 25 pages of this book without putting it down. Cenk does have an incredibly defensive tone in this book, and it can come off as condescending towards those who he refers to as conservatives/republicans. But this book is so well researched, and the Facts. Don't. Lie. If you believe there is a better quality of life to be had in America, voting Republican is the biggest thing you can do to prevent it from becoming a reality. Not because conservative values are evil, but because most of the politicians who identify as conservative are not voting in line with their values, with YOUR values, but with the values of their donors.
Corporate Democrats are not immune to this sickness of corruption. In fact, one of the best things about this book is that Cenk goes after Republicans and Dems pretty much equally. But if Democrats have dipped their toe in the River Styx of corruption, Republicans have taken a beautiful synchronized-swimming-swan-dive. Because at least Democrats PRETEND to fight for our best interests.
Paid family leave, free college education, access to BIRTH CONTROL. (Read that again, not abortion, standard birth control). These are core tennants of the Progressive agenda. Sure it's socialized. (Big scary word, I know). But guess what else is socialized in America? The Police Force. Firefighters. The military. Social Security. Medicare and Medicaid. Some of the most popular programs in American history are socialized. Would you like to root out socialism to the point that we have a privatized fire department? So that if your house catches flame and you can't foot the bill you're just what?... Screwed?
Socialism, progressivism, the "radical" left are not all blue-haired, hysterical, university-brainwashed, morally bankrupt goons that the donor class would like you to believe. Progressivism is just the opposite of a ruling donor class. Why wouldn't they want you to hate the libs? The "libs" are fighting for fundamental change that will affect Boeing, Eli Lilly, and Amazon's bottom line. Of course they're going to pay their politicians to tell you that progressives are spending all their time "transing the kids". Progressive policies are SO popular that culture-war issues are the ONLY thing that large corperations can use to keep Progressives out of our government.
Long story short, if you have any intellectual curiosity about our fucking morally bankrupt system of government, this is a great read. If you can't tell, it lit a fire under me and I've already been contemplating blue hair since middle school.
Now I'm not talking Conservatives, because in my opinion, those are two different things. If you have innately conservative values (pro-life, pro-gun, pro prayer in schools, etc...), that is ALL well and good and you are well within your rights to believe those things. That's what makes America great, the fact that we are each entitled to our beliefs and may be free from persecution due to our belief systems.
I'm talking REPUBLICANS. People who are in support of politicians who opperate within the Republican Party. This one goes out to you:
Please read this book. Please read at least the first 25 pages of this book without putting it down. Cenk does have an incredibly defensive tone in this book, and it can come off as condescending towards those who he refers to as conservatives/republicans. But this book is so well researched, and the Facts. Don't. Lie. If you believe there is a better quality of life to be had in America, voting Republican is the biggest thing you can do to prevent it from becoming a reality. Not because conservative values are evil, but because most of the politicians who identify as conservative are not voting in line with their values, with YOUR values, but with the values of their donors.
Corporate Democrats are not immune to this sickness of corruption. In fact, one of the best things about this book is that Cenk goes after Republicans and Dems pretty much equally. But if Democrats have dipped their toe in the River Styx of corruption, Republicans have taken a beautiful synchronized-swimming-swan-dive. Because at least Democrats PRETEND to fight for our best interests.
Paid family leave, free college education, access to BIRTH CONTROL. (Read that again, not abortion, standard birth control). These are core tennants of the Progressive agenda. Sure it's socialized. (Big scary word, I know). But guess what else is socialized in America? The Police Force. Firefighters. The military. Social Security. Medicare and Medicaid. Some of the most popular programs in American history are socialized. Would you like to root out socialism to the point that we have a privatized fire department? So that if your house catches flame and you can't foot the bill you're just what?... Screwed?
Socialism, progressivism, the "radical" left are not all blue-haired, hysterical, university-brainwashed, morally bankrupt goons that the donor class would like you to believe. Progressivism is just the opposite of a ruling donor class. Why wouldn't they want you to hate the libs? The "libs" are fighting for fundamental change that will affect Boeing, Eli Lilly, and Amazon's bottom line. Of course they're going to pay their politicians to tell you that progressives are spending all their time "transing the kids". Progressive policies are SO popular that culture-war issues are the ONLY thing that large corperations can use to keep Progressives out of our government.
Long story short, if you have any intellectual curiosity about our fucking morally bankrupt system of government, this is a great read. If you can't tell, it lit a fire under me and I've already been contemplating blue hair since middle school.
February 22, 2024
So this book caught my eye because I saw one interview by the author and he seemed nothing if not hugely passionate. Why not, I mused and dove in. And was I not disappointed in the slightest.
Uygur has a uniquely commanding voice that poses the reader to introspect about their own preconceptions about the various issues that this country is caught in and works to educate the reader about how much our country is progressive, more than meets the eye.
He also takes time to explain the past legal decisions that have devolved our once shining democracy into a bidding war by corporations and thus the way our country operates today. But not to worry, he concludes with how the corporate machine won’t stay in charge for long. Not if the progressives have anything to say about it.
So tldr: it’s a really engaging, informative book about our country and what direction it’s ultimately headed in. Worth the read for sure.
Uygur has a uniquely commanding voice that poses the reader to introspect about their own preconceptions about the various issues that this country is caught in and works to educate the reader about how much our country is progressive, more than meets the eye.
He also takes time to explain the past legal decisions that have devolved our once shining democracy into a bidding war by corporations and thus the way our country operates today. But not to worry, he concludes with how the corporate machine won’t stay in charge for long. Not if the progressives have anything to say about it.
So tldr: it’s a really engaging, informative book about our country and what direction it’s ultimately headed in. Worth the read for sure.
March 2, 2024
This book gave me hope, and I have sorely needed it. The style is very much how Cenk talks, so it came across authentically while providing the details and evidence for the arguments being made. The book has a casual and friendly tone, so the facts being given don't come across as sanctimonious. I am a TYT viewer, so I was familiar already with a lot of the material but having this argument be made in this organized and informative format was really great. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in understanding the system of economics and politics got the USA to the turmoil it's in now, what the progressive agenda is in response to those systems, and why they will work.
January 23, 2025
In terms of its commentary on how corporatism has taken over the American government this book is amazing. Its commentary on that is so valuable that I kind of wish it would have presented as more palatable for conservatives, as it kind of goes against the vibe to spread awareness about the most threatening nonpartisan issue to us all while also presenting as so undeniably liberal.
Read
October 14, 2023Running for president, I see. Well, that explains it.
October 5, 2023
TL;DR
Justice is Coming by Cenk Uygur is a rare book by a politician. It’s substantively filled with facts and analysis. It’s a book that inspires conversation with its subject matter whether the reader agrees or disagrees. It will anger you. It will call you names. It will make you re-examine your own positions. Highly recommended.
Disclaimer: The publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone.
Review: Justice is Coming by Cenk Uygur
Part of the reason that I read political nonfiction is that I want a book that forces me to re-examine my own beliefs. I want to be challenged. I want to read arguments that I can engage with. I don’t want books that simply confirm beliefs I already have. Finding one that doesn’t bore me or is too much in the policy wonk weeds is difficult but not impossible. As a center-left democrat, I want to read books by conservatives (philosophical conservatives, not the crazies that currently claim the title) and by thinks to the left of me. I am one of the voters that progressives and the far left need to target. I am open to their ideas, but I’m skeptical of their ability to win elections. I’m skeptical of their ability to govern. I’m skeptical of their ability to form the coalitions needed to pass legislation in our government. When I found Justice is Coming by Cenk Uygur, it was almost like he wrote the book for me. Because he addresses a number of my concerns. He does so with facts inspiring me to think, to learn, and to examine my own thoughts and beliefs. This is the type of political work that I crave. While I didn’t agree with everything, I found Uygur convincing more often than not, and I’m grateful for a book that upends my biases against progressives. This is a book that’s worth reading regardless of where you are on the political spectrum.
Justice is Coming lays out the case for progressives to hope for the future. Uygur, best know for The Young Turks media network, lays out a convincing case that the U.S. is a progressive nation. Using both history and poll numbers, Uygur points out that Americans have and do support progressive policies despite the fact that conservatives – left and right – dominate our politics. He dedicates the first chapter to this effort, and it’s a powerful argument. Historically, the U.S. is progressive. The founders were progressive at their time. (They would be horrified at how the modern right venerates them.) But in our time, the term progressive has lost all meaning. For people on the right, it means monsters that want to take away your freedoms by mandating that the government take over your life. To centrists, it means far lefties. To the media, it means unwinnable politics. To corporations, it means the enemy. Because it’s a meaningless term, Uygur wisely defines what he means. He lists three principles that, for him, define progressive goals:
Next, he shows why Republicans are terrible; then he has a chapter showing how corporations took over our politics and our lives; he has a chapter that he calls the “The Matrix” where he tiredly rehashes the progressive bitching about Bernie losing. Next, there’s a chapter on actions that he and others are taking to make progressives a legitimate political force in an attempt to return power to the voter and the average citizen. Finally, he gives readers a chapter on the benefits of progressive policies. Interestingly enough, these policies benefit all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.
Justice is Coming is a political argument for supporting progressive politicians and to have hope for the future. It is a biased and unflinching look at our political reality. Uygur doesn’t pull punches, and he doesn’t spare feelings. He’s tough, self-promoting, and convincing.
Well Argued
Uygur lays out facts convincingly because he backs it with history, with quotes, and with poll numbers. I particularly enjoyed his analysis of how the Democratic Party became beholden to corporations. Since this is the first time I’ve read this account, I can’t vouch for its authenticity. I need to do more research to confirm it, and I’m glad Uygur put it out here to read. Not only is it informative, but it’s an interesting narrative he puts together for it.
One thing I find interesting is that Uygur is like me. He’s a former rightie now finding himself on the left. I imagine in a sane world; both he and I would be on the political right again. But since the U.S. is so far to the political right, we both are considered far left radicals. Uygur is a capitalist and says so many times throughout the book. I believe him, and frankly I agree with him. Capitalism is a good thing. Unrestrained capitalism isn’t, and acknowledging that makes a person a far left radical in today’s U.S.
Uygur falls back on the typical out-of-mainstream argument that the media is against him and his party. Unlike conservatives, he has evidence to back up this claim. His analysis of how corporate media portrays AOC and Bernie are interesting and correct. But, also, it’s corporate media; we expect corporations to be anti-progressive. It’s still important that he call out corporate media; someone has to. In addition, he correctly notes that the internet allows non-mainstream voices to reach larger audiences. In particular, readers get the sense of how he cares for the Young Turks audience. However, he fails to mention that this also builds silos of information. We all know that conservatives and their far right friends all exist within a media bubble both corporate and non-mainstream. They’re less likely to hear progressive voices. The same happens to progressive media. Do they have on conservatives who have remained sane?
Pay Close Attention
Uygur is a politician. He may be a media persona, but he’s become a politician. And the style of writing and arguments in this book come from a politician, not a media commentator. What does that mean? It means that he shades and possibly misrepresents his opponents arguments to his benefit. This is standard practice for a politician. So, I recommend paying close attention to the arguments he makes and how he makes them. For example, he misrepresents conservative arguments against the inheritance tax. His argument is that the rich deserve that money because of the American myth that money equals merit. That’s not correct. It’s one of those things that is common knowledge among liberals that is dead wrong. The conservative argument against the inheritance tax is that the money passed on has been taxed already. They have a point; although, they are also not quite correct. For portions of inheritance, the inheritance tax does double dip. In other ways, there are wide loopholes that allow the rich to skip regular taxes via estate planning. By passing on things as inheritances, it’s possible to avoid taxes. And let’s be clear, the rich have very good teams of lawyers who exploit these loopholes to avoid taxes. Uygur doesn’t address these legitimate concerns. Instead, he oversimplifies the argument because it serves his position. To be fair, maybe he doesn’t know that version of the conservative argument. I doubt it, though. He’s way more knowledgeable about politics than I am.
To be clear, this doesn’t mean he’s wrong. It just means we, as readers, have to pay special attention to how the arguments are made and the solutions that are presented. In his chapter on how to fight and defeat our current system, Uygur lays out concrete steps that are simple and doable. They make sense to me, but how do we get these arguments and step across to people that disagree with us? One way that Uygur is putting his money where his mouth is comes in a couple of different forms. The Justice Democrats are the first attempt to fight back at a rigged system. Cenk was a founder of this group, and it’s backing politicians that don’t take corporate money. He also discusses Rebellion PAC as a force in political advertising. (It supported Nina Turner, who lost.) Finally, Uygur has founded a non-partisan political action committee, Wolf-PAC, to advocate for a bi-partisan amendment for campaign finance reform. While this chapter is overly self-congratulatory, it does show by example how voters can participate between elections. This is an excellent example, and it’s up to each reader to see if the arguments that Uygur’s PACs make fit their beliefs.
What's Missing Is Important
If the central premise of Uygur’s book is that Americans want progressive policies, why aren’t progressive candidates dominating politics at all levels of government? He blames the media; he blames corporate money and corporate pressures behind the scenes. But if those were truly effective, then progressive policies wouldn’t be popular. There is a fundamental disconnect going on that Cenk and other pundits don’t address.
First, Uygur is correct that progressive policies are popular and desired. Even here in the very, very red and rushing towards fascism state of Missouri, progressive policies, like the abolition of so-called right to work, are popular and are routinely defeated at the ballot box, even when Republicans play tricks to try to sneak it through. Yet Missouri keeps electing far-right candidates who glory in out doing each other on how cruel they can be. Why is that? There are two reasons. Policies have become disconnected from politicians and political parties. The average voter doesn’t believe an elected politician will make the changes they want to see. Even if a politician were to promise to make the changes, voters don’t believe the politician will follow through. Look at Biden’s numbers, he’s followed through on a number of his promises; yet, voters don’t believe it. (The opposite was true for Trump. He did nothing, and his voters think he accomplished everything.) The best way to enact progressive policies is to do so through ballot initiatives. Republicans know this, which is why they’re making ballot initiatives harder to get on the ballot and to pass once they’re there. This happened here in Missouri. The Republicans even lied about what an initiative said and were rebuked by a judge for their blatant lies. (They’re at it once again with an abortion ballot summary. Republicans have to lie to win.)
Next, voters do not vote FOR policies; they vote AGAINST the politicians and political parties that frighten them. Here, Uygur would call me overly cynical, and maybe he’s correct. But I see it time and time again. It’s why the Republicans are so effective. They know how to terrify and enrage their audiences. Uygur, despite his language, takes the high ground in this book and wants to inspire voters. This is possible with policies but not politicians. Bernie was the most inspiring politician in the 2020 race. He drove people to the polls to vote for him; there is no doubt about this. At the same time, he scared more people into voting against him. The candidate that met at the intersection of fear of Bernie and fear of Trump was Biden, a bland candidate who promised a return to boring times. The goal of today’s politician is to make voters more afraid of the other person than they are of them. This sucks, but it’s accurate. I’d love to hear Uygur’s take and solution to this.
Finally, Republicans succeed because they corral their voters when it matters. Democrats, progressives, and lefties, all prefer to fight with each other more than they do with Republicans. Lefty voters require purity tests that ensure defeat. Despite the demographic changes coming, demographics mean little if voter turnout is low. The 2016 election is the ultimate demonstration of how left in-fighting harms progressive causes. Progressives and left voters were so assured of the corporate Democrat win that they state home or engaged in a protest vote. The result was terrible for the country as a whole and set back progressive policies by decades. Because of low voter turnout in 2016, the Supreme Court will be in the hands of corrupt, theocracy-loving activists who will squash any and all progress this country makes. The Justice Democrats are doing an excellent job of learning how politics work in this day and age. AOC matured in her role and has become an effective legislator, which for some progressives means she’s sold out. Until Uygur and other progressives find ways to make sure their voters show up, I’m not sure the Democratic party as a whole can count on progressives. If progressives want to primary Democrats, I say go for it. But if they don’t win the primary, they still need to show up and vote in the general election. Politics is the art of compromise, and until Democrats reach a majority in local, state, and federal governments, progressives will still be seen as far left fringe candidates. Worse, as Republicans continue to attack voting rights and limit who can vote, demographics may not have a chance to turn the tide. Republicans are working hard to dismantle our democracy, and Democrats AND progressives need to work together to protect our democracy as the Republican party continues to shrink and lose power. If we lose our republic, policies don’t mean much.
Conclusion
Cenk Uygur’s Justice is Coming was an inspiring read. I didn’t agree with everything, but it made me think deeper about my own beliefs and actions. It contains cogent, fact-based arguments that support historical conclusions, and it will be dismissed by the center and right as far left propaganda. It’s a shame that conservatives no longer exist who could read this and debate it without the ad hominem attacks because there is a lot of good ideas to engage with. Uygur’s book is a rare find from a politician. It’s compelling, substantive, and gives a call to action. Highly recommended to all, even open-minded conservatives.
Justice is Coming by Cenk Uygur is a rare book by a politician. It’s substantively filled with facts and analysis. It’s a book that inspires conversation with its subject matter whether the reader agrees or disagrees. It will anger you. It will call you names. It will make you re-examine your own positions. Highly recommended.
Disclaimer: The publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone.
Review: Justice is Coming by Cenk Uygur
Part of the reason that I read political nonfiction is that I want a book that forces me to re-examine my own beliefs. I want to be challenged. I want to read arguments that I can engage with. I don’t want books that simply confirm beliefs I already have. Finding one that doesn’t bore me or is too much in the policy wonk weeds is difficult but not impossible. As a center-left democrat, I want to read books by conservatives (philosophical conservatives, not the crazies that currently claim the title) and by thinks to the left of me. I am one of the voters that progressives and the far left need to target. I am open to their ideas, but I’m skeptical of their ability to win elections. I’m skeptical of their ability to govern. I’m skeptical of their ability to form the coalitions needed to pass legislation in our government. When I found Justice is Coming by Cenk Uygur, it was almost like he wrote the book for me. Because he addresses a number of my concerns. He does so with facts inspiring me to think, to learn, and to examine my own thoughts and beliefs. This is the type of political work that I crave. While I didn’t agree with everything, I found Uygur convincing more often than not, and I’m grateful for a book that upends my biases against progressives. This is a book that’s worth reading regardless of where you are on the political spectrum.
Justice is Coming lays out the case for progressives to hope for the future. Uygur, best know for The Young Turks media network, lays out a convincing case that the U.S. is a progressive nation. Using both history and poll numbers, Uygur points out that Americans have and do support progressive policies despite the fact that conservatives – left and right – dominate our politics. He dedicates the first chapter to this effort, and it’s a powerful argument. Historically, the U.S. is progressive. The founders were progressive at their time. (They would be horrified at how the modern right venerates them.) But in our time, the term progressive has lost all meaning. For people on the right, it means monsters that want to take away your freedoms by mandating that the government take over your life. To centrists, it means far lefties. To the media, it means unwinnable politics. To corporations, it means the enemy. Because it’s a meaningless term, Uygur wisely defines what he means. He lists three principles that, for him, define progressive goals:
Expansion of the circle of liberty
Equality of opportunity
Justice for all
Next, he shows why Republicans are terrible; then he has a chapter showing how corporations took over our politics and our lives; he has a chapter that he calls the “The Matrix” where he tiredly rehashes the progressive bitching about Bernie losing. Next, there’s a chapter on actions that he and others are taking to make progressives a legitimate political force in an attempt to return power to the voter and the average citizen. Finally, he gives readers a chapter on the benefits of progressive policies. Interestingly enough, these policies benefit all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.
Justice is Coming is a political argument for supporting progressive politicians and to have hope for the future. It is a biased and unflinching look at our political reality. Uygur doesn’t pull punches, and he doesn’t spare feelings. He’s tough, self-promoting, and convincing.
Well Argued
Uygur lays out facts convincingly because he backs it with history, with quotes, and with poll numbers. I particularly enjoyed his analysis of how the Democratic Party became beholden to corporations. Since this is the first time I’ve read this account, I can’t vouch for its authenticity. I need to do more research to confirm it, and I’m glad Uygur put it out here to read. Not only is it informative, but it’s an interesting narrative he puts together for it.
One thing I find interesting is that Uygur is like me. He’s a former rightie now finding himself on the left. I imagine in a sane world; both he and I would be on the political right again. But since the U.S. is so far to the political right, we both are considered far left radicals. Uygur is a capitalist and says so many times throughout the book. I believe him, and frankly I agree with him. Capitalism is a good thing. Unrestrained capitalism isn’t, and acknowledging that makes a person a far left radical in today’s U.S.
Uygur falls back on the typical out-of-mainstream argument that the media is against him and his party. Unlike conservatives, he has evidence to back up this claim. His analysis of how corporate media portrays AOC and Bernie are interesting and correct. But, also, it’s corporate media; we expect corporations to be anti-progressive. It’s still important that he call out corporate media; someone has to. In addition, he correctly notes that the internet allows non-mainstream voices to reach larger audiences. In particular, readers get the sense of how he cares for the Young Turks audience. However, he fails to mention that this also builds silos of information. We all know that conservatives and their far right friends all exist within a media bubble both corporate and non-mainstream. They’re less likely to hear progressive voices. The same happens to progressive media. Do they have on conservatives who have remained sane?
Pay Close Attention
Uygur is a politician. He may be a media persona, but he’s become a politician. And the style of writing and arguments in this book come from a politician, not a media commentator. What does that mean? It means that he shades and possibly misrepresents his opponents arguments to his benefit. This is standard practice for a politician. So, I recommend paying close attention to the arguments he makes and how he makes them. For example, he misrepresents conservative arguments against the inheritance tax. His argument is that the rich deserve that money because of the American myth that money equals merit. That’s not correct. It’s one of those things that is common knowledge among liberals that is dead wrong. The conservative argument against the inheritance tax is that the money passed on has been taxed already. They have a point; although, they are also not quite correct. For portions of inheritance, the inheritance tax does double dip. In other ways, there are wide loopholes that allow the rich to skip regular taxes via estate planning. By passing on things as inheritances, it’s possible to avoid taxes. And let’s be clear, the rich have very good teams of lawyers who exploit these loopholes to avoid taxes. Uygur doesn’t address these legitimate concerns. Instead, he oversimplifies the argument because it serves his position. To be fair, maybe he doesn’t know that version of the conservative argument. I doubt it, though. He’s way more knowledgeable about politics than I am.
To be clear, this doesn’t mean he’s wrong. It just means we, as readers, have to pay special attention to how the arguments are made and the solutions that are presented. In his chapter on how to fight and defeat our current system, Uygur lays out concrete steps that are simple and doable. They make sense to me, but how do we get these arguments and step across to people that disagree with us? One way that Uygur is putting his money where his mouth is comes in a couple of different forms. The Justice Democrats are the first attempt to fight back at a rigged system. Cenk was a founder of this group, and it’s backing politicians that don’t take corporate money. He also discusses Rebellion PAC as a force in political advertising. (It supported Nina Turner, who lost.) Finally, Uygur has founded a non-partisan political action committee, Wolf-PAC, to advocate for a bi-partisan amendment for campaign finance reform. While this chapter is overly self-congratulatory, it does show by example how voters can participate between elections. This is an excellent example, and it’s up to each reader to see if the arguments that Uygur’s PACs make fit their beliefs.
What's Missing Is Important
If the central premise of Uygur’s book is that Americans want progressive policies, why aren’t progressive candidates dominating politics at all levels of government? He blames the media; he blames corporate money and corporate pressures behind the scenes. But if those were truly effective, then progressive policies wouldn’t be popular. There is a fundamental disconnect going on that Cenk and other pundits don’t address.
First, Uygur is correct that progressive policies are popular and desired. Even here in the very, very red and rushing towards fascism state of Missouri, progressive policies, like the abolition of so-called right to work, are popular and are routinely defeated at the ballot box, even when Republicans play tricks to try to sneak it through. Yet Missouri keeps electing far-right candidates who glory in out doing each other on how cruel they can be. Why is that? There are two reasons. Policies have become disconnected from politicians and political parties. The average voter doesn’t believe an elected politician will make the changes they want to see. Even if a politician were to promise to make the changes, voters don’t believe the politician will follow through. Look at Biden’s numbers, he’s followed through on a number of his promises; yet, voters don’t believe it. (The opposite was true for Trump. He did nothing, and his voters think he accomplished everything.) The best way to enact progressive policies is to do so through ballot initiatives. Republicans know this, which is why they’re making ballot initiatives harder to get on the ballot and to pass once they’re there. This happened here in Missouri. The Republicans even lied about what an initiative said and were rebuked by a judge for their blatant lies. (They’re at it once again with an abortion ballot summary. Republicans have to lie to win.)
Next, voters do not vote FOR policies; they vote AGAINST the politicians and political parties that frighten them. Here, Uygur would call me overly cynical, and maybe he’s correct. But I see it time and time again. It’s why the Republicans are so effective. They know how to terrify and enrage their audiences. Uygur, despite his language, takes the high ground in this book and wants to inspire voters. This is possible with policies but not politicians. Bernie was the most inspiring politician in the 2020 race. He drove people to the polls to vote for him; there is no doubt about this. At the same time, he scared more people into voting against him. The candidate that met at the intersection of fear of Bernie and fear of Trump was Biden, a bland candidate who promised a return to boring times. The goal of today’s politician is to make voters more afraid of the other person than they are of them. This sucks, but it’s accurate. I’d love to hear Uygur’s take and solution to this.
Finally, Republicans succeed because they corral their voters when it matters. Democrats, progressives, and lefties, all prefer to fight with each other more than they do with Republicans. Lefty voters require purity tests that ensure defeat. Despite the demographic changes coming, demographics mean little if voter turnout is low. The 2016 election is the ultimate demonstration of how left in-fighting harms progressive causes. Progressives and left voters were so assured of the corporate Democrat win that they state home or engaged in a protest vote. The result was terrible for the country as a whole and set back progressive policies by decades. Because of low voter turnout in 2016, the Supreme Court will be in the hands of corrupt, theocracy-loving activists who will squash any and all progress this country makes. The Justice Democrats are doing an excellent job of learning how politics work in this day and age. AOC matured in her role and has become an effective legislator, which for some progressives means she’s sold out. Until Uygur and other progressives find ways to make sure their voters show up, I’m not sure the Democratic party as a whole can count on progressives. If progressives want to primary Democrats, I say go for it. But if they don’t win the primary, they still need to show up and vote in the general election. Politics is the art of compromise, and until Democrats reach a majority in local, state, and federal governments, progressives will still be seen as far left fringe candidates. Worse, as Republicans continue to attack voting rights and limit who can vote, demographics may not have a chance to turn the tide. Republicans are working hard to dismantle our democracy, and Democrats AND progressives need to work together to protect our democracy as the Republican party continues to shrink and lose power. If we lose our republic, policies don’t mean much.
Conclusion
Cenk Uygur’s Justice is Coming was an inspiring read. I didn’t agree with everything, but it made me think deeper about my own beliefs and actions. It contains cogent, fact-based arguments that support historical conclusions, and it will be dismissed by the center and right as far left propaganda. It’s a shame that conservatives no longer exist who could read this and debate it without the ad hominem attacks because there is a lot of good ideas to engage with. Uygur’s book is a rare find from a politician. It’s compelling, substantive, and gives a call to action. Highly recommended to all, even open-minded conservatives.
September 21, 2023
The most pro-American, pro-regular person, most ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT & ANTI-CORRUPTION book out there.
This book truly embodies the American spirit. The soul of the country. The mind of the country.
It clearly proves that America is progressive on almost every issue, but it's the political structure that is destroyed.
From voting, to "news", to our "honorable, beloved" politicians who are corrupted to the core by mega donors and the ultra-rich. From the North to the South, From the East to the West, From the Cities and From the Small Towns, From Sea to Shining Sea........THIS IS THE MOVEMENT, THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT!
Cenk Uygur is one of the few well-known news anchors that delivers Honest News to a vast audience. Hopefully one day The Young Turks and others will be on television, hopefully they will host a Presidential Debate, hopefully Honest News Broadcasting, Honest Journalism, and Honest Dialogue returns to the American political process.
Excellent Read!
This book truly embodies the American spirit. The soul of the country. The mind of the country.
It clearly proves that America is progressive on almost every issue, but it's the political structure that is destroyed.
From voting, to "news", to our "honorable, beloved" politicians who are corrupted to the core by mega donors and the ultra-rich. From the North to the South, From the East to the West, From the Cities and From the Small Towns, From Sea to Shining Sea........THIS IS THE MOVEMENT, THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT!
Cenk Uygur is one of the few well-known news anchors that delivers Honest News to a vast audience. Hopefully one day The Young Turks and others will be on television, hopefully they will host a Presidential Debate, hopefully Honest News Broadcasting, Honest Journalism, and Honest Dialogue returns to the American political process.
Excellent Read!
January 10, 2025
I like the author. I really wanted to like the book. I took several passes at it over several months now. But the bombastic rhetoric just kills the importance of the policies he espouses. We need to find the language to lift up these policies, make policies sexy, not continue to divide and conquer. I was disappointed. To make lasting change is to work from the inside-out. Progressives need to stick to their passion of good faith and fair dealing and stop getting distracted by useless and ultimately meaningless rhetoric. If it's not going to get these policies enacted, choose a better path. Progressives need to be broken record. A listening tour in thought, word and deed. Cenk Uygar would have moved mountains if he stayed with MSNBC and remained policy-focused. Criticism is useless if it doesn't lead to change. It simply does NOT engage hearts and minds for good policy implementation.
July 19, 2022
Look at these pitiful little nothings review bombing a book that isn't even out yet. 😝
August 20, 2025
One of my faster reads,
I have been consuming online alternative political news for over 10 years, which means I have seen the growth of many online (especially progressive) personalities such as Amy Goodman, David Pakman, Sam Seder, Kyle Kulinski, Farron Cousins, Hasan Piker, and, of course, Cenk Uygur (Hasan's Uncle).
Around 2012/2013, I saw a video of Cenk Uygur on YouTube from 2006, who criticized the USA Today paper's coverage of the Iraq War and George W. Bush. Cenk's passion and emotional authenticity were a bit different from those of Fox News, CNN, and other mainstream outlets, which led me to The Young Turks (TYT). While there are some takes (or many) I disagree on TYT, I always appreciate their genuineness. I know Cenk has been talking about writing this book for years, and I'm glad I finally had the chance to read it.
As someone who watches TYT regularly, most of what Cenk says on air is covered in this book. The central tenets of progressivism that he writes are:
Expansion of the Circle of Liberty - Including more people of Equal Rights culturally and legally
Equality of Opportunity - Not Equality of Results! A fair shot for everyone.
Justice for All: Regardless of ideology of we all deserve what is wronged to be righted.
Cenk goes and debunks myths about Mainstream Media having a "liberal bias" and explains how the corruption of money in politics originated and how the people can fight it. One thing that really surprised me was his criticism of President Jimmy Carter and his neoliberalism.
The book is written in a humorous yet straightforward style, which is very Cenk fashion. There is a lot of dad humor. When the powerful and the elites are challenged by populism, that always makes my day. This book was published in 2023, and reading this in 2025 makes the issues all the more pressing.
Overall, if you watch the Young Turks, it is what Cenk says every other day, so there's nothing too new. If you are new to politics and looking for a left-wing populist perspective, I recommend checking it out. Remember, regardless of whether you agree or disagree with Cenk (and I do disagree with Cenk here and there), the central theme is that there is corporate capture of the United States democracy. We have to stay positive and remain strong. Justice is Coming!
So, should you buy this book? To paraphrase Cenk:
OF COURRSEEEEE
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT5d4...
I have been consuming online alternative political news for over 10 years, which means I have seen the growth of many online (especially progressive) personalities such as Amy Goodman, David Pakman, Sam Seder, Kyle Kulinski, Farron Cousins, Hasan Piker, and, of course, Cenk Uygur (Hasan's Uncle).
Around 2012/2013, I saw a video of Cenk Uygur on YouTube from 2006, who criticized the USA Today paper's coverage of the Iraq War and George W. Bush. Cenk's passion and emotional authenticity were a bit different from those of Fox News, CNN, and other mainstream outlets, which led me to The Young Turks (TYT). While there are some takes (or many) I disagree on TYT, I always appreciate their genuineness. I know Cenk has been talking about writing this book for years, and I'm glad I finally had the chance to read it.
As someone who watches TYT regularly, most of what Cenk says on air is covered in this book. The central tenets of progressivism that he writes are:
Expansion of the Circle of Liberty - Including more people of Equal Rights culturally and legally
Equality of Opportunity - Not Equality of Results! A fair shot for everyone.
Justice for All: Regardless of ideology of we all deserve what is wronged to be righted.
Cenk goes and debunks myths about Mainstream Media having a "liberal bias" and explains how the corruption of money in politics originated and how the people can fight it. One thing that really surprised me was his criticism of President Jimmy Carter and his neoliberalism.
The book is written in a humorous yet straightforward style, which is very Cenk fashion. There is a lot of dad humor. When the powerful and the elites are challenged by populism, that always makes my day. This book was published in 2023, and reading this in 2025 makes the issues all the more pressing.
Overall, if you watch the Young Turks, it is what Cenk says every other day, so there's nothing too new. If you are new to politics and looking for a left-wing populist perspective, I recommend checking it out. Remember, regardless of whether you agree or disagree with Cenk (and I do disagree with Cenk here and there), the central theme is that there is corporate capture of the United States democracy. We have to stay positive and remain strong. Justice is Coming!
So, should you buy this book? To paraphrase Cenk:
OF COURRSEEEEE
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT5d4...
May 31, 2024
I am quite impressed with this book. Cenk basically strings together his main descriptions of the dysfunction and effective bribery that are fundamental to our modern political system, how we got here, as well as his solutions. He argues that the country is overwhelmingly progressive, yet corporate media (which, in his definition, comprises both mainstream and right-wing media) is the main defender of the status quo that keeps power concentrated in the hands of the ultrawealthy, which he collectively refers to as the "donor class." He argues that most voters, including Republicans, agree on the substance of most issues, but we are constantly attacking those in the "other" political tribe. He says this is because the corporate media weaponizes culture war issues as wedges to distract us from the class warfare being waged on us by the donor class.
He emphasizes that we are currently living under corporate rule, or "corporatism," which isn't an inevitable result of capitalism. He suggests that "democratic socialism" championed by Bernie Sanders, and "democratic capitalism," which is proposed by Uygur himself, would essentially be the same under the modern state of affairs and that arguing over the correct label to use is not the point. This is the one part of the book I recall that I'm not sure I agree with.
It was surprisingly positive. Of course there was some classic Cenk sarcasm. Nevertheless, there is a chapter where he is quite open and heartfelt, talking to our "conservative brothers and sisters" as united in the fight to make both our democracy and economy work for everyone. He gets real about the reasons Republican voters gravitate toward Trump. He compares the Trump and Bernie campaigns in 2016, and how they were both shunned by the mainstream media for opposing the status quo in some manner or another. Related to this, he rips apart the corporate Democrats who control the party and consistently sabotage progressive members of the party in name of preserving the status quo. He brings receipts, and he is surprisingly cogent in his arguments. The book was more articulate and significantly more in-depth than his usual argumentation on TYT.
He emphasizes that we are currently living under corporate rule, or "corporatism," which isn't an inevitable result of capitalism. He suggests that "democratic socialism" championed by Bernie Sanders, and "democratic capitalism," which is proposed by Uygur himself, would essentially be the same under the modern state of affairs and that arguing over the correct label to use is not the point. This is the one part of the book I recall that I'm not sure I agree with.
It was surprisingly positive. Of course there was some classic Cenk sarcasm. Nevertheless, there is a chapter where he is quite open and heartfelt, talking to our "conservative brothers and sisters" as united in the fight to make both our democracy and economy work for everyone. He gets real about the reasons Republican voters gravitate toward Trump. He compares the Trump and Bernie campaigns in 2016, and how they were both shunned by the mainstream media for opposing the status quo in some manner or another. Related to this, he rips apart the corporate Democrats who control the party and consistently sabotage progressive members of the party in name of preserving the status quo. He brings receipts, and he is surprisingly cogent in his arguments. The book was more articulate and significantly more in-depth than his usual argumentation on TYT.
April 15, 2025
I want to belief the progressives are that big and strong. I sure hope so. I think their beliefs fit better with Jesus of all political thought. Universal healthcare, no war and taking care of the poor is what we should be doing. Capitalism is evil. It is just an excuse for people to screw over other people and make themselves millionaires. Millionaires are rarely formed from people just working hard. You get there by underpaying your labor force and denying them healthcare and normal rights that the millionaires want. They just don't want others to have those same rights. How else would they get rich. Most hypocrites would never want to live the way Jesus wanted. You could not have luxuries as long as the poor suffered.
I love how Cenk throughout the book tries to prove progressives are the majority. I hope so but find it hard to be optimistic about seeing a candidate and party representing the progressives. Hillary defeated that in the Democratic Party with super delegates. It wrote off the popular support Bernie had.
The book is good stuff for anyone that loves Jesus principles of love your brother and not living for selfish personal wealth.
Regretfully, I find Cenk super biased against Israel. I agree the innocent Gaza civilians should not be bombed and die and starve to death. Cenk seems to bypass the reality that how else do you fight a terrorist organization that kills discrepantly and then hides with the civilians. If you do not go after them where they are or else they keep killing Israelis. How do you not kill civilians when the terrorists hide with civilians. I do not see Cenk volunteering to go get the terrorists by going into the civilian populace and pulling out the terrorists. Cenk never volunteers and neither does anyone else that condemns Israel. They all ignore the reality that the terrorists are hiding in with the population.
So in most ways the book is outstanding with a progressive message most non-rich people would want that care about the values Jesus taught. It is a shame Cenk's clear thinking and logic is tainted by the bias against Israel.
I love how Cenk throughout the book tries to prove progressives are the majority. I hope so but find it hard to be optimistic about seeing a candidate and party representing the progressives. Hillary defeated that in the Democratic Party with super delegates. It wrote off the popular support Bernie had.
The book is good stuff for anyone that loves Jesus principles of love your brother and not living for selfish personal wealth.
Regretfully, I find Cenk super biased against Israel. I agree the innocent Gaza civilians should not be bombed and die and starve to death. Cenk seems to bypass the reality that how else do you fight a terrorist organization that kills discrepantly and then hides with the civilians. If you do not go after them where they are or else they keep killing Israelis. How do you not kill civilians when the terrorists hide with civilians. I do not see Cenk volunteering to go get the terrorists by going into the civilian populace and pulling out the terrorists. Cenk never volunteers and neither does anyone else that condemns Israel. They all ignore the reality that the terrorists are hiding in with the population.
So in most ways the book is outstanding with a progressive message most non-rich people would want that care about the values Jesus taught. It is a shame Cenk's clear thinking and logic is tainted by the bias against Israel.
October 9, 2023
To the potential reader - the data collation and sequence of presentation are great, The History is spot on, some ugly Corporate Media shenanigans is grotesque, but certainly in character with their behavior, he is quite obviously speaking truth to power, however, the Delivery - sigh. Condescension doesn't look good on anyone, its why people stop listening. if you bite your metaphorical tongue and just read through it as data, you can appreciate all the important arguments in this book. It is 100% worth reading and going through the data, One thing you can tell about the author, he learned journalistic writing in college, absolutely knows how to set up his arguments and close them. Now if he could just edit his rhetoric a tad. Sigh
– Shockingly the book has a happy ending.
To the author - So a 5 on the data and sequence of presentation, but a GIFT of 3 stars on delivery gets you 4 stars. But that 3 is a gift from someone who agrees with your actual arguments, if you want to influence others who may not agree, you lost them in the first pages with Screaming Condescension. If no one can hear you over your own Condescension, what good is it doing? Let me throw an old quote at you. Speak softly and Carry a big stick. Your arguments, history and reading of the situation are great big sticks, but people can’t hear them over your Screaming Condescension. I’m inclined to scream myself, that’s why I know it doesn’t work. (you heard me screaming right?)
Also I’m not certain you can really say MSM any longer, as tho TYT isn’t a recognized journalistic entity. How about Wholly Owned Corporate Media, Verses Populist Backed Media? Time to change the rhetoric. Subscription-based media used to be called Newspapers, but hey new media platforms make new news mediums. Okay I could go on, but really just want people to know there is actually some VERY good info, good history, good arguments within the 310 page rant that is worth pondering and looking into. Just a thought.
– Shockingly the book has a happy ending.
To the author - So a 5 on the data and sequence of presentation, but a GIFT of 3 stars on delivery gets you 4 stars. But that 3 is a gift from someone who agrees with your actual arguments, if you want to influence others who may not agree, you lost them in the first pages with Screaming Condescension. If no one can hear you over your own Condescension, what good is it doing? Let me throw an old quote at you. Speak softly and Carry a big stick. Your arguments, history and reading of the situation are great big sticks, but people can’t hear them over your Screaming Condescension. I’m inclined to scream myself, that’s why I know it doesn’t work. (you heard me screaming right?)
Also I’m not certain you can really say MSM any longer, as tho TYT isn’t a recognized journalistic entity. How about Wholly Owned Corporate Media, Verses Populist Backed Media? Time to change the rhetoric. Subscription-based media used to be called Newspapers, but hey new media platforms make new news mediums. Okay I could go on, but really just want people to know there is actually some VERY good info, good history, good arguments within the 310 page rant that is worth pondering and looking into. Just a thought.
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