Phil’s Reviews > Deep State: Trump, the FBI, and the Rule of Law > Status Update

Good? Share, if yes I shall read.

Very good. The author is a Pulitzer winner for Explanatory Journalism so the book is full of detail but read surprisingly fast.

okok then I shall buy

🔍 What the Book Is Really About
The book focuses on Trump's relationship with U.S. law enforcement institutions, particularly the FBI, DOJ, and intelligence agencies.

It examines high-profile figures like James Comey, Andrew McCabe, and Rod Rosenstein, and the institutional battles over the Mueller investigation, Comey's firing, and Trump’s pressure on the DOJ.

📚 Why the Title “Deep State”?
Stewart uses the term ironically or critically—to reflect how Trump and his allies weaponized the phrase “deep state” to undermine legitimate investigations and paint career officials as conspirators.

The book does not claim a literal deep state exists, but rather critiques the rhetoric and narrative that Trump pushed, portraying lawful checks on presidential power as a sinister conspiracy.

❗ What It Doesn't Do:
It does not examine the broader “deep state” concept as used in political theory or global geopolitics (e.g., Turkey, Egypt, or CIA-state department-military-industrial collusion).

It does not explore shadow governance, systemic lobbying, or corporate influence on democratic institutions.

It also avoids deeper historical comparisons to Cold War intelligence operations or global deep-state frameworks.

from ChatGPT