Shaking Things Up

This book examines how Donald Trump, during his presidency, worked to weaken basic norms and principles of American government and wrote bigotry into public institutions, with lasting damage to the country. It shows how his administration pursued a racist and sexist agenda and put several groups at risk, including LGBTQ people, immigrants, the environment, public health, and older Americans.

The author also looks at efforts to abolish the country's safety-net programs, the attempt to build an economic oligarchy around the president, and the creation of a personal praetorian guard. Along the way, readers get a close view of how federal agencies and their programs operate, which helps explain how the administration tried to reverse decades of social progress in the United States.

The book covers ten major policy areas, ranging from homophobia to immigration. It asks why presidents so often struggle to reach their domestic goals and examines Trump's effort to impose his will on domestic policy. It is written for concerned citizens who want to assess the harm done and prepare for the political battles ahead, and it considers the continuing influence of Trumpism.