American Carnage audiobook cover - On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump

American Carnage

On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump

Tim Alberta

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American Carnage
The 2008 Catalyst+
Radicalization Under Obama+
Trump's Hostile Takeover+
The New American Divide+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
What issue unexpectedly dominated the 2008 Republican primary town halls, signaling a shift in the concerns of the party's base?
  • A. The ongoing financial crisis and bank bailouts
  • B. The costly and endless war in Iraq
  • C. Immigration and the presence of undocumented immigrants
  • D. The privatization of basic state services
Question 2 of 8
Why did libertarian Republicans strongly oppose President George W. Bush's TARP program during the 2008 financial crisis?
  • A. They believed the $700 billion bailout was insufficient to completely save Wall Street.
  • B. They felt the program unfairly favored the working class over large corporations.
  • C. They wanted the funds to be redirected toward border security and immigration enforcement.
  • D. They believed the government should not intervene and that markets should be allowed to fail and self-correct.
Question 3 of 8
How did the political right primarily react to the introduction of Obamacare?
  • A. With moderate, policy-based counter-proposals focused on healthcare deregulation.
  • B. With hysterical fury and unfounded rumors, such as the creation of 'death panels.'
  • C. By embracing the policy as a continuation of George W. Bush's 'compassionate conservatism.'
  • D. By attempting to compromise with Obama's moderate centrist approach.
Question 4 of 8
What was the primary motivation for wealthy libertarian donors, like the Koch brothers, to support the Tea Party movement?
  • A. They deeply shared the movement's social and cultural conservatism regarding race and immigration.
  • B. They saw an opportunity to harness the movement's grassroots energy to push for fiscal policies like deregulation and lower taxes.
  • C. They wanted to use the movement to promote foreign military interventions and globalization.
  • D. They hoped to transform the Republican Party into a purely populist, anti-free-trade organization.
Question 5 of 8
In what major way did Donald Trump's 2016 campaign platform differ from standard Republican Party orthodoxy?
  • A. He rejected globalization and foreign intervention in favor of a highly nationalistic platform.
  • B. He championed aggressive globalization and the expansion of free-trade agreements.
  • C. He advocated for a return to George W. Bush's 'compassionate conservatism.'
  • D. He focused entirely on fiscal conservatism, deliberately ignoring cultural and social issues.
Question 6 of 8
Why did Trump's praise of Vladimir Putin during the 2016 primaries resonate with a large chunk of the American right, despite shocking the Republican establishment?
  • A. They believed Putin would help the US negotiate better free-trade agreements.
  • B. They saw Putin as a champion of traditional free-market capitalism.
  • C. They admired Putin's machismo and his affront to liberal values.
  • D. They agreed with Putin's stance on global environmental regulations.
Question 7 of 8
According to David Wasserman's analysis of the 2016 election, what did the divide between 'Cracker Barrel counties' and 'Whole Foods counties' illustrate?
  • A. The growing consensus on economic reform across different geographical areas.
  • B. The stark cultural and educational polarization between rural, deindustrialized areas and upscale, urban settings.
  • C. The economic shift of rural, working-class voters toward the Democratic Party.
  • D. The irrelevance of corporate branding in predicting modern voting behaviors.
Question 8 of 8
What was the initial catalyst for the 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017?
  • A. A dispute over the implementation of a new state tax on working-class citizens.
  • B. A protest against the privatization of local public services and healthcare.
  • C. A demonstration against Donald Trump's strict immigration policies.
  • D. The proposed removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee.

American Carnage — Full Chapter Overview

American Carnage Summary & Overview

American Carnage (2019) details the ideological battle at the heart of the Republican Party over the last decade. From George Bush’s “compassionate conservatism” to the Tea Party’s right-wing fervor, Tim Alberta covers the ideological metamorphosis that led to Donald Trump’s presidency.

Who Should Listen to American Carnage?

  • Anyone with an interest in American politics 
  • Budding Washington hacks
  • Those anxious about the rise of the far right

About the Author: Tim Alberta

Tim Alberta is the chief political correspondent for Politico Magazine. Before that, he worked for the National Review and National Journal. His journalism has appeared in dozens of major publications, including Sports Illustrated and The Atlantic. He lives in Falls Church, Virginia, with his wife and three sons.

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