It Was All a Lie audiobook cover - How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump
Theme Song

It Was All a Lie

How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump

Stuart Stevens

★ 4.0 / 5(140 ratings)
Start ListeningDownloadQR code that opens AudiobookHub on the App StoreTry free on iPhoneScan to start in 5 seconds
Categories:
Politics

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

Listen to It Was All a Lie — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from It Was All a Lie

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from It Was All a Lie

Mind Map

It Was All a Lie
The Core Deception+
Racism & White Grievance+
Family Values Hypocrisy+
Fiscal Irresponsibility+
Culture of Deceit+
The Politics of Fear+
Complicity & Ruin+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
According to Stuart Stevens, what is the true relationship between Donald Trump and the modern Republican Party?
  • A. Trump represents a sudden, unpredictable departure from traditional Republican values.
  • B. Trump is the logical conclusion of 50 years of Republican racism, anger, and self-delusion.
  • C. Trump forced the Republican establishment to abandon its long-held genuine commitment to diversity.
  • D. Trump is an aberration who temporarily hijacked a party dedicated to fiscal responsibility.
Question 2 of 8
How does the author connect Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump's racial rhetoric?
  • A. Reagan openly supported white nationalist groups during his 1980 presidential campaign.
  • B. Reagan enacted the first restrictive voter ID laws that Trump later expanded.
  • C. Reagan used subtle, coded racist language, such as championing 'states' rights' in areas with a history of civil rights violence.
  • D. Reagan established the conservative media ecosystem that eventually elected Trump.
Question 3 of 8
Why do Republican legislators consistently oppose automatic voter registration at age 18, according to the text?
  • A. Young voters are disproportionately poorer and nonwhite, making them less likely to vote Republican.
  • B. The system is too expensive and conflicts with the party's commitment to fiscal responsibility.
  • C. Automatic registration violates the constitutional principle of states' rights.
  • D. The Christian right lobbies against youth voting because young Americans are less religious.
Question 4 of 8
What does evangelical support for Donald Trump reveal about the Christian right, according to Stevens?
  • A. They believe Trump's business acumen can be used to fund religious institutions.
  • B. They prioritize political power over the 'family values' they historically preached.
  • C. They genuinely believe Trump has grown into a devout, moral leader during his presidency.
  • D. They are willing to overlook his flaws because he balanced the federal budget.
Question 5 of 8
Why do many Republican elected officials secretly hesitate to cut federal budgets, despite publicly preaching fiscal responsibility?
  • A. They fear backlash from conservative media outlets like Fox News.
  • B. They need federal deficits to justify future tax cuts for corporations.
  • C. Many predominantly Republican rural states receive significantly more federal money than they pay in taxes.
  • D. The National Rifle Association lobbies heavily for increased federal defense spending.
Question 6 of 8
What 1987 event does the author identify as a major catalyst for the rise of Fox News and conservative media's culture of deceit?
  • A. The FCC stopped enforcing the fairness doctrine.
  • B. The passage of the Telecommunications Act.
  • C. The Republican National Committee's decision to fund private news networks.
  • D. Ronald Reagan's executive order banning balanced reporting.
Question 7 of 8
How does the book use the National Rifle Association (NRA) to illustrate the dynamic between the Republican Party and special interest groups?
  • A. The NRA provides the primary funding for Republican voter suppression efforts.
  • B. The NRA uses fear to force Republican officials into extreme positions, punishing any who diverge from the party line.
  • C. The NRA successfully shifted the Republican party away from states' rights to federal gun control.
  • D. The NRA represents the last remaining faction of the Republican party that values character and accountability.
Question 8 of 8
Who does Stuart Stevens believe will carry the most historical blame for the Trump era?
  • A. The conservative media machine, particularly Fox News.
  • B. The belligerent voters who attended Trump's rallies.
  • C. Donald Trump himself, due to his psychological insecurities.
  • D. The Republican establishment, who knowingly supported an unqualified candidate out of cowardice.

It Was All a Lie — Full Chapter Overview

It Was All a Lie Summary & Overview

It Was All A Lie (2020) is former Republican political consultant Stuart Stevens’ take on how Republican leaders, desperate for power, have mortgaged their purported values to support Donald Trump.

Who Should Listen to It Was All a Lie?

  • Americans disappointed by the Trump presidency
  • Lovers of well-crafted snark
  • Political junkies

About the Author: Stuart Stevens

Stuart Stevens is a former Republican political consultant who has worked on countless campaigns, including four presidential races. He’s a leader of The Lincoln Project, a political action committee comprised of current or former Republicans dedicated to preventing the reelection of Donald Trump.

🎧
Listen in the AppOffline playback & background play
Get App
It Was All a LieTheme Song
NOW PLAYING
It Was All a Lie

It Was All a Lie

Theme Song
0:000:00