📖 Overview
Carol Leonnig is an investigative journalist and political reporter for The Washington Post, where she has worked since 2000. She won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for her coverage of security failures and misconduct within the United States Secret Service.
Leonnig is the author of several bestselling books including "Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service" and "I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump's Catastrophic Final Year." She co-authored "A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump's Testing of America" with fellow Washington Post reporter Philip Rucker.
Her investigative work has exposed numerous government scandals and failings, including the lead contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan's water supply and misconduct by DEA agents. She has received multiple awards including the George Polk Award for investigative reporting and the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service as part of The Washington Post's coverage of NSA surveillance programs.
Beyond her print journalism, Leonnig regularly appears as a political analyst on television news programs and has contributed to NBC News and MSNBC. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College and previously worked for The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Charlotte Observer.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Leonnig's detailed research and insider access in her investigative works. Many note her ability to present complex political events in an accessible way, with one Amazon reviewer calling "Zero Fail" a "meticulous documentation of Secret Service history."
Readers appreciate her fact-based reporting style and extensive use of first-hand sources. "I Alone Can Fix It" receives particular recognition for its chronological organization and clear timeline of events.
Common criticisms include claims of political bias in her Trump-focused books. Some readers on Goodreads note repetitive content between her works, particularly in "A Very Stable Genius" and "I Alone Can Fix It." A few reviewers mention her writing can be dry.
Ratings across platforms:
- "Zero Fail": 4.4/5 on Amazon (2,800+ reviews), 4.2/5 on Goodreads (8,000+ reviews)
- "I Alone Can Fix It": 4.7/5 on Amazon (11,000+ reviews), 4.3/5 on Goodreads (12,000+ reviews)
- "A Very Stable Genius": 4.7/5 on Amazon (7,000+ reviews), 4.3/5 on Goodreads (15,000+ reviews)
📚 Books by Carol Leonnig
Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service
A detailed examination of the US Secret Service's history, evolution, and systemic problems, drawing from interviews with former agents and government officials.
I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump's Catastrophic Final Year A chronological account of President Trump's final year in office, focusing on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the events leading to January 6, 2021.
A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump's Testing of America A documented chronicle of President Trump's first three years in office, based on interviews with more than 200 sources and direct observations of key events.
I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump's Catastrophic Final Year A chronological account of President Trump's final year in office, focusing on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the events leading to January 6, 2021.
A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump's Testing of America A documented chronicle of President Trump's first three years in office, based on interviews with more than 200 sources and direct observations of key events.
👥 Similar authors
Bob Woodward has covered presidential politics and scandals for The Washington Post since Watergate, writing numerous books exposing White House inner workings. His investigative methods and deep source networks mirror Leonnig's approach to uncovering government misconduct and institutional failures.
Jane Mayer investigates power, money, and corruption as a staff writer for The New Yorker, focusing on government misconduct and political influence. Her books examine similar themes to Leonnig's work, including national security overreach and abuse of power.
Michael Isikoff reports on national security and political scandals, having broken major stories about government misconduct for Newsweek and Yahoo News. His investigative books focus on presidential administrations and intelligence agencies, similar to Leonnig's coverage areas.
David Fahrenthold works as an investigative reporter for The New York Times, previously at The Washington Post where he won a Pulitzer Prize for investigating Trump's charitable claims. His reporting style combines deep research with clear explanations of complex scandals, matching Leonnig's approach.
Peter Baker serves as chief White House correspondent for The New York Times and has written multiple books about presidential administrations. His work covering White House operations and political crises parallels Leonnig's focus on executive branch accountability.
Jane Mayer investigates power, money, and corruption as a staff writer for The New Yorker, focusing on government misconduct and political influence. Her books examine similar themes to Leonnig's work, including national security overreach and abuse of power.
Michael Isikoff reports on national security and political scandals, having broken major stories about government misconduct for Newsweek and Yahoo News. His investigative books focus on presidential administrations and intelligence agencies, similar to Leonnig's coverage areas.
David Fahrenthold works as an investigative reporter for The New York Times, previously at The Washington Post where he won a Pulitzer Prize for investigating Trump's charitable claims. His reporting style combines deep research with clear explanations of complex scandals, matching Leonnig's approach.
Peter Baker serves as chief White House correspondent for The New York Times and has written multiple books about presidential administrations. His work covering White House operations and political crises parallels Leonnig's focus on executive branch accountability.