It's Even Worse Than You Think

David Cay Johnston's book examines Donald Trump's first year as president through analysis of policies, executive orders, and administrative actions. The investigative work draws on Johnston's decades of reporting on Trump and his deep knowledge of government operations. The text focuses on specific impacts of Trump administration decisions across areas including immigration, environmental protection, foreign policy, and economic regulations. Johnston presents research and documentation to track policy shifts and their effects on American institutions and citizens. The author explains complex governmental processes and constitutional issues in clear terms while maintaining journalistic rigor. Each chapter addresses a different aspect of federal governance during this period through a combination of reporting, expert insights, and historical context. This work stands as both a critique of presidential power and an examination of how governmental systems respond to unconventional leadership. The analysis raises questions about checks and balances, democratic norms, and the resilience of American institutions.

Readers describe this as a detailed account of Trump's first year in office, focused on policy changes and administrative actions rather than personal scandals. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of complex government processes - Extensive research and documentation - Focus on lesser-known policy changes - Specific examples of regulatory rollbacks Common criticisms: - Too dense with technical details - Some readers found the tone overly negative - Information became outdated quickly - More focus needed on solutions One reader noted: "Reads like a reference book rather than a narrative." Another stated: "Important information but exhausting to get through." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (500+ ratings) Many readers mentioned they had to take breaks while reading due to the heavy content and detail level. Several reviewers suggested reading it in sections rather than straight through.

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🔹 David Cay Johnston won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on corporate tax loopholes while working at The New York Times. 🔹 The book analyzes Trump's first year as president through detailed examination of federal documents, revealing policy changes that received little media attention. 🔹 Prior to writing this book, Johnston had been investigating and reporting on Donald Trump for over 30 years, dating back to 1988. 🔹 The book reached #2 on the New York Times bestseller list in January 2018, demonstrating strong public interest in detailed policy analysis during Trump's presidency. 🔹 Johnston was one of the few journalists who predicted Trump's victory in 2016, based on his deep understanding of Trump's appeal to certain voter demographics.