One of the hardest things to do these days is find a reporter who is a) well sourced in Trumpworld and b) not a cheerleader for the president.
Which is why Alex Isenstadt of Axios is so unique — and important— in our information ecosystem.
Alex is not just someone who really understands how Donald Trump (and his inner circle) think but also a REAL reporter who is going to bring you that information without pumping up or talking down the president.
Whether you love Trump or hate him, having people like Alex bringing you the facts about what the president is doing and why he is doing it is absolutely invaluable.
“For a reporter, it's our job to just sort of tell the tale of what happens and to get the facts out,” Alex told me earlier this week in a conversation about his soon-to-be-released book “Revenge: The Inside Story of Donald Trump’s Return to Power.” He added: “I tried to do that, to weave that into a narrative that I hope people will find interesting.”
Alex’s book, which is out on Tuesday, is a reporting tour-de-force about Trump’s path to the presidency. It documents a two-year journey back to power for Trump — from the inside.
I think it’s a must-buy for anyone who wants to understand what makes the president tick, how he thinks about governing and the political and media ecosystem in which he reigns supreme.
Alex and I talked for almost an hour about the book — an excerpt of which you can read here — and touched on a ton of fascinating stuff including:
Donald Trump as a remarkable political athlete
Why Trump LOVES the media — and why the “fake news” thing is utter bullshit
Why Trump always wanted Rupert Murdoch’s approval
The relationship of convenience between Trump and Fox News
Why Trump’s visit to East Palestine, Ohio in early 2023 shaped the entire race
How Trump decided on JD Vance as his VP
Whether there is a grand Trump strategy or he is just doing stuff
The conversation made me smarter. And I think it will do the same for you.
If you value this sort of thing, I ask two favors of you:
Consider becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter. It’s $6 a month or $60 for the year. Independent journalism like this can only work if you are willing to financially support it!
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