It was a pleasure to speak again with David Drucker, who joined us in July for 1455’s 3rd annual Summer Fest for the discussion “The Art of Political Storytelling” (alongside Salena Zito). When David and I last spoke, he was frantically meeting deadlines for the book that’s now available, and one I enthusiastically recommend, not only as a political junkie but a concerned citizen. Suffice it to say, In Trump’s Shadow could hardly be more timely or important, as it goes behind the scenes with good old fashioned reporting and research to assess our contemporary political landscape, and how the biggest of all possible elephants (you-know-who) continues to impact not only the GOP, but our media and culture.
Two pieces of advice: acquire the book, and check out our conversation (video, below); to get a true sense of what’s happening and what’s at stake, you want and need Drucker’s wisdom.
As a denizen of the DC area, I know I’m not alone in confessing I eat, drink, and sleep politics; it’s inevitable and resistance is futile. That said, I want to make special note and send a sincere shout out to David as the epitome of a rare and, sadly, vanishing breed: the writer/reporter who does long-form journalism and takes the time to properly research, source, and refine his pieces. Due to a 24 (12? 1?) hour news cycle, headlines via Twitter, and a five second collective attention span, our soundbite culture needs deeply and slowly cultivated insight (think a good Eastern NC BBQ as opposed to microwaved and deep-friend fast food). As reporter/author, David is the man I want in the pit, stirring the coals, marinating that pig, and making sure it’s smoked to perfection.
As always, it’s our pleasure to partner with the amazing Potter’s House, in D.C., and encourage you to support independent booksellers and purchase your copies through them.
ABOUT the Author:
David M. Drucker is a senior correspondent for the Washington Examiner, focusing on Congress, campaigns, and national political trends. Prior to joining the Washington Examiner, he was a reporter for Roll Call in Washington, D.C., and covered California politics, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, from the Sacramento bureau of the Los Angeles Daily News. Drucker graduated from UCLA with a BA in History and spent eight years managing a family-run manufacturing business in Southern California, giving him a unique perspective on how what happens inside the Beltway impacts the rest of the country. Drucker is a Vanity Fair contributing writer and appears regularly on cable news and nationally syndicated radio programs. He resides on Capitol Hill with his wife and two sons.
ABOUT In Trump’s Shadow:
With Trump’s four years in the White House now in the rearview, an unprecedented period in American political history is concluded. The transition, however, has set off a mad scramble for control of a Republican Party that for so long has reflected the domineering image of one man—and might even still in the years ahead. Who emerges from the warring factions and familial rivalries that proliferated and quietly festered during Trump’s presidency could determine the fate of the GOP for a generation, and the first hint of what’s to come begins with the 2024 campaign to crown the first Republican nominee, and national party leader, of the post-Trump era.
With Trump’s exit, a singular era in American political history has ended—and the Republican party, whose identity had for so long been centered around one man, will be forced to redefine itself for the future. Featuring profiles of everyone from Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, and Nikki Haley to Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and those in the Trump family, In Trump’s Shadow tells the story of a GOP under—and after—the 45th president, and all of those jousting for influence over the party’s direction in the wake of Donald Trump.
