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  • Midnight in Washington

  • How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could
  • Written by: Adam Schiff
  • Narrated by: Adam Schiff
  • Length: 18 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (66 ratings)

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Midnight in Washington

Written by: Adam Schiff
Narrated by: Adam Schiff
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Publisher's Summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The vital inside account of American democracy in its darkest hour, from the rise of autocracy unleashed by Trump to the January 6 insurrection, and a warning that those forces remain as potent as ever—from the congressman who led the first impeachment of Donald J. Trump

“Engaging and informative . . . a manual for how to probe and question power, how to hold leaders accountable in a time of diminishing responsibility.”—The Washington Post

With a new afterword by the author

In the years leading up to the election of Donald Trump, Congressman Adam Schiff had already been sounding the alarm over the resurgence of autocracy around the world, and the threat this posed to the United States. But as he led the probe into Donald Trump’s Russia and Ukraine-related abuses of presidential power, Schiff came to the terrible conclusion that the principal threat to American democracy now came from within.

In Midnight in Washington, Schiff argues that the Trump presidency has so weakened our institutions and compromised the Republican Party that the peril will last for years, requiring unprecedented vigilance against the growing and dangerous appeal of authoritarianism. The congressman chronicles step-by-step just how our democracy was put at such risk, and traces his own path to meeting the crisis—from serious prosecutor, to congressman with an expertise in national security and a reputation for bipartisanship, to liberal lightning rod, scourge of the right, and archenemy of a president. Schiff takes us inside his team of impeachment managers and their desperate defense of the Constitution amid the rise of a distinctly American brand of autocracy.

Deepening our understanding of prominent public moments, Schiff reveals the private struggles, the internal conflicts, and the triumphs of courage that came with defending the republic against a lawless president—but also the slow surrender of people that he had worked with and admired to the dangerous immorality of a president engaged in an historic betrayal of his office. Schiff’s fight for democracy is one of the great dramas of our time, told by the man who became the president’s principal antagonist. It is a story that began with Trump but does not end with him, taking us through the disastrous culmination of the presidency and Schiff’s account of January 6, 2021, and how the antidemocratic forces Trump unleashed continue to define his party, making the future of democracy in America more uncertain than ever.

©2021 Adam Schiff (P)2021 Random House Audio

What the critics say

“When American democracy faced a near-death experience, Adam Schiff served as an able guardian, protecting our nation from enemies foreign and domestic. Schiff not only provides riveting details in this compelling account, he delivers a much-needed warning about the threats facing America from within and an urgent how-to guide for preserving our nation.”—Stacey Abrams, founder of Fair Fight Action

“Adam Schiff has performed a great public service with this engrossing and illuminating new book. By taking us inside the impeachments of the forty-fifth president, Schiff has written an important first draft of history—history that is not remote or retrospective but all too immediate, for the threats to the republic he so deftly describes remain with us. If you care about American democracy, the rule of law, and the future of our imperiled nation, this is essential reading.”—Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House

“In this thoughtful, absorbing, and revelatory memoir, an important champion and defender of American democracy shows us how he became a national leader and, from his experiences on the inside, how close the Trump regime brought us to losing our system. Please read Adam Schiff’s book carefully and pay close heed to his warnings about the dangers that remain.”—Michael Beschloss, New York Times bestselling author of Presidents of War: The Epic Story, from 1807 to Modern Times

What listeners say about Midnight in Washington

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Despairing yet hopeful.

Adam is a common American hero. Here right (should always) matter! Choose right America!

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Fascinating Front Row Seat to History

Must read (or listen) for every American. Whether you followed the news or not this narrative of the last 4+ years is compelling!
I liked that Adam Schiff narrated it himself.

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Disturbing

significant chronology and detail was most useful and revealing, Enjoyed the book immensely but was left unsettled about the future.

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Truth is spoken

Loved the honestly and heartfelt feeling that the words portrayed. Highly recommend this book to everyone.

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Beautifully written and true

Adam Schiff has given a good and true account of the issues and sets out the evidence that showed collusion

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John Vanderkaay

Adam Schiff gave me a fascinating look at the workings of Congress, especially the malfeasance of the Republican. Their Party has turned into Trumpisml led by a narcissistic corrupt racist.
However, I don’t share his optimism that in the end we’ll be all right . The likelihood of a Trumpism taking over Congress may well be the road to a right/wing autocracy similar to the ones I n Hungary an Turkey. We can only hope that the firs amendment survives to allow principled and decent people such as Adam Schiff will continue to expose the power of corruption.

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A sobering call to defend democracy, well told.

Insider info and insight. Well narrated. A story having staggering consequences if America fails to hear and understand how democracies fail.

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gripping story

This was an amazing book from beginning to end. I enjoyed Adam Schiff's narrative , only he could tell it in such a way.
I was hooked from beginning to end and replayed several parts, especially the Alex Vindman story. And the chapter where he Schiff is not alright with what's happening in America
Well written pleased and grateful for the insights.
Thank you Sir.

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So well written and engaging

I’m a Canadian but can’t stop watching and listening to all that is happening in US politics. This was a fantastic book. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of how the house managers prepared for the impeachment, and how they worked together.

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Detailed History of Events

Schift details the subordination of Congress to the executive branch, in addition to the work the executive branch did in concealing, evidence and evading justice.

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