Liar's Kingdom

"The 2020 election was a total FRAUD!" "I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally." "There is NO WAY Biden got 80,000,000 votes!!!" These and other lies by Donald Trump sparked a historic insurrection to topple US democracy and undermined the public's faith in elections. The Trump administration's deceit has enabled the use of law enforcement and the military against the people, the unlawful deportation of immigrants, and the disregard of international rules meant to promote a civilized and peaceful world. Other politicians, inspired by the success of the political lie, have flooded the public square with falsehoods of their own.

As Andrew Weissmann reveals, our vulnerability to politicians' lies stems from a flaw in America's legal system - one that can be fixed. But it will take courage, creativity, and a willingness to look to other countries, such as Brazil, France, Germany, and the UK, that have already confronted this crisis. A slim, elegant treatise, Liar's Kingdom is a playbook for stopping politicians like Trump from holding office in the future - and for saving democracy. We are entitled to more from our governments, and Weissmann shows us how we can get it.