RENEGADE

The former Republican representative from Illinois reflects on the abhorrent fanaticism of the current GOP.

When Kinzinger was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010, his conservative religious upbringing and distinguished service in the Air Force were assets that propelled him forward as a rising star within the GOP. However, due to his decision not to support Trump’s candidacy in 2016 and subsequent condemnation of Trump following the 2020 election, his standing within the Republican Party was severely diminished, leading him to not seek reelection in 2022. “I had dedicated my working life to becoming a kind of star within the GOP and for a time, that was who I was,” writes the author. “Now, to my surprise, all that effort has led me to the point where, instead of acting as a GOP champion, I am required to act as its critic.” Kinzinger’s book joins a spate of other works by Republican leaders condemning the escalating destructiveness within the party. The author delivers a compelling insider’s view of the chaos of Congress, from the partying (“think of Animal House but with expensive whiskey instead of beer, aged steaks instead of pizza, and no cash required”) to the laborious, often failed efforts to get measures approved on the floor. He offers piercing critiques of the most damaging obstructionists, headed by Jim Jordan, Mick Mulvaney, and Kevin McCarthy (“a political windsock”), and he shines a favorable light on John Boehner, praising him for his ability to get things done. The author is at least respectful of many of his Democratic counterparts, with positive remarks grudgingly applied. Kinzinger’s outspoken crusade culminated in his participation in the Jan. 6 hearings, and he provides an in-depth perspective on the details involved in that investigation.

A sharp assessment of the dark threat to democracy posed by the Trump-controlled GOP.