Introduction
In her book "Liars, Leakers, and Liberals," Judge Jeanine Pirro presents a passionate defense of President Donald Trump and a scathing critique of his critics and opponents. Pirro, a former prosecutor and judge who is now a conservative media personality, argues that Trump is the victim of a vast conspiracy by the liberal media, Hollywood elites, the "deep state," and even some Republicans who are trying to undermine and destroy his presidency.
Pirro contends that despite constant attacks and obstacles, Trump is succeeding in his mission to "Make America Great Again" through his economic policies, tough stance on immigration, and foreign policy achievements. She portrays Trump as a decent family man and patriot who genuinely wants what's best for America, in contrast to the negative portrayals in much of the mainstream media.
The book offers a window into the worldview of Trump's most ardent supporters and the conservative media ecosystem. Pirro's arguments reflect and reinforce many of the narratives and talking points that are popular in pro-Trump circles. While critics would likely take issue with many of her claims and characterizations, the book provides insight into how Trump's base perceives him and the political landscape.
The "Lying" Liberal Media
One of Pirro's central arguments is that the mainstream media is relentlessly biased against Trump and willing to lie and distort the truth to damage his presidency. She contends this is a stark departure from how the media treated Trump in earlier decades:
In the 1980s and 1990s, Trump was a media darling who frequently appeared on magazine covers. While not always positive, coverage was generally fair and balanced.
Today, Pirro argues, the liberal media "hates Trump so passionately that it lies about him relentlessly."
She cites Trump's "Fake News Awards" as evidence, highlighting ABC's Brian Ross as an example. Ross ran a story claiming Michael Flynn would testify that Trump had ordered him to contact Russia before the election - a story Pirro says was completely false and based on poor sourcing.
Pirro argues that many in the media have allowed their "blind, liberal hatred of Trump to cloud their judgment."
To support her claim of media bias, Pirro points to a Pew Research Center study finding that 62% of stories about Trump were negative, compared to only 20% about Obama and 28% about George W. Bush.
She also alleges that media executives have realized that anti-Trump stories boost ratings and subscriptions:
- The New York Times hit 1 million online readers for the first time during the election and gained 132,000 new subscribers in Trump's first month.
- The Washington Post hired 60 new newsroom staff after the election.
- Magazines like The New Yorker and The Atlantic set new subscription records.
Pirro claims the media calls this the "Trump Bump" and knowingly publishes anti-Trump "lies" to capitalize on it financially.
Hollywood Hypocrisy
Pirro extends her criticism to Hollywood, arguing that liberal celebrities are hypocritical in their attacks on Trump:
She notes that some celebrities like Sarah Silverman and Chelsea Handler claim to be giving up entertainment to focus on anti-Trump activism full-time.
However, Pirro argues these same celebrities were silent about controversial actions during the Obama administration, like drone strikes that killed American citizens or sending money to the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
She contends Hollywood only gets outraged when Republicans are in power, turning a blind eye to Democratic misdeeds.
Pirro also highlights what she sees as Hollywood's hypocrisy in the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault scandal:
Weinstein was a major Democratic donor who gave $700,000 to Obama and hundreds of thousands to the Clinton Foundation.
Pirro notes it took days for prominent Democrats like Obama and Hillary Clinton to condemn Weinstein after the allegations emerged.
She contrasts this with how quickly Hollywood rushes to criticize Trump.
Pirro also brings up Bill Clinton's sexual misconduct allegations, arguing that Hollywood and liberals defended him at the time.
In Pirro's view, Hollywood liberals believe they are smarter and morally superior to ordinary Americans. However, she argues their declining influence - as evidenced by dropping movie theater attendance - shows they may not be as clever as they think.
Republican Obstacles to Trump's Agenda
While much of Pirro's criticism is aimed at liberals and Democrats, she also takes aim at Republicans who she believes are not sufficiently supporting Trump's agenda:
She coins the term "RINOs" - Republicans In Name Only - to describe GOP politicians who oppose Trump's policies.
Pirro criticizes Republican leaders like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell for not fully funding Trump's proposed border wall. She argues they allocated only $1.6 billion instead of the promised $12 billion.
She also faults McConnell for not strongly defending Trump's travel ban, instead deferring to the courts.
In Pirro's view, many establishment Republicans embody everything Trump opposes - they are "creatures of the swamp" who come to Washington as modest men but leave as millionaires.
She contends these Republicans spend more time at fancy restaurants than working to pass Trump's agenda, noting the Senate has only passed five of the 400 bills sent to it by the House.
Pirro argues the real divide in Washington is not between Republicans and Democrats, but between Trump and "the swamp" - politicians who care more about their own interests than those of America.
Trump's Stance on Illegal Immigration
Pirro strongly defends Trump's hardline position on illegal immigration, which she sees as a key issue that resonates with many Americans:
She refutes claims that Trump hates immigrants, noting he is married to an immigrant and employs many at Trump Tower.
Pirro argues Trump simply understands Americans' legitimate frustrations about illegal immigration.
She recalls Trump's controversial 2015 campaign announcement speech about Mexican immigrants, arguing that while the media was outraged, many Americans thought "Well, it's good that someone is finally saying what we are thinking."
Pirro is particularly critical of "sanctuary cities" that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement:
She cites the case of Kate Steinle, who was killed by an illegal immigrant in San Francisco, a sanctuary city.
Pirro argues that if San Francisco had cooperated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Steinle's killer would have been deported and she would still be alive.
In her view, Democrats prioritize protecting criminals over the safety of American citizens.
The "Deep State" and Russia Investigation
A major focus of Pirro's book is what she sees as efforts by the "deep state" - longtime government employees in law enforcement, intelligence, and defense - to undermine Trump's presidency. She is particularly critical of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign:
Pirro argues the investigation started with the "dubious" Steele dossier, which she claims was gossip masquerading as intelligence.
She alleges the FBI used this dossier to obtain FISA warrants to spy on the Trump campaign, without disclosing it was funded by the Clinton campaign and DNC.
Pirro claims her sources tell her there was an FBI informant inside the Trump campaign, which she says would be an unprecedented abuse of power.
She characterizes the ongoing investigation led by Robert Mueller as a "witch hunt" that has turned up nothing despite extensive resources and time.
Pirro argues that Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security advisor, was unfairly prosecuted for lying to the FBI about conversations that were not actually inappropriate.
She claims the charges against Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign chairman, are unrelated to Russian collusion and simply an attempt to pressure him for information on Trump.
The Uranium One Deal
Pirro uses the Uranium One deal as an example of what she sees as the misplaced priorities of the FBI and Department of Justice:
She alleges that Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State, approved the sale of 20% of U.S. uranium mining rights to a Russian company.
Pirro claims the chairman of Uranium One made $2.35 million in donations to the Clinton Foundation while the deal was being approved.
She also notes that Bill Clinton received $500,000 for a speech in Moscow from a Russian bank linked to the deal.
Pirro argues the FBI knew Russians were using bribery and extortion to expand control of U.S. uranium but did not act.
She contrasts this with the extensive investigation into Trump-Russia connections, arguing it shows the bias of the FBI and DOJ against Trump.
Trump's Character and Accomplishments
In contrast to negative media portrayals, Pirro presents Trump as a caring family man and patriot:
She recounts a personal anecdote of flying with Trump, where he focused on his children's school supplies rather than dwelling on a negative news article.
Pirro shares an account from Chief of Staff John Kelly about Trump's respectful interactions with families of fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
She argues Trump is in awe of the courage of those who die for their country, contrary to how his words are often portrayed by critics.
Pirro also highlights what she sees as Trump's significant accomplishments:
- Economic growth: 3 million new jobs, low unemployment, and a 25% rise in the stock market.
- Tax cuts that she claims will save a typical family $2,000 per year.
- Foreign policy successes like decimating ISIS and making progress with North Korea.
She contrasts these achievements with what she sees as the failures of previous administrations, arguing Trump has delivered results despite constant opposition.
Conclusion
Pirro concludes by painting a picture of the America she believes Trump is working towards - one with plentiful jobs, thriving businesses, safe communities, a strong military, and fair international trade. She argues this vision is under threat from Trump's many enemies in the media, Hollywood, and the political establishment.
The book serves as a rallying cry for Trump supporters, reinforcing their belief that the president is unfairly maligned by powerful forces threatened by his agenda to "drain the swamp" and shake up the status quo in Washington. While Trump's critics would likely dispute many of Pirro's claims and characterizations, her arguments provide insight into the narratives that resonate with his base.
Pirro's book reflects the deep polarization in American politics, with starkly different interpretations of the same events and radically divergent views of Trump's character and presidency. It highlights the parallel information ecosystems that have developed, with Trump supporters and opponents often operating from completely different sets of assumed facts and narratives.
Ultimately, "Liars, Leakers, and Liberals" is less a dispassionate analysis than an impassioned defense of Trump and an attack on his perceived enemies. It is likely to reinforce existing views rather than change minds - Trump supporters will find validation for their beliefs, while critics will probably dismiss many of Pirro's claims as partisan spin or conspiracy theories.
The book does, however, offer valuable insight into how Trump's most fervent supporters perceive him and the political landscape. Understanding this perspective - even for those who disagree with it - is important for comprehending the current state of American politics and the forces that brought Trump to power and sustain his support.
Some key takeaways from Pirro's arguments:
Media bias: Pirro contends that mainstream media coverage of Trump is overwhelmingly negative and often deliberately false or misleading. She sees this as a stark departure from how Trump was covered earlier in his public life.
Hollywood hypocrisy: The author argues that liberal celebrities who criticize Trump were silent about controversial actions during Democratic administrations, revealing their partisan motivations.
Republican resistance: Pirro is critical of establishment Republicans who she believes are not fully supporting Trump's agenda, seeing them as part of "the swamp" Trump is trying to drain.
Immigration stance: The book strongly defends Trump's hardline position on illegal immigration, arguing it resonates with many Americans concerned about safety and the rule of law.
Deep state conspiracy: Pirro alleges that elements within the FBI, DOJ, and intelligence community are working to undermine Trump's presidency, particularly through the Russia investigation.
Trump's character: In contrast to negative portrayals, Pirro presents Trump as a caring family man and patriot who is genuinely working to improve America.
Policy successes: The author highlights economic growth, tax cuts, and foreign policy achievements as evidence of Trump's effectiveness despite constant opposition.
Parallel realities: The book illustrates the deep divide in how Trump supporters and critics perceive events, with radically different interpretations of the same facts.
While many would dispute Pirro's claims and arguments, her book provides a window into the worldview of Trump's base and the conservative media ecosystem that supports him. Understanding this perspective is crucial for anyone seeking to comprehend the current political landscape in America.
The passionate defense of Trump and attacks on his critics in "Liars, Leakers, and Liberals" reflect the intense polarization in American politics. Pirro's arguments are likely to resonate strongly with those already supportive of Trump while being dismissed by his opponents. This dynamic illustrates the challenge of finding common ground or shared facts in the current political environment.
Pirro's book also highlights the power of narrative in shaping political perceptions. By weaving together various events, policies, and personalities into a coherent story of Trump battling corrupt elites to "Make America Great Again," she provides a framework for understanding current events that is deeply appealing to his supporters. This narrative approach, whether one agrees with it or not, has been a key factor in Trump's ability to maintain a loyal base despite constant controversy and criticism.
The author's background as a former judge and prosecutor lends an air of authority to her claims, particularly when discussing legal matters related to the Russia investigation or immigration policy. However, critics would likely argue that her current role as a partisan media figure compromises her objectivity on these issues.
Pirro's book serves as a counterpoint to the majority of Trump-related books that have been critical of the president. It provides balance to the overall conversation about Trump's presidency, even if many would dispute its specific claims. Understanding the arguments made by Trump's defenders is important for anyone seeking a comprehensive view of current American politics.
In conclusion, "Liars, Leakers, and Liberals" offers a passionate defense of Donald Trump and a scathing indictment of his critics from the perspective of one of his most ardent supporters. While its claims and characterizations are certainly open to debate, the book provides valuable insight into the worldview of Trump's base and the narratives that sustain his support. In an era of deep political polarization, understanding these perspectives - even for those who disagree with them - is crucial for comprehending the forces shaping American politics and society.