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Enemy of the People: A Cartoonist's Journey
After 25 years as the political cartoonist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette , Rob Rogers was fired for drawing cartoons critical of President Trump.
In Enemy of the People Rogers writes, "Trump's open embrace of the darkest, ugliest corners of human nature has emboldened racists, neo-Nazis, criminals, thugs, despots, misogynists and liars to come out from under their rocks and display their shameful behavior publicly. That includes publishers and editors who years ago may have been too ashamed to express their hateful views on the editorial page." From a cartoonkilling spree to a social media buzz, from an appearance on CNN to his final days at the paper, Rogers chronicles his unenviable journey with honesty, wit, and humor.
In Enemy of the People Rogers writes, "Trump's open embrace of the darkest, ugliest corners of human nature has emboldened racists, neo-Nazis, criminals, thugs, despots, misogynists and liars to come out from under their rocks and display their shameful behavior publicly. That includes publishers and editors who years ago may have been too ashamed to express their hateful views on the editorial page." From a cartoonkilling spree to a social media buzz, from an appearance on CNN to his final days at the paper, Rogers chronicles his unenviable journey with honesty, wit, and humor.
180 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 26, 2022
Rob Rogers was a cartoonist causality of the Trump Apocalypse. For over 30 years his political cartoons were a regular feature of Pittsburgh papers, first in The Pittsburgh Press, and after its demise, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. His caricature style was immediately recognizable to the locals, as all had the familiar Yinzer look of the city’s blue collar denizens. His political leaning was Left, which matched the Center Left editorial pages where his work appeared. Saying he was beloved would put it too strongly, but he was as comfortable as an Iron City Beer and a Terrible Towel to Pittsburgh citizens.
Enemy of the People: A Cartoonist Journey chronicles Rogers’s experience of being silenced, then fired for doing his job. With the emergence of Trump, publisher John Robinson Block ended his long standing hands off approach to his paper’s Editorial page. He became a full on Trump Bro, and set to recreating his successful, Center Left paper in the MAGA image. First to go was the Editorial page editor, forced out when pressured to endorse candidate Trump. Block replaced him with a Trump acolyte and apologist who was soon killing Rogers’s Trump critical cartoons at a frenetic pace. The writing was on the wall and Rogers’s cartoons weren’t. He was fired, creating a nationwide firestorm of criticism.
Rogers tells his story as the cartoonist he is, in pictures. He created original panels about the situation, using them along with samplings of the political cartoons he was famous for and the ones that got him fired. He includes older cartoons, dating back to 1984 to show how he had lampooned and critiqued five previous presidents with impunity before running afoul of the authoritarian sensitivities of MAGA snowflakes.
Enemy of the People: A Cartoonist Journey chronicles Rogers’s experience of being silenced, then fired for doing his job. With the emergence of Trump, publisher John Robinson Block ended his long standing hands off approach to his paper’s Editorial page. He became a full on Trump Bro, and set to recreating his successful, Center Left paper in the MAGA image. First to go was the Editorial page editor, forced out when pressured to endorse candidate Trump. Block replaced him with a Trump acolyte and apologist who was soon killing Rogers’s Trump critical cartoons at a frenetic pace. The writing was on the wall and Rogers’s cartoons weren’t. He was fired, creating a nationwide firestorm of criticism.
Rogers tells his story as the cartoonist he is, in pictures. He created original panels about the situation, using them along with samplings of the political cartoons he was famous for and the ones that got him fired. He includes older cartoons, dating back to 1984 to show how he had lampooned and critiqued five previous presidents with impunity before running afoul of the authoritarian sensitivities of MAGA snowflakes.
August 14, 2019
I don't agree with Roger's politics.
I don't think his cartoons are typically funny.
This book was not up my alley, in so many ways. But I support a free press. I bought this book in solidarity with Rogers. What happened to him was a travesty, and should be a wake up call that the foundations of American Democracy are under threat.
I didn't enjoy this book, but it is an important book for what it represents.
I don't think his cartoons are typically funny.
This book was not up my alley, in so many ways. But I support a free press. I bought this book in solidarity with Rogers. What happened to him was a travesty, and should be a wake up call that the foundations of American Democracy are under threat.
I didn't enjoy this book, but it is an important book for what it represents.
May 4, 2019
I guess I owe a debt of gratitude to Trump. If it weren't for him, the idiots at the Pittsburgh Gazette wouldn't have fired longtime cartoonist Rob Rogers and I might never have heard of him! :-/
Rogers recounts this shameful history, and includes a nice collection of his political cartoons of the past, before censorship became a thing.
Rogers recounts this shameful history, and includes a nice collection of his political cartoons of the past, before censorship became a thing.
February 21, 2019
Rob Rogers, an editorial cartoonist at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for 25 years, found himself on the chopping block because he didn't create pro-Trump cartoons for his publisher. It's chilling, this censorship by firing, and indicative of the anti-media atmosphere created by Trump and his followers.
This collection features not only the best of his work, but a collection of essays written by fellow cartoonists decrying the current state of affairs in their business. Rogers' cartoons are wickedly pointed, speaking truth to power in every panel.
Enemy of the People is not just a showcase for Rogers' work; it's something bound to become an important historical artifact of these trying times.
This collection features not only the best of his work, but a collection of essays written by fellow cartoonists decrying the current state of affairs in their business. Rogers' cartoons are wickedly pointed, speaking truth to power in every panel.
Enemy of the People is not just a showcase for Rogers' work; it's something bound to become an important historical artifact of these trying times.
September 8, 2019
This is as political a post as I will usually write. I am against the firing of a political cartoonist, because his politics disagreed with the new management of his newspaper. Being critical of the president is his job - even if it is a President I like. Of course, it is a bit easier to come to his defense with the current president. Criticizing this insanity is NECESSARY.
That said, his cartoons don't always strike the mark for me. Some of them are close; some are brilliant; some fall short. But that is always the case for any given political cartoonist - at least for me. I have collected political cartoons for many years and enjoy the craft of them.
He has a Patreon account. I may support him there.
That said, his cartoons don't always strike the mark for me. Some of them are close; some are brilliant; some fall short. But that is always the case for any given political cartoonist - at least for me. I have collected political cartoons for many years and enjoy the craft of them.
He has a Patreon account. I may support him there.
October 10, 2019
This book will make you angry. Rogers chronicles the travesty of his firing from the Post-Gazette because he drew too many cartoons criticizing Donald Trump. I already had a dim view of newspapers already, and this sealed the deal for me - they are more concerned with the bottom line and meeting the political needs of the owners than muckracking anymore. Glad I canceled my subscription to the local paper after they fired our local editorial cartoonist.
December 31, 2020
كتاب لطيف بيكشف جانب الكثير ممكن يكون مش مصدق أنه موجود في بلد زي أمريكا بس الحقيقة لا موجود وكتير ومن زمن
هنا بنشوف قصة رسام كاريكتير مخضرم بيتم فصله بسبب رسومه حول ترامب وبيستعرض عمله علي مدار السنوات
والراجل بقاله سنين طويلة يعمل ك رسام كاركتير وشهد الكثير من التغيرات الي أن وصلت القطار لمحطة ترامب
كتاب لطيف والراجل بيتكلم بشكل بسيط
هنا بنشوف قصة رسام كاريكتير مخضرم بيتم فصله بسبب رسومه حول ترامب وبيستعرض عمله علي مدار السنوات
والراجل بقاله سنين طويلة يعمل ك رسام كاركتير وشهد الكثير من التغيرات الي أن وصلت القطار لمحطة ترامب
كتاب لطيف والراجل بيتكلم بشكل بسيط
August 19, 2019
Rob Rogers, was an editorial cartoonist at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for over twenty years until he was fired because he didn't create pro-trump cartoons for his paper. It's disturbing to find out that a cartoonist has been fired over censorship yet that didn't stop Roger's from making this book.
This book features some of Roger's best work throughout his career at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette going all the way back to Ronald Regan. Each strip had me laughing as well as shaking my head in disbelief over the event's that happened during every president's career. Outside of the political satire, there are a collection of essays written by fellow cartoonists criticizing the current state of affairs in their business. This book is a great mixture of comedy and American politics where Rogers' cartoons provide powerful messages in almost every panel.
Enemy of the People is an incredible book. It'll have you laughing and upset with the current climate in America. it's an important book during these difficult times
This book features some of Roger's best work throughout his career at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette going all the way back to Ronald Regan. Each strip had me laughing as well as shaking my head in disbelief over the event's that happened during every president's career. Outside of the political satire, there are a collection of essays written by fellow cartoonists criticizing the current state of affairs in their business. This book is a great mixture of comedy and American politics where Rogers' cartoons provide powerful messages in almost every panel.
Enemy of the People is an incredible book. It'll have you laughing and upset with the current climate in America. it's an important book during these difficult times
July 30, 2019
I wanted to love this collection of political cartoons. I'm staunchly anti-Trump and the horrid people who align with him. I'm sad about the decline of newspapers (meaning the decline in the numbers of newspapers being printed, not the quality of the news they print). I think it's bullshit that any cartoonist or journalist is losing their job because of pro-Trump editors. Especially cartoonists or journalists whose work is for the editorial page. The editorial page is second to the front page of the paper, in my opinion.
So I'm glad that this book exists, and I hope it makes him enough money to cover for the loss of income from his career as a political cartoonist.
I do not think the quality of work has gone down since he started focusing on Trump. And, OF COURSE, a political satirist during the Trump administration would be obsessed with that pouty toddler in an adult diaper that bigots and rapists love to defend. Rogers wouldn't be doing his job if he wasn't devoting most of his work to criticizing Trump.
This collection contains a wide swath of his work from before the Trump administration to support that his current work is on par with his previous cartoons about the various Bush presidents, the Clintons, Quayle, and Reagan. Which is super helpful. But which, also, made it clear to me that I just don't enjoy his work. I just don't think it's funny. Nor did I learn anything from it. It's perfectly adequate generic political cartooning. Which should be championed. Even if it's not what I would consider good.
So I'm glad that this book exists, and I hope it makes him enough money to cover for the loss of income from his career as a political cartoonist.
I do not think the quality of work has gone down since he started focusing on Trump. And, OF COURSE, a political satirist during the Trump administration would be obsessed with that pouty toddler in an adult diaper that bigots and rapists love to defend. Rogers wouldn't be doing his job if he wasn't devoting most of his work to criticizing Trump.
This collection contains a wide swath of his work from before the Trump administration to support that his current work is on par with his previous cartoons about the various Bush presidents, the Clintons, Quayle, and Reagan. Which is super helpful. But which, also, made it clear to me that I just don't enjoy his work. I just don't think it's funny. Nor did I learn anything from it. It's perfectly adequate generic political cartooning. Which should be championed. Even if it's not what I would consider good.
February 14, 2021
When longtime political cartoonist Rob Rogers was fired from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for criticizing Trump, it sent a lightning bolt through the world of politics and journalism alike at a time when a rogue President had decided to declare war on the press. Rogers recounts that episode, as well as a history of political cartooning before showcasing his own body of work. And while Rogers was most definitely the victim of editorial cowardice and Presidential ego run amok, Enemy of the People is too self-pitying to rest on the quality of Rogers' own work to make his case for him.
October 10, 2020
I HEARTILY recommend this excellent book!
It's oversized format made the cartoons easy to read and enjoy. The remarks from editorial cartoonists on the history/importance of editorial cartooning and the subversion of 1st Amendment rights by the firing of Rob Rogers was enlightening. A fun book, a quick read, and an IMPORTANT piece of literature for future generations trying to understand the current cesspool that is US politics in 2015-2021. #BlueWave2020
It's oversized format made the cartoons easy to read and enjoy. The remarks from editorial cartoonists on the history/importance of editorial cartooning and the subversion of 1st Amendment rights by the firing of Rob Rogers was enlightening. A fun book, a quick read, and an IMPORTANT piece of literature for future generations trying to understand the current cesspool that is US politics in 2015-2021. #BlueWave2020
June 12, 2020
Rob Rogers' cartoons are brilliantly funny, gleefully cutting through BS like a knife. No wonder his new boss, a Trump supporter, showed him the door. Please support the essential work of the political cartoonist, who is often the last unmuzzled voice in these dark days.
September 17, 2021
This was a fascinating mini career retrospective that focused on the nature of satire and its role in the modern world. The book is both a showcase of cartoons and the story of how a political cartoonist was fired for not aligning with the views of the paper's ownership.
August 10, 2019
This is a must read for anyone who believes in freedom of speech and freedom of the press in the sensitive and intolerant Trump era. Rob Rogers is a voice we must listen to.
April 20, 2020
a brilliant cartoonist - this book's a must-read!
January 27, 2021
FREE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
May 9, 2019
I'll admit, I am a Rob Rogers groupie.
July 31, 2019
Solidarity
I bought this specifically to support Rogers and political cartoonists, although I could likely have found the cartoons online for free. As a former news writer, I understand the squeeze all journalists face today between censorship and investor profits.
Good luck with other endeavors, Rob, and welcome to the gig economy.
The book includes work Rogers has done over the years, including cartoons about several presidents and other politicians, as well as issues. It also has endorsements by other cartoonists and colleagues.
In addition to more current issues, it gives an overview of cartoons about many now historic moments. A delight for the progressive, a stomach ache for the alt-right.
I bought this specifically to support Rogers and political cartoonists, although I could likely have found the cartoons online for free. As a former news writer, I understand the squeeze all journalists face today between censorship and investor profits.
Good luck with other endeavors, Rob, and welcome to the gig economy.
The book includes work Rogers has done over the years, including cartoons about several presidents and other politicians, as well as issues. It also has endorsements by other cartoonists and colleagues.
In addition to more current issues, it gives an overview of cartoons about many now historic moments. A delight for the progressive, a stomach ache for the alt-right.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews