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Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could
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 arch-enemy 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 a 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.
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 arch-enemy 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 a 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.
17 pages, Audible Audio
First published October 12, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 575 reviews
October 12, 2021
Great memoir of the individual that lead the 1st impeachment trial against Donald Trump. If we had more people in government like him who valued the rule of law and justice our country would be a better place. Ignore the bad reviews by individuals that haven’t bought the book much less read it. To them truth are lies and lies are truth. They view fascism as patriotic and democracy as something inconvenient and detestable. If this book is biased, it is biased toward the truth and one party has shown to value the truth more than the other. Our democracy is never a given. We have to continuously defend it.
October 18, 2021
This is an emotional recount of the two impeachment trials of 45. Not that I have forgotten for a moment, but it is a detailed reminder of Trump’s litany of crimes, why he should have been removed from office, and why he should be in jail. More importantly, it is a haunting reminder that the Republican Party is filled with liars, traitors, and cowards who are destroying our democracy.
October 28, 2021
Starting this Tomorrow! No idea how someone *hater* already gave it 1-star so I’m offsetting that rating with what I learned with Rachel Maddow’s galley preview
January 17, 2022
[When in] Helsinki, Finland, Trump stood next to Putin and took his side over his own intelligence agencies, the once proud party of Ronald Reagan publicly capitulated to this heir of the evil empire. (Page 90)
You probably won’t learn anything new from this book, but it does fill in a lot of the horrifying details about the events described. If you need to read about the corruption, lies and obstruction of the former president’s administration, this book will provide that. I am going to focus more on the once proud Republican party’s abandonment of the U. S. Constitution, their failure to obey their oath of office, and how it was taken over and persuaded to abandon their beliefs and ideology and embrace a man skilled in lies and deception.
The first chapter of this book is titled “Insurrection”. I happened to read this chapter on the anniversary of last years attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters. Schiff reports on this event from the floor of the Senate Chamber. It may have been the timing, but this was the most stirring chapter of the book for me. It certainly sets up his account of the first impeachment trial.
This is not a book I would have chosen to read right now but again it was a Christmas gift from my daughter. It is a memoir more than a history and it was a rather tedious read. Schiff must have kept very good notes as he seems to recount the events of every day over the four year period this covers. While reading this and all the hearings and evidence they uncovered it became frustrating knowing that they never were able to accomplish anything.
However, this is an important job that we depend upon our Congress to perform. Schiff and the rest of his Democratic team investigated the corruption at the highest level of our government. The failure is the fault of the duplicity of the Republican members of Congress who were violating their oath of office. Schiff knew that the impeachment trial would fail in the Senate. The Republican Mitch McConnell working in concert with the White House would ensure that this was not a fair trial. Motions by the House Impeachment mangers to subpoena witnesses and documents were voted down on a strict party-line vote. Obstruction and corruption in our government should not be a partisan issue.
A very depressing part of this book was the threats that Schiff, his family and several witnesses received. The administration used their “Bully Pulpit” as a megaphone to spread lies and rumors. A megaphone that allowed them to reach a couple hundred million people; a campaign supported by their shills on Fox news. These were not veiled threats as they specifically called for assassination and hanging. At a campaign event in his home district Schiff was physically assaulted.
I mentioned above that this history became a little tedious, and the impeachment trial itself was boring. How many examples of the outrageous behavior of the former president does one need to read? How many examples of the Republican Party showing its subservience to the former president? But after the acquittal following the impeachment trial, the pace picks up. Once the former president found out that the members of his party had complete obedience to his whims he unleashed his fury. Long time career employees who had testified against him were fired and replaced with lackeys who would do his bidding.
I ended up liking this book more than I thought I would. However, with history and especially analysis that aligns with my political views I am easy to please. Like a fine dinner where desert is served at the end, the epilogue in this book is a real treat. In here the author warns us of the dangerous state of this country and what is at stake. In 2016 we elected a demagogue who still commands the obedience of the members of his party, and of millions of his followers despite his many documented sins. He writes of the changes that were taking place prior to the election in 2016. Changes to the global economy that had millions of people suddenly experiencing job insecurity. He writes of the former president using this insecurity to feed racial divisions. He reports that the income gap more than tripled from 1979 to 2008 and that the former president championed a tax cut for the wealthy. Perhaps the greatest threat he describes is the attack on our right to vote. Republican legislators are passing laws to make it more difficult to vote, and taking control of the voting in several states with the only objective of overturning any election that doesn’t go their way.
I believe and have probably said in these reviews that there are more reasonable people than unreasonable people in this world, but that belief is tested when reading about the millions that cheered on Hitler during his reign of power or when I see so many people believing this former president and continuing to vote and support him. Colonel Vindman who during testimony in the hearings preceding the trial stated that “Congressman, because this is America. … And here, right matters”. Perhaps in a nod to Vindman the author quotes Ben Franklin who said:
“I have observed that wrong is always growing more wrong, till there is no bearing it, and that right, however opposed, comes right at last.” (Page 462)
June 25, 2022
Always eager to see what’s going on in the world of US Politics, I was happy to get my hands on this political memoir by Adam Schiff. A key player for the Democrats in the House of Representatives during the Trump Administration, Schiff takes the reader through his political journey. From humble beginnings through to being one of President Trump’s most mocked enemies, Schiff offers some insightful views into the way Washington shifted and how congressional work was much more difficult over those four years.
Adam Schiff opens the book putting things in context, almost foreshadpwing and foreboding where things were headed in the latter chapters. While he mentions much around the two impeachment trials and the January 6th, 2021 insurrection, Schiff does takes readers back to where it all began. A frugal life in a Jewish family, Schiff learned the value of both parties from his politically active parents. The value of debate and hearing both sides of the argument became an essential part of the Schiff household, allowing Adam to see just how important a well-rounded education might be.
After working hard through school along the West Coast, Schiff scored a prestigious spot at Harvard Law, where his studies were enriched with some of the strongest legal minds in the country, something that he would come back to later in the book. Schiff had a passion for them aw and wanted to use it to help others, doing so both in private practice and within the District Attorney’s office, where he got a taste for all things related to the law. This would also have Schiff discover the influence that politics could have in the hands of those who remained intuitive.
After a few drubbings, Schiff was helped in his bid to win a seat to the House of Representatives. It was there that Adam Schiff saw some of his dreams and aspirations come to life. Able to serve his constituency and America as a whole, Schiff worked diligently through some of the tensest moments of the early 21st century, coming out with a greater respect for the legislative process and his fellow members. Schiff rose through the ranks and was eventually awarded key committee posts, allowing him to hone his skills and serve even more effectively.
While Schiff does delve a great deal into the 2016 election and the emergence of Donald J. Trump, it was only after the new Administration began acting in a highly reckless manner that Democrats took notice and sought to stop things. Much is made of discussions around aid to Ukraine in return for assistance, which led to impeachment investigations into POTUS. Schiff explores how his role as chair on the House Intelligence Committee allowed him to see a great deal of information that cemented the illegality of Trump’s actions. Delving into both the political and legal aspects of this, Schiff provides the reader its some foundational context.
Schiff was also a key player where Articles of Impeachment were crafted, debated, and passed in the House of Representatives, with details emerging in the book about how Trump’s guilt appeared apparent. However, there was still a great deal of rhetoric and drama around the process, called a ‘witch hunt’ by some and ‘partisan politics’ by others. While the Articles passed, divisions in the country were only to become more deeply apparent throughout the process. When Schiff served as a Manager for the impeachment trial, things only got more tense and Trump unleashed more barbs sure to bring down a lesser man.
The latter portion of the book explores the impeachment itself, where Schiff led the arguments in the Senate and sought to persuade many not only of Trump’s guilt, but the need to act on it and no longer cower the shadows, worried about what POTUS would do. It became more and more apparent that many Republicans worried about their re-election possibilities in light of defying their ‘so-called leader’. Many readers will know how things turned out, but to see some of the insider discussions adds depth to the piece.
The 2020 presidential election and the foibles around that vote were also front and centre in the book, a topic with which many are familiar. Schiff details the events throughout the campaign, including here falsehoods about mail-in balloting and assertions that Trump made about re-election being guaranteed or there was surely corruption taking place. All this led to the dramatic assertions about bullying of a stolen election and culminated in the January 6, 2021 insurrection. No one ever said US politics were boring!
While I could go on and on about the book and its content, I want to give the curious reader something to read and enjoy for themselves. Schiff writes in such a way that the reader cannot help but want to read more, with details and wonderful anecdotes that personalise the experience. His style is clear and concise, allowing the reader to see his views without feeling bullied if they do not share them. Detailed and thorough, Schiff does not stand down in the face of adversity and bullying of his own by Trump, but chooses to present the truths he has come to know and the worries he has for the country he loves. Well-paced chapters, clear chronologies, and a great deal of supporting documentation make this a must read for anyone looking for something to keep their political curiosities burning. I know I’ll be keeping an eye on how things progress (regress) in the US and what Adam Schiff has to say about it all!
Kudos, Mr. Schiff, for an insightful and detailed exploration of all this political. It’s nice to see another perspective that shows, yet again, how derailed POTUS 45 became throughout his presidency and out of touch with the general well-being of the country’s population he remained.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Adam Schiff opens the book putting things in context, almost foreshadpwing and foreboding where things were headed in the latter chapters. While he mentions much around the two impeachment trials and the January 6th, 2021 insurrection, Schiff does takes readers back to where it all began. A frugal life in a Jewish family, Schiff learned the value of both parties from his politically active parents. The value of debate and hearing both sides of the argument became an essential part of the Schiff household, allowing Adam to see just how important a well-rounded education might be.
After working hard through school along the West Coast, Schiff scored a prestigious spot at Harvard Law, where his studies were enriched with some of the strongest legal minds in the country, something that he would come back to later in the book. Schiff had a passion for them aw and wanted to use it to help others, doing so both in private practice and within the District Attorney’s office, where he got a taste for all things related to the law. This would also have Schiff discover the influence that politics could have in the hands of those who remained intuitive.
After a few drubbings, Schiff was helped in his bid to win a seat to the House of Representatives. It was there that Adam Schiff saw some of his dreams and aspirations come to life. Able to serve his constituency and America as a whole, Schiff worked diligently through some of the tensest moments of the early 21st century, coming out with a greater respect for the legislative process and his fellow members. Schiff rose through the ranks and was eventually awarded key committee posts, allowing him to hone his skills and serve even more effectively.
While Schiff does delve a great deal into the 2016 election and the emergence of Donald J. Trump, it was only after the new Administration began acting in a highly reckless manner that Democrats took notice and sought to stop things. Much is made of discussions around aid to Ukraine in return for assistance, which led to impeachment investigations into POTUS. Schiff explores how his role as chair on the House Intelligence Committee allowed him to see a great deal of information that cemented the illegality of Trump’s actions. Delving into both the political and legal aspects of this, Schiff provides the reader its some foundational context.
Schiff was also a key player where Articles of Impeachment were crafted, debated, and passed in the House of Representatives, with details emerging in the book about how Trump’s guilt appeared apparent. However, there was still a great deal of rhetoric and drama around the process, called a ‘witch hunt’ by some and ‘partisan politics’ by others. While the Articles passed, divisions in the country were only to become more deeply apparent throughout the process. When Schiff served as a Manager for the impeachment trial, things only got more tense and Trump unleashed more barbs sure to bring down a lesser man.
The latter portion of the book explores the impeachment itself, where Schiff led the arguments in the Senate and sought to persuade many not only of Trump’s guilt, but the need to act on it and no longer cower the shadows, worried about what POTUS would do. It became more and more apparent that many Republicans worried about their re-election possibilities in light of defying their ‘so-called leader’. Many readers will know how things turned out, but to see some of the insider discussions adds depth to the piece.
The 2020 presidential election and the foibles around that vote were also front and centre in the book, a topic with which many are familiar. Schiff details the events throughout the campaign, including here falsehoods about mail-in balloting and assertions that Trump made about re-election being guaranteed or there was surely corruption taking place. All this led to the dramatic assertions about bullying of a stolen election and culminated in the January 6, 2021 insurrection. No one ever said US politics were boring!
While I could go on and on about the book and its content, I want to give the curious reader something to read and enjoy for themselves. Schiff writes in such a way that the reader cannot help but want to read more, with details and wonderful anecdotes that personalise the experience. His style is clear and concise, allowing the reader to see his views without feeling bullied if they do not share them. Detailed and thorough, Schiff does not stand down in the face of adversity and bullying of his own by Trump, but chooses to present the truths he has come to know and the worries he has for the country he loves. Well-paced chapters, clear chronologies, and a great deal of supporting documentation make this a must read for anyone looking for something to keep their political curiosities burning. I know I’ll be keeping an eye on how things progress (regress) in the US and what Adam Schiff has to say about it all!
Kudos, Mr. Schiff, for an insightful and detailed exploration of all this political. It’s nice to see another perspective that shows, yet again, how derailed POTUS 45 became throughout his presidency and out of touch with the general well-being of the country’s population he remained.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
October 17, 2021
Here, right matters.
If this book isn't an indictment for every American to be fearful of the deeds one man can inflict on his fellow man, without an ounce of remorse, then I don't know what is.
We should all be afraid, very afraid.
If this book isn't an indictment for every American to be fearful of the deeds one man can inflict on his fellow man, without an ounce of remorse, then I don't know what is.
We should all be afraid, very afraid.
October 21, 2021
This book was so good. It read like a political thriller and I could not put it down. All we know about the January 6 insurrection and behind the scenes. It also covers the drama of the impeachments. The epilogue was moving.
October 31, 2021
gutted. just gutted.
October 13, 2021
I watched most of the first impeachment House hearings and Senate trial, and gained a great deal of respect for Adam Schiff during that time, so I found this book very interesting. Schiff is so articulate and always presents himself with such a professional demeanor and with a poker face that he is a hard one to read. So, his descriptions of what he was thinking and feeling around and during the first impeachment process added a real human side that I enjoyed reading about. I also enjoyed learning more about his personal background and family and his relationships and interactions with the other managers on his impeachment team, as well as his relationship with Speaker Pelosi. Then of course to sit and read his review of what led up to the first impeachment and the trial was rather breathtaking. Also, to be reminded of all the breaking stories that occurred during those weeks as they pulled the trial together - some even broke during the trial - was a reminder of that flabbergasting period of time. Everything was happening so fast in those days - and nothing was ever small news but always BIG - that it is hard to remember it all without having read this book. We would be remiss - or oblivious to the seriousness of trump's actions - to not appreciate and thank Adam Schiff and those who supported and assisted him during that time. He is a civil servant extraordinaire!
February 1, 2022
I’m not sure I can adequately (or eloquently) express my feelings about this outstanding book. It should be required reading for all students of government and American history. I would give it 10 stars if I could.
Adam Schiff’s well written, thought provoking, and riveting book is a plea for us to not take our democracy for granted. It’s a cautionary account that should not be dismissed, and a warning that there are dangerous threats facing us in the days, months and years ahead.
While reading this book there were times when I was brought to tears - some were tears of anger and frustration and others were tears of sadness. The future is in our hands and we must not be complacent.
I would encourage - no definitely ask - everyone to read this book. Read it carefully. It’s important, and it’s urgent. It’s not a short book, but the epilogue will leave you stunned. Read it!
Adam Schiff’s well written, thought provoking, and riveting book is a plea for us to not take our democracy for granted. It’s a cautionary account that should not be dismissed, and a warning that there are dangerous threats facing us in the days, months and years ahead.
While reading this book there were times when I was brought to tears - some were tears of anger and frustration and others were tears of sadness. The future is in our hands and we must not be complacent.
I would encourage - no definitely ask - everyone to read this book. Read it carefully. It’s important, and it’s urgent. It’s not a short book, but the epilogue will leave you stunned. Read it!
January 1, 2022
Check out my review here: https://youtu.be/Kl4YqbjPgHk
February 4, 2022
Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could by California congressman Adam Schiff was a well-written book, but I am so weary of perpetual abuses of Donald J. Trump going totally unchecked. Each time without fail, one would think he's gone too far this time, but time and time again Trump managed to twist the narrative going on the attack and basically surviving two impeachment hearings in Congress, the first being Trump's promise of military aid to the Ukraine contingent upon them turning over dirt on his opponent Joe Biden's son, a quid pro quo. And the second impeachment stemmed from his instigation of an insurrection at the Capitol and plotting to utilize any means to undo the results of a lawfully held democratic presidential election, a coup detat. Representative Adam Schiff offers these words:
What is telling is how Representative Schiff found himself in daily conflict with an American president who lavished praise on dictators, alienated our closest allies, disparaged minorities, denigrated women, attacked the rule of law, and colluded with a foreign adversary to undermine our election. In Schiff's chilling words:
While I have read a lot of books about Trump, this certainly has been the most sobering in that Adam Schiff does an admirable job in detailing the peril that this country is in and the intrinsic threat that our democracy is currently facing. Whether this bold experiment succeeds is up to each of us. As Benjamin Franklin is often quoted after signing the Declaration of Independence, "A Republic, if you can keep it."
"Without question, the most profound and relentless assault on our democracy would come during the years of the Trump presidency. But even then, it was the willingness of members of the legislative branch to go along with his serial abuses of power that enabled such devastation to take place. Republican party leadership in Congress would embrace the most destructive fantasies and falsehoods to gain to maintain a hold on power. And while this would reach an apotheosis in the Republican Party's embrace of the big lie, the willingness of Republicans to promote baseless conspiracy theories began before his 2016 election, even as it made his success in that election possible."
What is telling is how Representative Schiff found himself in daily conflict with an American president who lavished praise on dictators, alienated our closest allies, disparaged minorities, denigrated women, attacked the rule of law, and colluded with a foreign adversary to undermine our election. In Schiff's chilling words:
"As I reflected on this turning point in the Russia investigation, what I found most disturbing was not the attempt by Kremlin agents to influence our election, or even evidence of collusion by the Trump campaign. It was the realization that the greater danger to our democracy now came not from Russia or any other external adversary, but from within. One by one, Trump had been tearing down our institutions."
While I have read a lot of books about Trump, this certainly has been the most sobering in that Adam Schiff does an admirable job in detailing the peril that this country is in and the intrinsic threat that our democracy is currently facing. Whether this bold experiment succeeds is up to each of us. As Benjamin Franklin is often quoted after signing the Declaration of Independence, "A Republic, if you can keep it."
October 12, 2021
Adam Schiff is an impressive prosecutor and a seemingly smart and decent man. I just heard several excerpts from this book and I look forward to reading it. I'm giving it 5 stars now to counterbalance the flat-earthers who have and will show up to downvote it.
January 2, 2022
I've read quite a few books about the disastrous Trump presidency, with more waiting in the queue, but I took a breather for about a year (apart from a regular diet of YouTube news clips). Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could was a great way to return to the topic. My family and I listened to this together on drives over the holidays (the audio version clocks in at 17 hours and 46 minutes). We live in Burbank and are proud to have Adam Schiff as our elected representative, so what better way to get the inside scoop than to have him read it to us?
If you were paying attention during the Trump years, there will be much that is familiar in the broad strokes of Trump's ties to Russia, the Mueller investigation, Trump's withholding of aid to Ukraine in exchange for personal political gain, his efforts to reverse the 2020 election, and the build-up to the mob violence of the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol. What Schiff adds to this is a clear and cogent retelling of the facts, in proper order, from the perspective of a congressman, a member (and since 2019 ranking member) of the House Intelligence Committee, and the manager of Trump's first impeachment (the one about Ukraine). Learning what was happening behind the scenes, such as the duplicity of figures like Devin Nunes and Mitch McConnell, the meetings with Trump and members of his administration, the negotiations over witnesses and testimony, the legal wrangling and brinksmanship, the sessions inside of Congress's Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (aka "skiffs", no relation to the author) fill in the cracks behind the public pronouncements the rest of us heard on the news.
As in everything, Schiff is patient, equanimous, detailed, and clearly spoken. He recounts the various barbs from the president, who alternately called him "pencil neck", "watermelon head", "Shifty Schiff" and "Liddle' Adam Schiff". Schiff merely sighs at the barbs, bemoaning the lowered bar of presidential decorum, but also taking a moment to relish Trump's inability to identify an apostrophe (which he labeled a hyphen). And yet, in the background, Schiff learned that Trump saw him as a formidable and effective opponent, hence the constant attention. This being Schiff's first book, he also relates much of his entry into politics and his family life, as well as his relationship with his wife Eve (yes, Adam and Eve: the appropriate puns are in the book) and his children. That knowledge makes it all the sadder to learn about the regular death threats and mounting security concerns that followed Trump's belligerence.
The bulk of the book details the first impeachment and how Schiff approached his role as manager. He reviewed the most recent presidential impeachment (Clinton's) in minute detail and extracted the lessons of what worked and what didn't. He engaged in rehearsals and debates and planning sessions with the other managers, delegating responsibilities, writing drafts, and extemporizing speeches when things changed on the fly. He and his team made the most compelling case imaginable for the threat of Trump's presidential malfeasance. And yet, we all know how that effort ended, with only one Republican (Mitt Romney) having the courage to vote on just one charge (abuse of power). Still, it's moving to hear the powerful case and the impassioned speeches that were delivered in the impeachment trial, just to recall how well the case was made, and to memorialize the cowardice of those who could not be moved... or thought Trump had learned his lesson (I'm looking at you, Susan Collins).
As that story ended, it felt like the book was drawing to a close, and I wondered how Schiff would handle the remaining story of the second impeachment, the 2020 election, and the Capitol insurrection. He nimbly switches gears, and tells those stories clearly, but at a reduced level of detail focused on the salient facts and his personal recollections. Altogether, Midnight in Washington is an important, measured look inside the resistance to Trump's attacks upon our country, and an urge for all of us to remain vigilant against the dying of our democracy. It could still happen.
If you were paying attention during the Trump years, there will be much that is familiar in the broad strokes of Trump's ties to Russia, the Mueller investigation, Trump's withholding of aid to Ukraine in exchange for personal political gain, his efforts to reverse the 2020 election, and the build-up to the mob violence of the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol. What Schiff adds to this is a clear and cogent retelling of the facts, in proper order, from the perspective of a congressman, a member (and since 2019 ranking member) of the House Intelligence Committee, and the manager of Trump's first impeachment (the one about Ukraine). Learning what was happening behind the scenes, such as the duplicity of figures like Devin Nunes and Mitch McConnell, the meetings with Trump and members of his administration, the negotiations over witnesses and testimony, the legal wrangling and brinksmanship, the sessions inside of Congress's Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (aka "skiffs", no relation to the author) fill in the cracks behind the public pronouncements the rest of us heard on the news.
As in everything, Schiff is patient, equanimous, detailed, and clearly spoken. He recounts the various barbs from the president, who alternately called him "pencil neck", "watermelon head", "Shifty Schiff" and "Liddle' Adam Schiff". Schiff merely sighs at the barbs, bemoaning the lowered bar of presidential decorum, but also taking a moment to relish Trump's inability to identify an apostrophe (which he labeled a hyphen). And yet, in the background, Schiff learned that Trump saw him as a formidable and effective opponent, hence the constant attention. This being Schiff's first book, he also relates much of his entry into politics and his family life, as well as his relationship with his wife Eve (yes, Adam and Eve: the appropriate puns are in the book) and his children. That knowledge makes it all the sadder to learn about the regular death threats and mounting security concerns that followed Trump's belligerence.
The bulk of the book details the first impeachment and how Schiff approached his role as manager. He reviewed the most recent presidential impeachment (Clinton's) in minute detail and extracted the lessons of what worked and what didn't. He engaged in rehearsals and debates and planning sessions with the other managers, delegating responsibilities, writing drafts, and extemporizing speeches when things changed on the fly. He and his team made the most compelling case imaginable for the threat of Trump's presidential malfeasance. And yet, we all know how that effort ended, with only one Republican (Mitt Romney) having the courage to vote on just one charge (abuse of power). Still, it's moving to hear the powerful case and the impassioned speeches that were delivered in the impeachment trial, just to recall how well the case was made, and to memorialize the cowardice of those who could not be moved... or thought Trump had learned his lesson (I'm looking at you, Susan Collins).
As that story ended, it felt like the book was drawing to a close, and I wondered how Schiff would handle the remaining story of the second impeachment, the 2020 election, and the Capitol insurrection. He nimbly switches gears, and tells those stories clearly, but at a reduced level of detail focused on the salient facts and his personal recollections. Altogether, Midnight in Washington is an important, measured look inside the resistance to Trump's attacks upon our country, and an urge for all of us to remain vigilant against the dying of our democracy. It could still happen.
January 3, 2022
3.6⭐
While it's said that we're all the heros of our own story, Adam Schiff is more heroic than most. From his noble, hardworking grandparents and parents, to his strong, independent, supportive wife, to his two perfect kids, to his idealistic, compassionate yet imperfect self, Schiff's backstory is about what I've come to expect from recent political memoirs (James Comey's A Higher Loyalty springs to mind). Best taken with a grain of salt.
That having been said, there's still much of interest when the book gets into Schiff's dealings with Donald J Trump. It's basically a re-telling of the House Intelligence Committee's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election; the attempt to smear Joe Biden and resulting first impeachment trial, in which Schiff was the lead prosecutor (manager).
The tale's told in a clear, punchy style and at a brisk pace. There's not a lot in it that's new, unfortunately; a few details of the Democrat's strategy but the bulk of it is public record material. And of course there's the settling of scores and "setting the record straight" stuff you'd expect. It's clear there's no love lost between Schiff and people like Mitch McConnell; Jim Jordan and Devin Nunes. But his outrage at what he sees as the betrayal of democracy for personal and party interests seems genuine enough.
One of my favorite chapters describes Schiff's flight from the Assembly chamber during the January 6 2021 Capitol riot. The emotions he recounts, his own and his colleagues, seem more real and less calculated than other parts of the book.
As you might expect from the title, it's a pretty gloomy read. And while it certainly has a self serving element, Schiff's plea for Americans to end divisive partisanship and defend their hard won democracy rings true. I liked it, overall, and found it worth my time.
While it's said that we're all the heros of our own story, Adam Schiff is more heroic than most. From his noble, hardworking grandparents and parents, to his strong, independent, supportive wife, to his two perfect kids, to his idealistic, compassionate yet imperfect self, Schiff's backstory is about what I've come to expect from recent political memoirs (James Comey's A Higher Loyalty springs to mind). Best taken with a grain of salt.
That having been said, there's still much of interest when the book gets into Schiff's dealings with Donald J Trump. It's basically a re-telling of the House Intelligence Committee's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election; the attempt to smear Joe Biden and resulting first impeachment trial, in which Schiff was the lead prosecutor (manager).
The tale's told in a clear, punchy style and at a brisk pace. There's not a lot in it that's new, unfortunately; a few details of the Democrat's strategy but the bulk of it is public record material. And of course there's the settling of scores and "setting the record straight" stuff you'd expect. It's clear there's no love lost between Schiff and people like Mitch McConnell; Jim Jordan and Devin Nunes. But his outrage at what he sees as the betrayal of democracy for personal and party interests seems genuine enough.
One of my favorite chapters describes Schiff's flight from the Assembly chamber during the January 6 2021 Capitol riot. The emotions he recounts, his own and his colleagues, seem more real and less calculated than other parts of the book.
As you might expect from the title, it's a pretty gloomy read. And while it certainly has a self serving element, Schiff's plea for Americans to end divisive partisanship and defend their hard won democracy rings true. I liked it, overall, and found it worth my time.
October 18, 2021
Nailed it!
Schiff is a patriot of the highest caliber, wise and so very talented. His book gave me courage and hope as well as pause. Read every word, America!
Schiff is a patriot of the highest caliber, wise and so very talented. His book gave me courage and hope as well as pause. Read every word, America!
May 11, 2022
Excellent audiobook read by the author. I liked his inclusion of personal stories. The epilogue was memorable, where he mixed a (forced) bit of hope and inspiration with a very dark warning.
I've read numerous books on Trump's presidency but this one may be the best.
Highly recommended.
I've read numerous books on Trump's presidency but this one may be the best.
Highly recommended.
October 18, 2021
Have faith
Excellent review of our struggle to bring Trump to justice, and reminder that we must fight to keep our democracy.
Excellent review of our struggle to bring Trump to justice, and reminder that we must fight to keep our democracy.
September 15, 2025
I know, I know , we must separate the art from the artist, or the author from the book. Tyson reminds us in Critical Theory Today, echoing Barthes, that “the death of the author” frees a text from biography, allowing meaning to be made in the hands of the reader. And yet, in the case of Adam Schiff, I cannot fully divorce the man from his work. Midnight in Washington is, undeniably, a chilling and brilliantly written account of democracy under siege. His language is clear, his narrative compelling, his criticisms vital. But after reading about Schiff himself, I find his stance hypocritical. He set out to hold one president accountable, yet has long supported Israel, even meeting Netanyahu, aligning himself with actions that undermine the very ideals he claims to defend. The contradiction is hard to ignore. To write so powerfully against abuse of power and then embrace it elsewhere strips the book of its moral weight. It is the same dissonance that accompanied Rowling’s fall from grace, when the world realized that words, however beloved, can be tainted by the speaker. Hypocrisy makes even the finest rhetoric hollow. Schiff’s account remains historically valuable, but the man behind it is not an author I can respect.
October 17, 2021
I knew the outcome, but still I was riveted! Essential historical record.
I watch US politics from afar, with a feverish need to find some hope that the almost unbelievable destruction of democracy being wrought by Trump and his enablers was being fought off successfully by the "good guys". The 1st & 2nd impeachments brought to the fore members of Congress that most people would not otherwise know about, and along with Speaker Pelosi and others who stepped up to speak out, demonstrated that there were good people who also had the skills and tenacity to make enough of a difference, but more importantly to model ethics and courage. It was surprising to find that Adam Schiff comes across in this book as just the person I had thought he was from his impeachment performance, media interviews etc. - a nice surprise in these times when many people in the public eye seem inauthentic and willing to say and do anything, whether it is what they believe or completely opposed to what they said last week, and will say in a month or so! The book is an essential historical record of a singular window in time, told compellingly by someone who was "in the room where it happened". No-one else could have told this particular story and it is important that he has - it is for others to cover other angles and fill in the gaps, but unless they are one of the "good guys", I will not be putting my money down to read it! I found it interesting to go behind the scenes, and hear first hand how it was to see former seemingly "good" people transform into whatever it is the GOP has become.
I watch US politics from afar, with a feverish need to find some hope that the almost unbelievable destruction of democracy being wrought by Trump and his enablers was being fought off successfully by the "good guys". The 1st & 2nd impeachments brought to the fore members of Congress that most people would not otherwise know about, and along with Speaker Pelosi and others who stepped up to speak out, demonstrated that there were good people who also had the skills and tenacity to make enough of a difference, but more importantly to model ethics and courage. It was surprising to find that Adam Schiff comes across in this book as just the person I had thought he was from his impeachment performance, media interviews etc. - a nice surprise in these times when many people in the public eye seem inauthentic and willing to say and do anything, whether it is what they believe or completely opposed to what they said last week, and will say in a month or so! The book is an essential historical record of a singular window in time, told compellingly by someone who was "in the room where it happened". No-one else could have told this particular story and it is important that he has - it is for others to cover other angles and fill in the gaps, but unless they are one of the "good guys", I will not be putting my money down to read it! I found it interesting to go behind the scenes, and hear first hand how it was to see former seemingly "good" people transform into whatever it is the GOP has become.
November 1, 2021
Schiff exceeded my expectations. He provides a easily readable, succinct, and clear account of the path to Trump’s first impeachment. Along the way he has many revealing assessments of individuals, such as, before Trump there was Kevin McCarthy, and provides praise where it’s warranted.
Undoubtedly, readers who support Trump or who have doubts about the activities of the Democrats directed against the Trump Administration will consider this book self serving. Even so, Schiff does give a good accounting of how Congress and its committees work.
Readers, such as myself, who closely followed the politics of the Trump years may not learn anything new. Others, though, will find it interesting how events lead to impeachment.
For those who wonder if this book is worth reading, start with the Epilogue. It may pique your interest to read this book. Besides that, in the Epilogue, Schiff provides a thoughtful review of how our democracy could be lost. This in itself is worth reading.
Undoubtedly, readers who support Trump or who have doubts about the activities of the Democrats directed against the Trump Administration will consider this book self serving. Even so, Schiff does give a good accounting of how Congress and its committees work.
Readers, such as myself, who closely followed the politics of the Trump years may not learn anything new. Others, though, will find it interesting how events lead to impeachment.
For those who wonder if this book is worth reading, start with the Epilogue. It may pique your interest to read this book. Besides that, in the Epilogue, Schiff provides a thoughtful review of how our democracy could be lost. This in itself is worth reading.
September 6, 2022
A well written and thought provoking book to not take our democracy for granted. Schiff has been a beacon for truth and transparency in a dark world where it seems facts no longer matter to many Americans. He provides a detailed history of: (1) Russia's meddling with the 2016 election and the Trump camp's willingness to use emails hacked from Hillary Clinton's campaign, including lying about this and a business deal in process in Moscow, (2) withholding military aid to Ukraine prior to the 2020 election unless Zelensky formally investigated Hunter Biden, and (3) Trump's role in the January 6 insurrection and his many attempts to invalidate the 2020 election results with the "Big Lie." Along the way, Schiff details Trump's insidious campaigns to denigrate the FBI, Justice Department, the Vice President, the Intelligence community at large, and several Ambassadors to destroy people's faith in our political institutions and process, creating diametrically opposed camps. Also, Trump fired anyone who said anything with which he disagreed in his administration. Schiff has interwoven personal stories about his family, his mentors, his colleagues, his political campaigns, and his adversaries. Readable, but a bit long for my taste.
March 23, 2022
I'm tempted to also tag this under "biography," because for most of the first three chapters at least, that almost feels like what it is. And that's why I stopped reading. The introduction is fine, because it's actually focused on what this book is supposed to be about. Right after that, however, Schiff launches into an overview of pretty much his entire bloody life. Which is not what I signed up for.
No one cares about your great-grandparents' immigrant experience. No one cares that when your mom was young, everyone apparently thought she looked like an actress that's been dead for over a decade. No one cares that you mentored a seven-year-old kid after you moved to LA. I came here to read about a threat to democracy, not your memoir.
Reading Midnight in Washington (at least up to the point where I stopped) is like going to any given page on a random recipe blog, where we have to be regaled with the tale of how we're only seeing this recipe because of a chance encounter the author's sister had in a hostel in France, back in 1971. It was an unseasonably chilly summer day, and--no one cares. Just tell us how to make the damn soup, Betty!
Maybe this book improves later on; the other reviews seem to suggest that's the case, at least. But I've got too many other titles on my to-read pile to waste more time on Schiff's navel-gazing.
No one cares about your great-grandparents' immigrant experience. No one cares that when your mom was young, everyone apparently thought she looked like an actress that's been dead for over a decade. No one cares that you mentored a seven-year-old kid after you moved to LA. I came here to read about a threat to democracy, not your memoir.
Reading Midnight in Washington (at least up to the point where I stopped) is like going to any given page on a random recipe blog, where we have to be regaled with the tale of how we're only seeing this recipe because of a chance encounter the author's sister had in a hostel in France, back in 1971. It was an unseasonably chilly summer day, and--no one cares. Just tell us how to make the damn soup, Betty!
Maybe this book improves later on; the other reviews seem to suggest that's the case, at least. But I've got too many other titles on my to-read pile to waste more time on Schiff's navel-gazing.
August 18, 2022
Wow. This book reminded me of my time as a juror for two trials: one civil, one criminal. I wanted to stick a pencil in my eye at the meticulous, plodding pace where facts were laid out as if the jury were a collection of rather stupid people. But when we got to the jury room and began deliberation in both trials, I discovered that juries tend to have a few stupid people in them.
Smart attorneys, those ones.
Because the subject of the book is so critical for Americans to understand, I did not stick a pencil in my eye here, but read the book carefully, taking notes, taking breaks to absorb what I'd read. The last chapter was especially gut-wrenching. Aside from a hint of some self-aggrandizement---entirely forgivable because this Representative has endured hell in pursuit of accountability in our government---Representative Schiff presents an articulate, detailed history of the two impeachment trials, what led up to them, and what happened afterward. He lays out the book as a good attorney would, so settle in for a rather detailed read. I hope this book ends up on required reading lists for the study of politics, history, and civics. And Mr. Schiff, thank you for your service to our country, sir. I am deeply grateful.
Smart attorneys, those ones.
Because the subject of the book is so critical for Americans to understand, I did not stick a pencil in my eye here, but read the book carefully, taking notes, taking breaks to absorb what I'd read. The last chapter was especially gut-wrenching. Aside from a hint of some self-aggrandizement---entirely forgivable because this Representative has endured hell in pursuit of accountability in our government---Representative Schiff presents an articulate, detailed history of the two impeachment trials, what led up to them, and what happened afterward. He lays out the book as a good attorney would, so settle in for a rather detailed read. I hope this book ends up on required reading lists for the study of politics, history, and civics. And Mr. Schiff, thank you for your service to our country, sir. I am deeply grateful.
October 14, 2021
Truly a book of Fiction. His account of the insurrection is totally and utterly BS. He has a very active mind. These politicians should do the job they were appointed amd elected to do instead of write books to profit off the American people. Don't bother reading this trash
November 21, 2021
Excellent Book
Adam Schaffer talks of his experience during the Trump presidency and in detail about the first Impeachment trial. He finishes after President Biden’s Inauguration. A very well written, clear and fascinating book.
Adam Schaffer talks of his experience during the Trump presidency and in detail about the first Impeachment trial. He finishes after President Biden’s Inauguration. A very well written, clear and fascinating book.
December 6, 2021
Midnight is the darkest moment of the day, everywhere in the world. But it is also the most hopeful, because everything that comes after holds the promise of light.
So states Adam Schiff in his book Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could in response to the January 6, 2021 Insurrection.
Schiff is a Congressional Representative of California and he has worked for much of his career observing how Russia works to recruit people to serve them. As a young lawyer he won a case against an FBI agent who had become a spy for Russia.
Schiff's book is part memoir, part history and part political commentary. While he recounts his career the book primarily focuses on the last four years.
I found the book quite insightful and interesting.
So states Adam Schiff in his book Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could in response to the January 6, 2021 Insurrection.
Schiff is a Congressional Representative of California and he has worked for much of his career observing how Russia works to recruit people to serve them. As a young lawyer he won a case against an FBI agent who had become a spy for Russia.
Schiff's book is part memoir, part history and part political commentary. While he recounts his career the book primarily focuses on the last four years.
I found the book quite insightful and interesting.
October 20, 2021
"Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still could" is an excellent read which chronicles many of the devastating events of the Trump era, including impeachment efforts, and the events of January 6, 2021.
As with Bob Woodward's book, "Peril," this book tells essentially the same story. For a reason or reasons I cannot yet put into words, "Midnight in Washington" is even more stark in presentation, and I found it even more disturbing.
Trump's treachery, lies, alternative facts, and the complicity of the Republican party are revealed, without whitewash. As I read this book, it became irrevocably clear to me how close we came to losing our Democracy during this last four years. The truth is, we still could. The danger is still very real.
I am thankful there are women and men like this Congressman who are willing to stand up for right and Democracy, the rule of law and the Constitution.
As with Bob Woodward's book, "Peril," this book tells essentially the same story. For a reason or reasons I cannot yet put into words, "Midnight in Washington" is even more stark in presentation, and I found it even more disturbing.
Trump's treachery, lies, alternative facts, and the complicity of the Republican party are revealed, without whitewash. As I read this book, it became irrevocably clear to me how close we came to losing our Democracy during this last four years. The truth is, we still could. The danger is still very real.
I am thankful there are women and men like this Congressman who are willing to stand up for right and Democracy, the rule of law and the Constitution.
October 18, 2021
A fascinating insider’s account of the Trump years, not from a disgruntled ex-staffer, but one of the leading Democrats in Congress.
October 16, 2021
Excellent book from an intelligent man; very easy and understandable read that really shines the light on the big picture of what’s happening in our Democracy. The cult / coup mentality is a serious threat. We are currently in crisis. It’s time to wake up and see it for what it is.
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