Karen's Reviews > Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy from Donald Trump

“As for many other women, the Trump years have been an emotional roller coaster, at times heartening, at others frightful, and always chaotic.”

I have been a fan of this author’s ‘The Washington Post’ columns and articles for quite some time. I like the way she thinks and writes, especially as someone who once practiced labor law. She is very reasonable in her thought process and typically has good arguments to back up her thinking.

This book was published in 2021 and addressed Trump’s years in the White House and the lead up to the 2020 election. With immense research, which is shown in her sources section of the book, she was able to remind readers of the significant events in which women-centered moments took center stage during the Trump years.

Her intentions with this book seem to focus energy on a women’s counter-Trump revolution, a women’s historic political surge provoked by the horror of Trump. She interviewed several women leaders about their roles in opposing Trump and his policies.

Did women redesign modern politics?

In her author’s note she shares that women were…

“…the foot soldiers, the organizers, the candidates, and the volunteers pulling their country back from the clutches of a racist, antidemocratic president and his enablers.”

Her words feel like she is defending her research as being educationally necessary. Noting specifically that…

“We were undergoing a radical transformation of American politics driven by, for, and about women – but one would not know it from the day-to-day reporting in the media.”

Was/is the media part of the problem? Were they not giving enough attention to Trump’s regular sexist and inappropriate remarks? Were they not putting shame where it needed to be amplified for his notoriously bad behavior?

Rubin certainly provides her opinions and analysis in her storytelling, which is not unlike her regular columns. Which makes this book so engaging and meaningful.

I appreciate that she put women front and center, as she answers the question, “why did women have to save democracy?” And, even the question, “what created the conditions that allowed Trump to happen?” Of course, reviewing this book, with today eyes, becomes quite helpful as we contemplate what is unfortunately still going on now. And, whether or not women will and can once again come to the front lines to save democracy.

“The desire to tell the story of those women from all walks of life who undertook the battles for decency, democracy, the rule of law and racial justice was the inspiration for this book.”

Of course, there is always the question of the women who align with Trump. Will Rubin be able to explain them well in her story, and through her interviews?

However anyone feels, PTSD comes to mind when thinking about this upcoming election. Still, it was nice to review this book ahead of November 5, 2024, election day. And, even though it certainly dealt with the past, I couldn’t help but hope that the same women energy will find a way to beat past him and his enablers, one more time. And, maybe more than just women will come to the rescue of our country.

In many ways, I see the author as one of those strong women voices, too. I will leave this review with a quote from an article she wrote in ‘The Washington Post’ on October 13, 2022. She said…

“Democracy is on the ballot. Republicans are trying to push a new crop of unfit candidates into national office who are so pliant…regardless of the damage to the nation’s core interests. A party that cannot uphold their oaths or speak the truth for fear of alienating an unhinged narcissist is not a party that can be entrusted to guard Americans’ rights or protect them from enemies foreign and domestic.”

In America, we have the opportunity to vote wisely. Let’s hope the majority do, thus enabling our country to celebrate too, our first woman President. It is time to turn the page.

4.5 stars