The Longest Con

How Grifters, Swindlers, and Frauds Hijacked American Conservatism

By: Joe Conason

Narrated by: Steve Marvel

The Longest Con tells the fascinating story of the partisan con artists who have corrupted conservative politics in our time, creating a toxic phenomenon that culminated in the election of Donald Trump, a bumptious fraud whose checkered career and tawdry retinue, including his presidential cabinet, have featured almost every variety of scam. But long before he appeared, Trump's path to power was blazed by the motley horde of swindlers and quacks who preceded him.

From the "professional anti-communists" (whose tactics even J. Edgar Hoover despised) to the "populist" grifters of the Tea Party movement and the religious charlatans of the "prosperity gospel" (who provided a pious front for Trump), the right-wing ripoff has remained remarkably consistent, even as personalities change and new technologies emerge: Stir up anger and resentment, demonize political opponents, promise vengeance, and collect donations from the gullible. It's a highly lucrative game that any unscrupulous charlatan can play, as many have-and they are named in this book.

In an unsparing and often comic narrative, Joe Conason explores the right's long, steep descent into a movement whose principal aim is not to protect freedom or defend the Constitution, but merely to line the pockets of pretenders and blowhards whose malevolent tactics now endanger the nation.

©2024 Joe Conason; foreword copyright 2024 by George T. Conway III (P)2024 Kalorama

Very interesting wide lens view

This is a very well researched wide lens view of an important subject about which so many should know. Seemingly explaining the present and potentially the future by examining the past is so important.

Avalanche of Facts

This is a fact-laden outline of greed, graft, and corruption in the U.S. and specifically the right wing. While very convincing, it doesn’t talk at all about what might be done to combat the culture of lies. It left me feeling pretty hopeless.

Good Info - A Tad Heavy-handed

Interesting focus on the amount of profiteering (grift) that pervades the current right wing (republican party). The author recounts that the situation has been developing over decades and reached its zenith with Trump’s ascendency.

While the story seems plausible and is likely accurate, the author’s snarky and heavy-handed style diminishes the books impact. It’s doubtful that Trump supporters will see this as anything other than hyperbolic, left wing exaggerations.

I believe it.

Great History

A well-researched examination into exactly how ‘the machine’ works. The motivation is cash and influence. (power) Yes, there are tens of millions of them out there as the author indicates they are born hourly by the dozens.

great research

A must listen for real American Patriots. The truth is needed before a informed vote can be cast for either party.

Should be curriculum

Although it is very hard to listen to, I very much appreciated the author’s research to help me understand just how bad things have gotten within the Republican Party. I wish that every young person could hear this book so they could understand the many ways other people will try to swindle or trick them. It really should be high school curriculum.

Trump king of the Grifters

Traitor Trump has set this country back 50 plus years. With his Grifter family and friends they will cause an economic crisis "like never seem before" Spreading lies and fostering racism and hatred. America has become a laughing stock under his regime. I truly feel some empathy especially for the foolish white people who will lose everything in the future, because they brought into the lie. Thinking that Trump will save them, when he and his administration were raping and robbing them, of not only their money but dignity as well.

This Explains Alot

Ever since the rise of Trump commentators have struggled to explain why he has such a devoted following. Conason gives us a tour of the conservative mental landscape, it's history of turning paranoia into profit. Growing up watching tv and movies like Mission Impossible and The Sting, I thought con men had to be clever and cunning, but Trump proved that the way to gain a marks confidence is to tell him you hate his enemies just as much as he does.

the scale of the generational grift that is American conservatism

excellent well told story of the rightwing fantasy world that has been built by grift for grift and how it has undermined, poisoned, and sabotaged American democracy subverted government to private self serving interest and the big lie that excuses it all

Frightening to see what some politicians and some religious leaders get away with!

Liked the writing. Sorry to learn how some politicians and some religious leaders lie to us and mislead us.