Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History by Katy Tur
If you’d read this book, and somehow didn’t know Donald Trump or his presidential campaign, you’d think it was a dystopian horror story about a phony millionaire being abusive to a reporter, and that horrible phoney ultimately becoming president. Unfortunately, this is real life, and it’s a true horror story of how Donald Trump came to be elected, all the while being a grade A asshole to Katy Tur.
It’s interesting to hear from the perspective of a journalist what it’s like to cover Donald’s campaign for nearly two years. Tur recounts how she constantly was trying to pin him down, to get the truth out of him, and to contextualize what can only called a shit show of a campaign. You hear Tur trying to make sense of it like the rest of us: “Trump Can Grab My ↓” is this real… do people not really care? They didn’t. What does that mean… He couldn’t win right?
Tur recounts several horrific personal attacks, and trying to steel herself against them. From campaign rally crowds turning against her at Trump’s direction to an old man literally spitting in her face, it’s really shocking and gross stuff. But then there’s the subtle mind-fucks like Trump sending his staff to tell her he’s unpleased with her, to him demanding Tur make sure NBC play their entire interview. It’s tough to read as one horrible man’s behaviors seem to ripple out to the many of his supporters and believers.
It’s also a unique insight into the life on the road trying to cover the campaign. Tur’s early mornings, late nights, suddenly having to deal with security from the Trump campaign, missing a beat due to turning off her cell phone for one yoga class, trying to rise to the challenge of going live on air to talk about a story that’s hard to understand. It’s truly a great insight into a mad process. Tur also repeatedly mentions a book about reporters covering a presidential election, The Boys on the Bus, by Timothy Crouse, a memoir covering the 1972 Nixon vs McGovern campaign. I’m definitely adding that to my list, and am curious if it feels like an equally distressing shit show.
I liked this book, but honestly, like all things Trump, it made me sad. It made me long for the times when the world felt full of hope and optimism. Tur did a wonderful job reminding in one concise book how much I hated Trump during his campaign, and how much I still wish I believed people were better than electing him.
