A Review Of The Book "Regime Change" By Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan

August 20th, 2026

My Dear America:

I had initially wanted to write a Post and Podcast titled "Flight of The TACO" because I truly thought that Donald Trump's disgusting behavior regarding putting his staff and journalists in grave danger without the decency to notify them of that danger was in my mind a new Low. I changed my mind about that, however, because I just finished reading "Regime Change" and feel compelled to write a Review of that Important, Compelling and Highly Disturbing Book.

Here Goes.

Title: Regime Change

Authors: Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

464 Pages

Every page of the book "Regime Change" is both Highly Interesting and Highly Disturbing.

Much of what Authors Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan write about in this book is not exactly new.  We have all seen over the past year and a half what Donald Trump has done to demolish and denigrate much of what we have come to Respect and Understand about America during the past Two Hundred and Fifty Years of American Democracy.  What these two Authors add to the story of Trump's First Year of Trump Unleashed in his Second (Possibly Stolen) Term is the addition of Background Information which, in almost every case turns what we all knew even more disturbing than we thought it was in the first place.

Haberman and Swan are both truly professional Journalists and show it throughout the book.  Both are seasoned writers who seem to have some significant sources who are in extremely close contact with some of the important movers and shakers in the Trump Administration.  

Both of the Authors are presently employed as Journalists for the Prestigious and highly respected New York Times Newspaper and both have covered the White House beat for several years.  Each chapter of the book adds background to the Trump White House Story and most chapters give background information on many of the backroom deals and many individuals who advise Trump and carry out his often questionable orders including, among others Stephen Miller and Stephen Cheung.

Haberman and Swan Write each chapter and section of the book with surprising clarity in their description of incidents and individuals involved in White House matters.

As Haberman and Swan describe much of what has gone on in the Second Trump Administration it appears as though  in many matters regarding the Trump Administration Nobody seems to know what they are doing because Trump  changes his mind  constantly regarding what he wants done.  This tendency has embarrassed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance often.

One of the more interesting stories regarding Rubio and Vance in the book occurred at a Dinner Party Trump gave for Fox News And Wall Street Journal Executive, Rupert Murdoch.  While everyone was at the dinner table Trump asked Murdoch who he preferred to see run for President in 2028, Rubio or Vance. Murdoch tried to be noncommital but did say that he thought that Marco was "Brilliant".

Haberman and Swan seemed to have the backstories for Ice and Iran nailed down pretty well in the book.

All in all "Regime Change" is a rather horrifying and unsettling look at life in the United States during the Second Coming of Donald Trump.

Although the entire book is a terrifying look into the inner workings of the Trump White House it appears to me as though the most terrifying part of the text is the Epilogue which describes Haberman and Swan's efforts to get an interview with Donald Trump, which at first he refused to give them.

When Trump did finally agree to meet with the Authors of "Regime Change" he spent much of the time comparing his power to some of the most vicious and violent leaders that ever lived including Alexander The Great, The Caesars, William the Conqueror, Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun and Napoleon, as well as Putin, Xi and Kim Jong Un.  Trump pointed out to the Authors that he saw himself  as much more powerful than any of these leaders as he led the United States.  

As Haberman and Swan ended their interview Trump went off on Maggie Haberman telling her that "I know that your book will be critical, but remember this: People are tired of your bullshit. Always criticizing."

It was a chilling end to the interview but to her credit and to the credit of Jonathan Swan These two outstanding Journalists have continued to write stories critical of the man who sees himself as the most powerful Leader who ever lived.

Sincerely Yours

Jerry Gallagher