The World's Best Book Summaries
What is a polarized government? Why is polarization dangerous? A polarized government can lead to many issues with democracy and governance. Not only is a polarized government frequently ineffective, but it can pit parties against each other and quickly dismantle democratic norms. Read more about a polarized government and what it means for democracy.
What was President Obama’s relationship with Russia like? Did Obama and Putin get along? For President Obama, Russia posed a unique challenge. Historically, the relationship between the U.S. and Russia was incredibly important. Obama’s presidency would be no different. Read more about President Obama and Russia, and what relations were like during his administration.
What was Barack Obama’s past political experience? When did he first run for office? Barack Obama’s past political experience began when he ran for the Illinois State Senate. His time in the state senate taught him valuable political lessons. Read more about Barack Obama’s past political experience in the Illinois State Senate.
What did Obama think about Afghanistan? Did Obama make an effort to pull troops out of Afghanistan? Obama believed that the country made a mistake entering in a war in Iraq. Instead, he wanted to redirect resources to Afghanistan. Read more about Obama, Afghanistan, and his policies.
What is the Tea Party? How did the movement start and how did it grow? The Tea Party movement started as a backlash to President Obama’s liberal policies, particularly the healthcare reform bill. As the Tea Party gained steam, it became acceptable in other Republican circles. Read more about the Tea Party and how it started.
What was the Rick Santelli rant about? How did it affect Obama’s strategy in the 2008 financial crisis? Rick Santelli’s rant happened when Santelli, a conservative commentator, went on CNBC and complained about relief programs for struggling homeowners. It proved that wealthy CEOs saw themselves as the victims of the crisis, not the creators. Read more about Rick Santelli’s rant and what happened.
Who was the Obama Homeland Security Advisor? What was his role in the Obama administration? John Brennan served as Obama’s Homeland Security Advisor. His main role was to serve as a guide for all things intelligence and counterterrorism. Read more about John Brennan and his role in counterterrorism.
Did Barack Obama visit Iraq? What was the purpose of the visit? Barack Obama opposed the war in Iraq. When he and others in Congress visited the country, he became even more convinced of his views. Read more about Barack Obama’s visit to Iraq and how it motivated him.
What is the Dodd Frank law? What did President Obama have to do with the passage of the law? The Dodd Frank law is an act that promised consumer protections. It was one of the largest economic protection bills to become law during Obama’s term. Read more about the Dodd Frank law and what it did for the economy and politics.
Was Barack Obama a Senator? How long did he serve in the Senate and what were his contributions? Barack Obama began his Senate term in 2005. As a senator, Obama became a national celebrity and was known for challenging the GOP on policies. Read more about Barack Obama and his term as a senator.