What We’re Reading at Say It Blue
Democracy isn’t a spectator sport. It takes awareness, reflection, and courage. Part of how we stay sharp at Say It Blue is by reading voices that challenge us, teach us, and sometimes even unsettle us. Here’s a list of what we have completed reading recently—and why these books matter.
Which of these have you read—or do you want to read next? Drop us a comment and let’s keep the conversation alive. Democracy depends on it.
The book covers and titles below link out to Amazon in a new window. It’s for easy reference only — we’re not an affiliate and don’t make anything from your clicks.
Hit ’Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game
Rachel Bitecofer (2024)
A sharp, strategic playbook for going on offense—using clear contrasts, fear inoculation, and message discipline to win elections.
What we learned: In a hyper-partisan era, persuasion ≠ white papers. Emotion, repetition, and values framing move more voters than 50-point plans.
White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy
Tom Schaller & Paul Waldman (2025)
A data-driven look at why white rural voters wield outsized power and how grievance politics erodes democratic norms.
Why it scared us: The book spotlights how tolerance for political violence and conspiracism can be normalized—making cross-community organizing both urgent and hard.
The Violent Take It By Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy
Matthew D. Taylor (2024)
A deeply reported account of how Christian nationalism fuels anti-democratic extremism in the United States.
Why we read it: To better understand the theology and networks driving threats to democracy, so we can counter them with clarity and resolve.
Finish What We Started: The MAGA Movement’s Ground War to End Democracy
Isaac Arnsdorf (2024)
A reported tour of the grassroots activists, structures, and strategies powering MAGA beyond Trump himself.
Why it matters: School boards, state parties, and election offices are the battlefield. Local organizing isn’t optional—it’s the whole game.
The Kingdom, The Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism
Tim Alberta (2023)
An insider’s chronicle of American evangelicalism’s descent into political extremism.
Why it gives us hope: Alberta concludes with dialogue among evangelical ministers who are working to return to the gospel and move beyond politicized faith.
The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America
David A. Graham (2025)
A clear explainer of the conservative blueprint to capture the executive branch through personnel, power, and policy.
What we learned: This isn’t just a wish list; it’s a staffing plan. The antidote is civic vigilance and bench-building across government.
The Longest Con: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Frauds Hijacked American Conservatism
Joe Conason (2024)
A follow-the-money history of scams that turned a movement into a marketplace for outrage.
Why we loved it: It’s bracing and specific—names named, receipts shown—and it reminds us to protect would-be allies from bad-faith actors.
Shameless: Republicans’ Deliberate Dysfunction and the Battle to Preserve Democracy
Brian Tyler Cohen (2024)
A brisk breakdown of obstruction-as-strategy and a call for Democrats to match clarity with urgency.
What we learned: Chaos is a tactic. Counter with simple stories, disciplined surrogates, and visible accountability.
Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking
Mehdi Hasan (2023)
A practical toolkit for persuasion—from structure and rhetoric to rapid rebuttals.
Why we loved it: Perfect for canvasses and kitchen-table debates. We dog-eared the chapters on framing, examples, and rebuttal timing.
Rebellion: How Antiliberalism Is Tearing America Apart—Again
Robert Kagan (2024)
A historian traces America’s deep antiliberal currents and why this moment isn’t an aberration but a recurrence.
Why it scared us: The antiliberal tradition keeps re-emerging. That means vigilance isn’t a sprint; it’s a relay we run together.
Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America
Robert B. Reich (2025)
A candid look at how conservative dominance has reshaped opportunity and governance, leaving ordinary Americans squeezed.
Why it matters: Reich reminds us that inequality isn’t accidental—it’s engineered. Naming the mechanics of power helps us chart a fairer course.