The Red and the Blue: The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism

Written by Steve Kornacki

Narrated by Steve Kornacki and Ron Butler

From MSNBC correspondent Steve Kornacki, a lively and sweeping history of the 1990s—one that brings critical new understanding to our current political landscape.

In The Red and the Blue, cable news star and acclaimed journalist Steve Kornacki follows the twin paths of Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich, two larger-than-life politicians who exploited the weakened structure of their respective parties to attain the highest offices. For Clinton, that meant contorting himself around the various factions of the Democratic party to win the presidency. Gingrich employed a scorched-earth strategy to upend the permanent Republican minority in the House, making him Speaker. 

The Clinton/Gingrich battles were bare-knuckled brawls that brought about massive policy shifts and high-stakes showdowns—their collisions had far-reaching political consequences. But the ’90s were not just about them.  Kornacki writes about Mario Cuomo’s stubborn presence around Clinton’s 1992 campaign; Hillary Clinton’s star turn during the 1998 midterms, seeding the idea for her own candidacy; Ross Perot’s wild run in 1992 that inspired him to launch the Reform Party, giving Donald Trump his first taste of electoral politics in 1999; and many others. 

With novelistic prose and a clear sense of history, Steve Kornacki masterfully weaves together the various elements of this rambunctious and hugely impactful era in American history, whose effects set the stage for our current political landscape.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Oct 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9780062865380

Steve Kornacki

Steve Kornacki has covered the University of Michigan Wolverines for five decades for the Ann Arbor News, Detroit Free Press, and most recently for MGoBlue.com, the university’s official athletics website.

Reviews for The Red and the Blue

[Nate · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is written like a drama, keeping your interest all the way though. The characters portrayed in this book I knew about, but not their entire story. The account to the rise of political hostility is so extremely accurate, I wish everyone who questions polarization from now on reads this book to understand its source.

[Kelly Izell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The audiobook has a glitch - it ends very abruptly! I first thought my AirPods had died. Nope! It stops mid-sentence and that’s it.

[Jim Ogle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Outstanding narrative of recent history that allows the listner to explore the roots of our current highly toxic culture wars.

[swmproblems · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best!

[etxgardener · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

MSNBC contributor Steve Kornacki investigates the roots of America's toxic hyper-partisan political climate. Kornacki traces the beginnings to the Carter administration, but the real problems start with the Rise of Newt Gingrich who seems to have no principles other than self-advancement. The Democrats aren't much better with exhibit #1 being the mendacious Bill Clinton who also seems to have no principles and has an ability to triangulate pretty much everything.

As history, this book is excellent, but as a prescription for how to correct the current situation, this book is sadly lacking.