Under Fire: Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House

Written by April Ryan and Tamron Hall

Narrated by Janina Edwards

Veteran White House reporter April Ryan thought she had seen everything in her two decades as a White House correspondent. And then came the Trump administration. In Under Fire, Ryan takes us inside the confusion and chaos of the Trump White House to understand how she and other reporters adjusted to the new normal. She takes us inside the policy debates, the revolving door of personnel appointments, and what it is like when she, as a reporter asking difficult questions, finds herself in the spotlight, becoming part of the story. With the world on edge and a country grappling with a new controversy almost daily, Ryan gives readers a glimpse into current events from her perspective, not only from inside the briefing room but also as a target of those who want to avoid answering probing questions. After reading her new book, readers will have an unprecedented inside view of the Trump White House and what it is like to be a reporter Under Fire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Sep 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781978633384

April Ryan

White House Correspondent April Ryan has a unique vantage point as the only Black female reporter covering urban issues from the White House—a position she has held since the Clinton era. April can be seen almost daily on CNN as a political analyst and is the Washington, DC, Bureau Chief for The Grio. She has been featured in Essence, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle magazine, and other top publications, has served on the board of the prestigious White House Correspondents Association, and is an esteemed member of the National Press Club. April is the author of the award-winning book, The Presidency in Black and White, and At Mama’s Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White. She lives in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Reviews for Under Fire

[Betty Bennett · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This honest biography of a White House reporter tells about her role and how it changed during the Trump administration. Those of us who follow the news often see the press briefing room where multiple journalists vie for attention. It is sobering to realize that some never have a chance to ask their questions. Maybe the tough questions don’t get asked since reporters who ask them are not called on again.

[Patt Mihailoff · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The one thing I can say is, there has been more books written about president 45 in so short a time than anyone else ever in the white house. There is a reason for that. Most people will not read/listen to April’s book simply because of who she is. (trust me I know a bit about that.)

I got exactly what I expected from this novel and that is a peek into her side at what happens about the things we the public didn’t see behind the camera and aftermath of heated confrontations.

A lot of "OTHER" people might say she wrote the book because she didn’t like number 45, not true. She didn’t like how she was treated by him and the people around him.

There was nothing new that we didn’t know about who and what he is and that statement doesn’t stem only from the fact that he is not liked but because he himself has let people know who and what he is. We didn’t need April to tell us that, but because I respected her as a reporter and a woman of color, I was abhorred at the way she was treated.

I remember well when I didn’t see her at any more briefings and knew she had been relegated to some far corner not to be seen by people who were trying hard to control the narrative.

I knew what she was trying to do when she asked (several times) “Mr. President, are you a racist?” The leader of the KKK wouldn’t answer that question on camera, but would offer some shadowy explanation instead. 45 offered no response at all, but we all know. I could have told April not to trust Omorosa Managualt Newman and I know it bothered her to know that a woman of color like herself and a supposed friend (at the time) would treat her in such a manner. Lesson learned and count your blessings that toxicity is out of your life.

April is a wonderful journalist and a credit to the industry and to her conviction to ask the hard questions, even if it means a detriment to her safety and that of her family. It’s too bad it had to come to that, but we all know who why and where that fault came from.

[susan.macura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

April Ryan is simply AWESOME! In this book we get to learn about her history as a White House reporter as well as benefit from a discussion of issues important to the black community and the world at large. She discusses how in the Trump administration sadly she has become the story too often when the focus should be on this issues themselves. This is an amazing look at how a strong, assertive, articulate, intelligent woman has been successful in the world of politics, too often an area dominated by men. I watch her on CNN and have always been impressed with her reporting and insights, but this books provides much to the conversation.