Profiles in Corruption Book Summary - Profiles in Corruption Book explained in key points

Listen to the Intro

00:00

Profiles in Corruption summary

Name: Profiles in Corruption
Rating: 3.3 (75 reviews)
Author: Peter Schweizer

Peter Schweizer

Abuse of Power by America’s Progressive Elite

3.3 (75 ratings)

24 mins

Brief summary

Profiles in Corruption by Peter Schweizer exposes the corruption that runs deep in the American political class through real life examples of public officials enriching themselves and their families.

Topics

Political Figures US Presidents US Politics

Table of Contents

Profiles in Corruption
Summary of 8 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 8

What’s in it for me? Pull back the curtain on the shady dealings of the progressive movement’s biggest names.

Many of us view our favorite politicians through rose-tinted glasses. We want to believe that those pushing the issues important to us are honest and principled. But how often do we question whether that’s really the case?

In the following blinks, you’ll read profiles of eight American politicians who have abused their power in a variety of ways. For some, it’s a matter of saying one thing in public and doing another in private. For others, it’s using their positions to collect favors for friends and family. And for the rest, it’s a more disturbing tale of crime cover-ups and financial deals with shady individuals.

The author, Peter Schweitzer, has focused specifically on progressive politicians because they are the primary figures pushing for government expansion, which could further increase their power. However, they are certainly not the only politicians who have been swayed by money, connections, and status.

In these blinks, you’ll discover

how Joe Biden uses his contacts;
why Cory Booker is no action hero; and
how Senator Amy Klobuchar treats her staff.

Kamala Harris leverages her friendships with powerful people to gain power for herself and cover up their misdemeanors.

Kamala Harris, California’s current junior Senator, is sometimes referred to as the “female Barack Obama.” Superficially, it’s easy to see why, with her confident, charismatic persona and mixed-race background.

Prior to her Senate career, Harris was best known for serving two terms as California’s Attorney General. And while she claims that her success comes down to her grit, determination, and skill as a lawyer, her rise to prominence actually depended heavily on favors from a corrupt California political machine.

Here’s the key message: Kamala Harris leverages her friendships with powerful people to gain power for herself and cover up their misdemeanors.

In 1994, Kamala Harris began dating a politician named Willie Brown. At the time, Brown was the Speaker of the State Assembly of California. The relationship led to a number of favors for Harris, including new political appointments and big boosts to her paycheck.

In 2000, Brown became the Mayor of San Francisco. Just three years later, he leveraged his wealth – and the labor of his supporters and employees – to help Harris get elected as San Francisco District Attorney.

And Brown’s help didn’t stop there. Perhaps his greatest gift to Harris was his long list of political connections. These included supporters, donors, and sponsors who would help boost Harris’s various campaigns and fill her coffers. In return, she’d help them out when they got into trouble.

Throughout her tenure as attorney general, Harris showed her willingness to be tough on issues like violent crime and the environment. However, when a political supporter of hers was involved in a case, she became curiously silent. One of the most disturbing instances of Harris’ selective prosecution was a child abuse scandal involving the Catholic church.

From 2002 to 2003, stories of child abuse and molestation began spreading from Rome to the United States. Eventually, the scandal made its way to San Francisco, California. There, Harris’s predecessor, Terence Hallinan, began pursuing legal cases against the San Francisco Archdiocese. The Archdiocese eventually – and with a great deal of reluctance – provided Hallinan with internal records of abuse complaints spanning seventy-five years.

When Harris took office as D.A., she inherited the case from Hallinan. The problem? While Harris was conducting her campaign prior to the election, donations from the Catholic Church and its lawyers flowed towards her in unprecedented amounts..

Though victims’ groups urged Harris to release the records and expose the names of the alleged abusers, which would help encourage more victims to come out, Harris refused. Even more damning? She never pursued a single documented case against an abusive priest during her time as D.A.

Joe Biden repeatedly leveraged his power to give his family huge financial boons and other forms of aid.

Throughout his long career in politics, Joe Biden has painted himself as a champion of the working class. His image is one of a gritty, blue-collar guy from Scranton who fights relentlessly for unions and workers across the country.

But that’s not all. Another big part of Joe Biden’s persona is his absolute refusal to discuss his family members’ business activities with the press. So what secrets is he hiding?

Cory Booker casts himself as an action hero, but his true character and intentions are much less pure.

In the midst of a relentless snowstorm, Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, New Jersey received a phone call from a woman who was trapped in her house and running out of diapers for her baby. Could the mayor do anything to help her?

“I’m on it,” replied Booker. He rushed to the woman’s house to deliver the diapers, the press in tow.

Elizabeth Warren has a troubled history of lying about both her race and the contracts she took on as a bankruptcy lawyer.

Elizabeth Warren has been at the forefront of progressive politics since 2013, when she took up her position as Massachusetts senator. Prior to her political career, she was a Harvard professor specializing in bankruptcy law.

Warren’s scholarly persona is a direct result of her academic success. But how much of that success can be tied to her claimed status as a Native American?

Sherrod Brown is willing to engage in dishonest and corrupt practices when they benefit him or his family.

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown is known as the guy who was progressive before it was cool. Unlike many of his liberal compatriots, Brown hails not from one of the coasts, but from America’s heartland. Proudly displayed in his office are a miner’s safety lamp and a United Workers beer stein.

Publicly, Brown presents himself as a regular, working-class guy. But the reality couldn’t be more different. Brown has, in fact, never held a full-time job outside of politics. And his inspiration to fight for working people? Tolstoy’s Resurrection, which he read at Yale.

Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, have spent years engaged in questionable financial activities they’ve worked hard to cover up.

You could easily argue that Bernie Sanders has had more of an impact on modern left-wing politics than any other member of Congress. Many see him as a beloved grandfather figure, an aging warrior for the 99 percent.

But despite Sanders’ outward veneer of fighting for average Americans, he has, in the past, referred to working-class jobs as “moron work.” And this is just part of a troubling pattern of actions that stand directly opposed to his impassioned words at speeches and rallies.

To her staff, Amy Klobuchar is verbally abusive – but she’s perfectly willing to go soft on those who can benefit her political career.

Minnesota’s senior senator, Amy Klobuchar, has been making headlines. Not just because of her 2020 presidential campaign, but for the way she allegedly treats her staffers and interns.

Staffers have reported Klobuchar calling them in the middle of the night, throwing binders at them, and sending them to her house to do her dishes. One female staffer even reported that Klobuchar forced her to dry shave Klobuchar’s legs under her desk while she was on the phone.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti plays a central role in his city’s corruption, particularly when it comes to real estate.

If there is one thing you’d expect a mayor of Los Angeles to have, it’s an army of celebrity supporters. The current mayor certainly embodies this cliche. Salma Hayek, Jimmy Kimmel, and Will Ferrell have all thrown their support behind Mayor Eric Garcetti at one time or another. Adding to his star-studded image are his multiple appearances on television shows and personal friendship with rapper Jay-Z.

Garcetti may be dancing with the stars, but behind the scenes, he’s been greasing the wheels of a highly corrupt Los Angeles political machine.

Want to see all full key ideas from Profiles in Corruption?

Key ideas in Profiles in Corruption

More knowledge in less time

Read or listen

Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.

Find your next read

Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.

Shortcasts ^New

We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

What is Profiles in Corruption about?

Profiles in Corruption (2020) challenges us to question and confront the moral integrity of the politicians at the forefront of the modern progressive movement in America. Derived from a range of sources, from financial reports to corporate documentation, eight profiles of the biggest names in left-wing politics tell us a harrowing story of illicit exchanges, cover-ups, and double-crosses.

Profiles in Corruption Review

Profiles in Corruption (2020) exposes the shocking realities of corruption among America's political elite. Here's why this book is worth reading:

It uncovers compelling evidence of unethical behavior and collusion within the highest levels of government, shedding light on the hidden truths behind powerful politicians.
With meticulous research and detailed investigations, the book provides an in-depth look into the complex web of corruption, allowing readers to grasp the extent of the problem.
Its eye-opening revelations and revelations will leave readers both appalled and empowered, as they gain a deeper understanding of the dark underbelly of political power.

Best quote from Profiles in Corruption

From that beginning, Joes political career was a family affair.

—Peter Schweizer

Who should read Profiles in Corruption?

Americans concerned about the integrity of Democratic politicians
Truth-seekers who want to know what goes on behind Washington’s closed doors
Fans of political intrigue

About the Author

Peter Schweizer is an investigative journalist, political consultant, and senior editor-at-large of Breitbart News. He is a five-time New York Times bestselling author whose former titles include Secret Empires and Clinton Cash, which prompted an FBI investigation into the money flowing to the Clinton Foundation.

Categories with Profiles in Corruption

Politics

Book summaries like Profiles in Corruption

Strategic Storytelling

Anjali Sharma

Why Some Stories Drive Your Success at Work But Others Don’t

The Evolution of Human Sexuality

17 min

3.5

What Kind of Creatures Are We?

Noam Chomsky

A deep exploration of human nature, language, and consciousness

How a Forgotten Philosophy Can Liberate Kids and Their Parents

19 min

3.8

The Consolations of Philosophy

Alain De Botton

A Guide to Finding Wisdom and Comfort in Life

21 min

4.1

Common Sense on Mutual Funds

John C. Bogle

New Imperatives for the Intelligent Investor

Presenting with More Stories and Less PowerPoint

Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives

17 min

The First Minute

Chris Fenning

How to Start Conversations that Get Results

15 min

4.1

The Corporation in the Twenty-First Century

John Kay

Why (Almost) Everything We Are Told about Business Is Wrong

Dive Into a Classic Vision of the Ideal World and Its Challenges

A Critique of Political Economy

A comedian's journey with masculinity and gender

The 9 Hard Truths About Love That Will Change Your Life

My Fight Against America's Enemies, At Home and Abroad

The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy

Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists

Things You Wish You Were Taught in School

14 min

4.2

Discipline Equals Freedom

Never Split the Difference

Chris Voss and Tahl Raz

Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

The Art of Winning in an Age of Uncertainty

21 min

4.2

The Coddling of the American Mind

Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt

How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure

Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam

The classic text that proves the power of positive thinking

A Short History of a Small Island That Will Dictate Our Future

Downsizing Your Way to a Richer, Happier Life

How to See What Others Miss

Navigate Earth, Mind and Body. Step by Step

16 min

4.3

The Checklist Manifesto

Atul Gawande

How to Get Things Right

In Business, Politics, Relationships, and Life

19 min

Alexander the Great

Philip Freeman

The Macedonian who conquered the world

28 min

4.6

The Exceptional Presenter

Timothy Koegel

A Proven Formula to Open Up and Own the Room

22 min

4.3

The End of the World Is Just the Beginning

Peter Zeihan

Mapping the Collapse of Globalization

How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life

6 min

3.5

Clean

Alejandro Junger and Amely Greeven

The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body’s Natural Ability to Heal Itself

17 min

3.7

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Machiavelli’s classic text on leadership and politics

24 min

4.5

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Harriet Beecher Stowe

The Problem of Slavery and Its Treatment of Human Beings

20 min

4.6

Extraordinary Popular Delusions and The Madness of Crowds

Charles Mackay

Why People Believe the Unbelievable

Revenge of the Tipping Point

Malcolm Gladwell

Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering

Seven Ways to Unlock Your Heart and Manifest Happiness

25 min

4.5

Decision Making and Problem Solving

John Adair

Break Through Barriers and Banish Uncertainty at Work

17 min

4.0

Good Morning, I Love You

Shauna Shapiro

Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Practices to Rewire Your Brain

A Practical Guide to Freedom, Creativity, and a Life You Love

The secrets of 40 millionaires' wealth, revealed

15 min

4.4

Stop Walking on Eggshells

Paul T. Mason & Randi Kreger

Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care about Has Borderline Personality Disorder

The Present and Future of the World

19 min

3.9

Trauma Stewardship

Laura van Dernoot Lipsky

An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others

23 min

Meditations for Mortals

Oliver Burkeman

Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts

18 min

4.3

People ❤️ Blinkist

Sven O.

It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

Thi Viet Quynh N.

Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

Jonathan A.

Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

Renee D.

Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.