Opens in a new tab
14 min 14 sec
Available in:English

Profiles in Corruption: Abuse of Power by America’s Progressive Elite

Peter Schweizer argues that leading progressive politicians reward donors, friends and relatives while campaigning against exactly that. His cases double as a method for checking any official's record against their public image.

Table of Content

Most voters judge politicians by the causes they champion, and assume that anyone fighting for the right issues must also be honest. In Profiles in Corruption, writer Peter Schweizer argues that this assumption is exactly what lets abuse of power go unnoticed. He examines eight prominent progressive figures, among them Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, and claims that their private dealings keep contradicting their public message.

Schweizer says he chose progressives because they are the leading voices pushing to expand government, a growth that could add even more to their own power. He also concedes that money, connections and status tempt politicians of every kind. His throughline is that the leaders who speak hardest against cozy deals with the wealthy often make those deals themselves, and the evidence sits in the record rather than the speeches.

Whatever your politics, his cases add up to a set of checks you can run on any official: whom they prosecute, what their relatives earn, and what their filings leave out.

A mayor delivers diapers through a snowstorm with reporters close behind, and the city cheers. Schweizer looks at the same scene and finds a question nobody on camera thought to ask.

Two ambitious prosecutors were tough on crime, tough on tax cheats and tough on outsiders. Schweizer argues that their toughness vanished at one predictable moment, and the pattern is easy to check.

A vice president flies to Beijing and his son comes along for the ride. Ten days later, a deal closes. Schweizer traces how an office can enrich the family around it.

A gardener, a chef and a handyman each mailed a check to a mayor, and the handwriting looked oddly familiar. Schweizer shows how a legal loophole can turn good causes into a toll booth.

On television, a law professor attacked a steel company for how it treated retirees. Off camera, the same company was paying her. Schweizer finds the real story in contracts and disclosure forms.

Staff turnover rarely makes headlines, yet one senator’s number was striking. Schweizer argues that how leaders treat interns and union members reveals the rule behind all their other choices.

Schweizer’s book is a charge sheet, written from one side of politics on purpose. He targets progressives because they push for a bigger state, and a bigger state gives its leaders more to hand out. He also admits that money and status tempt every kind of politician. His claim is that the people loudest against wealthy insiders have, case after case, made room for them: a donor spared prosecution, a brother’s lawsuits helped along by legislation, a nonprofit filled by developers, a consulting fee hidden behind a television interview.

You do not have to share his politics to borrow his method. Before trusting a public figure, put the heroic scene beside the record. Compare who was charged with who donated, look at what relatives earn from the office, and line up the dates of gifts against the dates of approvals. Schweizer notes that Garcetti’s story is an old one in politics, and that the bill is paid by the voters who keep such leaders in power.

Diapers delivered through a snowstorm make a fine picture. The question worth asking is why nobody plowed the streets.

About this book

What is this book about?

Voters tend to trust politicians who champion the causes they care about, and to assume that the right message comes with clean hands. Peter Schweizer sets out to test that assumption against the records of eight prominent progressive figures, including Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Sherrod Brown, Amy Klobuchar and Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti. Schweizer focuses on progressives because, in his view, they push hardest for a bigger government, which would hand them more power. He grants that politicians of every kind are drawn to money and status. His charges follow recurring patterns: prosecutors who go easy on donors, relatives whose businesses do well from a family member's office, nonprofits that collect money from companies seeking approvals, and speeches about workers that clash with paid legal work and financial disclosures. Whatever your politics, the book offers a practical way to read power. Compare who gets charged with who donates, look at what relatives earn, line up the dates of gifts against the dates of favors, and ask how a leader treats the people working under them.

Book Information

Rating:

Genre:

Politics & Current Affairs

Topics:

Current Affairs, Ethics, Power Dynamics

Publisher:

HarperCollins

Language:

English

Narrator:

Nora

First published:

January 21, 2020

Pages:

354

Length:

14 min 14 sec

Get the book:

Amazon

Who it's for

  • Voters wanting the record

    Voters who want to look past campaign images and check what officials actually do.

  • Into political investigations

    Readers of political investigations curious about donor influence, family business and loopholes like behested payments.

  • Government and journalism students

    Students of government and journalism who want concrete cases of conflict of interest.

Listen to Preview

About the Author

Peter Schweizer

Peter Schweizer is an American writer and political consultant and a senior editor-at-large at Breitbart News. He consulted for the White House speechwriting office under President George W. Bush and has also consulted for NBC News. He studied at George Washington University and holds a Master of Philosophy from Oxford. His other books include Clinton Cash, about foreign donations to the Clinton Foundation, and Reagan's War. Profiles in Corruption was a New York Times bestseller. He also hosts The Drill Down, a weekly podcast from the Government Accountability Institute.

Ratings & Reviews

Ratings at a glance

3.3

Overall score based on 77 ratings.

What people think

Listeners consider the work to be meticulously documented and highly accessible, calling it a necessary read for every American citizen. Additionally, the caliber of the writing and its honesty are praised, with one listener highlighting that it stays factual without sensationalism. The book also delivers a shocking perspective on political corruption, and one review mentions specific examples of behind-the-scenes dealings. That said, listeners vary on the tempo; some feel it moves at a fast pace while others find the content frightening.

Top reviews

Kai

This book is a gut-punch for anyone who still believes in the inherent purity of our political elite. Peter Schweizer has crafted a meticulously documented exposé that moves beyond mere partisan bickering to reveal how the 'ruling class' actually functions. To be fair, the sheer volume of data can be overwhelming, but the focus on hard evidence like bank records and property deeds makes it impossible to ignore. I was particularly struck by the details regarding the Biden family's international business dealings, which are laid out with chilling precision. Unlike most political commentators, Schweizer avoids relying on anonymous whispers, opting instead for over a thousand verifiable citations. It is a frightening read that uncovers how power is leveraged for personal gain. Even if you don't agree with the author's personal leanings, the factual basis here is undeniably robust.

Show more
Madison

Wow, the level of detail regarding the financial webs of these progressive leaders is absolutely staggering. I have seen many hit pieces over the years, but this doesn't feel like one of them. Schweizer uses zero unnamed sources, which is a breath of fresh air in today's media landscape. Look, seeing the specifics on Bernie Sanders’ real estate or Kamala Harris’s early career connections is enough to make any voter cynical. The book is factual without sensationalism, letting the paper trail speak for itself. It’s a must-read for American citizens who want to understand the behind-the-scenes reality of political power. You might find yourself wanting to take a long walk after finishing a chapter just to clear your head. This is quality work that exposes the duplicity of those who claim to represent us.

Show more
Arm

Ever wonder how career politicians with modest government salaries end up with multi-million dollar real estate portfolios? This book provides the answers by following the money through a labyrinth of shell companies and offshore accounts. Not gonna lie, the chapter on Frank Biden was particularly nauseating, especially the details regarding the fatal car accident and the subsequent legal avoidance. Schweizer’s team of investigative journalists did a wonderful job of connecting the dots between legislative favors and family payouts. The prose is direct and doesn't waste time on flowery language, which makes the 'pay to play' schemes easier to track. It is rare to find a book that relies so heavily on audit documents and court filings rather than partisan rhetoric. This is a brilliant, frightening look at how the elite maintain their status. Every chapter left me more disgusted with the state of our government.

Show more
Pia

Personally, I think this should be required reading for every American voter before they ever step into a polling booth again. Peter Schweizer has outdone himself with a blockbuster book that is factual without being sensationalist or overly emotional. He lays out the evidence—bank records, tax filings, and internal memos—and lets the reader draw their own conclusions. The way these politicians leverage their power to enrich their children and siblings is a betrayal of the public trust. There are no unnamed sources here, which makes the claims virtually impossible for the subjects to dismiss as 'fake news.' It is a sobering reminder that power attracts the corruptible, regardless of the slogans they use to get elected. Pick this up if you want the unvarnished truth about the people running our country. It’s an essential addition to any political library.

Show more
Yui

It’s rare to find a political book these days that relies so heavily on hard evidence rather than anonymous whispers or partisan feelings. Schweizer and his team have provided a masterclass in investigative journalism by following the paper trail to its bitter end. Not what I expected at first, but the depth of the research into the Biden and Sanders families is truly eye-opening. The book exposes the 'pay to play' culture in a way that is both easy to understand and impossible to ignore. Truth is, the corruption described here transcends simple policy differences; it’s about a fundamental lack of character. While the content is undeniably dark, the clarity of the writing keeps you turning the pages. This is a stellar piece of work that pulls back the curtain on the Washington machine. I highly recommend it to anyone who values truth over talking points.

Show more
Pannipa

Finally got around to reading Schweizer's latest, and it's certainly an eye-opening deep dive into the muck of Washington. The author focuses his lens on high-profile figures like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, showing a side of them that rarely makes the evening news. Frankly, it’s frustrating to see how these 'finger-waggers' posture as champions of the poor while cozying up to the very corporate interests they publicly excoriate. The research is incredibly thorough, utilizing campaign finance disclosures and court documents to paint a picture of systemic greed. My only real gripe is that the pacing can feel a bit sluggish during the more technical chapters on financial regulations. However, the insights into how family members are used as conduits for wealth are fascinating and deeply disturbing. It’s a solid piece of investigative journalism that demands your full attention.

Show more
Aom

As someone who tries to stay informed on both sides of the aisle, I found the documentation in this book to be its strongest asset. The author provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the financial maneuvers of people like Amy Klobuchar and Sherrod Brown. In my experience, most political books are 90% opinion and 10% fact, but this one flips that ratio completely. The sheer number of citations—over a thousand—proves that Schweizer isn't just making wild accusations. I did find some sections to be a bit dry, especially when he gets deep into the weeds of international banking laws. Nevertheless, the revelations about how family members benefit from political connections are vital for any informed voter to understand. It’s a heavy read, but an important one for anyone concerned about the integrity of our democracy.

Show more
Ana

The chapter on Kamala Harris alone makes this book worth the purchase price for any political junkie. Schweizer examines her rise in California politics, detailing her relationship with Willie Brown and the campaign contributions that followed. It’s a sharp, analytical look at how 'the game' is played in the upper echelons of the justice system. I gotta say, the evidence regarding her refusal to pursue certain cases while accepting donor money is quite damning. The writing is easy to read, though the content itself is frequently upsetting. While I would have liked to see a broader range of targets, the specific focus on the 'Profiles' mentioned allows for a much deeper level of detail. It exposes a culture of duplicity that seems to be the standard in Washington. This is definitely not a random hit-piece; it's a well-sourced indictment.

Show more
Hunter

While the research presented here is undeniably thorough, I found the tone to be frustratingly one-sided throughout the entire narrative. Truth is, Schweizer does a great job of digging up dirt on Democrats like Joe Biden and Cory Booker, but he completely ignores the other side of the aisle. The corruption he describes is real, yet by focusing only on one party, the book feels more like a political weapon than a neutral investigation. I appreciated the extensive citations and the lack of anonymous sources, as it adds a layer of credibility often missing from these types of books. However, the myopic focus eventually becomes a distraction. If you can look past the partisan tilt, there is plenty of valuable information about how our system is rigged. It’s an okay read, just don’t expect a balanced perspective on the totality of DC corruption.

Show more
Cooper

Look, if you want a book that confirms every bias you have about the Democratic party, this is for you. Personally, I found the writing to be quite immature in attitude, often leaning into a xenophobic feel that distracted from the actual facts. The author spends hundreds of pages attacking progressives while giving a total pass to the blatant ethical lapses of the previous administration. It’s hard to take a 'corruption' expert seriously when he has such a massive blind spot for half of the political spectrum. Some of the research into bank records is interesting, but the presentation is so skewed it feels like reading fiction at times. The book is well-documented but lacks the objective perspective needed for a truly great political study. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're already looking for reasons to dislike the people mentioned.

Show more
Show all reviews

Questions about this book

Schweizer argues that leading progressive politicians, including Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Sherrod Brown, Amy Klobuchar and Eric Garcetti, have used their positions to reward donors, friends and relatives while campaigning against exactly that kind of favoritism. He compares each figure’s public image with their record, from prosecutions they avoided to family business deals and nonprofit fundraising.

He says progressives are the main figures pushing for a larger government, which could hand them even more power, so their conduct deserves extra scrutiny. He also acknowledges that they are not the only politicians swayed by money, connections and status. Readers should keep in mind that the book deliberately examines one side of the political divide.

Schweizer describes behested payments as a California loophole. A politician sets up a nonprofit and then personally asks a company to donate to it. He argues this leads to favorable treatment for donors, especially developers who need zoning exceptions. According to the book, Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti collected $31.9 million in behested payments over eight years in office.

The book suggests checks anyone can run on a public official. Compare the people a prosecutor charged with the people who funded their campaigns. Look at what relatives earn from deals connected to the office. Line up the dates of donations against the dates of approvals or contracts. Read financial disclosures and paid work alongside speeches, and ask how the leader treats staff.

AUDIO SUMMARY AVAILABLE

Listen to Profiles in Corruption in 15 minutes

Get the key ideas from Profiles in Corruption by Peter Schweizer, plus 5,000+ more nonfiction titles.

  • 5,000+ titles
  • Listen as much as you want
  • 7-day free trial
  • Cancel anytime

Profiles in Corruption

Preview · Full summary 14 min 14 sec
Home

Discover

Open app

Log in