Backlash Presidents

A provocative new book set for release this fall, Backlash Presidents by political scientist Julia Azari, offers a sobering framework for understanding Donald Trump.

Azari’s central thesis is striking: Most presidents preserve the racial status quo. But when one dares to challenge it, the result isn’t necessarily lasting progress — it often clears a path for a successor driven by resentment, lawlessness, and norm-breaking.