Collision of Power

Trump, Bezos, and the Washington Post

By: Martin Baron

Narrated by: Liev Schreiber

This program features a prologue and epilogue read by the author.

A monumental work of nonfiction that gives a first-row seat to the epic power struggle between politics, money, media, and tech—for fans of Maggie Haberman's Confidence Man and Jane Mayer's Dark Money.

Marty Baron took charge of The Washington Post newsroom in 2013, after nearly a dozen years leading The Boston Globe. Just seven months into his new job, Baron received explosive news: Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, would buy the Post, marking a sudden end to control by the venerated family that had presided over the paper for 80 years. Just over two years later, Donald Trump won the presidency.

Now, the capital’s newspaper, owned by one of the world’s richest men, was tasked with reporting on a president who had campaigned against the press as the “lowest form of humanity.” Pressures on Baron and his colleagues were immense and unrelenting, having to meet the demands of their new owner while contending with a president who waged a war of unprecedented vitriol and vengeance against the media.

In the face of Trump’s unceasing attacks, Baron steadfastly managed the Post’s newsroom. Their groundbreaking and award-winning coverage included stories about Trump’s purported charitable giving, misconduct by the Secret Service, and Roy Moore’s troubling sexual history. At the same time, Baron managed a restive staff during a period of rapidly changing societal dynamics around gender and race.

In Collision of Power, Baron recounts this with the tenacity of a reporter and the sure hand of an experienced editor. The result is elegant and revelatory—an urgent exploration of the nature of power in the 21st century.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

©2023 Martin Baron (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Few editors in American history have been as influential as Marty Baron, and so when he has thoughts to share, the rest of us should listen. This is an illuminating and important book about journalism and democracy.”—Jon Meacham

"Engrossing. . . . Candid. . . . Baron chronicles nearly a decade of history marked by sensitive, controversial stories. . . . Impassioned."—Kirkus

Captivating

Captivating and frightening account of why the free press is the secret sauce that keeps our democracy going. I’m so thankful for Martin Baron and all the other ethical journalists in our country. ♥️

Excellent information

While much of the information has been written by others Baron clearly connects the incidents and actions to the critical importance of freedom of the press We can’t have democracy without it

One of the best and most enjoyable books I’ve read

So grateful to Martin Baron for this insightful account of The Washington Post. His clear writting shines new light on Bezos, Trump and the country. He makes a spirited defense of a free press. One of the best and most enjoyable books I’ve read.

A love letter to newsroom editing and journalism… and maybe also to Jeff Bezos

I’m one of those legions that got the post digitally during the Trump years. It was a comfort and I viewed Baron as something like the incarnate ghost of Ben Bradley, risen again to defend us from a remedial Nixon. This story is so much more intricate and intriguing. Though always understated, you can sense the author’s struggle, intellectually and morally, to rise to every moment (Trump, me too, rising violence and union woes), often with mixed results, but always with seeming honesty, even in his failure. It fascinating revisiting that time (as opposed to traumatic) because Baron had such great seats. Bezos is probably too complicated a subject for the author in the scope rendered by the book, which comes off as kid gloves at worst avoiding outright sycophancy. A great listen. Great narrator.

Most important book …

Brilliant assessment of the crisis now faced by American democracy. Candid, clear and gripping tale.