Book · 2007 · Political Science
Takeover
The Return of the Imperial Presidency and the Subversion of American Democracy
Why people recommend it
Takeover by Charlie Savage is an examination of political history, focusing on the expansion of presidential authority during the administration of George W. Bush following the events of September 11. Maggie Haberman appeared on The Ezra Klein Show for the episode titled Is Trump Running Out of Steam?, broadcast on July 31, 2026, where she shared her reading habits with the host and listeners. Haberman stated that she was reading the book and praised it as an exceptionally strong analysis of how Vice President Dick Cheney and the wider administration actively worked to broaden executive powers. She recommended the work to anyone interested in the inner workings of the American presidency and the evolution of executive authority in the modern era. Through her discussion on the podcast, Haberman drew attention to the ongoing relevance of the book's historical analysis regarding government overreach, national security policies, and the constitutional balance of power within the United States federal government.
Who recommended it
- Maggie Haberman Recommended
Maggie Haberman — 1 mention
“Okay, so I'm reading Charlie Savage's Takeover, The Return of the Imperial Presidency, which was a very very good look at how particularly Dick Cheney expanded executive power under W. Bush post 9/11.”