Book Club with Michael Smerconish

Julian Zelizer: "Burning Down The House"

July 24, 2026·12 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Michael Smerconish speaks with Princeton historian Dr. Julian Zelizer about "Burning Down the House: Newt Gingrich, the Fall of a Speaker, and the Rise of the New Republican Party." Zelizer explores how Gingrich used confrontation, cable television, and talk radio to transform Republican politics—and help set the stage for the Trump era. They also discuss Gingrich’s rapid rise in Washington, his political and personal controversies, and the lasting impact of his no-holds-barred approach to partisan combat. Original air date 24 July 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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