The former representative says a second Trump presidency would be an "existential threat" to democracy: "There's simply no defense, no excuse for putting that power back in the hands of Donald Trump." Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
On the Ted radio hour, linguist Ann Curzan says she gets a lot of complaints about people using the pronoun they to refer to one person.
I sometimes get into arguments with people where they will say to me, but it can't be singular.
And I will say, but it is.
The history behind words causing a lot of debate.
That's on the Ted radio hour from NPR.
This is FRESH aiR.
I'm Thierry Gross.
My guest is Liz Cheney, who has written a new memoir which she describes as, quote, the story of the moment american democracy began to unravel and the story of the most dangerous man ever to inhabit the Oval Office and of the many steps he took to subvert our constitution, unquote.
Cheney was one of two Republicans who served on the House select committee investigating January 6.
Her book is in part about that investigation.
She also reveals new information about what she witnessed behind the scenes in the House of Representatives Republican Conference before and after Trump and his enablers challenged the election results, falsely claiming he won.
Those enablers include Kevin McCarthy, who is then the House speaker, and Mike Johnson, who was the chair of the Republican Study Committee and then vice chair of the House Republican Conference, which is the second highest ranking member of the House leadership.
Johnson is now House speaker.
Liz Cheney worked closely with Johnson and McCarthy, serving as chair of the House Republican Conference, the third highest ranking member of the House leadership.
She was ousted from that position because she voted to impeach Trump in 2021.
It wasnt a big surprise when she lost her primary campaign last year to a Trump endorsed candidate in a state, Wyoming, that overwhelmingly voted for Trump.
Her new memoir is titled Oath and a memoir and a warning.
The warning is about the threat to our democracy if Trump is reelected in 2024.
We recorded our interview yesterday.
Liz Cheney, welcome to fresh air.