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Thursday, February 9, 2023

I Swear: Politics Is Messier Than My Minivan, by Katie Porter

 

Publication April 1, 2023

My first impression of Katie Porter was that she rather reminded me of a teacher. As it turns out, I wasn't wrong. She was a teacher/professor, one who seems to frequently use her position as a member of Congress to teach. I sorta liked her as I started the book but am now admitting that I'm a full-fledged Katie Porter fan. She comes across as a real person, frequently mentioning her worries as a parent, ie was she neglecting her own children in her quest to, so to speak, "save the world". She's smart, not easily intimidated, albeit frequently exhausted and frustrated. She was also smart/lucky enough to have worn sneakers on that infamous January 6th gathering, not to mention find a pair for AOC, too. BTW, they were never evacuated from her office, spending the day hiding out there as chaos reigned outside. 

 This is her story. Her story of her first foray into politics, one that seemed unlikely to be successful, through some of the Congressional moments anyone who was paying attention will remember. The evolution of her famous White Board is told as she delves into not just hearings on the likes of bank big-shots and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, but right into the lead-up and decisions to impeach a sitting president. It's told from her viewpoint, one highly colored by her own knowledge and experiences. I also had to chuckle when she revealed private memories, such as dealing with her children's awkward attempts to be helpful on campaigns. In other words, we get the real Katie Porter, both the Congressional and mother side of her. 

Bottom line, I started the book with mild curiosity. I finished admiring and liking Porter. She's someone I'd love to know, well, if she could ever find a spare moment when she isn't hurrying to another in an endless series of meetings or votes or dealing with the pile of laundry at home. Thank you #NetGalley and #CrownPublishing - #Crown for introducing me to an extraordinary woman.

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