Carol Leonnig
Carol Leonnig is an American investigative journalist at The Washington Post who focuses on the White House, national security, and government accountability. She is known for Zero Fail and, with Philip Rucker, A Very Stable Genius and I Alone Can Fix It. A Pulitzer Prize winner, her reporting has shaped scrutiny of presidential power and the Secret Service.
Biography & Author's Journey
Carol Leonnig grew up in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and found her direction in journalism early. At Bryn Mawr College, where she studied anthropology and edited the Bryn Mawr-Haverford Bi-College News, one freshman assignment about a sledding accident and a delayed emergency response showed her how reporting could reconstruct official failure from small documentary clues. After college she moved into daily newspaper work at the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Charlotte Observer, developing the beat-reporting discipline that would later define her career in covering government and accountability. ((https://www.washingtonian.com/2024/04/29/meet-the-2024-washington-women-in-journalism-award-winners/))
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Zero Fail
Carol Leonnig
A gripping exposé of the Secret Service's decline, revealing shocking failures and systemic issues in protecting America's presidents.
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A gripping exposé of Trump's tumultuous final year in office, revealing chaos, incompetence, and a near-coup attempt.
Zero Fail
Carol Leonnig
A gripping exposé of the Secret Service's decline, revealing shocking failures and systemic issues in protecting America's presidents.
I Alone Can Fix It
Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker
A gripping exposé of Trump's tumultuous final year in office, revealing chaos, incompetence, and a near-coup attempt.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
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