The Threat Audiobook By Andrew G. McCabe cover art

The Threat

How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump

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The Threat

By: Andrew G. McCabe
Narrated by: Andrew G. McCabe
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The instant number one New York Times best seller!

This program is read by the author.

On March 16, 2018, just 26 hours before his scheduled retirement from the organization he had served with distinction for more than two decades, Andrew G. McCabe was fired from his position as deputy director of the FBI. President Donald Trump celebrated on Twitter: "Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy."

In The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump, Andrew G. McCabe offers a dramatic and candid account of his career and an impassioned defense of the FBI's agents and of the institution's integrity and independence in protecting America and upholding our Constitution.

McCabe started as a street agent in the FBI's New York field office, serving under director Louis Freeh. He became an expert in two kinds of investigations that are critical to American national security: Russian organized crime - which is inextricably linked to the Russian state - and terrorism. Under Director Robert Mueller, McCabe led the investigations of major attacks on American soil, including the Boston Marathon bombing, a plot to bomb the New York subways, and several narrowly averted bombings of aircraft. And under James Comey, McCabe was deeply involved in the controversial investigations of the Benghazi attack, the Clinton Foundation's activities, and Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server when she was secretary of state.

The Threat recounts in compelling detail the time between Donald Trump's November 2016 election and McCabe's firing, set against a pause-resisting narrative spanning two decades when the FBI's mission shifted to a new goal: preventing terrorist attacks on Americans. But as McCabe shows, right now the greatest threat to the United States comes from within, as President Trump and his administration ignore the law, attack democratic institutions, degrade human rights, and undermine the US Constitution that protects every citizen.

Important, revealing, and powerfully argued, The Threat tells the true story of what the FBI is, how it works, and why it will endure as an institution of integrity that protects America.

©2018 Andrew G. McCabe (P)2018 Macmillan Audio Americas Political Science Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government United States Russia Thought-Provoking National Security

Critic reviews

"McCabe is a nuts-and-bolts narrator; he speaks in an earnest monotone, clear but unchanging. This works nicely in covering such things as the FBI's progression from the J. Edgar Hoover days of chasing bank robbers and suspected Communists to the more modern focus on organized crime and terrorism. Or, better still, when McCabe describes his role in tracking La Cosa Nostra, Russian mobsters and the Boston Marathon bombers. The stories he tells are strong enough to carry themselves." (The New York Times Book Review)
Compelling Insider Account • Fascinating Fbi Procedures • Excellent Narration • Educational Content • Measured Perspective
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This well-written and performed book aside from the 2016 campaign is a great look into the inner workings of the FBI, and the relationship with DOJ in cases such as the Underwear Bomber, the Shoe Bomber, the Boston Marathon, and ISIS.

2016 is a subject that will never be agreed upon and therefore it’s not what made the good impression of the book on me. I do believe Mr. McCabe and Mr. Comey.

Regardless of party affiliation, the daily assaults on American institutions such as DOJ, and FBI that require the trust of American citizens is harming our country greatly and will take a long time to repair.

The FBI & DOJ

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This book is EXCELLENT! An incredible peek inside the process and cooperation within the FBI, it manages to help restore faith in the process of our federal justice department. Thank God for the men and women of the justice department who continue to dutifully fulfill their commitments, aside from their political convictions. To hear about the extreme contrast in interest and knowledge between our current administration and the past several administrations is full stop, CONCERNING. McCabe redeems his reputation and narrates an incredibly credible and informative history of his experience of his time at the FBI. Fascinating insights into Comey, Mueller, Holder and especially, Sessions. A MUST read!

A MUST read!

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McCabe describes the FBI's excellent indispensable work. It keeps America a place to flee to, rather than flee from! Their standards for thorough and accurate investigations keep America from being overrun by criminality and corruption from the inside out!

Thank you, FBI, for being Strong and Steadfast

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The most thoughtful among the books depicting an insider’s perspective on our contemporary political situation. Also a fascinating depiction of a dynamic career in the FBI.

Thoughtful and gripping story of a career FBI professional

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McCabe has done an excellent job of presenting the facts to the public. I just hope his concerns will be taken to heart.

outstanding on all levels

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First, my soapbox: The early reviews of any audiobook are obviously junk. They read like marketing-speak. "Informative!" "A must read!" It's super annoying and Audible needs to figure out that junk. Rant over.

So, I really did listen to this book and I thought it was great, but I wouldn't be so presumptuous as to tell someone else they should buy it. Is it a "must-read?" No, of course not.

But it is really good. I was also impressed with McCabe as a narrator. Generally, the phrase "read by author," is the scariest phrase in audiobooks, but McCabe is better than passably good. I

This is kind of a quirky production. There's spots throughout the book where they obviously re-recorded a section, or punched in something new. It's not a big deal, and if anything is a point of interest, providing some insight into the production process. Seems like they were editing this book up to the last second. It's understandable giving the rapid course of events in the executive branch right now.

Ok, now the book: McCabe weaves together the story of his FBI career and his dealings with the Trump administration. There's no waiting for McCabe to slog through a chronology before getting to the events we most want to read. Instead he discusses the major points of his time in the FBI to set up and underscore his last few months in the FBI.

That said, McCabe's bio, as refracted through the lense of the FBI is pretty darn fascinating. He worked the really big casesi and provided insights into what was happening at the FBI in those times. He also talks about the nature and evolution of the FBI, in response to events and threats. There's a pinch of political thriller in those parts of the text; jetting setting to Europe and tracking down terrorist suspects. This was the context where McCabe mentioned how modern encryption tech was making law enforcement and/or investigation extremely difficult. It was the area where I had the most disagreement with McCabe. I tend to think encryption powerful enough to keep government out of my bid'ness is a good thing. McCabe does not. His perspective is wholly understandable, given that said tech certainly degrades public safety to some extent, but that's the contract we've all signed. Freedom of speech and movement, in exchange for greater risk, as those who wish us harm put those freedoms to work, plotting our demise. And it's all true. Bad guys use these freedom to subvert our country. That's not even a question. It's totally true. The problem is that every alternative to our open-yet-more-dangerous society is worse.

Obfuscation: There were actually a few spots where I thought McCabe lied on points immaterial to himself and Trump, but important in the larger scheme, namely the FBI's tech capabilities. I can't recall the quote right now, but there was a sentence about FBI surveillance capabilities that seemed aimed directly at the White House, feeding the Donalds bait in the form of misinformation. Like, "no we do not have the capability to read emails off your Blackberry." Protip: they totally do. Trump loves Wikileaks because they damage his political opponents, but he would do well to read Snowden's leaked files. If those documents are correct, there's very little the FBI cannot accomplish with current tech. Example: according to Snowden's leak, the FBI has the technology to pull data off ANY computer, even one that has never been connected to the internet. Accessing that information on a clean computer is impressive, but not nearly so iimpressive as accessing that samesaid info from a computer that isn't even turned on. Now, those reports could be bogus, but it's in everyone's best interest to assume that they are NOT bogus, especially Trump, who seems to commit treason with every other breath. But he would have to read the reports first, or at least pay attention to the staffer assigned to read the book, and summarize it for the president.

AT any rate, this is a solid book. Good story; good narration

This book is almost a sequel to James Comey's book. Access to high-level deliberations at the outset of the Trump administration is the main seller. Readers are WAY inside the flow of events as Trump sights and shoots round after round at the FBI, as they seek to absorb the blows and continue on doing their job.

I think the presidency itself will save Trump from immediate legal peril. His actions during the campaign and within the office make Watergate look like a popcorn fat, but the destabilizing effect on.. well, everything, might be too great a risk for those who would seek indictments against Trump. I totally understand and totally hate this line of thinking. It's just a question of the greatest risk: 1 or 5 more years of Trump policies and social corrosion or a Trump cornered like a rat.

Audible - Weed out the bogus reviews.

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Along with Comey’s book, this a must read. Well written and insightful, this is Mr. McCabe’s memoir of his time at the FBI and should be read by everyone.

A Must Read

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Thank you, Andrew McCabe, for your service and love of our democracy. I will continue to stand up and speak out against the traitorous administration now in the WH.

Powerful account of a true patriot.

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Brilliantly written and relevant to our times. A must-read. Andrew McCabe is an excellent narrator and storyteller. I now have even more respect for the men and women of the FBI and the institution itself. This book lays out the painstaking process of investigation and the mountains of information they work through.

Excellence beyond words

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In a culture and society where most of its members have their heads firmly beneath the sand, this is another much needed wake up call.

A brave voice of witness that America needs badly.

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