In "American Scoundrel," coauthors Kai Bird and Susan Goldmark examine the life of lawyer Roy Cohn, a driving force behind McCarthyism and a key influence on Donald Trump's approach to power. New York Times Opinion columnist Carlos Lozada, political writer Michelle Cottle, and Vanderbilt history professor Nicole Hemmer discuss the biography on "The Opinions" podcast. Cohn rose to infamy in the 1950s as chief counsel to Senator Joe McCarthy.

Later, as Trump's lawyer in the 1970s and 1980s, Cohn instilled a philosophy of never apologizing, hitting back harder when attacked, and treating rules as optional. Cottle notes the book reveals Trump absorbing a "master class" in dominating opponents, avoiding paper trails, courting tabloids, and refusing to pay bills. Hemmer emphasizes Cohn's enduring relevance in politics and pop culture decades after his death in the 1980s.

The panel agrees Cohn's tactics echo clearly in today's political era, making the biography a crucial lens for understanding current power dynamics.