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Didion Calls Woodward’s Supreme Court Books “Political Porn”

6/24/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Joan Didion called journalist Bob Woodward’s Supreme Court books political pornography in a 1996 essay.
Didion argued that Woodward, who with Carl Bernstein uncovered Watergate, is a reporter not a scholar or belletrist.
Didion said journalism provides a first rough draft of history while scholarship follows a separate timeline.
The article also cited Maggie Haberman’s 2022 book Confidence Man, which portrays U.S. President Donald Trump as having an immutable character.

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Story summary

Joan Didion called journalist Bob Woodward’s Supreme Court books political pornography in a 1996 essay.
Didion argued that Woodward, who with Carl Bernstein uncovered Watergate, is a reporter not a scholar or belletrist.
Didion said journalism provides a first rough draft of history while scholarship follows a separate timeline.
The article also cited Maggie Haberman’s 2022 book Confidence Man, which portrays U.S. President Donald Trump as having an immutable character.