The MAGA Diaries: My Surreal Adventures Inside the Right-Wing (And How I Got Out)

The MAGA Diaries chronicles author and self-professed former libertarian Tina Ngygen’s career trajectory, beginning with her pre-college exposure to conservative ideals through ideologically driven seminars and summer camps. After her graduation from Claremont McKenna College, she worked as a content creator for various right-wing media outlets. She also attended many Republican networking events, from Trump rallies to black tie affairs, and forged connections to prominent media personalities, most notably her former boss at the Daily Caller, Tucker Carlson.

After she realizes that the cool kids aren’t conservatives (she never was a “true believer,” she writes), Nguyen exits the “right-wing journalism ghetto” for more show more mainstream employment. She finds her niche at Vanity Fair, where her ability to “speak MAGA” gives her a sought-after perspective on events such as the January 6 insurrection. However, this book contains much less material about the Trump regime than its title would imply.

As a reader with just a passing knowledge of the political and media environments Ngygen describes, I found this superficial, jargon-filled narrative only mildly engaging. This book is not an essential read by any means. show less