Jacob Weisberg, former Slate editor and current chair of the Committee to Protect Journalists, has released a new book titled “Profiles in Cowardice,” which examines the decisions of eight individuals who, under pressure during the second term of the Trump administration, compromised their commitments to the rule of law, professional ethics, and personal moral principles.

The book focuses on the period of the president’s second term when he operated with fewer constraints. Weisberg explores how leaders across various sectors—including law firms, universities, media organizations, and technology companies—faced threats or demands from the White House and, in response, capitulated to financial and political pressures. According to Weisberg, some technology executives paid substantial sums to appease the administration, while academic institutions responded by retreating from long-standing policies on diversity and academic freedom.

In developing his profiles, Weisberg sought to delve into the complexities of the individuals’ choices rather than simply condemning them. “It’s much more interesting to try to get inside these people’s heads,” he stated, suggesting that those who succumbed did so with some degree of internal struggle and awareness. He emphasized that his subjects wrestled with their consciences and were not indifferent to the consequences of their actions.

Weisberg’s introduction addresses various reasons behind the decisions to yield to pressure, including concerns for personal and family safety as well as the influence of peer pressure. The book concludes with an epilogue offering guidance on how to resist similar pressures in the future, including a call to reinstate a sense of shame—“properly used,” in Weisberg’s words—as a motivational tool.

Asked about the impact of writing the book on his outlook, Weisberg described himself as an optimist by nature but warned against uncritical hopefulness regarding the restoration of American democratic norms. He encouraged continued efforts to uphold democratic principles while maintaining a realistic perspective on the challenges ahead.

Weisberg is scheduled to discuss the book alongside Harvard Law Professor Noah Feldman on the evening of Wednesday, November 4, at the Cambridge Public Library. Attendance requires prior registration.