Publishing giant Simon & Schuster has backed out of a deal with an established journalist for a "comprehensive" look at the Biden administration as sales for Biden-related books remain in the tank.
In February 2021, Politico announced that Alex Thompson — then a reporter with Politico who has since joined Axios as "a National Political Correspondent" — had signed a contract with Simon & Schuster to pen "a comprehensive book on Biden’s presidency." The book was expected to provide "fresh reporting" from a journalist with a firsthand look at "the White House transition."
In that announcement, Politico claimed that the book would likely be released "in early 2024" — just in time for campaign season.
Now that "early 2024" has come and nearly gone, Politico has announced that the deal is off. According to the outlet, Simon & Schuster has "withdrawn" the contract with Thompson, further signaling a "soft market for books about President Joe Biden." A spokesperson for the publisher declined Politico's request for comment.
