For those of you with less time than myself to dig into a numbers-heavy text like this one, allow me to post a quote that I believe will summarize the findings:
"Republicans see the world as "us versus them," and their willingness to accept certain behaviors reflects that. For instance, Republicans are 16 percent more likely than Democrats to claim that saying an opponents' policy positions are evil is sometimes or always acceptable. Republicans are also 13 percent more likely to argue that politicians can sometimes or always say their opponent is "stupid" and 34 percent more likely to claim their opponents are "anti-American." This is not to argue that Democrats do not sometimes condone those actions in their own partisans they clearly do-but Republican respondents are more willing to find it acceptable to let their politicians off the leash."

For a more indepth review, let me go on:
If you, like myself, have been spoiled by the surge in literary non-fiction in recent years (like "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks", "Radium Girls", or "Braiding Sweetgrass"), starting this book might take a try or two. The introduction and Chapter 1 are particularly heavy in the area of statistics, and as a humanities girly who failed Stats for Psych Majors, I had a take a few goes at getting into the meat of the book.

And I'm glad I did! After all, "Scandals strike in the most unusual and unpredictable ways for politicians. The ways they deal with them, and the ways the political system treats the aftermath, are a check engine light on American democracy". The meat of the studies showed me things that were not often surprising, but good to have actual numbers for. I particularly appreciated the case studies section-- as a younger Millennial, I am likely the exact age group the book is aimed at, but I had initial concerns that it was mostly scandals from before I was born that would be discussed. The case studies chapter allowed me insight into older scandals and reminded me of the details of more recent scandals.

Essentially, studies show again and again that Democrats and Republicans alike are willing and able to enjoy a good scandal on the other team, and specifically hold back judgement for their partisan peers. But as time has passed, scandal has become less important as a means to decide who will be legislating in the next session. Republicans in particular seem more forgiving to politicians in the highest of offices. But the numbers are much closer than you might expect going in-- very few of us can claim to be entirely non-partisan in our judgements! Especially in a time where media intake can be incredibly siloed, so that you are hearing very little against the leaders of "your team".

This book is an excellent reminder to be mindful and use critical thinking when it comes down to scandal. Scandal can push our leaders to be better- such as implementing anti-corruption legislation- or allow them to be their worst selves - anything President Trump, really - with no large push back.

Our nation can be better than it is, and scandal might be a good way to judge which direction it's going.

Overall, 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4) due to its high level of entry and heavy mathematical lean, but important content and interesting findings.

If you like to take deep dive on political scandals and appreciate a thorough, balanced analysis, then this read is for you.
It was less on the salacious, more on the analytical which this reader liked.

Questions posed and the forthcoming conclusions carefully reached without any bias towards the two political parties, Republican and Democrat. Too often, authors bias' will taint a read. That's not the case here.

From the oft discussed Nixon's Watergate to the lesser known (other than to historians) Harding's Teapot Scandal, this read was not confined to the executive branch on the National level. On the contrary, the author delved into scandals reaching both at the State level as well as in the Legislative branches .

Answering the question: Do scandals matter? In today's current, polarized age?

You'll have to read the book, to find out. The answer is more complex than a simple 'yes' or 'no'

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Columbia University Press, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#Scandal #NetGalley