{"product_id":"scandal-why-politicians-survive-controversy-in-a-partisan-era-paperback","title":"Scandal: Why Politicians Survive Controversy in a Partisan Era - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eBrandon Rottinghaus\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOnce, it was thought, a scandal was the kiss of death for a political career. Today, however, surviving scandal seems to be the norm. Donald Trump has weathered--and even perhaps benefited from--controversies that would have been unimaginable for virtually any other candidate. Prominent figures in both parties have won elections and remained in office despite credible allegations of wrongdoing. Do scandals still matter? When and why do voters punish politicians or give them a free pass? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCharting the changes from Watergate to the present, this book is a rigorous and compelling investigation of the politics of scandals. Bringing together wide-ranging survey data, innovative experiment design, and historical analysis, Brandon Rottinghaus demonstrates how political polarization, affective partisanship, fading trust in media, and the spread of misinformation have diminished the resonance of controversies. Although scandals still fell many politicians, there is a clear trend over time for fewer voters to be swayed by them. In a polarized world, scandals take only a modest toll on politicians' approval ratings, survival in office, ambitions, and legacies. In many cases, partisans accept--or even embrace--misbehavior from members of their own party and revel in scandals affecting the opposing party. Challenging conventional wisdom with extensive data, this book illuminates the declining significance of scandals and the consequences for democratic accountability.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrandon Rottinghaus is professor of political science at the University of Houston. He is the cohost of \u003ci\u003eParty Politics\u003c\/i\u003e, a PBS TV8 program, radio show, and podcast on Houston Public Media.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 224\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.63 x 8.9 x 5.98 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 25, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46969203294383,"sku":"9780231218825","price":50.27,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0723\/7314\/1679\/files\/6DeVq8qes9780231218825.webp?v=1779737729","url":"https:\/\/valuevaultclub.myshopify.com\/products\/scandal-why-politicians-survive-controversy-in-a-partisan-era-paperback","provider":"Value Vault Club","version":"1.0","type":"link"}