Scandal dominated the summer of 2026. Max Miller, a Republican member of Congress, was accused by his ex-wife of physically assaulting her and their toddler daughter. Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general and Republican candidate for Senate, had been indicted on felony charges of securities fraud and impeached over allegations including bribery, dereliction of duty, obstruction of justice and abuse of the public trust. Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for Senate in Maine, faced months of allegations, culminating in a former girlfriend’s claim that he raped her years ago. All have denied the allegations; Paxton’s impeachment trial ended in acquittal, and he struck a deal to avoid criminal trial, paying $300,000 without admitting wrongdoing.

Platner suffered the only major consequence, abandoning his campaign. Miller continued seeking re-election. Paxton won the Texas Republican primary, unseating John Cornyn, a longtime senator who is decidedly less scandal-plagued. Scandals, it seems, are losing their power.

The New York Times argues this is not merely a death of shame in American life. Ezra Klein called Donald Trump’s shamelessness his “superpower” in 2015. Trump’s fortunes remained buoyant after he was impeached twice, found civilly liable for sexual abuse and enriched himself by billions of dollars in office. The pattern is global, including Spain’s Socialist prime minister continuing in office despite scandals affecting his administration and family.

Political science research suggests partisan polarization, rather than American shamelessness, has broken the chain from misconduct to public backlash and punishment. Political scientist Theodore Lowi defines scandal as “corruption revealed.” Severing revelation from reaction undermines democratic accountability, erodes trust in government and public institutions, widens polarization and allows more corruption, abuse and lawbreaking.