Member-only story
No One Cares Anymore — And That’s the Scandal
Outrage used to mean something.
“If everything is a scandal, then nothing is.”
A scandal, by definition, is a disgraceful event or action that violates public trust — something morally or legally wrong that provokes widespread outrage when exposed. It requires three elements: a breach of norms, public awareness, and a collective reaction. But somewhere along the way, we broke that formula.
Today, everything is treated like a scandal — or worse, nothing is. And that shift? That numbness? That is the scandal.
I was a kid during the Clinton years — from 1992 to 2000. I was in elementary school when he got elected and just about to enter high school when he left office. And even as a child, I knew something seismic was happening.
I remember the news covering the Monica Lewinsky story for months. I remember the impeachment trial, the courtroom sketches, the congressional panels, and the 24-hour coverage. It was inescapable. And though I was young, I remember the tension in the air — adults whispering about it, teachers avoiding it, the evening news replaying it all like some national soap opera.
I also remember the way people stood by him. Clinton was still beloved by many, and the loyalty was unwavering — very similar to…