Corruption is one of those issues that tends to rile up political professionals and journalists, but not so much ordinary voters. Sure, everyday people don't like it when politicians and other public officials have their hands in the cookie jar, but it can be hard to see how bribe-taking and favor-trading have a meaningful impact on the much-ballyhooed "kitchen table" issues. During focus groups, such as those shared on Sarah Longwell's often-infuriating-but-always-illuminating podcast, voters often assume "everyone" in politics is corrupt. It doesn't shape partisan preferences as much as one would hope. (Though there is evidence that corruption can suppress voter turnout over time.)
In the past couple of years, there have been two dominant stories driving down the public's respect for the Supreme Court: bad rulings and outright corruption. The latter has been a big deal in the press, because it provides all the aspects that make for exciting journalism: uncovering secrets, cataloging damning facts and, of course, exposing colorful details that make a story "pop." Even if the dollar amount of gifts granted to Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito are hard to remember, no one can forget those photos of Alito gloating over the fish he caught on his free luxury Alaska vacation or the original painting that was commissioned of Thomas hanging out with Harlan Crow, his billionaire benefactor.
