Stress Test

American politics is in turmoil, with conduct on several fronts that is erratic and badly judged. At the center is Donald Trump, whose statements, actions and instincts the author sees as clashing with the principles the country has long held dear. Trump is not the sole source of the trouble. Many of his allies and many of his opponents also repeatedly break important norms and customs in pursuit of quick political wins. Across both parties, the author sees a downward slide that tests the durability of the world's leading constitutional democracy, and he argues that this test is still ongoing.

The book gathers columns that first appeared in newspapers around the world. It examines two subjects: the presidency of Donald J. Trump and the reactions that presidency has provoked.