Media skepticism and reactions to political scandals: An analysis of the Trump–Ukraine case

Hugo Marcos-Marne, Pablo González-González, Homero Gil de Zúñiga

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

While the discussion on the individual level variables that affect responses to political scandals has focused mainly on variables such as partisan identity or political cynicism, we suggest that media skepticism could also moderate whether and how individuals respond to political scandals. To test this relationship, we rely on panel data from the United States gathered before and after the Trump–Ukraine scandal occurred (Wave 1 in June 2019, Wave 2 in October 2019). Our results show that individuals who rank higher on media skepticism hold comparatively more positive views of Trump after the scandal, even when previous evaluations and alternative explanations are controlled for. Conversely, we find no effect of media skepticism in trust toward the US political system and government. We believe our findings have significant consequences to understanding the relationship between the governed and those governing in times of widespread media skepticism.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)645-660
Number of pages16
JournalInternational Political Science Review
Volume44
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Political Science and International Relations

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