Annoyingly, the norms-disdaining reality-TV ethos fully crossed over into presidential politics.

Evidence

At first, Trump’s campaign seemed like a surreal postmodernist prank, and cable news indulged him for ratings. His candidacy appeared doomed after he criticized the Iraq War, belittled John McCain’s military service, and openly insulted establishment Republicans. When he somehow won the Republican primary, many assumed he’d falter once his scandals caught up with him. The leaked Access Hollywood tape, in which he bragged about groping women because “when you’re a star, they let you do it,” seemed like the final nail in his coffin. This already came upon hideously cruel moments, such as mocking a disabled reporter, attacks on Gold Star parents of a fallen soldier, and his open embrace of fringe conspiracy theories. Steamrolling over ethics and morals worked well for Girls Gone Wild and Kim Kardashian, but national politics surely required upholding the fundamental norms of American society. Clinton’s consistent lead in the polls throughout 2016 suggested as such. … Trump won the election. Not even Lena Dunham’s pro-Hillary rap video as “MC Pantsuit” for Funny or Die could convince America to elect its first female president. — W. David Marx, Blank Space, 425