Thanks to several folks at @prl.bsky.social for their comments and support!

Furthermore, given the decline of local media, citizens are less likely to learn about or pay attention to the norm-violating behavior of local and state politicians. Overall, our results are consistent with the nationalization of U.S. politics, showing few differences across office levels.

This paints a mixed picture of citizens as democratic safeguards. On the plus side, voters are no more forgiving in local races, where issues like democracy might matter less. Pessimistically, however, their willingness to defect is also no greater — even when facing lower policy trade-offs.

We used a different between-subject experimental design and wording. Various checks and screening procedures were implemented to ensure validity. To enhance realism, we also included policy positions in the vignette. The second study nevertheless replicates the first.

However, using a high-powered vignette experiment in which voters chose between candidates across different races, we found no difference in their willingness to defect from undemocratic politicians. This held regardless of the type or number of norm violations in the vignette.

Norm-violating behavior occurs at all levels of 🇺🇸 government. As local and state politicians often ascend to national office, this could suggest a pipeline of backsliders. Yet, in lower-stakes local elections, citizens may often fail to hold such politicians accountable.

ANO’s return also revives unresolved questions about Andrej Babiš’s conflict-of-interest case. Current law bars him from holding government office, but with enough parliamentary support, he could seek to change it.

Plans to export them as a favor to indebted governments are currently underway. 🙂

Or see this other publication ( @polbehavior.bsky.social ), which shows how ideological alignment matters for animosity and expectations of future disagreement: bsky.app/profile/cely...

For research in the same vein, check out my piece in @eupthejournal.bsky.social on cross-national differences: bsky.app/profile/cely...

Media source: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/u...

In the working paper (with @miroslavnemcok.bsky.social and others), which will soon be available, we show that such politicization can harm democratic norms and fuel affective polarization. However, we also find that it does not translate into greater support for political violence.

Looks like a tremendous work. Can't wait to read it. Congratulations!

This is a work with @andrewroberts.bsky.social, supported by the Czech Political Science Association and NU.

See the full overview of our results here: tadeascely.github.io/report.html. All data and materials will be opened soon.