A frenzy of misbehavior and misjudgment currently threatens the American polity. Donald Trump is the center of the storm. His words, deeds and basic instincts are fundamentally at odds with America's long-held essential ideals. But Trump isn't the only problem. Many of his friends, and plenty of his foes, also consistently violate important norms and traditions while seeking short-term political victories. This bipartisan race to the bottom is a stress test of the world's preeminent constitutional democracy. It continues today.

This collection of columns, previously published in newspapers around the world, looks at two things through the lens of the law: The presidency of Donald J. Trump and the response to the presidency of Donald J. Trump.