Scandals Can Restore Oversight

Historic scandals like Iran‑Contra show that concentrated journalistic exposure and legal scrutiny can temporarily reclaim congressional and public oversight over secret executive operations. The article argues the late‑1980s accountability moment is evidence that democratic institutions can check clandestine statecraft when information reaches the public and institutions act. — If true, the idea implies contemporary transparency, investigative journalism, and institutional capacity remain central levers to constrain illicit executive power and to prevent the normalization of 'deep politics.'