About 1,000 feet of concrete and asphalt in lower Manhattan separate two buildings that are imposing reminders of the worst sides of American politics.

But let’s not mince words about this tiny patch of landscape. Let’s call it the “Sleaze Zone for Dummies.”

One building — the New York State Supreme Court at 100 Centre St. — is now home to the hush money trial of former President Donald Trump, who also happens to be the leading Republican candidate in the fall presidential election. Starting Monday and just a short walk around the corner, the other building — the U.S. District Court at 500 Pearl St. — will be the site of the trial of Sen. Bob Menendez, the New Jersey Democrat and exiled chair of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Neither trial will offer any serious insight into political policy issues despite the obvious status — and implied importance — of Trump and Menendez. These legal proceedings offer no room to discuss the continuing Middle East crisis or the simmering protests on college campuses. There will be no time to talk about the ongoing tornadoes that sweep across the South and Midwest as a reminder of climate problems. Nothing on homelessness. Or high taxes. Or inflation. Or the national debt. Or the nation’s rusting infrastructure. Or crime in the subways. Or the broken immigration system.

No, this is pure sleaze. Both trials are reminders that the best intentions of American politics can easily be crippled by the behavior of deeply flawed people.

Actually, “flawed” is too kind a description of what Trump and Menendez are accused of doing. At issue in both trials is the most basic shortcoming in the human condition: sheer stupidity. Add in the sleaze factor of both trials and you have what can be justly described as another shake-your-head-moment in American history.

Consider the basics here:

Trump is on trial for doctoring his financial books after paying hush money to former porn actress Stormy Daniels to cover up an alleged extramarital affair with her. The other day, the judge instructed lawyers to refrain from describing the former president’s “genitalia.” Daniels also testified that before Trump jumped into bed with her — in the “missionary position” — he told her she reminded him of his daughter.

In case you wondered, the sound you heard was a nation of angry women voters yelling “ick.”

But Trump’s alleged crime — 34 counts — was not the sexual affair or even paying Daniels to keep her mouth shut. It was the absolutely crass cover-up — or, in this case, Trump’s reported violation of election laws.

In doctoring his records to hide the reason for paying $130,000 in........

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