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From what I've read, FAA has certainly cut a LOT of corners and breaks for Boeing to fast track the approval process for the newer 737 MAX jets. I am surprised I don't see more media reporting and public outrage against this as well. But bear in mind that the FAA generally seems to have a very good public image, and their past records prior to this 737 MAX scandal has been very good -- or at least that's what it seems like to a layperson such as myself. They are thorough in their investigations when accidents happen, and they learn from their mistakes and implement new rules and changes as a result of accidents and their investigations. In that sense, I think the public has been giving them the benefit of the doubt, and FAA continues to ride on the goodwill they have garnered in the past.
I'd find it hard to believe that there is no US gov involvement in gently "encouraging" FAA to go easy on Boeing's 737 MAX's approval process. But in the public world, we operate on hard evidence, not conjectures and conspiracy theories. In the absence of any hard evidence -- which is what we have at the moment -- we can't accuse the US gov of influencing the FAA to give Boeing preferential treatment.
The only parallel I'd draw between the SNC Lavalin scandal and any recent US political scandals are -- you see how much of an amateur Trudeau is compared to the well-oiled US political machine. If JT were as good and as smooth as the US politicians are, he would easily have insulated himself from any sort of involvement at all, much in the same way Trump has managed to avoid all direct responsibilities in Mueller's report.
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