Anne Applebaum

This time of year, it's very, very different. I mean, there are about four different kinds of things happening. And this is one of the reasons it's so hard to keep track of. One is violations of the emoluments clause of the Constitution. This is essentially the clause that says the U.S. president isn't supposed to benefit in any way from relationships with foreigners.

Clearly, Trump benefits directly from relationships with foreigners. He was just at his golf course a few weekends ago where a tournament was taking place that's sponsored by state-owned Saudi companies. The head of the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund, which is one of the sponsors, was actually there.

Clearly, Trump benefits directly from relationships with foreigners. He was just at his golf course a few weekends ago where a tournament was taking place that's sponsored by state-owned Saudi companies. The head of the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund, which is one of the sponsors, was actually there.

Clearly, Trump benefits directly from relationships with foreigners. He was just at his golf course a few weekends ago where a tournament was taking place that's sponsored by state-owned Saudi companies. The head of the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund, which is one of the sponsors, was actually there.

So he would have met many Saudi people who are his investors, essentially, and clients who, of course, are also interested in his Middle Eastern policy and American foreign policy. So you could argue that they were there. Maybe it's touchy to say they were trying to buy American foreign policy, but they were certainly trying to influence it. Why else would they be? Why else would be there?

So he would have met many Saudi people who are his investors, essentially, and clients who, of course, are also interested in his Middle Eastern policy and American foreign policy. So you could argue that they were there. Maybe it's touchy to say they were trying to buy American foreign policy, but they were certainly trying to influence it. Why else would they be? Why else would be there?

So he would have met many Saudi people who are his investors, essentially, and clients who, of course, are also interested in his Middle Eastern policy and American foreign policy. So you could argue that they were there. Maybe it's touchy to say they were trying to buy American foreign policy, but they were certainly trying to influence it. Why else would they be? Why else would be there?

Secondly, there are conflicts of interest. And this, again, is on a scale that we have never seen before. Elon Musk has been put in charge of with his group of Doge executives. whoever they are, engineers and internet trolls, have been in charge of taking over and managing regulatory bodies who regulate Musk's own companies.

Secondly, there are conflicts of interest. And this, again, is on a scale that we have never seen before. Elon Musk has been put in charge of with his group of Doge executives. whoever they are, engineers and internet trolls, have been in charge of taking over and managing regulatory bodies who regulate Musk's own companies.

Secondly, there are conflicts of interest. And this, again, is on a scale that we have never seen before. Elon Musk has been put in charge of with his group of Doge executives. whoever they are, engineers and internet trolls, have been in charge of taking over and managing regulatory bodies who regulate Musk's own companies.

He's also got control and the power to hire and fire people at agencies that subsidize his companies. So in other words, he can determine government policy towards his own companies. He can direct money towards his companies if he wants to. He can eliminate regulations of his companies if he wants to.

He's also got control and the power to hire and fire people at agencies that subsidize his companies. So in other words, he can determine government policy towards his own companies. He can direct money towards his companies if he wants to. He can eliminate regulations of his companies if he wants to.

He's also got control and the power to hire and fire people at agencies that subsidize his companies. So in other words, he can determine government policy towards his own companies. He can direct money towards his companies if he wants to. He can eliminate regulations of his companies if he wants to.

And he is somebody who has been found in violation of all kinds of regulations, pollution regulations, other kinds of legal issues have plagued a lot of his companies from the beginning. And he now has been given a mechanism to escape that. And I should say he's just the most egregious version of this.

And he is somebody who has been found in violation of all kinds of regulations, pollution regulations, other kinds of legal issues have plagued a lot of his companies from the beginning. And he now has been given a mechanism to escape that. And I should say he's just the most egregious version of this.

And he is somebody who has been found in violation of all kinds of regulations, pollution regulations, other kinds of legal issues have plagued a lot of his companies from the beginning. And he now has been given a mechanism to escape that. And I should say he's just the most egregious version of this.

There are many people throughout this administration who have kept their private interests, who haven't recused themselves from investment issues, you know, who have nevertheless kept their jobs. Thirdly, there are legal changes. There are laws that were on the books that the. Trump Department of Justice or the Treasury Department will not enforce.

There are many people throughout this administration who have kept their private interests, who haven't recused themselves from investment issues, you know, who have nevertheless kept their jobs. Thirdly, there are legal changes. There are laws that were on the books that the. Trump Department of Justice or the Treasury Department will not enforce.

There are many people throughout this administration who have kept their private interests, who haven't recused themselves from investment issues, you know, who have nevertheless kept their jobs. Thirdly, there are legal changes. There are laws that were on the books that the. Trump Department of Justice or the Treasury Department will not enforce.

There's something called the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. This was designed to forbid U.S. entities from bribing companies abroad. That law is now not being enforced. There's also a Corporate Transparency Act, which was designed to