What would happen if every state acted like Donald Trump’s America?

Trump's imperialist order also seems unduly focused on military power. The US economy thrives in significant part through global investments and trade. But that requires respect for the international law that Trump derides. Otherwise, contracts could be broken willy-nilly. Investments can be seized. Business personnel can be held hostage. Already the Trump administration is urging Americans to flee Venezuela for fear of kidnapping by armed paramilitaries. 

Trump would undoubtedly hope to deter such lawlessness, but a lawless defense of law is hard to pull off, and even American power has its limits.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/14/trump-might-makes-right-world

 

America Has Never Seen Corruption Like Trump's - The Atlantic

Perhaps most worrisome is the tacit permission that Trump granted foreign powers to directly bankroll U.S. politicians. This was the precedent he set when he strong-armed prosecutors into dropping the case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was accused of soliciting campaign funds from Turkey. "You win the race by raising money," Adams said. "Everything else is fluff." One could imagine the president saying the same. 

Foreign regimes are beginning to see just how far their money can go in Trump's America. The highest bidder has never had so much to gain...

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/07/trump-corruption-foreign-regimes/683487/ 

 

The US has terrible family policies. How do expats fare abroad?

…An instant change: the family went from spending $1,400 a month on their daughter's childcare – and preparing to pay the same for their son when he started preschool – to paying €373 ($438) a month for both children. In Ireland, families also collect a €140 ($164) child benefit each month until their children turn 16. "I remember thinking: 'what?!' you just get money?" Dubois said…

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/sep/27/us-terrible-family-policies-expats-netherlands-ireland-japan

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