This article in today's Guardian is well worth the read for the photos as well as the written content. While mostly focusing on the collapsed Serbia deal, it sums up the alleged "dealing for dollars" in most of the countries listed:

In Vietnam, Eric was showered with confetti at the groundbreaking ceremony for a £1.5bn golf resort, the permits for which were granted with unusual speed. Then Trump halved Vietnam’s tariffs. The Saudis poured money into Kushner’s fund, and plans emerged for a Trump plaza in Jeddah. Then Trump agreed to sell the kingdom new US fighter jets. A cryptocurrency baron’s company and senior Emiratis cut a lucrative transaction with World Liberty Financial, the digital currency venture Don Jr and Eric founded. Trump gave the crypto baron a pardon and the Emiratis access to restricted US chips.

Asked about such deals last year, Kushner, now a presidential envoy to Russia, Israel and elsewhere, said: “What people call conflicts of interests … I call experience and trusted relationships that we have throughout the world.”

And then there is Trump's granting of pardons to major convicted fraudsters.

Also of interest (at least to me) is Mexico's stepped up arrests and extraditions of some high level cartel members. Violence also seems to be increasing and spreading out around the country. Mexico has been adamant that Trump cannot invade Mexico to carry out his war on cartels and gangs, but it sure seems like Mexico is trying to curry his favor. Does Mexico just want to stay in Trump's good graces economically, or is it trying to send the message that it can police itself?

Reports of grift and graft by elected officials and governments seem to be increasing around the globe. Removing a corrupt official does about as much good as arresting an alleged cartel leader -- another one just comes along to take their place.

Only two more years of Trump. The whole world seems to be tired of his shenanigans. Or maybe its just holding its breath, waiting for him (and his tariffs) to be gone, believing he (and his tenure) shall soon pass. Does anyone who doesn't have a defense contract with the military, law enforcement or ICE (other than his shrinking margainalized, under-educated base, and oligarchs and billionaires) support him?

I hope Trump's latest idea of turning Mar a Lago into a presidential retreat for future presidents fails. What's behind it? Maybe he got estimates for renovations he plans to make to the property, and is trying to get the U.S. to pay for them. How charitable of him (/snark).

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.