It has been the source of some of the most explosive scandals in American politics over the last century, quietly shaping U.S. foreign policy while producing lucrative paydays for some of the biggest names in Washington. But the foreign influence industry has remained shrouded in mystery, defying understanding and explanation—until now. Selling America shines a harsh light on the shadowy intersection of U.S. government diplomacy and private dealmaking. It is a billion-dollar business with a fundamentally undemocratic goal—wielding huge sums of often ill-gotten cash to help shape the exercise of American power around the world on behalf of foreign interests that are often anathema to American values about human rights and democracy. The beneficiaries include African dictators and Serbian arms dealers, as well as the families of American presidents, “America’s mayor,” and a major lobbyist who burst onto the scene under Trump. The losers include impoverished people living under oppressive