Public officials getting caught taking flashy gifts or living lavish lifestyles funded by far-away governments, high-profile indictments, high crimes and misdemeanors—it can all make for good media coverage.

But when it comes to seeing how authoritarian governments actually curry favor, or directly impact policy, in democratic countries, there’s a lot of fog. And yet one of the most striking things about it … is that most of it’s perfectly legal.

Next week, in partnership with our friends at the Human Rights Foundation, The Signal drops its second print extra, Altered States.

A follow-up to last year’s The Long Game, the new edition runs down the question, How much influence do autocratic states have over democratic life?

• Members pre-sale begins on Monday, March 10; general sale, Thursday, March 13.
• For members, all features will also be available to read online at The Signal.

Looking forward to sharing with you soon,

—Hywel Mills

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