solarbird | A short roundup on Russia, Trump, and the election

From In Their Own Words – Russian propagandists’ hopes for America, I present this useful and important summary:

Donald Trump is their favorite weapon against America. Trump is described as a friend and ally, “our Trumpushka” and “Donald Fredovych.” Out of office, he is described as Russia’s great hope. He is “sorely missed”; Russia is “ready to elect you again”. Russia propagandists had no trouble predicting that Trump would try a coup when he lost in 2020, because that is a familiar sort of behavior to them. They rejoiced when he did , because they thought that this could lead to a civil war in the United States. Their coverage of Trump’s coup attempt was at first highly positive. When it failed, a very awkward pivot was made to the position that it had all been some sort of provocation by the Democrats.

One of the things that Russian propagandists expect not to be noticed, but which is brought home in the book, is that they believe that Trump is an idiot. Of course, it’s hard to see, from their perspective, how they can believe anything else (except, perhaps, that he is a traitor, as is also sometimes hinted). In their public worldview, destroying the United States is the main aim, and here is an American who follows their talking points.

Putin Is Banking On a Trump Win for His New World Order

Donald Trump’s nickname in the Kremlin? The American Gorbachev. Officials believe his chaos will be the downfall of the US.

Russia Is Buying Politicians in Europe. Is It Happening Here Too? Russia is buying far-right politicians throughout Europe, and leveraging them to its own advantage – see Nigel Farage’s recent decision to push the Putin line on Ukraine. Naturally, this is happening here too, and has been the entire time. “There’s two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump,” said former Republican Speaker of the House McCarthy of California. He can disclaim that all that he wants – and did, once the MAGA cult took over. But he’s not the only one talking about it in his own party:

Top GOPers’ extraordinary comments on their party and Russian propaganda; Two key GOP chairmen are merely the latest to warn about how Russian influence has infected their party

An Anti-Biden Conspirator Now Acknowledges That Ron Johnson Was “Doing the Bidding” of Russia

And Trump is still asking Russia for help. Remember the moment in 2016 that should’ve killed his campaign once and for all, when he publicly, live, on the air, asked Russia to dump whatever they might have via espionage on Hillary Clinton, and they immediately did so? Well, a couple of weeks ago, he asked Putin to continue holding Wall St. Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich hostage until the election. As a favour. For his campaign.

Of course, the botnets are all up and running. a Russian Botnet spent a week promoting a Trump propaganda video as a music clip, and there was a big botnet push before today’s (June 27th) debate. (Sorry, lost the link, I’ll edit if I find it.)

This is who he is, this is who his friends are, and this is who really, really wants him back in office.

Four more stories to close:

Posted via Solarbird{y|z|yz}, Collected.