Thread by @jessbrandt

My colleagues at @SecureDemocracy took a look at how Russia's state media is responding to news of President Trump's #COVID diagnosis, using data from the Hamilton 2.0 dashboard. securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/hamilton-dashb…

What did they see?

Efforts to stoke partisan division in the United States by amplifying “he deserves it” tweets and commentary.

And by promoting speculation (from Americans) that the diagnosis is a political ploy.

This is of a piece with Russia's ongoing efforts to deepen our divisions: weaken us from within by making it harder for us to govern ourselves, distract us from playing an active role in the world adverse to Russia's interests, diminish democracy's appeal to Russia's citizens

And it is further evidence that our partisanship is a national security vulnerability, not least because it provides so much of the fodder for Russia's broader information strategy -- a key element of the competition between democrats and autocrats that will shape our future