As we contemplate Trump, from Russia's intervention on his behalf in 2016 to his recent months long assault on our democratic system, I share this IC assessment from Jan 2017. It was all there, then (1/x):
"Russian efforts to influence the 2016 US presidential election represent the most recent expression of Moscow’s longstanding desire to undermine the US-led liberal democratic order, but these activities demonstrated a significant escalation in directness, level of activity (2/x)
."...and scope of effort compared to previous operations.

We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election (3/x)
"Russia’s goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency. We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump" (4/x).
Reading this today, it explains Trump.

"Undermine public faith in the US democratic process."
Denigrate liberal opponents to Putin, harm their Presidencies.

And then Trump reorients US foreign policy to support Russia's global aims.

It's the whole story, isn't it? (5/x).
Here's the Jan 2017 IC report, "Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections.”

dni.gov/files/document…

(6/x).
There needs to be a big reckoning with Russia, Putin. Some thoughts on why, here:

ndn.org/blog/2020/06/c…

(7/x).

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Simon Rosenberg

Simon Rosenberg Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @SimonWDC

30 Jan
Over the coming years we are going to learn much more about the major dark episodes of the Trump era, and it’s going to be really bad for Trump, McConnell and the rest of the GOP. washingtonpost.com/world/europe/u…
Let me offer a few first cuts of what we will come to understand:

1- Trump only won in 2016 due to Russia's help, and that leverage was used by Putin to pressure Trump into a kind of strategic partnership (Helsinki), which included aligning US foreign policy w/Russia's aims.
2 - That among the things Trump did for Putin was the entire wild, reckless Ukraine affair, which both attacked a 2020 Democrat cut in Clinton's muscular foreign policy cloth and denigrated Zelensky and his project.
Read 7 tweets
29 Jan
No one should be surprised that Trump supporters have taken to political violence.

Trump called for violence against his political enemies at the WH on July 4th, comparing "the left" to Nazis, Communists, Terrorists.

It was the permission structure for all the violence to come.
The language MTG uses in this video TODAY is descended from Trump's July 4th speech, and is itself a call for violence. If her colleague is a "radical left terrorist" then extreme measures can be used to silence her.

This is how they "Save America."

It is disheartening Trump is using "Save America" as his calling card.

"Save America March" was the name of the event on Jan 6th, and as Trump said on July 4th the process of "Saving America" is one which requires violence.

"Save America" is now a call for political violence. Image
Read 6 tweets
24 Jan
Yes it is almost February and Mitch has not yet turned the majority over to the Senate Dems.

It is a STAGGERING abuse of power.
Here's the latest on Mitch's gross abuse of power, his refusal to turn over the Senate Committees - and thus the Senate itself - to the Democrats.

thehill.com/blogs/floor-ac…
Did a deep dive on how just extreme the GOP's response to Biden has been these last few weeks...simon-rosenberg.medium.com/republicans-gr…
Read 7 tweets
14 Jan
Channeling @oneunderscore__ reminder that QAnon believes that Trump will ultimately bring "The Storm," a reckoning that includes mass executions of leading Democrats including those in Congress.

Mass executions.

Many in Capitol had QAnon markings.

businessinsider.com/qanon-trump-ca…
At least two Republicans in the House have expressed sympathy for QAnon, a belief system which requires the killing of their colleagues in the US House.

I don't know how they can be allowed to serve any more. nytimes.com/2020/07/14/us/…
Watch this excellent @NBCNews piece on QAnon, and Trump's clear stoking of it.

"How Trump’s connection to conspiracy theory community fueled Capitol riot"

today.com/video/how-trum…
Read 4 tweets
13 Jan
GOPers have an off ramp on their road to radicalization.

It begins w/declaring the election legitimate, telling their supporters to stand down.

Those who refuse to do this are fueling the insurrection, and what might become an insurgency.

My latest: simon-rosenberg.medium.com/republicans-ha…
Agree w/@rgoodlaw - this is a bullshit statement from the President which will do nothing to stop the insurrection, the violence to come. It is in fact an implicit encouragement for his supporters to keep going.



No one has deserved Impeachment more.
Read 4 tweets
12 Jan
For days now I've been calling bullshit on DOD/FBI/DHS/Capitol Police claims no one could see the attack on the Congress coming (1/x).

According to new @WashingtonPost reporting, we now know it was bullshit. Scary bullshit in fact, for it sure appears there was an effort to suppress vital intelligence which would have allowed the city to be prepared (2/x). washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
This thread does a good at explaining why it was never plausible the US govt didn't know violence or an attack on Congress could occur. It was always a ridiculous line, sort of like saying COVID is no worse than the flu (3/x).

Read 5 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!