They are exploiting divisions in our political landscape. If the divisions weren't there, or were less extreme, we wouldn't be nearly a vulnerable. Fox, NRA, Koch, Trump, and others, when divisive, and they are extremely divisive almost all the time, are now working for our adversary. The new progressive left is also being divisive and playing into our adversary's hand. The solution is to come together. It won't stop the exploitation by our adversary, but it will make us much less vulnerable. Ben Franklin had it right: We hang together or will hang separately.
10
I agree with @Cletus Butzin, What I've seen to date has been unimpressive. Rather than continued assertions that Mueller proved Russian interference when from what I can see he simply asserted it, I'd like to see some of convincing examples made public.
Think of Colin Powell testifying as to the content of intercepted phone calls regarding Iraq's proven nuclear capability or testimony of how the Iraqi's invading Kuwait had emptied equipment for premature babies from a hospital there.
Oh, wait! Those were government lies. So, I guess, never mind.
Now in my 70s, I do weary of the "outside agitator" drumbeat we've heard for decades regarding USSR and now Russia. Especially when we brag about similar exploits when done by our spooks.
And even more especially now that the Supremes have made it OK for billions in dark money to enter the political arena
2
Analysts trying to discern what motivates Trump, looking at typical profiles are wrong. They need to look at profiles of dysfunctional personalities to get their clues. He’s fed by adulation and wanting temporary approval by those he perceives to have power or things he wants. It’s simple.
6
The Russians' attempt at sowing discord and mistrust in democracy is an offensive and unnecessary interference in American politics.
The Republican Party is perfectly capable of subverting the will of the people all by itself.
6
A chicken with its head cut off likewise suffers from "a lack of high-level coordination." It is, however, no longer a functional chicken.
2
Imagine if you will, immediately following the November 2020 election in which President Trump loses by a hair to his Democratic challenger. US intelligence established that Russians interfered once again and there are widespread allegations of voter fraud. President Trump says his defeat was the result of a "rigged" election and refuses to leave the Presidency. And fully 30 to 40 percent of the country will believe him. What then?
6
“...are dilettantes, no question about it. They have no intelligence or national security background, and they shouldn’t be playing in a game they don’t understand the rules of,..” “These people are jumping into deep water, and they don’t even know how to swim.” Too late. “They” are hypocrites the chose willful ignorance over enlightened governance.
For all their bluster about supporting law enforcement republicans actions don’t match their words or their platform. The FBI is part of law enforcement. The Mueller report was an investigation. Trump has convinced his base that there is nothing of value in the report and to dismiss it completely. The real threat isn’t coming in caravans. This is not the war of 1812. This is not some fantasy like Game of Thrones. This is America; this is the world in 2019. The enemy is already hear because techno-terrorism knows no borders and our so called “Commander and Chief” cares more about his handicap and self-preservation than the country he swore to protect. He needs to go.
2
Maybe Congress should stop investigating Trump for obstruction of justice, for a crime he never committed (Russian collusion), and spend their time trying to make sure Russia stays out of our election process. Just sayin’
6
@DanielMarcMD
Yes, they investigated Trump instead of the Russians. Meanwhile, the Russians began their meddling in 2014 according to the Mueller report.
1
Well when Trump genuflects to Putin and states that he takes his word over the overwhelming consensus of the United States intelligence community about Russian influence in our elections - wouldn’t that be a bit of a “mixed message” to use an understatement?
9
@DanielMarcMD
Uh, yeh, right.
1
Just what does this mean and just how are the Russians, or any other country for that matter, exactly "meddling" in our elections? Are they hacking into the notoriously easily hackable voting machines? Are they switching the places where people are to vote on voting day? Are they understaffing voting stations so that working people have no chance to stand in line for hours to vote and still get to work? Are they spending $4,000 on goofy memes on Google showing Hillary arm wrestling Satan? What?
Because if you really want to address "meddling" in our elections to influence peoples choice, you may want to start with our own corrupt system like legal bribery of politicians, thanks to Citizens United, or having foreign leaders address our Congress on political matters or our restrictive voting rights laws, or disenfranchisement of voters and the purging of voters from the voter rolls. You may want to investigate how a campaign of one candidate can enter into a secret agreement with the national committee of a party to run the primary season without the other candidates knowing about it. And heaven forbid we discover by leakers and whistle blowers information about our corrupt system on WikiLeaks. Russians. Give me a break. Here we go again with people running around screaming "The Russians are coming,. Run for your lives" and not even noticing and addressing the "meddling" being done by our own corrupt system right under their noses.
15
@FXQ - We need to deal with "meddling" from both within and without. The existence of one doesn't mean the other doesn't exist or doesn't matter.
19
Democrats who fear Russian intervention to favor Trump in 2020 must beware of another trap as well: Russia will surely intervene to support Democrats too.
By intervening to assist both sides, Russia can plant the seeds of news stories that will help delegitimize the results of the 2020 elections, regardless of who is elected. They don't even have to be very secretive about it, because to a certain extent, getting caught in the act helps them achieve their goals, by tainting the side that wins.
Democrats (and Republicans, I wish) should avoid accepting assistance from anonymous sources, and should immediately denounce and reject any form of assistance received that they discover has come from a hostile foreign source. They should do that both because accepting foreign assistance is illegal, and because it would taint their victory with suspicions of illegitimacy, just as Trump's win has been tainted.
11
Lordy. My brain hurts.
The Mueller report characterized the election sabotage as sweeping and systematic.
Trump still calls the accusations of interference and conspiracy a hoax. Putin has used the same word.
Kushner is poo-pooing it. Mulvaney won't let anybody mention it to Trump. Nielsen held secret meetings about it.
The Mueller report described a conspiracy between the campaign and Russia, in the everyday sense of that word.
Congressional Republicans have ignored the Mueller report at all. Graham: "Total exoneration." McConnell: "Move on."
We read here now: "The Trump administration has come to see that Russia’s influence operations have morphed into a persistent threat."
A chicken with its head cut off also suffers from "a lack of high-level coordination." It is no longer, however, a functional chicken.
23
I lived in East Germany and if Americans think Russians weren't involved in U.S. elections in 2016, and that they won't try again in 2020 because Donald Trump says so, or because the Mueller report didn't find sufficient evidence to indict -- they're missing the point of how the K.G.B. operates.
They leave no traces.
The door has already been opened here.
And they're in.
150
@N. Smith
Trump has removed the door so that it’s a free for all for dictators to destroy democracy.
28
First, there is no more KGB, only the FSB. And if you think they left no trace, you haven’t been paying attention. They’re sloppy, the Mueller report details their cyber operations, they’ve been caught murdering in the UK and Ukraine. They’d be held accountable if we had a functioning government.
9
@BernOut
First. Just because the letters have changed doesn't mean the operations have -- Putin is strictly playing by the old KGB handbook.
Secondly. Not only have I been paying attention to how they operate, but I've lived under their surveillance.
Can you say the same? No. I didn't think so.
Another thing. Don't underestimate them.
What you call "sloppy" serves its own purpose.
Don't underestimate them.
31
Unfortunately, the Mueller Investigation has something for everyone and can be interpreted as half-empty or as half-full. Personally, I think the Russian involvement in 2016 over the internet was MINUTE in terms of overall internet commerce and activity and in terms of direct, political impact. The INDIRECT impact resulting from our media's now clear, over-reaction was huge, of course. The internet intrusions (that actually interfered with BOTH campaigns) were tiny, but they triggered an allergy-like response by our own media, who had their own stake in the matter. Our media was the real disrupter of the election and it's aftermath, IMO.
3
It's now apparent that Russia (and others) used the low-cost/high-impact internet only to create chaos and undermine America's general domination; like others, they never even believed that Trump would win the election. They probably disliked Hillary more, but were not seriously trying to undermine her campaign. After all, they had the damaging DNC and Podesta emails months before they even started to release them. One may recall how tight the contest with Bernie was while they possessed this material. They started releasing it late in April - and by late May Hillary had the nomination essentially locked up (mainly because of her super delegates). Had they begun this even a month earlier (which they apparently could have) it would have almost certainly cost her the nomination - as her total delegate and popular vote spread occurred at the END, after the race was effectively over (as always happens in these races, due to low voter turnout and bandwagon effect) So close was the race that her campaign felt they needed to engage in some of the corrupt practices exposed in these emails. They should actually thank Russia and Wikileaks, rather than criticize them (the same applies to Comey, but that's another matter). Since Hillary was probably Trump's only pathway to election, one could reason that the Russians foresaw this and intentionally protected Hillary, but this is probably 20/20 hindsight.
1
The FBI answers to Trump ...I trust none of them...
1
I was thinking about voting democrat but after a few vodka and tonic I think republican.
1
Trump says, “So what’s your point?”
2
If the election will be illegitimate again, why wait for it? Impeach now.
8
How come there is no mention of how Sheldon Aldeson has donated millions to the Republican party , and AIPAC and the NRA have a lot more influence than Russia and of course the defense contractors would never give millions to anyone in congress get the money out of elections and go to paper ballots NOW.
13
@Andy
It doesn't grab attention as well - and opens Democrats up to criticism about there own big donors.
Why would the Russians stop when they’re winning?
We are like the people of a town seeing Democracy beaten every day, kicked threatened; Silently hoping that’ll be the worst of it.
Even his supporters, top staff acknowledge, he lies, he is sinner.
So I ask them who’s the guy?
The one convicted by voluntarily pleading guilty? to cheating the IRS/US government out of millions of dollars in taxes?
Any idea what he musta been paid?
He hid/Lied about, his income from the guys who do the bidding of the Kremlin.
You know, he said he was a Volunteer, Campaign Chairman to a pro Ukraine candidate who actually turned out to be thug/mafia ProRussia.( bankrupt the country, destroyed all their treaties, set them back 50 years left in the dead of night moved to Russia)
I was talking about it today.!
Paul Manafort now says he was completely taken advantage of & and tricked him to take millions & toHow interfere with his ability to understand when you sign something saying disclosing your income have to disclose the income the IRS.
Paul Manafort was the Trump Volunteer Presidential Campaign Chairman like he was in the Ukraine.
The Ukrainian President didn’t kiss up to Putin in public.
Why aren’t Republicans demanding an investigation like the 70s GOP Patriots?
The Mueller report lays out the law, Trump can be charged as he leaves Office.
He is already talking about suspending the elections.
Elected leaders took an oath to protect Democracy!
You and I cannot wait, call, write today
3
As long as Trump gets his TRUMP TOWER in Moscow, nothing else matters...
5
@TWade
You realise of course, that the naming and property management of a tower is not the same, as ownership of the real property itself.
Trump will continue to give aid and comfort to our enemy.
Here in America We The People call that crime,..Treason !
10
I gotta admit the examples I've seen of Russian trolling are pretty laughable, on the level of Boris and Natasha plotting to thwart the plans of moose and squirrel.
How about the next time you run one of these articles maybe include links to some examples of Russian interference?
8
I see it constantly over at Washington Post on the comment boards there.
Many of the Russian post-ers are identifiable by now, and comment always on the side of the white supremacists and anti-immigrant rants.
Because of the delayed postings at NYT, I spend less time on the comment boards here, because it is impossible to carry on a real time conversation like over at Washington Post.
I
7
Wait! I thought Donald "Scooter" Trump said that "Putin the Shirtless" and North Korea's "Rocket Man" were good friends of the USA?!?
2
Wasn’t Comey part of it 2016 according to NYT? What kind of job did he have then?
2
Here again, the very lack of trust and confidence in the ability of the average American voter to tell right from wrong, the doubt that he or she can think independently should be the main concern, not the real, or imagined ‘interference’ from abroad.
5
"There is a bear in the woods. For some people, the bear is easy to see. Others don't see it at all. Some people say the bear is tame. Others say it's vicious and dangerous. Since no one can really be sure who's right, isn't it smart to be as strong as the bear? If there is a bear."
Ronald Reagan Campaign Ad, 1984
2
From our Made-in-Russia election to our Made-in-Russia President, then Comey, then Mueller. Forgive me if I have completely lost faith in the FBI to keep us safe and secure. I guess it could have been worse if we didn't have the Agency, but for the life of me I can't figure out how.
1
Should Trump prevail in 2020 he’ll be lauding the F.B.I.’s efforts.
Should Trump loose in 2020 he’ll blame the F.B.I.
Things are NEVER Trump’s fault.
5
All the enemy of a country could wish for is the sowing of disunity in that country. A distracted country consumed by infighting is a weak country.
To use an absurd metaphor - for Putin, having Trump is like having a bag of cockroaches to lob into a pajama party while he’s trying to sneak in and steal the cupcakes.
Strength requires defending against disunity.
10
How is the fact that the President refuses to protect us from our enemies not treason? It’s the textbook definition.
8
Trump’s relationship with Putin is reminiscent of a lovelorn suitor pursuing an emotionally unavailable person, with the conviction that he is the only one who “understands” them, and that the object of his affection will eventually realize that he is special, and that he is “The One”. He will do anything for that validation, including betray those he has sworn to serve. Meanwhile his beloved manipulates and taunts him by cavorting with his best friend Kim.
Showing now on Hallmark Channel’s “Treason Week”.
8
While it seems at first unrelated, this comment is not. I have received at least half a dozen friend requests on Facebook from unknown, smiling, white gentlemen with Caucasian-sounding names. I check their profiles further, and see there are dark-skinned men in the other photo(s) who like activities written in Arabic. Often their preferred religion is Muslim. While I eventually delete the request, there is no way to contact Facebook regarding their deceptive activity because there is no box to check that matches what they are doing that allows me explain reason for reporting profile. Impersonating a friend comes closest, but FB wants to know, “which friend?” Therefore, I can’t route my concern to FB. Social media is allowing other countries or terrorist organizations to spy on our citizens to get to know them so they can influence us, or harm us, on a large scale. Obviously the person who used a white male persona to reach a white woman was hoping I’d accept his friend request without looking further into his background, which was not well hidden. These players most likely will become more sophisticated. Social media companies like Facebook are not giving us the tools to report them, nor is Congress requiring them to do so. Another crack in system that will eventually jeopardize Americans. The current administration does nothing because I fear Trump wants to win the next election with foreign help.
2
We need an update of "The Americans" for this.
2
How can anyone believe that the Trump Administration intends to take any action against Russian bots and trolls on social media when Trump himself, only a few days ago, complained to Twitter executives that they had removed the bots and trolls who were "following" his account?
5
It's big feds.
Trump is building the Wall to keep us in and his buddy, Putin is establishing himself in Venezuela to further block our exodus to South America.
The chief beneficiary of the attacks has no interest in stopping them, and his trolls are already all over this space claiming the Democrats were the ones benefitting. What a world.
5
Of course, Russians favor the Republican side. They know which side is more corrupt.
9
I guess we’ll be seeing a new FBI Director soon.
1
When is our vaunted Cyber Command going to send a message to Putie? Shut down their oil pipelines.
3
Reporter: Sara Huckabee, FBI warns of Russian interference...what say you?
SHS: (scowl): Fake News!
Reporter (turning to face camera): And there you have it...
4
Big powers interfere --- any time and any where they wish; that's why they are called "big powers." The Russians/Soviets do/did, as does the US. I cheer for US interference, most of the time, because it improves peoples' lives. Most of the time.
Russian interference brought hell to many countries and brings chaos to those countries where people are not raised to be critical thinkers. Prime example: the US.
5
How does the Times intend to manage comment moderation to remove (or at least reduce) this risk?
1
Many observers believe that all this media outburst concerning Russia as the master chief of all interferences not only in U.S. politics but also in the Brexit conundrum, is getting old and rather past outdated. Yes, it seems like in campaigns everything could be 'useful' to usher that vast segment of the population somehow doubtful and prone to switching, particularly when you poin to 'established' enemies that can trigger passion for the saviour. In this case the paradigma could be that famous Reagan's defiant stance in front of the enemy by definition: the Soviet Union. Putin's Russia is far from USSR but many may think the Reagan's triumphant aura can still resonate today; only many don't know if using Putin's name and his country can favor or damage Trump's reelection. I think if it's the Democrats using it the former is more plausible.
4
@José Ramón Herrera
Thank you, José, for perfectly typifying The Base.
Its good to know what we're dealing with.
2
"Mr. Trump’s continued hostility toward discussing Moscow’s malign influence campaigns, as well as his broader attitude toward Mr. Putin and Russia, puzzles many national security experts."
It doesn't puzzle me, and I suspect many others. Clearly the man is in some sort of debt to Putin, or the very least, under his emotional control. Remember all those non-annotated meetings with Putin? Ever imagine what was said? I very much doubt it had much to do with displeasure with Russian meddling in our elections.
But the most troubling thing in this article is the schizophrenic nature of this administration. So the top intelligence experts are alarmed, and pulling out all the stops to defend against 2020 meddling, and nobody has the courage to tell the "boss"?
The president may be the boss, but he's only one person. How I wish to God that a bunch of these alarmed individuals would have the courage to rise up and tell the president exactly what they're doing, and why.
The fact they fear his "wrath" and are kowtowing to his paranoid vanity about the legitimacy of his election is just plain pathetic--and sick.
The emperor (God how true) has no clothes and nobody has the guts to tell him he's buck naked and for God's sake, put some clothes on.
7
@ChristineMcM
Not only that, they’re in fact rushing to get clothes from the same tailor.
3
Trump's refusal to defend this country against what is now a much clearer picture of Russian cyber-aggression against our electoral system is nothing less than dereliction of duty. It is a profound betrayal of the country from which he hopes to benefit once again and be reelected. McConnell would not cooperate with Pres. Obama and threatened to paint any attempt to publicize the Russian interference as a government attempt to rig the election against Trump. Following the election, Obama imposed sanctions on Russia, which Flynn (likely on orders from Trump) undercut in discussions with Kislyak. Republican actions have repeatedly been in the service of leaving our country exposed to attack. These people are traitors.
10
But Trump refuses to acknowledge Russia’s interference in our 2016 election or the threats to our 2020 election from Russia. Because Trump benefits from Russian interference. Because it’s the only way a President with 35% to 45% approval poll numbers can win an election. Because it’s un-American and treasonous to refuse to acknowledge the Russian threat and even actively welcome support from Russia - that’s collude in lay terms (doesn’t have to be a beyond reasonable doubt legal case of criminal conspiracy). Because Trump is Putin’s Puppet.
And supporting and voting for Putin’s Puppet is unpatriotic.
6
If everyone quit Facebook I'd feel more optimistic about 2020. But that's not going to happen. They"re shrugging and smiling at the IRA.
6
"What Russia has gained from its influence campaign remains subject to debate"
My hunch is that it is primarily tit-for-tat. The US is doing a lot of similar things in Russia.
4
@Wim Roffel - Nope. If the US was doing similar things in Russia, everyone would have heard about it--Russia would have made sure of that.
3
America must take a simple but strong position: "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on ME!" Our founding fathers warned that America's future depended on an alert, moral and intelligent citizenry. Putin's attacks are aimed directly at those resources, weakening our very foundations. Nothing less than liberty, justice and equality weigh in the balance.
3
@Bill Harrell
Seems like the founding fathers had as much or as little confidence in the intellectual abilities of the average citizen, as those leading today.
Pretty sad, if you think of it.
Is it fair to say with a certain degree of confidence that this problem wouldn't have been occured or had far less negative effect if we have much more than two parties!!
1
So Trump has a desire to be on good terms with one of our geopolitical foes but has no desire to be on good terms with any Americans who didn't vote for him?
5
Mueller could not prove that the Russians influenced the 2016 election. It is likely that the Russians will be just as ineffective in 2020. The DP must sell their platform to the voters by establishing unequivocally what they stand for. Forget impeachment, it would just be a drag on their goal of both houses and the WH in 2020.
2
We are weak, we are so vulnerable, we are cyber-bullied innocents in a dark, fake news forest. A couple of dozen hackers have laid our democracy low. It has nothing to do with our own politicians. They have been running things, after all, so well. But then, beginning we are told in 2017, Vladimir Putin went and ruined everything. Our fabulous intelligence agencies tell us that this is all true.We ought to believe them. Haven’t they always been our faithful protectors?
3
Isn’t the real problem an electorate so gullible that it can be so easily swayed?
2
@JMJackson - That's one of the main problems, but it's also a problem that we have an adversary that has studied psychology for over 100 years in a successful attempt to learn how to sway millions of those gullible people, many of whom will always be with us, because a lot of it is probably genetic.
The Russians helped Trump get elected once and he hopes they do so again. That much is clear and why more in the public arena don't just say it is pathetic.
4
We are as skeptical. We are jaded. We've been made guinea pigs of our own government's experiments in mind control. Such as the gross anti cigarette and anti smoking advertising campaigns our tax dollars fund. Not to mention the well documented role our camp has played meddling in foreign elections.
We haven't been shielded from spam onslaughts, or robocalling, or false advertisements or fake news. Why? Because they are tools regularly employed by our own politicians. The Russians and Chinese and Koreans and Iranians exploit the same tools our own politicians use to sway and control public opinion. So it all looks and feels much the same. So it happens.
Prosecute spammers who break the law. Outlaw robocalls. Do what we can and recognize those behaviors as illegal and harassing. Turn our well honed shaming culture against the perpetrators. Foreign and domestic. Our government hasn't even tried to enforce existing statutes. If they did, it might help.
2
The previous President was told of the Russian interference in 2014 and did nothing. When responding tactics were drawn up Loretta Lynch told those that worked for her to "stand down" and "knock it off" because the Obama administration was trying to put together a deal to send billions of dollars in cash to the largest exporter of terror in the world and he needed Russia's buy-in.
1
The media must stop reporting Republicans' intentionally euphemistic line of distraction that the only reason Trump continues to deny Russia's past and ongoing interference in U.S. elections and cyber attacks on our power grids (which, if attacked in a few key battleground states, could delay voting or election results, giving Trump an excuse to invalidate them and postpone new elections to run out the clock on any state indictments against him) is because he's afraid that acknowledging it would add to the illegitimacy of his presidency without taking it to the next logical step: His denial of Russia's interference has also allowed him an excuse for preventing the NSA and HSD to spend a dime of the money Congress appropriated them to beef up cyber-security to a degree that might prevent the Russians from helping again him in 2020, which we now know from Mueller's report might also include spearphishing state voter rolls to suppress votes or have their voting systems to change votes.
I am now convinced that the only way to get Trump and Republicans to start taking Russia's ongoing interference seriously, and do all they can to prevent it, is if the FBI and NSA make a joint state that there are clear indications that the Russians have switched allegiances and are now interfering to put a Democrat in the White House in 2020.
1
If Trump can hire a Russian software firm to program the ballot boxes, it won't matter who we vote for.
2
The F.B.I. director has brought up a subject the president doesn't want to hear about. I hope he hasn't put his job in jeopardy.
2
what does Trump say? Last summer in Helsinki while appearing before press with his pal Putin, he said loud and clear that he believes Putin and not his intelligence people.
2
Russians did it once, they will do it again.
It’s already happening with the preponderance of fake news and a polarized electorate.
But come election time, there won’t be any half-measures.
It’ll be a full-scale majority for the WH occupant, replete with full-fledged rigging the likes of which have never occurred in the US, on that scale.
As the expression goes, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
3
The bottom line is still that both Trump is our Russian Stooge, who is owned by Putin, and subordinate to him in every respect.
Trump is violating his oath of office to protect, preserve and to defend our country. He should be prosecuted for his failure to do so.
And further, the GOP are Putin's lackeys are less than that. If they will not protect the US, they should be prosecuted for their failure to preserve, protect and defend our country's well!
1
So what?
As long as the one and only President of the United States Donald John Trump,Sr is a useful/ useless asset of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin whatever the latest director of John Edgar Hoover's F.B.I. says does not matter.
James Comey's hacking and meddling in the Hillary Clinton matter was a disgusting, deceptive and duplicitous display of arrogance and hubris that mattered in the 2016 election.
Instead of the F.B.I. Director speaking out the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General should be leading this from the Department of Justice.
However Bill Barr and Rod Rosenstein have pledged fealty and loyalty to Donald Trump over and above the American people and their Constitution. And Trump has more trust in Russian intelligence than he does American interests.
Nothing but collusion that will make Israel, Russia and Saudi Arabia great again. While Donald Trump hides his Trump Organization profitable advantage from the American people in his personal, family and income tax returns and records.
2
I do not think there is any need for the Russians to interfere in 2020 elections. Mr.Trump is going to lose anyway.
The manner in which the Trump administration has been run from the date of its inception will automatically gift victory to the Democrats. There is absolutely no vision of national or foreign policy. Everything is in shambles. I do not see any reason to scrap the Iran Nuclear deal. North Korea is taking Trump adminstration for a ride. America is losing its grip as superpower.
Even domestically, there is nothing to cherish about Trump administration. Obamahealth care has been unnecessarily scrapped. Growing tension along Mexican border, issues of migrants, have only added fuel to fire. Therefore, eventhough Russians would love to see Mr.Trump continue in office, and see America falling, I do not think Mr.Trump would win a second term. Therefore, let not the Russians waste their time.
What’s worse — Russia openly attacking our elections to get their boy elected OR the Russian Republicans openly suppressing votes? It is a tie.
3
Why are there no articles about Mitch and the Russian complicit Senate? We hear absolutely nothing about them as they silently solidify their control.
6
Maybe this time around, Putin will throw the election to the democrats. And “accidentally” leak what they did to trump before he steps down. Remember, they are trying to maximize damage
Trump keeps using the word “coup” to describe attempts to rein in his contempt for the rule of law.
Who thinks he will go willingly if he is not re-elected? Now THAT would be a coup against the Constitution.
Trump wants to be America’s strongman and what will stop him? Where are patriotic Republicans who aren’t brainwashed by his propaganda?
1
Trump’s response: [silence]
Need I say more?
More and more I am coming to believe that our country is toast, the whole idea of liberal democracy is toast. Banana republic, here we come.
1
Not to worry. I'm sure Mitch McConnell is on top of every possible avenue to thwart Russian interference. NOT!
As Russian meddling proved useful in 2016 there's no chance any beholden to DJT will oppose more of the same 2020.
A Potemkin democracy will serve US autocrats as well as it does those of Moscow, Manila, Rio de Janeiro…
How long before Trump cleans house at the FBI?
Because they refused to break the law?
Give it a rest. This ridiculous issue is starting to make the NYT look really foolish. Did Russians meddle in our election? Yes, but with an estimated equivalent advertising / marketing spend of $200,000 out of a $2 billion spend between Hillary and Trump. Does the US meddle in other countries’ elections? Yes - all the time and I’d bet at much higher levels. This whole thing has always been a big nothing burger. Time to move on.
3
How is it that there is No Mention of Trump's two-hour secret -in-plain-view meeting with Putin ??? No one knows what was discussed and yet we've all just "moved on" ??
1
Odd that the article quotes so many people who claim to be puzzled at Trump's motivations in his abject devotion to Russia and Putin in particular, but there are no quotes from people who have studied Trump and his relationship to Russia and specific Russians for years, and have some pretty evidence-based things to say about Trump's motivations.
From the article: 'During the 2016 campaign, Mr. Weiss said, Russia tried to explore what motivated Mr. Trump, to determine any advantages that Moscow could glean from his pro-Russia stance.'
But Trump's pro-Russia stance wasn't new to Trump or to Moscow as of 2016, and Trump's campaign wasn't the beginning of Russia's relationship with Trump, and its studying of what motivates him. There's enough open-source reporting on their past relationship, that at least some of it could have made it into this article, but none of it did.
Bottom line: Trump's relationship with Russia isn't something that's simply "out of kilter".
5
Recognition of Russian attempts to interfere with elections has to be nonpartisan.
As do efforts to find and stop it.
Unfortunately it has been largely politicized.
Clinton's team decided, the day after she lost, to blame the loss on Russian interference and the claim is still often made.
Trump downplayed the interference because he thought it undermined him.
Both sides need to stop ignoring or trying to benefit from the interference, which is real and dangerous.
7
@Talbot - False equivalency. Of the two "sides" that you cite, which do you think is actively thwarting attempts to keep the attention on Russian interference, and thus doing the actual damage?
The investigations and calls to impeach Trump for participating in Russian influence aren't simply attempts by "Clinton's side" to get rid of Trump simply for its own sake, or because Clinton voters feel she should be in the White House--the things that Trump has done have given people far more motivation to get rid of him than that. Continuing to investigate and trying to get rid of Trump is part and parcel with fighting back against Russian influence operations. Going after Trump keeps at center stage Russia's interference, Trump's collaboration with it, and his attempts to obstruct investigations into it.
2
@Talbot: Tired bothsideism again. The election was too close in the critical states that were precision-targeted by the Russians, and the Trump campaign had too many contacts with Russians, that the claim that Clinton lost due to Russian interference and Trump benefitted from it, is very credible. That’s exactly why the interference was and is real and dangerous. It has not been “politicized”, because it IS foreign political interference. If it doesn’t make a difference, why bother?
We have a President who would rather attack and discredit the FBI than defend against Russian sabotage. He is well aware that law enforcement threatens him, and that the Russians are on his side. The GOP has a word for this: “patriotism”.
36
What's the name to kowtow a foreign power which is an enemy?
10
@Gadea
To give obeisance, though that doesn't necessarily have to be the enemy.
1
@Gadea
Traitor?
2
A quisling. Trump.
2
The only way Trump can prove the legitimacy of 2016 election is by winning 2020 election.
He has to win 2020 without Russian help. His refusal to fight foreign interference will make even a valid victory illegitimate.
He must not only win, but win on his own.
2
I’m sure Trump will gladly accept Russia’s help again.
3
@Kodali Not if his campaign is pulled across the finish line again by Russian propaganda.
2
Please please please could we stop using the word "meddling" to describe this aggressive sabotage??
39
And where is Congress?
13
Still afraid of DJT that he will primary Republican pols who speak up, ask Nebraska’s Sen Ben Saas(sp).
1
The 2020 election is beginning to shape up as a contest between democracy and fascism. Trump is looking and sounding more like Benito Mussolini every day.
52
Thanks, FBI, but you're 4 years too late.
11
Russia’s going to meddle? Now that just makes Donald Trump’s day, doesn’t it? Know why? Because no one is going to do one thing about it and Putin’s laughing his head off......
20
Why on Earth would Republicans -- especially this 'president' -- want to limit Russian involvement in our Elections?
It worked out just fine for them last time.
42
Certainly, both Democrats and Republicans can help contain Russian meddling by not seeking Kremlin help against their adversaries. Trump's campaign showed interest in any dirt they could receive about Hillary although none was actually supplied. And the Democrats went much further, seeking out and paying for Russian dirt on Trump in the infamous Trump dossier. There is also clear evidence that this dossier was used by the Obama administration to spy on the Trump campaign. When it comes to Russian meddling in our democracy, we have met the enemy and he is us.
2
@Alex: Nonsense. The Russian informants of Steele were no friends of the Kremlin, unless they deliberately spread misinformation, something Steele warned about and recommended should be further investigated. The Obama administration did not spy on the Trump campaign, but monitored Russians who were friends of the Kremlin contacting campaign members to influence the process, which is illegal. Are you telling me it is illegal for the FBI to monitor people attempting to commit a federal crime, after they went through the thorough judiciary process of obtaining a FISA warrant to allow them to do so? We have indeed met the enemy and we should not side with him!
2
@Alex, apples and oranges. The so-called dossier (actually a series of memos) was written by Christopher Steele, former head of the Russia desk for Britain's MI6. He isn't Russian, and most of the dossier--which is raw intelligence--proved true.
Obama didn't "spy" on the Trump campaign. The FBI, independent of the White House, began to investigate the Trump campaign because Papadopoulos bragged to an Australian diplomat that he was in contact with Russians who had emails from the Clinton campaign. The investigation was not launched because of the Steele report.
The only party seeking Russian help was the Trump campaign.
2
@Alex The Democrats went much further?? The "infamous Trump dossier" was collected by a former British intelligence agent who started the dossier while in the employ of one of Trump's Republican primary opponents but was the picked up by the Democrats but continued it after that because he felt there was alarming information concerning American national security should Trump be elected president. Britain is one our allies- unlike the Russian government that DJT Jr. et al eagerly met with to find out dirt about Hillary that was illegally obtained and is definitely NOT one of our allies.
And the Obama administration did not "spy" on the Trump campaign. The dossier was one footnoted piece of evidence that the FBI used to CONTINUE to a FISA warrant to watch Carter Page who had been under surveillance by them since 2011 because they thought he was a Russian asset. So stop with the false equivalency.
3
Alleged Russian cyberattacks were effective during the 2016 election only because the Democratic National Committee was caught stacking the deck against Bernie Sanders to ensure Hillary Clinton won the 2016t election. If political organization didn't engage in dirty dealing, they wouldn't be vulnerable to cyberattacks. What if the Russian had probed DNC servers only to discover everything was above board. The WikiLeaks publication of DNC email would jibe been a non-event.
Maybe the threat of cyberattacks is good for democracy. They keep everyone honest.
4
@William Case, there's nothing alleged about it. Read the Mueller report. Russian meddling was "sweeping and systematic."
No, cyberattacks are obviously not good for democracy. That comment sounds like it could have come from St. Petersburg.
1
@William Case And maybe if some foreign adversary had hacked the Republicans' servers we could have found out that Trump was a lying, venal, ignorant, corrupt two-timer. Oh yeah, we already knew that and he was still elected.
@William Case - Would you have also welcomed the FBI opening its case files during the campaign, telling us on an ongoing basis what was happening with its investigation into some people on the Trump campaign who were making contacts with Russians tied to the Russian government and its intelligence services? Or Trump's approval to Cohen for payments of hush money to his mistresses so they wouldn't talk prior to Election Day? And there's a lot more that could have been revealed in the name of honesty.
Unless we as Americans come together and make the necessary laws for politicians who run for office, must show there tax returns for 10 years previous we are a we are a country that can be manipulated.
It's time for term limits for all politicians, judges and any office the the American people pay for thru there taxes.
We are a country for all human beings not a country for the select few.
2020 will be our turning point in a new Republic based on the people not the politician.
What value have the leaders in all countries have in common, lack of common decency and integrity.
Let's turn the page for a fuller life for all human beings...
9
I can't clearly define this, but I have a hunch that a mass exodus from America or to America is in the future. Even before Trump and his Wall, we entrenched in Colombia and invaded Panama to establish a presence in the gateway between the continents. Now Russia is attempting to establish itself in South America, Venezuela, adjacent to Colombia. It's obvious a geographic strategy is in play. Perhaps others can build on my insight. I stop here.
2
The only way that DT would be onboard with seriously trying to do something about this, is if the FBI could convince DT, that they are trying to get someone other than him elected. Good luck with that one.
15
What part of this doesn't - or won't - Trump understand???? Will - or can - Boy Donnie be a real president?
6
@CP - The answer to that question already left the barn at least two years ago. The answer is no. He works hard every day to prove that to us.
Let the fox guard the hen house.
9
Our President sure doesn't care. Me, I intend to vote Democrat twice.
15
The most disturbing part of all is ... why isn't Bob Barr warning us about this? That's his job, and it looks to me like he's AWOL on the topic.
25
@Walt Thiesse,
If you mean the the AG Bill Barr, he's complicit in undermining the Mueller Report.
Come on democrats, start impeachment proceedings already. What more do you need?
22
GOP is glad to move its agenda while using Trump as their meat shield. Election meddling, pshh. Not their problem. They are quietly getting their jobs done while the rest of us freak out over the dumpster fire at the White House.
17
I understand there is a Facebook tool whereby you can check if you were a "useful idiot" in the last campaign. That requires a degree of mea culpa I suspect is beyond most. What should actually happen when an account is taken down, is a broadcast to all friends, followers etc. of the taken down account. The information exists, force it to be used properly!
6
@Dave Allan I think that is an excellent suggestion. But you know most people will deny till their death that they were ever duped- even when presented with incontrovertible evidence.
Wouldn't it be nice to get Facebook and Google to fund the effort?
4
If the Russians were smart they’d try to meddle in favour of the dems and then leak it.
2
Russian assistance is welcomed by the GOP. Clearly.
19
So maybe this time Democrats get the deal?
1
Trump’s reaction to this is treasonous.
31
Yes, I'm paranoid. They really are out to get us.
5
Well, I'm not voting in 2020 until I know conclusively who the Russians want to win. Every Trump American must be clear on this issue. If you listen to right-wing radio you'll know who the Russians have the fix on.
I may be meddled with or then again maybe not.
Can we do the "purple" ink thing like the Middle East some time ago?
Meddled = purple
No meddle = clean
3
Waiting?
They want Trump.
You know...Putin for Trump, 2020.
Any questions?
No, intelligent questions?
6
I’m not worried about Russia as much as I’m worried about biased media, mickey mouse reasoning, factless rhetoric, identity politics. Keep blaming Russia when the discord and divisiveness is being sowed inside the US
7
@Al My suggestion is to stop watching Fox News.
Unless, of course, it’s white identity politics.
Why, those don’t count, what with straght white guys being the zero bulb in the thermometer.
Nature’s rest state, amirite? David Duke uber whatever, hurrah.
By the way, y’all are gonna lose.
So let me see if I understand this: 'Red Dawn' the 2020 movie version, will have Russians landing on our beaches and we are to ignore them? But of course! The president spoke to Putin who said it was all an illusion.
15
Today, our Commander in Chief was at the NRA convention, and, former convention special guest Maria Butina was sentenced for her Russian billionaire oligarchy financed attempt to use the NRA to help Republicans win in 2016 elections.
It is not so much collusion, as it is confusion that worries me.
15
Maybe I missed it...but where is the coverage of Trump's incendiary comments at the NRA today? And I quote:
"They tried for a coup, didn’t work out so well," said Trump. "And I didn’t need a gun for that one, did I? All was taking place at the highest levels in Washington, D.C. You’ve been watching, you’ve been seeing, you’ve been looking at things you wouldn’t have thought possible in our country. Corruption at the highest level, a disgrace, spying, surveillance, trying for an overthrow."
That would be funny if it weren't so dangerous. So, Mr. Mueller and the Dems are trying to perform a coup? What's going on with Trump these days is way out of bounds...unhinged and unAmerican. Sounds like Mr. Wray and others in Justice and Intelligence (and in Congress!) are being attacked by this president. Lawless.
49
@Nancy G
Sounds pretty spot on.
6
@Nancy G
It is dangerous and it will be too late to throw this guy out when he loses the election and , oh i dunno, maybe REFUSES to give up power. That's not hyperbole, either.
Everyday we let this usurper sit in the oval office is a day he gets one more person in a position of power, say, like an attorney general, or a few real generals, under his spell and doing his bidding.
Wake up, Democrats. Pursue every available investigation and lead to root out this public display of obstruction and destruction of our laws and our country.
1
@Nancy G. Sounds like? He has been doing this day one. Pretending he's being attacked instead of admitting this is how things are supposed to work when theres suspected foreign interference in elections.
1
The FBI should be careful. President Trump has attacked and then fired or purged just about everyone in the FBI investigating Russia and or investigating him. Including the director....
Clearly he puts his own self interest above our election security and national security. He benefited from Putin’s attack in 2016. He is doing nothing to prevent it for our next election. Disgraceful.
27
“What motivates Trump is still a mystery,” Mr. Weiss said.
Really?
It's no mystery to me.
What motivates him is money and ego.
It's pretty simple, just like his mind.
38
What motivates t and Mitch is complete power and control and with their deal with the devil (Putin), they got it.
The US has been interfering in foreign elections since the end of WWII. In some cases, it even played a role in overthrowing elected governments that it didn't like. e.g. Ukraine 2014, Iran 1953.
11
@Howard Jarvis Well that sounds like it shld be acceptable. If we interfered in other country's elections in the name of democracy ( correctly, deviously, or not) we should allow it.
1
Your point being we should let other countries do it to us because we deserve retribution for our errant ways?
7
@Howard Jarvis
Americans don't want to hear that. It's OK for 'us'. Not so OK for 'them'.
2
Some of these comments are quite astonishing. It is the
FBI director, not an unnamed high level source, who is
quoted often. The level of cynicism or indifference in
some commenters reflects the deep cracks in the conceptual frame underlying the society's ability to understand reality and respond appropriately.
There is little a society can do when it is so fractured except hope for the best but expect the worst. At some point the worst shows up on the doorstep and the society is completely unprepared and left defenseless.
That is what is in the
process of occurring before our eyes insofar as it pertains
to discrediting election processes and results and also,
it should not be forgotten, responding to the challenges
that rapid climate change is already making quite manifest
for all those with eyes willing to see.
When there is so
much willfully ignorant and cynical push back against two such very powerful forces, the ability to respond appropriately is severely weakened with very bad
consequences for all of us.
10
@bl
To the latter point it is useful to ask whether anyone
has yet thought to inquire of the epa director whether
he ever found the time to study the Climate Assessment report issued from NOAA last year.
In his Time magazine interview from several weeks ago, this does not yet seem to be the case given that
he expressed the thoroughly imbecilic notion that water quality was of higher priority for him than doing
everything possible, not the least possible, to attempt
to reduce emissions of co2 and methane. This indicates, at least to me, that someone needs to brief
him sooner than later about what he seems to think is of secondary importance.
This too is an example of lack of coordination since it tells me that NOAA and EPA are not at all on the same
wavelength vis a vis an issue that is, can we all concur, slightly more important than water quality.
And besides, the recent weakening by EPA of water quality standards makes wheeler's earlier assertion of high level concern absurd and self contradictory (but then again, too many commenters will then just growl back a "so what"?) Yet another consequence of lack of high level coordination, this time within wheeler's own office.
5
@bl astutely stated.
Did Russia sabotage the 2016 election? Probably. Will Russia sabotage the 2020 election? I am sure that they will try.
But is it possible that by choosing a strong enough Dem candidate for THIS election that the electorate can overwhelm any nonsense that Russia will try to pull? I think so.
22
@Cookie Czar Perhaps. But we must do all we can to prevent the attack from succeeding.
3
@Dave... Can you clearly explain what could be the attack and what could be the success it can achieve?
The IC could disseminate more information about Putin's kleptocracy in Russia.. make it inescapable. Certainly many would not believe it, but simply seeing it persistently would undermine his regime.
12
It's amazing that we're essentially rudderless as a country when it comes to securing the integrity of our elections. Because our president is an insecure man-child with limited mental acumen, he seemingly can't countenance the idea that the Russians are tinkering with our elections because it hurts his feelings. If this were a movie, it'd be a farcical comedy. In reality, it's a tragedy.
20
@Vin He can't countenance the idea, or he knows it is real and relishes it? It seems that how he responded last time around.
4
During the Cold War, we were fed the line that the Russians and Chinese were brainwashed by their totalitarian governments. They did this by controlling the media. Why would any American allow a hostile foreign power like Russia surreptitiously subvert our political process?
11
@Doug Lowenthal. Apparently because its A- okay if they get the results they wanted.
6
“What motivates Trump is still a mystery,” Mr. Weiss said. “Every time he talks about this is so out of sync with the way Republicans, or Democrats, talk.”
The Russians know what motivates him, and that is what is important to understand.
12
The United States should start attacking Putin and his chum billionaire oligarchs on social media. Point out the disparity in what Putin and his friends rob from Russian citizens and the benefits provided to the citizenry. In this way, these Russian political criminals will have to expend much more effort protecting their own greed and self-interests.
Who knows? Russia may become more democratic than the United States which is now governed by greed in its many manifestations.
11
President Trump issued the Strengthening the Cybersecurity of Federal Networks and Critical Infrastructure Executive Order on May 11, 2017. The article points out some of the steps the the recent defensive steps the administration is taking,
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-executive-order-strengthening-cybersecurity-federal-networks-critical-infrastructure/
@William Case: Very general and vague and doesn’t mean a thing to Trump if he doesn’t want to be briefed on the specifics of Russian election interference.
10
@Anna
The article tells what steps the administration is taking. For example, the FBI., the intelligence agencies and the Department of Homeland Security have made permanent the task forces they created to confront 2018 midterm election interference. The FBI recently moved nearly 40 agents and analysts to the counterintelligence division.
3
@William Case - Everything currently being done to enhance US election security is being done in spite of Trump. It's well-known that he doesn't want to hear about the subject because he thinks it's only intended to delegitimize his election. He's not coming up with any ideas to help, and he only reluctantly signs anything along these lines, which other people have come up with.
1
Glad to see this article. We need more like it. We can survive a Trump. We can't survive a loss of faith in the fairness and integrity of our elections.
18
And yet President Trump and administration block election security plans? Is that possible?
Kirstjen Nielsen Was Instructed Not to Talk to Trump About Russia Targeting the 2020 Elections
Trump considers any discussion of Russian election interference to be a challenge to the legitimacy of his presidency.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/04/kirstjen-nielsen-was-instructed-to-not-discuss-2020-election-security-with-the-white-house/
9
I am baffled by the sentence
"They have complained of a lack of high-level coordination."
Where exactly have these people been and what have they been doing since January 2017?
They haven't noticed that there is
an impetuous child of 8 yrs running things since then? One who has no significant attention span (like many of his constituents surely), no interest in understanding complexities, no patience for nuances, no time for briefing
papers when there is the next f-x talk event to watch or tweet
storm to vent.
Someone who has also hidden the translator notes for all of the 1 on 1s with putin.
Someone who has decided unilaterally that Iran's economy should be placed in a stranglehold, despite its following of the 6 party agreement, which is tantamount to convincing its supreme leader that
there is very little to lose (sooner than later) were it to blockade the Straits of Hormuz?
Someone who has purged the security cabinet of so many
top level managers that it is laughable to think that it's
capable of high level coordination.
Someone who believes he's still a tv star in a new role
as biggest boss on the planet and is relishing the resulting ego rush more than anything else.
The absence of coordination is a logical consequence of
all this. The FBI just needs to work around this rather than
expecting any change in the upper level chaos.
I sure do hope they can figure out how to do that asap.
18
The Russians did not “meddle” in the 2016 elections, they attacked our electoral system.Thank goodness Mr.Wray and Mr.Coates realize it and are preparing for the battle of 2020.We were for years in a “Cold War” with Russia but now that has morphed into a Cyber War.Mr.Putin , good KGB agent that he was , saw in Trump an easy target- a political novice with an immense need for money and validation of his divisive ideas.Trump lives on “tweets” and gets his information from Fox News so it is not,a,stretch for Russians to insert their propaganda.The Russians are not only coming, they are already here.Here is hoping that the FBI can protect us-Trump has forgotten that he took an oath to preserve and protect the Constitution.
30
@JANET MICHAEL Trump's fingers were crossed when he took the oath.
6
@JANET MICHAEL
The Russians not only attacked but bought an installed a puppet leader , too stupid and selfish to be believed, and hoped it would disrupt the country. They have been rewarded for this effort with the Manchurian Candidate. Art imitating life.
I'll bet anything that , in their wildest dreams, Russia never thought they would be so successful .
2
Thank God that the FBI and the intelligence services are working as usual to protect our democracy, since the President certainly is doing the opposite. There is nothing more important than the security of our election system.
22
Of course Russia will continue to attack us. Why wouldn’t they? They were wildly successful the last time and haven’t had to suffer any significant negative consequences. They’ll be back until we demonstrate we’re serious. Just as an aside “meddling” seems to be a rather mild choice of terms. When one cook adds a little extra salt to the soup when the first cook isn’t looking, that might be described as meddling. A foreign state’s comprehensive effort to install their leader of choice? Let’s just call this what it is; an attack on the United States.
29
The real issue is the electoral college. When a president is determined by less than 100,000 votes in a few states while losing the popular vote by 3 million, you have a rigged system that is very easily manipulated.
29
Trump and his minions will be happy for more Russian interference in the elections as they have joined the party of Putin. And have no idea what Putin cares about....ignorance is bliss.
11
The GOP with help from Putin will hack the voting machines.
Let’s not be naive
17
@New World I wish every state would do what Washington State does. Mail-in ballots. No voting machines to hack. A paper trail that can be manually recounted if necessary. We have several weeks to vote in the privacy and convenience of our homes.
15
@bounce33 = you got it right. Don't use any voting machine that is linked to the internet. That eliminates hacking. Then we have to deal with Mr. Zuckerberg and Facebook - he didn't think it was suspicious being paid in rubles for posts. Pretty clear to me where that came from.
At my poling place in Virginia, we fill out a paper ballot, it is scanned into a reader that is not linked to the internet. The paper ballots are kept for verification purposes. Simple and far less susceptible to Russian tinkering.
7
@New World
I agree. And the states that were hacked last time have pushed back on help; saying they have no problems.
Yeah. Right.
5
"President Trump has little interest or patience for hearing about such warnings, officials have said."
****
Could that be because they've been crying "Wolf!" about the Russians for two years? And they blamed him for it despite the fact that it began 2 years before he was even elected?
One of President Trump's first acts was to task each agency with creating a plan to counter cybersecurity. No interest from the media in those plans? Easier for media to repeat negative hearsay unfortunately.
2
@AACNY
Does the phrase “see no evil, hear no evil” sound familiar to you?
9
@AACNY Well, apparently there really was a wolf, right? The Russians interfered with our elections and plan to continue doing so. No one's been saying that isn't true except for Trump and his crew. "A few ads on Facebook, a 400 pound guy in his basement."
Check out how the Trump administration has refused to address the cyber security concerns of the coming 5G network.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-communications/the-terrifying-potential-of-the-5g-network
1
@AACNY, crying wolf? Have you read the Mueller report? It describes in detail a Russian attack that was "sweeping and systematic." It also describes numerous attempts by the Trump team to collude with the Russians, including sharing internal campaign polling data and the campaign's strategy in battleground states. It may not have risen to the level of a criminal conspiracy, but not for lack of trying.
As for the executive order you mention, Trump still refers to the whole thing as the Russia hoax. Someone told him to sign that EO, but I guarantee he didn't read it.
Vague, devoid of details, and completely overblown - all so incredibly obvious for anyone who hasn’t been completely taken in by the ever-pervasive Russophobia that dominates our airwaves. A nothing-burger on par with the much-beloved but DOA Russiagate. But please by all means continue to peddle it and add to the hysteria. Big bad RUSSIA. An evil the likes of which the world has never seen.
1
Incredible perspective completely diversionary. Thanks, Ivonsky.
14
No, Russia is just a corrupt authoritarian state with a weak economy and a bloated military. What they really want is to steal all the territory they lost after the breakup of the Soviet Union without incurring even more economic sanctions or starting a war. So they try to disrupt western democracy as much as possible in order to weaken our ability to respond. But there is nothing "great" about them, let alone "greatest."
15
@Figgsie: Read the details in the Mueller report.
14
Clearly Russia is continuing to attack our democracy. Why don't we do the same thing to them? I am sure that their systems are as attackable as ours.
2
How do you think Yeltsin got elected in 96? Look up this nyt article: Russia Isn’t the Only One Meddling in Elections. We Do It, Too
4
@Steve S because everyone in Russia knows their elections are rigged. Anyone who runs against Putin and becomes popular is either jailed or is murdered. How can sow distrust in the Russian elections when Russians already know they are phony.
Steve you do and to so many other countries
How could it be a "significant counterintelligence threat" when the intelligence they're going to encounter is insignificant?
2
So does more defense against counterintelligence threats mean that Trump won't win in 2020?
2
Russia and Trump conspiring again as partners to rip our democracy to shreds.
Thankfully, the FBI is doing, and Robert Mueller has done, everything in their power to protect us.
Meanwhile the hapless Senate, led by the unpatriotic Mitch McConnell, sit by idly watching it all happen.
15
This is exactly why he has to be impeached.
11
Seems to only be an issue when the democrats lose.
1
@TIM JONES
Just as a history refresher, the impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton were initiated, by a Republican Congress, in late 1998.
That was a little over 130 years since the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, initiated in 1868 by...a Republican Congress.
If there is any pattern to be discerned here, it certainly isn't one of Democrats rushing to impeach Republican presidents.
3
@TIM JONES, it's an issue when our elections are attacked by a hostile foreign power. Hopefully we're all patriotic Americans who want to protect our democracy.
1
No, it's only an issue because we have a sitting president that's committed treason.
You see?
I can state alternative facts just like this administration.
It's really pretty easy.
1
This is not meddling. That's what little old ladies and in-laws do.
This is interference. This is intrusion. This is an unwelcome manipulation of our system of voting. This is a deliberate attempt to unsettle voters and make them unsure of our elections.
We put men on the moon but were unable to see the Russians doing everything within their power to upset confidence in our elections and steer the outcomes.
Worse, there are actually Americans in positions of power turning a blind eye while others give this a green light.
21
We must band together to GOTV in 2020 like our lives and the future of the country depend on it, because they do. Let the robust turnout in the Midterms be just a preview of the all-out stampede to the polls to rid the WH of the clueless interlopers who will be promptly and deservedly indicted upon stepping off whatever form of transportation is willing to deliver them back to New York. The time is nearing to change the channel and then for it to be deleted permanently from all line-ups.
9
Too bad that Trump believes that acknowledging Russian interference in 2016 undermines the legitimacy of his election. He is being very short-sighted in doing nothing on a comparable scale to counter such influence in the 2020 election. Failing to act on this problem will undermine the legitimacy of the next election to an even greater extent should he win that. Then his presidency will be HUGELY illegitimate.
11
Is any other country besides Russia “meddling” in our elections? Better yet is any other major country not meddling in our elections?
4
I think France is not meddling. Probably Germany, Italy, Japan, India and the UK either. Maybe China can interfere on behalf of the dems to balance things out.
5
Wow, America has fallen so quickly as a nation of strength. Russia can decide they'll manipulate and control your elections, and they don't have to worry one bit about facing any consequence.
26
I would not be so quick to judge. Let’s see what happens in October first.
1
@Rebel in Disguise
That is how it would appear.
Please, plan with your other NATO and Commonwealth Partners how to manage if Trump keeps the USA on the Dark Side.
You may have to protect yourselves from us.
@Rebel in Disguise what are we supposed to do? go back to the threat of mutually assured destruction?
Trump and many Republican politicians want the Russians to help them in 2020, just like they did in 2016. They aren't going to do more than the bare minimum for PR purposes to fight it. They might even be able to pass another big tax cut if they get enough help.
16
"Somebody else just posted about how the Russians will probably support Bernie in 2020."
The Mueller report included an email from some Russian that said Russia in 2016 liked Bernie Sanders too -- not just Trump.
I doubt it helps one's candidacy to be known -- before the election -- as a candidate that the Russians like. Better to keep that quiet, at least until after the election. Maybe welcome Russian support, even collude, but never, ever admit that the Russians are on your side (or were). If the Russians did favor Trump over Clinton (and the Mueller report makes pretty clear that Russia did), that's not something Trump would want to brag about, especially if he were colluding with the Russians.
Frankly, I can't even imagine Bernie would collude with the Russians. I suspect he's as clean as a hound's tooth on this -- and on everything else. I happen to think he's too old, but I have no doubt that he's honest and sincere.
10
@MyFourCents russia probably likes bernie because bernie is non-interventionist (voted against iraq, for example) and a peace seeker. russia didnt want clinton because of syria.
3
@MyFourCents. I agree. Bernie isn't buy-able. Trump on the other hand is very kompromat.
1
"Paper ballots only in 2020!"
Probably a good idea.
Although various election officials insisted that the Russians hadn't hacked any voting machines in 2016, it's never been clear to me how they could be so sure about that. And whether they succeeded or not, the Russians certainly tried. Why take a chance? Paper ballots.
8
@MyFourCents here's the crazy thing. The manufacturers of computerized voting machines refuse to provide to elections officials the source coding for the programs that operate the machines due to competitive harm it would cause and they got away with this. Yes you can test deck them but you don't know if there are hidden features that can only be revealed by examination of the coding.
6
@P Lock. Can you imagine giving voting machine source code to the Republican States? Those Republicans would make gerrymandering look like remedial kindergarten once they figure out how to gerrymander the voting machines. Republicans do not like democracy, they want to want democracy but they don't want equality.
3
Long live the hanging chad!
1
With Trump on Putin's side, and Putin at his, Trump will cruise to reelection. Trump needs only 40% to get reelected, and their no collusion plan is moving along nicely.
7
There are two crucial things America should do to protect our elections from foreign cyberattacks, hacking and influence.
First, the only way we can be sure that voting machine software or the ridiculous *remote* access modems used in ES&S election equipment (44% of US election equipment, per election security writer Jennifer Cohn) aren't hacked, infected with malware, or the votes or vote tabulations changed is to go back to *hand-marked* paper ballots that are hand-counted with bipartisan observers present.
We've sacrificed election security and integrity for speed and ease. What's the purpose of knowing the winners on election night? Especially when many states such as New York have deadlines for returning absentee ballots days or weeks after an election? Do we really have to know immediately? Isn't accuracy and security more important?
By reverting to a manual, paper-ballot system (except for disabled persons who must have electronic means of voting available) we could secure our voting systems.
Second, Facebook and other social media/big tech firms have proven unwilling to both protect our privacy and stop fake accounts, bots, and propaganda.
It's time for Congress to strictly regulate these companies. Senator Ron Wyden has two bills to help secure elections and our personal data: the Protecting American Votes and Elections Act requiring paper ballots and post-election audits, and the Consumer Data Protection Act. These bills are a good start and worth our support.
17
Yeah! Watch out for those Russians.
I'm glad America can identify our enemies. What would we do if an enemy we didn't recognize--like the FBI itself--threw an election?
I mean, how would we respond if an agency like the FBI, which is trusted, threw a candidate under the bus 11 days before an election and reversed the expected results?
Glad the FBI is on my side. I feel safe now.
8
@Michael
You have to admit. It's nice to see the FBI back at its day job.
@tooner
Point one would violate free speech and under what right should a law abiding business be shut down by the government because foreigners place ads on it ?
Point two is non sensical.
Point three would solve nothing
Try again !
2
He publicly solicited, then gladly accepted, Putin's help in 2016. He'll do everything in his power to enlist his help again next year unless he's impeached.
Do your Constitutional duty, Congress! Make American self-governing again!
16
The Russians are interfering already. Who dug up two obscure Kate Smith songs and whispered the lyrics into the ears of organizers for the politically victimized, who then raised a cry to ball teams?
When Paul Robeson also sang those songs, which after all were poignant depictions of black life, when Kate Smith forcefully denounced racism, and when our inner city communities would do well to scrutinize the words of rap songs that routinely use the word "n" and "c" and other coarse vulgarities?
(And how childish that I cannot write them out. They are drummed into my ears by passing cars every day.)
Let's keep our eye on the ball and get rid of Donald Trump, whose henchmen are slashing our New Deal programs, our National Parks, our civil rights, and our cyber-security.
Don't let the Russian trolls do it to us again.
12
Russians will do what they think is the right agenda for their country— to have someone in WH who is not as antagonistic as say Obama and hawkish as Clinton.
They plan a long term game.
That’s key to Kremlin, and once locked on, they’re brutal in execution.
The thing is:
-1- are we capable of identifying it in timely fashion and using social media, the way they have to alert the masses.
-2- secondly, is CIA doing counter insurgent movement in Russia to create mass unrest against Putin. There’s no need to pretend, it has been subtle not overt, but warfare in- between and it’s not stopping anytime soon.
-3- FB, Snapchat, instagram and twitter need to streamline their cyber security and rid their platforms of fake news and propaganda ads. Something as aggressive as FBI taking over such servers if they fail to comply.
Because they have been failing massively so far!
If anything, Mueller report has proven and shown their almost “fanatic dedication” to sabotaging USA political scene.
Question is, how dedicated are we?
7
@Ash.
Obama wasn't antagonistic. He was weak. He allowed Putin to meddle for 2 years and did nothing.
@Ash.
"-3- FB, Snapchat, instagram and twitter need to streamline their cyber security and rid their platforms of fake news and propaganda ads. Something as aggressive as FBI taking over such servers if they fail to comply. "
ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!?!?! please do yourself a favor and look up the FBI's previous works in earlier generations. the very last thing we need is the government to take over a form of communication and media.
a simple search of "cointelpro" will bring you down the rabbit hole.
unfortunately for our Democracy, Trump will purge the FBI of agents who dont't love Trumpy
6
Why wouldn't they? The US President wants it and defends Russia and Putin; Any issues? No worries; Rod Rosenstein and William Barr will 'Land the plane" for Trump; 47% of the electorate is Trump First, Last, Always; And Democrats are, as usual, paper tigers. Notice Nadler's dates for Trump's tax returns to be handed over to Congress have come and gone with nary a slap on the wrist. Why isn't Mnuchin in jail? This country was ripe for a corrupt president, and we got one. All Trump has done successfully is show us all how easily this country can be turned into a banana republic.
14
Why do our Intelligence Community need to be told to do everything possible to secure your voting systems? That's their job - why not just do it?
When Kirstjen Nielson testifies before the House Judiciary Committee, she can then explain how our highest office holder refuses to take the security of our democracy, seriously.
Why is trump so caviler? trump cannot get over the fact that a woman beat him in the general election (and Russian interference is what carried him, not his personality) and that a black man publicly humiliated him (over a forced error trump brought on himself).
9
Why isn’t the US engaged in an all-out mission to kill Putin? Legit question.
5
@Dan Unless intended as irony or sarcasm--
An unfortunate example of the mass derangement produced by Russiagate.
2
@Dan
Sounds really "legit"....
1
@Dan because we both have atomic bombs
Cut the Russian's access to the web.
I refer you to the brain article here of April 24. Brain waves are emitted by everyone and received with long wires, I've known about for 35 years.
Monitor satellite, power lines and telephones lines in the District for subaudible signals and ask Trump for blood samples to test for conductive elements in his blood. I'm not kidding. He may be a literal Russian Robot against his will.
Don't worry about selective targeting in Russia short of Nuclear. The Russian people voted for Putin and I have no sympathy for them. We were never meant to be friends.
Trump is unable to keep America safe.
18
@Greg and unwilling when it comes to Putin.
3
One more thing Trump isn’t worried about.
3
Is this country, led by treasonous elected officials of the right, allowing this to happen without consequences? If the Dems were in the White House, the hooligans of the right would be screaming for a nuclear war!
17
Can we imagine the day that President Trump utters the phrase,
"Mr. Putin, tear down your Facebook page."?
7
What baloney. The media and the government are telling you,me
that we are being manipulated by the Russians regarding our elections. Well many people including the Russians spend lots of money to manipulate or rather persuade us to do something. The whole marketing system,advertising system, public relations system all want to persuade us to buy ,or think about something they want us to buy or think about. Your being manipulated from the time you wake up in the morning to the time you go to bed.Enjoy your life. Trump has some good ideas about trade,plus he pumped the economy for the better,we do need a rational policy on immigration,infrastructure betterment would be good. What I am saying in politics you vote on policy nothing else and ask yourself as you think about things do I really need this and why do I care about certain things,where did these ideas come from.A lot of times they come from the great manipulation machines that are constantly vying for our attention. We are better than this.life is simple. Care for the planet, care for each other, be fair and not greedy, tell the truth. Powerful people in powerful positions ,heads of corporations, heads of states should state there policies and not manipulate for the benefit of a few. Good decisions can do a lot the big manipulation industries just ad fog to the water as we float along looking for some safe harbor of tranquility and peace .
2
@Richard Today's economy is a shell - propped up temporarily:
The tax "cut" was a cut: for the rich. Everyone else is paying more, today, and even more is scheduled to apply AFTER the November 2020 election. Today's children and their grandchildren will still be paying it off - if they survive.
The middle class are pressed almost out of existence, people work more for less, the number of poor people is increasing...
https://www.epi.org/publication/pm110/
6
@M
Tax tables don't like. For 90% of Americans, their tax rates were lowered.
1
You support Trump and may even consider yourself a patriot. This says it all and how our intelligence agencies are telling us the truth.
1
Outside of letting a hermit know, who wouldn't know this? And, why is it that Russia is pointed out but not China and Iran? It has been reported in the past that they are just as prolific at interference.
4
@Cato probably because the Mueller report details Putin’s “sweeping and systemic attack” on our 2016 election to help elect Trump. As you said other nations can follow suit...
4
@Cato
I think the answer to your second question is:
Because Trump does not act like a lapdog in the presence of the heads of state of China or Iran.
But he does when he’s with Vlaimir Putin.
4
@Cato
Because trump publicly solicited Putin's help in '16 and received it with obvious gratitude. Perhaps you've been busy with other things the past couple of years and haven't noticed this.
2
Did "president" trump send Chris Wray a cardboard box for his things after reading his comments about Russian interference being a persistent threat?
7
The most provocative relational mysteries arising from the chaotic wreckage now piling up at the intersection of authoritarianism and corruption are why does Trump have such a big thing for Putin and what is the exact relationship between Barr and Mueller. Regarding Trump's motives the risk is in making an assumption that some sort of calculated rational behavior is taking place; the reality most often seems to be that a surge of raw emotion based on personal power is driving the process.
Trump feels alone in his newly adopted political environment. Talk of principles and policies bores him. He is simply interested in aggrandizing his ego and pocketbook. He likely sees in Putin a kindred soul: a fellow ruthless seeker of fame, power and wealth. He may fantasize a grand international alliance among nationalistic mafia capitalists with Putin and himself as its leaders.
Even those of us who have not been historically great fans of the US national security bureaucracy and its smug hypocrisy must be thankful that its members are holding firm on resisting Russian electoral interference. The Russian meddling is indistinguishable in principle from what US intelligence agencies have been pursuing for decades, going back to the days when Eisenhower's benign indifference left the Dulles brothers free to experiment with subtler forms of imperialistic control. But, alas, now the advantage has shifted, with cyberwarfare making risks to us greater and the costs to our adversaries lower.
4
At least in a semi-republic we can acknowledge these sins and try to correct them. If Russia gets its way, there will no longer be such self examination.
4
No one is talking about Ivanka’s request and quick approval for a patent to manufacture a voting machine when she last visited China.
Now what could possibly go wrong with using a Trump designed voting machine?
Paper ballots only in 2020!
22
@JM
BINGO.
If they don’t hack or try to hack the voting machines, I’ll eat my hat.
Without paper ballots, voting fraud is guaranteed.
They will do anything, *ANYTHING*, to gain power.
7
@JM
Source, please?
"These are people who are jumping into deep water and they don't even know how to swim." Sadly, we're in the drink with them, and I feel like we're going down for the third time. President Trump's obstruction on this issue is what the dems should be hammering at every day--he is not protecting. And serving? Let's not go there.
10
What will probably sow the most discord and maximize distrust in Western democratic institutions would be for the US to have a Democratic President and a Republican-controlled Congress. Can Russia pull it off? Will Trump and his pals see it coming?
Donald Trump, as a sitting President, should not be allowed to communicate using social media. It gives him a way to tell lies with no way for the free press to effectively do their constitutional job. This should be congressional legislation. Of course it will never happen. If it did it wouldn't be signed. Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets should do the right thing and not allow any political speech on their outlets. It is not just foreign government that spread falsehoods through social media, U.S. citizens do it every day. This is a First Amendment issue, and this would not survive in the court system. But, how else is a voter going to know what is real and what is propaganda?
4
@Craig Strong
Good points.
Not sure if such a law would violate the First Amendment. The president is a public servant with certain obligations to the public. And these are private services with certain rules.
my understanding is that in the countries that were once under russian control or influence, give "mini lessons" on identifying russian propaganda on their nightly news shows. perhaps if we had "mini lessons" here, not unlike past ones teaching us about the effects of tobacco, we could educate more people about this issue so they can be more objective.
11
I don't expect the Russians to stop meddling in our elections. I would be surprised if they did stop. But this administration welcomes the interference only because it benefits the President.
This country needs to spend billions setting up a nationwide election system with universal voting machines incorporating the ability to provide paper backup of all results. I don't blame the current President for the lack of this universal system since past Presidents and Congresses refused to do anything for years.
I do blame this current President for refusing to take seriously the fact that Russia will do all it can to re-elect him. Maybe that's why he chooses to do nothing. Ya think?
3
Trump/Putin 2020!!! No collusion, just a disinterest in combating any foreign power who might assist in his re-election. Just a dereliction of his duties to protect the very foundations of our government. Just the FBI (that nest of Democrats) going around the President to address the people directly because the President’s ego is so fragile he won’t accept the findings of his own security experts about the dangers America faces. No collusion though, so sleep well Trump supporters. Oh, that’s right, you were already sleeping.
11
I hope people that participate on forums like this on the NYT and comments sections on social media know that the Russian trolls and bots are active and working to cause dissension and take up the cause of Trump and the NRA. It's pretty easy to spot them but if the majority of Americans remain ignorant to what is going on in this country with social media - then they will not be voting based on truth and reality but on the propaganda that our foreign adversaries are dishing out.
24
@Rain, I can spot most of them; most Times readers can. But Trump can't or won't; nor does he acknowledge a problem, thus he can't or won't work on a solution. Meanwhile, the country is compromised and the world is laughing, crying or both. Sad, isn't it?
6
@Rain
I can assure you Trump's critics are very poor at spotting "bots". How do I know? Because they routinely call me a "bot" because they don't like what I'm writing.
I am just grateful people like that aren't actually responsible for stopping bots.
2
Its not just the Russians or any other hostile foreign power. We have a critical need to strengthen our election infrastructure. There is ample evidence of the ease in which voting machines can be hacked. And the CORPORATE, not government, interests being protected by the status quo.
Dr. J. Alex Halderman, an expert in electronic voting equipment, testified to congress in June 2017. His team was hired by DC to evaluated their election systems. DC knew they were in their system, the team changed every vote, and DC found no trace of their presence.
Russia is not out only threat.
30
@DEBORAH
I want to recommend this comment a thousand times.
Anyone that thinks that either we or the Russians will stop meddling in each other's politics is naive. It's been going on for years in one fashion or another...The Russians got the upper hand on this occasion due to Democrat hysteria over Trumps victory....Obama knew about this months before the election and did nothing but whisper a message in Putin's ear! No Democrats that knew seemed concerned until Clinton lost....It's ironic that Democrats chastised Trump for claiming during the campaign that the election was rigged. They said his assertions were undermining public confidence in the electoral process. Then after Clinton lost, the whining and excuses began.....Only those jaded by disgust of Trump could believe that this spy v spy Facebook nonsense effected the result of the election....By claiming it did, they undermine public confidence and entice the Russians to sow more mischief in future elections.
5
It’s convenient that you’re leaving out the fact that Obama did want to warn congress and the American people, but McConnell refused to sign the statement. With Trump already saying the election was rigged etc it was important to have a bi-partisan statement to reassure the public that they were being told the truth. So it was McConnell that impeded this effort.
Trump has been derelict in his duty to condemn Russian interference now that the evidence is overwhelming and the Mueller investigation is complete. He is doing nothing to protect our elections in the future and that is the real tragedy.
22
@Lindsey E. Reese Ah, Trump asked for Russia's help in finding Hillary's e-mail, and Russia hacked teh servers hours later. manfort, Trump's campaign manager repeatedly delivers "polling data" to a Russian intelligence agent, Trump gets elected with the assistance of Russian campaigns on social media, but this is all the fault of Obama.
Go back and read the Mueller report. Conspiracy and obstruction, right out in the open, by Donald Trump and his campaign.
8
And now a Russian oligarch is “investing” in McConnel’s home state, Kentucky. Shine the light on McConnel’s alleged corruption.
1
Russians shall not have opinions, certainly not ones they share on social media.
That would be illegal and somehow unfair to people of every of the other 200 or so other countries who are all allowed to have opinions.
So it shall be decreed.
2
It would be nice if Russians on social media told the truth about being Russian rather than pretending to be Americans. A first step towards honest dialog.
3
@Ken, are you seriously equating a systematic Russian troll cyberwar to ordinary Russians "having opinions?" Please read the Mueller report, and when you're done read the indictments of the 13 Russians.
According to Rudy G. , there's absolutely nothing wrong with taking and seeking information from Putin.
And we're worried that Facebook is the serious threat?
25
Is Trump going to allow the FBI to deny his reelection?
I don't think so.
Trump cannot be reelected if the FBI is allowed to do its job and stop Russia's and other foreign countries' efforts to assist him in his reelection bid.
They won't be allowed to do their job.
The worst part is that the FBI will say out loud that they're sparing no resources to keep Russia out of our elections.
They had a chance to keep Russia out in 2016.
They failed (assuming they didn't turn a deliberately blind eye to what happened in 2016).
They cannot do their job and appease Trump at the same time.
They have to make a choice.
What's it going to be?
6
This article is exhibit A that all our adversaries are back for seconds to cyber attack our nation again. The Trump administration has been asleep at the helm once again and it is not by accident, but by design. A committee should have been commissioned like the one ordered to investigate ways to avoid another 911 attack on our nation. The Republicans have actually underfunded these efforts.
Simply put, POTUS approval numbers are so bad that it seems he again needs foreign intervention to win re-election. The coming congressional hearings next week will further decay his slumping poll numbers, as the truth under oath is revealed. Not a good time to be the Donald. His crazy conspiracy theories will only get worse as the vice tightens its grip to the truth.
We thanked our Armed Forces, FBI, and Intelligence Agencies, for working 24/7 to protect our nation. It was great news that the US Navy deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups, (Abraham Lincoln and John C. Stennis) to the Mediterranean Sea to send a powerful message to the Russians. Too bad and a shame they don’t have a better qualified Commander in a Chief. It would be interesting to know if the Admirals at the Pentagon had to fight to have this order to deploy approved.
10
"While American officials have promised to continue to try to counter, block and weaken the Russian intelligence operations, they have complained of a lack of high-level coordination."
We have been locked in an intelligence war Russia for 70 years.
Americans have died fighting that war.
As part of that war, Russian Intelligence attacked U.S. elections starting in 2014, according to U.S. intelligence officials appointed by Trump.
They did not only hack the Clinton campaign and the DNC, or buy "a couple Facebook ads." They hacked into our actual election systems centered in state boards of elections.
When the country is under attack, the job of Commander in Chief is to coordinate a response to that attack.
Trump is not doing his job as Commander in Chief. he is doing the opposite of his job as Commander in Chief.
Trump is attacking our counter-intelligence agencies, by calling them traitors and accusing them of perpetrating an imaginary "coup" instead of coordinating a response to the attacks.
Since he was first told by U.S. Intelligence that U.S. election systems were under attack, Trump has obstructed the investigation, and attacked the investigators, instead of coordinating a defense.
Trump is "giving aid and comfort" to a hostile intelligence agency that is attacking our country by obstructing U.S intelligence agencies.
I am against executions, but Mueller was asked the wrong question.
Treason does not require a conspiracy.
Having a fragile ego is not a defense!
14
@McGloin
Well said. Kudos.
2
Years ago, I recommended turning off international internet access to prevent cyber invasions such as these. So why haven't you done it? Is the intelligence really worth us becoming a Russian satellite nation or followers of radical beliefs from other nations? Don't just pay lip service. Turn off the access to protect our nation.
6
Obviously it's time for Christopher Wray to get fired with a tweet.
The boss man doesn't like hearing things like this and he sure doesn't like hearing (since he doesn't read) that they've been published in the fake news.
11
That Russia interfered with the presidential elections in 2016, and allowing Trump to assault the White House, leaves no doubts; and that it is planning to repeat that feat for 2020 is in evidence as per the F.B.I. investigation. But Trump, the direct beneficiary of Putin's "largess", has been silent by design, in a panic really, by recognizing his illegitimacy. Otherwise, how do we explain his bullying the press, finding scapegoats for his own incompetence, and abusing the power of his office to no end?
9
One by one, they keep falling by the wayside.
Over 60 years ago, I started dreaming about immigrating to the US because I had formed a mental image of Americans as fearless, freedom loving, upright people. Even in my early teens, I had started romanticizing that my destiny laid in the country of the free and the brave. Imagine the excitement I felt in my early 20s when I finally realized my goal - as my ship sailed past the Statue of Liberty and an hour or so later when I set foot on these shores.
During the past 50 years, I have had moments of dismay and disappointment, but largely my faith has stayed intact. But now I see my long cherished dream has started showing cracks, it ought not to. Can you imagine the head of our country in a compromised position to our worst adversary in the international arena? Even in banana republics, this charge becomes a kiss of death for a public official. But here, in the land of the free and the brave, the man goes on bribing and browbeating his critics into silence.
Disgusting. Utterly disgraceful. Although advanced in years - in my upper 70s - I'm neither willing nor ready to leave my beloved country in any lesser shape than I found it. No way. Not ready to yield ground. Not ready to accept the setbacks as fait accompli - as the last word in this saga. This nightmare shall not stand.
47
So speaks an actual American patriot. Thank you!
4
If, as is being assumed by some of these comments, Trump will choose to ignore Russian attempts to influence the 2020 election and order his subordinates to ignore their efforts, won’t that constitute (self-serving) TREASON? Promoting Russian interests over the legitimacy of the American electoral process?
What does a Republican president need to do to draw the admonition of 21st century Republicans?
Is Trump coated with Teflon?
What does Trump need to do to get himself impeached? I feel caught in the grip of a nightmare from which I cannot awaken. Trump can be impeached, can’t he?
I think he can.
30
Nothing will be done by Mitch and the Republicans because the Russians are helping them take full power.
1
This is playing into Trumps chaos theory of everything, and nothing is true unless it is his truth.
Doubt in the election process is what he needs.
If Trump loses in 2020, he will not go quietly, the SDNY is waiting for him.
9
"The Trump administration has come to see that Russia’s influence operations have morphed into a persistent threat."
So, what was Trump doing since taking office in 2017 to mount a counterintelligence operation to thwart the known threats? The current and future cyber attacks on our elections will be on his watch and he should forever be held accountable for what he never did to prevent them from successful fruition. He failed to heed the warnings of the intelligence agencies fixating only on the possibility that acceptance of Russia's interference might invalidate his presidency. For Trump, it has always been about the defense of himself and his legitimacy as president at the cost of the defense of our fragile democracy. He should never be called our Commander-in-Chief whose primary role is to keep us safe from foreign adveraries.
11
If we cannot raise the threat of new forms of Russian interference with Mr Trump then he should not be president.
If I were a member of the press, I would ask him every chance I got what he is going to do about Russian interference in our elections. I would do the same if I were running for president or were a member of Congress.
Concertedly, this is the only question that needs to be asked of Mr Trump for the next year.
Others can do the business of governing and he should constantly be dodging this question.
9
Trump doesn't want to hear about Russia's interference. Giuliani says there's nothing wrong with getting Russian help. Kushner says it was just a few ads on Facebook.
What are the odds Russia doesn't do it again and on a grander scale when they are being sent message after message that it's alright and the coast is clear?
7
Just another way in which Russia, I mean Vladimir Putin, is putting his country back on top of the world stage of power and influence. A well-seasoned KGB agent he is and perfectly suited for this mission. Last week there was an article about Russian operations in the arctic. Sowing fear and distrust in Europe. Cozying up with China and North Korea. Propping up Nicolas Maduro. Spending more time on Middle East matters. Connect the dots and Mr. Putin’s plan becomes clear. I wonder if when President Trump next meets with Mr. Putin he will again take Putin’s words over those of America’s security and intelligence services. Throw in a little flattery and Mr. Putin will have his mark.
9
No big deal; they are only trying to help one party. What could possibly be wrong with that? Don't the Russians have a long history of helping us out?
2
They need to find ways to publicize the posts that they believe are Russian or other Foreign influenced. So people can see they are suspect.
At least those that show concern and want to check and tell people they may interact with.
5
Foreign influence (Russia, the Saudis,...) be what it may, no amount of propaganda coming at me night and day on every social media platform I engage in on a hourly, lol minutely basis, will influence me from my duty as an American citizen to make Donald Trump a one-term president, a singular aberration, and not a portent of what America will be for a very long time if he gets another term in office, which seems likely.
11
"Mr. Trump views any discussion of future Russian interference as effectively questioning the legitimacy of his 2016 victory, prompting senior officials to head off discussions with him."
This is shocking reporting considering his track record of steadfast selflessness and commitment to country first...
*eye-roll*
11
The Republicans have to cheat to stay in power.
They don't care who helps them. They just want to stay in power.
That's why they are not doing anything to stop Russia's interference in elections. Russia helps them stay in power.
52
How do you know they might not favor the Democrat candidate this time around ? Maybe one that wants to slash the military budget and promote “socialism”
2
@Barb What you are doing is called psychological projection which is Chapter one in the DNC playbook. It doesn't work anymore.
Unfortunately reports of Russian interference will be discredited by the current administration as well as their patsies at Fox News. This will translate into more denial of the facts, more sharing of false information by trumpanzees, and further erosion of our supposed democracy.
10
Three absolute solutions to preserve American democracy that will never, ever happen...but should.
1. Shut down all social media platforms and arrest the heads of Facebook and Twitter for willifully aiding Russia in the attack on our elections in 2016. They can be reopened after the election under strict federal oversight.
2. Eliminate the archaic Electoral College. We don't have slave states anymore, which is what it was created for. No other country has it. Nor should we.
3. Destroy all electronic voting machines. Use paper ballots ONLY, as the rest of the democratic nations have done.
36
Democratic candidates should make this their priority issue on the campaign trail to raise the alarm and motivate voters to demand that Russian meddling ends.
Putin continues to get away with bloody murder of democracy while Trump continues to shine his boots.
Christopher Wray should gum up their works so that they’ll destroy their own systems.
Trump needs to go and take Vladimir with him to Siberia to the gulags.
11
I see no difference between Russia undermining America's political system and lobbing shells on top of Anchorage. An attack is an attack. It's time for the United States to deliver a deterrent response.
25
It is critical that Congress act as a fully equal branch of government and protect the sanctity of our individual votes.
This is electronic warfare--even if Trump is casting a blind eye.
16
@Jean
Can you at least keep in mind Congress is composed of the Democratic-controlled house and the Republican-controlled Senate? It is far from monolithic. And it requires BOTH houses of Congress to vote in agreement to do anything.
The Democrats in control of the house wants to preserve the Union, meanwhile the republicans in control of the Senate are propping up a wannabe Putin that wants to do away with our union and make money doing so.
Do you see this?
6
Uh oh. Isn't this one of the issues that had Secretary Nielsen packing and heading for the door?
Director Wray needs to tread lightly when accusing Putin of wrong-doing in an election particularly when Putin assured him Russia had nothing to do with getting the grifter elected.
11
Much as they may hate to admit it, the FBI will not be on the front lines of this battle. It'll be Facebook and Twitter who'll be directly responsible for the success or failure of any future Russian influence campaigns.
And that is a depressing thought indeed.
32
The Trump Administration is taking proactive measures to defend against cyberattacks in spite of Trump.
Trump has been pursuing an agenda that Putin could have written. His Administration is preventing this from succeeding.
As for motivation, maybe that is why Trump doesn’t want us to see his financial statements and tax returns.
12
@Rita SOMEONE has seen them.
1
We were better off before the internet. The benefits are outweighed by the liabilities. What’s worse is we have a president who does nothing about the Russians attacking our nation at its core. After all, he benefits from the chaos.
19
@Wayne
Obama did nothing as well.
What would you like any president to do here exactly ? Stop non citizens from but ads or tweeting ? How do we know who the non citizens are, we can’t even agree to ask how many might be in our own country on a census form
3
Not mentioned here: the role and responsibility of the major social media outlets in perpetuating Russian influence, and how they're doing things differently for 2020. The Sri Lankan government, immediately after the recent terrorist acts, temporarily blocked Facebook. While this brings it up difficult issues, it was probably the right move. These outlets need to do so much better and I'd personally love to see them go dark in the two weeks before the next presidential election. Our democracy would be better for it.
11
@Chris H
France shut down the social media networks a few days prior to their last election.
5
I'd prefer it if they removed anything related to politics after the conventions next summer.
5
Given Mr. Trump's disdain of the F.B.I. and his lax commitment to ferret out election wrong doers, I suspect their hands are tied by his political appointees who will restrain any good work they could do. Mr. Trump is more afraid of Russian opinions of him than he is of any interference they might attempt. In all, I think the Russians and others of our enemies will interfere with our 2020 election and our current administration will welcome them in. They clearly gained votes from the Russian intrusion in 2016. Why would they mind?
9
Was it too much to expect president Obama to have taken a similar and much stronger response to Russian meddling , Then just "Vladimir stop doing that"?
Would have saved the country significant amount of dollars and angst.
3
@clarity007
And would they have even told Americans that the Russians were meddling if Trump hadn't won and he couldn't be scapegoated for it?
1
@clarity007 Obama imposed sanctions on Russia just before his term ended. Could he have done more - probably, but Trump should have picked up the baton on day 1 and appointed a cybersecurity commission of real experts to develop counter strategies.
4
@clarity007 Hmm, I see the “blame Obama” directive has gone out from Koch Central. So let's look at what Obama actually did when the FBI revealed the extent of Russian election interference in late December 2016: He made the information public and called them out. He imposed sanctions. He expelled Russian diplomats and shut down Russian diplomatic compounds. All his other efforts were blocked by the then-Republican-controlled House and Senate.
If you think he should have done something more Tom Clancy-esque... well, that kind of stuff doesn't happen in real life.
Besides, there were a lot of distractions right then. For example, in a totally unrelated piece of news, on December 25 — after the FBI briefed Obama but before his public announcement of sanctions — a Russian military transport plane carrying members of a beloved Red Army chorus crashed, killing all aboard. The cause was never definitely established. Just a total coincidence, of course.
5
Meanwhile, we have a sitting president who declares a national emergency to circumvent congressional funding for a pet project.
And even worse, we have people who still support him. Not openly, of course. No one in their right mind would willingly display such ignorance in front of friends and co-workers.
15
I think Mulvaney telling Kristen Nielsen to not discuss Russian interference in front of Trump because it upsets him. I think this characterizes the Trump administration's attitude towards Russia.
I think Christopher Wray is doing the best he can but it's hard to think he has Trump's support.
8
@Javaforce Wray needs far more resources than what he has now. The states need far more resources to strengthen their voting processes than what they have and develop a paper trail if they don't already have one.
2
Hopefully our "intelligence" services have learned a lesson from the Steele dossier incident and will not be so easily duped in the future. The Russians are still giggling over that one.
2
@jaco Much of the information in Steele's dossier has been verified.
3
@jaco
The Russians must be so grateful to democrats for turning Putin into a godlike figure who can determine the outcome of US presidential elections right under the nose of a sitting president of the opposing party.
1
I cannot square this kind of story, backed up by so much evidence, with the numbers of voters who do not favor impeachment proceedings and do not denounce Trump. The FBI is not reporting this cyber-war against our democracy's integrity for political reasons. It's really happening. One can only conclude that Trump supporters are also Putin supporters or at least Putin ignorers.
Evangelicals and others are evidently okay with the subversion of what our country stands for in order to block the others.
23
@A Goldstein, yes, we'd all be so much better off as God-fearing peasants with an aristocracy in charge like Russia pre-USSR.
modest proposal: disable Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the next two years to safeguard our electorate.
44
@Edward Allen Add YouTube to that list.
1
@Edward
What if they start posting comments in The NY Times?
1
When our own country interferes with our election it is just as serious, maybe more.
When I saw the video of Bernie at the Women of Color conference a rude audience let me know the deck was already being stacked for a Biden run, that the DNC and corporate media have made the decision for US again.
The most important thing is for America to vote, everyone
must register. Bernie has always been a voice for women of color, when he speaks of inequality and equal justice all women are included. I am sure you heard him say more times than any other candidate, women must make their own choices, he considers us all Americans with rights.
2
Somebody else just posted about how the Russians will probably support Bernie in 2020. I can see it.
3
@Benjo The Russian bots "support" rival politicians and groups in order to create chaos and turn, in this case, Americans on each other. It serves their interests to have the supporters of various Democratic candidates battling each other: diluting their strength.
4
@M H, exactly. The Kremlin wants to see Democrats divided.
Interesting that the FBI is just now making this kind of powerful statement. Where has this president and this administration been for the last 3 years while Russians spies are in this country and in Russia carrying on criminal behavior - spying, hacking, stealing, defrauding the American people through social media with bots and false persona's, partnering with any corrupt Americans willing to betray this country for a few dollars, and undermining our democracy of free and fair elections? Shame on Trump and his administration for not demanding 3 years ago for FBI and CIA and intelligence protection from foreign adversaries involvement in our elections. I'm glad Wray and the FBI are speaking up now but why has it taken so long and why has this president and this administration not demanded this from the intelligence community.
This president and this administration embraces our adversaries in Russia, China, Saudi Arabia who have authoritarian leadership governments that do not allow their people freedom of speech and basic human rights. Trump is hugging dictators around the world and maligning our Democratic friends in England, Australia, Canada, South Korea, and throughout the world - instead of upholding the American principles of human rights, free and fair elections, and democratic principles which hold leaders accountable to the people and take care of the vulnerable and less advantaged in our society.
9
@Rain
The FBI was involved in targeting this president when they should have been targeting the Russians. They abused their intelligence function terribly.
Jeez, I hope the President allocates enough resources to stop this threat. Otherwise it might be “obstruction of justice.” In fact every minute of the day that Trump is NOT fighting this threat (including eating and sleeping) is obviously obstructing justice.
7
@Greg At the very least, Trump is failing to uphold and defend the constitution and protect the USA.
1
@Greg
You forgot to include the /sarc flag. It fooled some readers here.
Donnie is preoccupied stocking his bunker with Big Macs, Whoppers and KFC to prepare for the next “coup” attempt.
You can help fight the interference by resigning from all social media accounts. If nothing else, report all suspicious ads or posts to each media company.
9
Remarkable, isn't it? Russia was for decades a (totalitarian) attempt at communism. Now, it's a tool of US oligarchs, the richest capitalists on the planet.
3
Mr Trump and his enabler Republicans are bought and should be marked with a large PAID stamp. As an American voter and Former Republican I say Enough! I am more disgusted by the day with what is happening in Washington. Do the Russians have kompromat on the entire Republican Congress? Where are the people I respected for almost half a century?
12
I understand the lack of emotional intelligence of President Trump allowing himself to be manipulated. I’m at a loss how every Republican Senator has the same issue.
12
Ooooooh .... Will Rod Rosenstein "land the plane" for the Russians? What is going on in this country, anyway? Forget having a "legitimate" election in 2020; even if that were possible, would the Trumpsters accept the results, or would they go to war? My head is about ready to explode just thinking about all of this.
8
Where's the beef? Just a lot of hand wringing worries and no hard evidence intended to revive the faltering Russiagate meme.
3
@Michael Munk
It's the new meme in the Russian collusion narrative. Cannot get him on collusion, no real case for obstruction so it's back to just blaming him for everything.
1
At least we can sleep at night knowing this President will not kick the can down the road, hire Russian sympathizers to pen dossiers and have his Party pay for it, unlike virtually everyone in opposition to President Trump before the last election, or since.
The crookedly heinous days of American politics has ended; you will know what’s happening real-time this go-round, not three years later.
Pay attention, open your eyes and minds and embrace the difference in 2020!
"While American officials have promised to continue to try to counter, block and weaken the Russian intelligence operations, they have complained of a lack of high-level coordination. President Trump has little interest or patience for hearing about such warnings, officials have said."
This alone is reason to remove Trump from office. He's not doing anything to protect our country from an attack on our country.
The single most important job of the president is to protect the Constitution and the American people. Trump is only interested in protecting himself.
8
"“What motivates Trump is still a mystery."
Hardly.
Narcissism. Shallow greed. Egomania. Entitlement. Attention-seeking. Neediness and emotional bankruptcy. A pathetic need to swagger and dominate others. White supremacy and assorted bigotries. Xenophobia. Homophobia. Misogyny. Sheer spiteful hatefulness. An unseemly lust for adoration and for capricious power untethered from accountability.
Should I go on?
Not patriotism. Not duty, honor, country. Not idealism. Not nobility of spirit. Not a desire to serve. Not the aspiration toward a fully participatory government that brings all diverse people into harmony. Not a desire for peace and shared prosperity and a better future for all. Not a sense of responsibility toward future generations.
11
Trump must be delighted that Russia will help him with the election like they did in 2016.
7
@Somewhere
If you think Trump's victory in 2016 was due to the Russians, you're in for a rude shock in 2020.
@Nate
You mean the shock of Hillary beating his sorry behind by nearly 4 million votes, like that? SMH.
Since Trump is disinterested in Russia's meddling in our politics, including hacking, I would suggest that U.S. Intelligence go out and find the 20 best young hackers in America and turn this problem over to them. Putin et al., finished!
6
Is there any better argument for impeachment hearings as soon as possible?
11
Trump may reward that candor with a nasty tweet as that is a subject not allowed in the White House as it confirms Trump was elected with Russian help.
6
...and presumably neither Trump nor the "Red Square Republicans" in the Senate are going to do anything about it. Shame on all of them! History will not judge them kindly. Hopefully, neither will voters, in spite of Russian interference!
8
@Dean
Exactly. William Barr and a host of others will live in infamy. His grandchildren will curse him and change their names.
I can just hear the response from the White House:
'It's all fake news'
'Putin is my friend and wouldn't do anything like that'.
Of course he has to say this as Russia will be the only country that will allow him to stay after his impeachment.
9
I don't understand how this can happen with few consequences. It's really an aggressive act by Russia. These Republicans have no spine. Reagan is rolling over in his grave. I'm not a Republican but the GOP of today is anything but patriotic.
10
As observed in RINOcracy.com, "To the extent that Trump continues to ignore or downplay Russian interference in our elections, it will create the unavoidable inference that he is hoping that Russia will again weigh in on his behalf in 2020. That cannot be allowed to happen."
6
I have an idea for Trump’s re-election slogan: “Trump First; America Second at Best.”
5
I can’t figure out which is the more daunting task, preventing Russia from using online social media platforms to spread division-inducing misinformation, or teaching Americans how to differentiate between legitimate, responsible new sources and those that clearly are not. It seems the largest may be our largest vulnerability.
45
While it's good to hear that Russian meddling is acknowledged by the FBI, it is agonizing to consider what little can/will be done to stop their efforts in 2020.
And, again, Trump officials REFUSE to acknowledge that the Russians worked to get Trump elected - and against Clinton's campaign. That's the real story here: Yes, the Russians meddled in our elections - through social media efforts and hacking of emails, etc. - and are continuing to do so. BUT they did so to help TRUMP get elected.
READ THE MUELLER REPORT. And then keep repeating its conclusions. There is NO WAY we will have a fair election in 2020 under the current scenario - just as we did not have a fair election in 2016.
62
@Marie S
Try not to bring up Clinton. This is not about Clinton. Clinton is Trump's cover story.
This is about a president who continually obstructs investigations into attacks into our elections by a hostile intelligence agency, our intelligence agencies have been at war with for 70 years.
10
I have read everything I can get my hands on and listen to the endless, tedious parsing on Tv and social media. I still cannot and will not understand any Democratic reason not to impeach now. This criminal needs to be removed. I do not care at this point about politics. If our democracy goes down, let it go down with honor. I have seriously considered if I would die for this, and I think I would, for my children’s and grandchildren’s future. Patriots in the past have laid down their lives, and my grandfathers and father have fought and risked their lives for this country. How can we sit by and watch it be destroyed. Or in Democrats case, hem and haw and parse and back off. It is revolution time. I am willing to fight.
2
@Betsy Groth APRN
My suspicion is that they are just delaying until Trump digs himself in far enough that even the Senate can't deny how little respect for law and order or our Constitution he truly has. I'm not convinced, it's just a thought. I hope that's the case, I don't think "wait and vote him out" is a valid strategy. It strikes me as a copout especially in light of the Russian interference highlighted in this article.
3
"The Trump administration has come to see that Russia’s influence operations have morphed into a persistent threat."
Please. It may be, as you report, that the FBI and other security personnel in Washington recognize this threat. But until the president admits that it was and is a problem, then it's definitely NOT the "Trump" administration seeing this.
He not only provides no leadership on this issue, he actually undermines their work.
147
@Elizabeth A
"it's definitely NOT the "Trump administration"' mounting a defensive against these attacks.
That is exactly what I thought when I read that line.
5
@Elizabeth A
Was Obama obligated to do more other than "Vladimir stop doing that?"
@clarity007
He did a great deal. Jen would have gone further but Mitch McConnell blocked him.
2
This is an act of war by Russia against the United States.
The fact that the FBI warns Americans openly despite Putin’s lies about not interfering is a message that we are not in control of our own country.
Unless we are able to do something to peacefully neutralize Russia’s interference this attack on America’s democracy could escalate into open warfare!
60
I said this in November, 2016. How is this not a contemporary Pearl Harbor, and why is the American response not equivalent? The Muller report provides the answer.
11
@Michael Kittle
And our p resident is helping them.
1
@Nate.......as a native born American, I retired as an expatriate to France in 2000.
All my income taxes go to the United States and none to France per the treaty between the two countries.
Therefore I take a strong interest in America, Trumpism, and what is happening to the United States.
I believe that Trump accepted Putin’s assistance in getting elected and that his degree of cooperation with Putin’s Russia qualifies as treason.
All Americans who are looking the other way regarding this treason share some responsibility with Trump.
1
It's too late, Mr. Coats and Mr. Wray. Many people have had their faith in democracy shaken badly not only by Putin's interference but also by Trump himself. The answer is not more voting machines made by Republicans and run by--ahem--proprietary software.
To restore trust, we must make all American election systems based on paper ballots, counted in the open.
67
@Recovering Catholic I would agree with your last sentence, but, I would not trust the Republicans anymore than the shot callers of Tammany Hall. Both were, and are, crooked.
1
Why on earth wouldn't the Russians hack us again in 2020?
What punishment of any kind has the Trump administration handed Putin and his minions?
Zero
A democracy without the guarantee of secure elections is no longer a democracy.
That may be fine with Trump--he's in office, isn't he?
If the Russians cause some real disruption in 2020, what's to keep Trump from just declaring he won? And with the post-truth faction living large in our country, that's a very dangerous possibility.
34
@C. Whiting
It's not punishment - they want to make sure their apparatchik remains in place.
1
@C. Whiting
Another scary possibility is that if he loses the election, he might blame it on Russia (there are no limits to Trump's hypocrisy) and stage the "coup" that he was trying to normalize by throwing around the word today.
Michael Cohen warned us under oath that Trump (who keeps talking musing about kings and "president for life," might not leave office peacefully.
Anyone that thinks that Trump is above trying to be president for life has not studied the history of his favorite world leaders.
6
@McGloin
That's something I've been increasingly worried about myself. He's never seemed to care about any other limits set on him by the Constitution, why should he care about term limits either?
1
This has been in the public view since 2016.
And the R controlled Executive and Legislative branches until 2018 and D House since 2019 have done exactly what?
Yeah, I agree.
But our Southern border is being controlled by the military. corporate tax rates are down, we have trade sanctions, we have nullified the Iranian arms treaty, the Paris accords, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and NAFTA, so what are you worried?
Really, get your priorities straight.
5
This defies rationality.
4
@Homer S I offer you need to get your facts straight.
First, the border is not being controlled by the military. The military is providing logistical support. Nothing more. By law they can't enforce law.
Second, corporate tax rates are down, true. However, tax receipts as a whole are also down resulting in that pesky deficit rising, you know, the same thing Trump bleated that Obama was doing.
Third, Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Iran agreement (it was never a treaty), yet, the other signatories remain. So, it was never "nullified".
The Paris accords was red meat for his supporters who may end up choking on our air due to short sighted and stupid actions by Trump.
And lastly, the TPP is in force by everyone but the U.S., NAFTA is still in force, and those wonderful tariffs are raising the price of goods. Some employment is seen, but, the manufacturers have gone back to gaming the system.
Yup. Priorities.
6
@Dan
Exactly so: we’ll stated Sir.
It is my belief that the Russians will interfere in the 2020 election in favor of Bernie Sanders. Sanders is a Socialist, who was a supporter of the Soviet Union.
President Trump has imposed sanctions on Cuba; which continues to be Russian puppet. Sanders also supports the debilitating socialism of Cuba.
The Russian support of Sanders is perfectly logical.
5
@John Quinn
So true. Sanders was a full throated supporter of the Soviet Union back in the day.
2
@John Quinn, Russia now is a right wing plutocracy with only a veneer of remaining revolutionary communism
1
Nope! Russia’s puppet IS Trump, they are in his camp!
1
GOP sure has changed since the Cold War era. Reagan would be demonized as a RINO were he still around.
13
When it comes to Russia, there is little doubt that the greatest threat from them in recent years was their intrusion into Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. The Russians have been menacing ever since the end of WWII. Above all, they are a military threat.
I doubt that their election tampering is for narrow political purposes. More than anything, they aspire to expand their influence by military means. I doubt they much believe they can destabilize the US and its democracy by means of isolated dirty tricks. And whatever they do, their ultimate goals are more likely military than political.
6
Putin has already destabilized the United States. In Trump, he has a willing puppet. On of the very evident ways that Trump has hurt the U.S. was in dismantling the State Department, not filling 100’s of positions and forcing many of our distinguished career diplomats to resign. In placing, Rex Tillerson at the head of the Sate Department, Trump did exactly what Putin wanted! Tillerson resigned but Trump damaged the State Department.
4
@michjas
The Soviets have an economy the size of Italy's.
The only way they can attack the U.S. or Europe is through intelligence and computer attacks.
Of course if Russian tanks are speeding across Canada, and Trump's response is to attack U.S. tank commanders as traitors trying to stage a coup, Russia may pull it off.
3
@michjas
Thanks, michjas, for injecting a bit of rationality into this thread.
This has been a full-scale national emergency for four years. The so-called Republicans refused President Obama's entreaties to make it a patriotic, bipartisan issue.
Two and a half years after the election, so-called Republicans in Congress remain silent. We know the Smirker-in-Chief owes Putin something or is chasing a real estate deal, so we cannot count on him to honor his oath of office to defend the country.
Every single Republican on the ballot in 2020 must go by an overwhelming vote. And then we reinstate tarring and feathering for Mitch McConnell, Devin Nunes and others.
Help register people to vote and get 'em to the polls. Demand that your state representatives do what they can. And as always urge your family, friends and neighbors to think for themselves.
59
@Phil Carson
Absolutely so, Sir! We must throw these rascals out, as they say!
Based on our Presidents words and actions thus far I have zero faith he will protect us from this threat to our democracy.
36
@Mike
Trump's greed and ignorance is a threat to democracy.
7
"Russia has aimed its influence campaigns at undermining faith in American democracy."
"President Trump has little interest or patience for hearing about such warnings."
We should publicly call this what it is: treason.
91
@Victor I.
Yes, Mueller was asked the wrong question. Treason does not require a conspiracy.
I oppose all executions, but we can reduce the sentence.
Continually obstructing a response to attacks by a hostile intelligence agency by calling your own intelligence agents traitors trying to stage a "coup" is treason. Trump is "giving aid and comfort" to enemy forces.
10
Didn't seem like Obama had much interest either. Except for a little whisper!...He's not President now. Should he be indicted for Treason for failure to act until after the election?..Why did he fail us?.. Perhaps there was collusion involved.. Mueller will soon be unemployed. A new investigation on why Obama let the election become rigged is needed...lol
1
@Lindsey E. Reese, Perhaps it is McConnell and Ryan you should direct your anger at. Obama went to them to make a joint statement; they refused and said they would turn it around to say that the Democrats were using silly info for political gain. The Congressional Republicans share many similarities with their Russian friends.
1
We keep letting these thugs get away with crimes to the point when Trump is finally out of office and we have to clamp down on these characters we could find ourself as the victim of retaliation or a military skirmish
4
@CathyK
Yes global corporate mass media is so conditioned to lie on behalf of billionaires that they refuse to say that Trump is committing treason in plain sight.
1
Trump knows the Russians interfered in the 2016 election. He knows they're planning to do so again in 2020. In fact he's counting on it.
He also knows that without an army of paid trolls on social networks and comment pages, his 'base' would already have given up on him. He probably owes the failure (thus far) to impeach to Russian interference as well.
He doesn't care about the legitimacy of his election. He only want to assure that it will happen. If it doesn't, he knows, he's likely to end up in prison.
22
@Justin Bingo!
@Justin
Get help for your TDS.
When public education is based on property taxes we all loose because critical thought is never developed within our citizenry.
17
@Rob Brown
"When public education is based on property taxes we all loose because critical thought is never developed within our citizenry."
That is indeed one of the factors eating away at the foundation of our democracy, and educated citizenry.
The only thing more expensive than education is ignorance.
5
@Rob Brown
High Taxes = Critical Thinking Skills
Did you grow up in an area with low real estate values?
The Oval Office has abdicated it's role regarding the Russian interference in our election process, but the Republican Congress doesn't have to. They can add their voice to this, pass some veto proof legislation that places sanctions on Russia so severe, they won't be able to trade with anyone, period. If they trade with countries like China, place sanctions on them too.
The President is weak, it doesn't mean the Congress has to ignore these threats because he did.
Do something Republicans. for once in these two plus agonizing years, get a backbone and defend America, it's your Country too.
14
@cherrylog754
Don't ask them to apply band aids to the Trump administration. Demand that they remove a president that does the opposite of his job description
What will FBI Director Wray and Dan Coats do when Trump tells them, or strongly hints as he will at some point, that they had better put their energies anywhere except preventing Russian interference in our elections?
14
Is this the same FBI we’ve reading lately? What brilliant team of analysts are making this claim? If Trump is in fact re-elected will we later read the agents in charge of this investigation lack integrity and manipulate the process? Never mind, we are now all afraid of Putin, the boogeymen. In the meantime other important and vital issues for Americans are being ignored.
4
Perhaps you think Putin is nothing but a “bogeyman” but he is much worse than that! Putin, KGB trainee wants nothing more than for the United States to lose its power and standing in the World! And you can thank Trump....it’s already happening!
2
I have some advice for the FBI - Maybe just don’t tell Trump. He doesn’t care anyways and it will only make your job to protect this country that much more difficult.
Just do the job. Take the appropriate counter-measures. Ramp up your staffing for anti-cyber ware-fare (or whatever we’re calling it). Send out information to appropriate agencies, companies and polling stations that they need to guard against cyber intrusion.
Protect this country - because the man in the White House certainly isn’t interested in doing so.
194
@Nick
Telling an executive branch agency to just go ahead and ignore their boss, the President? Yeah, that will work out well in the long run. Real well.
@Nate
I agree. We can't just sit around and wait for the Russians to elect him again--as well as members of Congress.
1
So what you’re saying is that you have full confidence that Trump will take every available measure to ensure Russia does not interfere in 2020 elections?
He’ll actively direct the agencies responsible for safeguarding our free and open elections to maintain the upmost level of security?
He’ll ensure these agencies and organizations have the resources and staff they need or request?
He’ll assure the nation that he’s doing everything in his power to make sure there’s a fair and un-meddled election?
As my fellow Brooklynites say....Get outta heeeeerrre
7
Then do something about it! Donald hasn't complained, has he? He hasn't even suggested anything we can do to update the voting machines, etc. This is America. Our voting machines should be universal and safe. Period. We are the best at just about everything, our voting system should've been fixed years ago. Before the Russians invaded us.
8
@Terry McMillan
Making the voting machines uniform across the whole country introduces a greater risk than we have now. Much easier to attack.
Think.
2
To Trump it is winning at all costs. Even if the cost is democracy.
That is his personality and it will never change. He would sell America down the drain if doing so would cause him to win.
Most of his base do not get that. Those of his base that do, like the very wealthy or politicans like McConnel etc, sign on because like Trump they want to win at all costs-even America.
30
@Den
You are wrong. Trump's base understands exactly that Trump puts himself above all else, and that is why they love him.
Anyone that still supports Trump cannot claim they do not know what Trump is all about. He doesn't keep it a secret. He loudly proclaims it every day.
Trump directly insulted his supporters before the election by saying they would vote for a murderer so they cheered and voted for him.
Don't fall for their lies. They all pretend they are reasonable, but they know they are lying.
The president of the USA is mandated by Article Two of the Constitution to put the business of We the People above his personal interests. That is what he was hired to do, but he is both unwilling and unable to think of anything as more important than him.
Watch the video of him holding the giant umbrella over his hair while his wife and young son follow him in the rain. If he doesn't care about his family, can he care about We the People?
Every official decision made by Trump is an act of corruption because he uses his interests as the measure of success, not the interests of We the People.
1
@Den
I wish I had your power to read the minds of 60+ million voters. Must be nice.
1
Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of western democracy. Isn't that pretty basic? Do Republicans believe in the concept? Gerrymandering, voter restrictions, Russian sabotage are of no apparent concern to them or their illegitimate president. Sad.
31
@Mark
Illegal aliens voting? Prisoners voting? It cuts both ways, Mark. Sad indeed.
1
@Mark
Obviously free and fair elections are not in the cards as long as the GOP is regarded as a legitimate political party instead of a fifth column.
We are in a civil war now and the fascist, white nationalists will stop at nothing from voter suppression to assassination of members of the press to win.
Pearl Harbor (or 9-11, depending on your generation) have already happened...and Trump refuses to acknowledge them because he thinks they reflect on the illegitimacy of his fraudulent election.
He would not have won without Russian interference and he is too dumb and self-centered to understand the crisis he is bringing to a head.
Not only has Trump done nothing about Russian meddling and interference in the past and present, but he welcomes any such assistance they can provide him in 2020 and beyond. Forget whether the Mueller report can or can’t establish evidence of collusion beyond a reasonable doubt. We are witnessing proof of it on a near-daily basis. He denies it because he’s more interested in his own “legitimacy” than he is the nation’s security; he nominates people like Steven Moore, who are not big believers in democracy; he takes the word of Vladimir Putin over that of his own intelligence and law enforcement officials. As Trump himself would say, “Russia, if you’re listening, how am I doing?”
11
This is (yet another) act of war by Russia.
Why is this still being tolerated?
6
@Dr J
Act of war? Get a hold of your TDS. You have the power to control it.
Dr N
1
But hasn’t Trump in the wake of the Mueller report in addition to his “No collusion. No obstruction” mantra always highlighted Mueller’s foundational finding about Russia’s sweeping and systematic interference in the 2016 election and how it threatens our democracy? Surely among his multitude of tweets, speeches and impromptu press exchanges, hasn’t Our President made this his most important point? Apparently he’s not even waved at it. Shame.
5
Looks as though there is already "Interference in the 2020 Race" by the DNC and the controlling media. Why worry about the Russians? I wish everyone would just stuff the turkey in November instead of the Ballot Box.
7
@s.whether
The DNC and the media are beginning to PARTICIPATE in the upcoming 2020 general election. This is right and fitting. The Democratic party and the news media have legitimate roles to play in this process.
Participation is different than interference. Check your dictionary. The DNC is not “interfering.”
8
@s.whether
When I saw the video of Bernie at the Women of Color conference a rude audience let me know the deck was already being stacked for a Biden run, that the DNC and corporate media have made the decision for US again.
The most important thing is for America to vote, everyone
must register. Bernie has always been a voice for women of color, when he speaks of inequality and equal justice all women are included. I am sure you heard him say more times than any other candidate, women must make their own choices, he considers us all Americans with rights.
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@Tom W
"The DNC is not “interfering.""
The media certainly are interfering. Again.
Trump doesn't care. His goal is to be elected again in 2020, because it's about him, not America.
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We need to implement strong security measures ASAP:
Most important: We need to revert to paper ballots, not machines that can be hacked.
We also need to implement strong measures to defeat hackers, online agitators and fake stories.
And we need to inoculate our public against propaganda, online (and offline) agitators and the like with education that helps them discriminate between real news and planted fake stories.
Putin's disinformation campaign could only succeed against an extraordinarily ignorant public. We need to correct that. But we also need to remove those hackable voting machines.
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@TechMaven
You are right that we need to protect the voting machines, as well as the whole reporting system from voting machine to each state's Secretary of State Office's statewide tallying system. However, there were no significant problems in this area reported for the 2016 elections.
Your education concern is overblown. Your great-great-grandparents were already well enough educated to guard against propaganda (assuming they were Americans.) This is not a new problem. It's not a crisis.
1
TechMaven’s post was absolutely on line.
I trust all the US functions associated with crime, treason, cyber operations, cyber security, CIS, CIA, NSA, HSA, etc., etc., will increase heavily all the resources and people capable of neutralizing Russian perpetrations.
Regardless of POTUS’s perpetrations and non actions. Maybe our allies can be invited to give the US a hand. We’ll surely reciprocate.
Does the number of times that Mr. Trump has gone out of his way to deny the reality of Russian interference in the 2016 election count for nothing? Does his “base” even care?
Did they notice the shameful fawning Trump displayed in Helsinki after his private meeting with Putin? The screwball logic of Trump’s responses?
When in the world is the GOP going to take a realistic look at Trump’s behavior with regard to Vladimir Putin and Russia?
Deny. Ignore. Excuse.
Mueller report? What Mueller report?
“We support the president regardless...”
Regardless of anything he says, does or thinks.
Sooner or later, the Republicans must open their eyes and see Trump for who and what he is. This GOP head-in-the-sand business can’t continue.
Denial is more than just a river in Africa.
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@Tom W
It is not denial.
They know exactly what they are doing.
1
Putin knows he has a willing stooge in the white house. If sanctions are not cranked up to cause considerably more pain to that failing state over there Putin will feel no heat at all. How can we have a president (even calling him president makes me sick) that believes Putin more than he believes his own excellent security people?
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Why don’t these articles address the obvious? Trump assumes that Russian interference will help him, so he doesn’t see it as a problem. Republicans likewise.
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Trump: Russia, if you are listening, please interfere with our 2020 election like you did in 2016.
Dems:
Gee, is that ok for the president to directly ask for Russia’s help to win an election?
Do you think we dems should investigate?
Let us think about that for a couple of years.
We don’t want to make it appear we are being too “political”.
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Remember the good old days, when the GOP actually acknowledged that Russia was a strategic rival, instead of that huggable bear that helped them win the White House in 2016? And when they took intelligence officials seriously as the party of law and order?
I can't either... but I sure hope they wake up before 2020. In the meantime, it's up to you, Nancy Pelosi, and your colleagues in the House. You're the only grown-ups left in the room.
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@Michael The good old days: like when Mitt Romney warned us and Obama cast aside Mitt's astute and correct observation about Russia. We were told that Mitt's statement was from the far off 1980's when the Russians were the bad guys. My Question: where was Obama and all his intelligence officials when the Russians attacked our elections. After all he was president at the time and he could have just issued one of his executive orders to fix the situation rather than rely on GOP members of congress to help him.
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@dmcguire4321
Don't foget that Obama did tell Putin to "cut it out."
While this republican administration moves around a few dozen agents, spends a couple of million dollars here and there, and in public downplays any real threat, adversaries of the west (let alone America) have invested thousands of hackers/online agitators and millions upon millions to destabilize any and all elections.
It is not only in their best interests to do so, but keeps on flowing the hundreds of billions into the coffers of oligarchs that directly support leaders in the east.
Sanctions are watered down or negated, markets cornered, and shorting of stocks are highlighted by the inside game of information at the top levels.
It not only costs us money, but our Democracy.
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@FunkyIrishman You do realize that the interference in our 2016 election was in direct and proportional response to our interference in Putin's 2011 Presidential election, yes?
I hate Russia, but I understand why he reached across Europe and the Atlantic to try to throttle the woman who spent considerable U.S. resources in social media and anti-Putin street protests in Moscow to try to show Putin who was "in charge now."
Of course, she didn't do this on her own. Her boss ordered her to do it, which explains why he told HRC within hours of losing the election to just 'move on...quickly.'
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@Erica
I realize that what you point is completely antithesis to what actually happened - a person pointed out that human rights were not being respected within a certain country, as well as corruption from the top down, and that country has been trying to subvert elections all across the world, since its inception.
One is nowhere near to the other.
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@Erica
I realize that what you point is completely antithesis to what actually happened - a person pointed out that human rights were not being respected within a country, as well as corruption from the top down, and that country has been trying to subvert elections all across the world, since its inception.
One is nowhere near to the other.
2
Please, let us bear in mind that the core reasons that we are not boldly and precisely dealing with the cyberwar in which we are engaged are because we have a president of the United States who does not want to anger or insult his buddy Putin, and, additionally our president fears that if we squarely look at what the Russians have already done to the 2016 American election, it would indeed call into question the legitimacy of his presidency. We cannot lose this cyberwar; I am grateful to the FBI for their sounding of the alarm!
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It is also in his best interest to get re-elected so as to run out the statute on his crimes. It literally is his Stay out of Jail card.
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Please bear in mind that the very farthest concern of “trump” is stopping his mutual endeavor with Putin. It’s strange that folks still don’t get it, with all the pieces of the puzzle laid put pretty much in place and STILL not see it. Let me spell it out for you: “trump” conspired with Putin to steal the 2016 election. It was not an accident, or a coincidence, or just convenient. “trump” has exactly zero interest in the integrity of our elections because his power is reliant on them not having integrity.
Also bear in mind the biggest geopolitical prize is US, the U.S., and “trump” intends to wield that over Putin. He wants to be top dog among autocrats. He is well on his way to securing that. He is a dangerous sociopath.
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I think the other reason Trump doesn't like people in his administration talking about Russia interfering with our elections is because Trump knows he benefits from Russian interference and welcomes it.
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Yes, stating the painfully obvious. I hope you don’t think that’s just a coincidence. There is nothing innocent about what is going on.
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@Hank Yeah..that's the ticket. They love the guy who's single handedly destroyed their energy economy; put all of his top guys on tough sanctions; rearmed the Ukrainian's with real weapons to fight back Russian aggression; and killed a few dozen of his best advisors he had helping Assad retain power.
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@Erica Smythe Don't forget Trump playing footsie with Putin in private in Helsinki, or Trump's efforts on behalf of Putin to undermine NATO.
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And why would they stop? The Trump administration has refused to punish Russia for their interference. I hope the Democratic candidate makes it crystal clear to Putin that continued meddling will result in the complete economic isolation of Russia from the West.
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@Carlos
"... continued meddling will result in the complete economic isolation of Russia from the West."
I'm waiting and praying for the day someone, anyone with a leadership voice puts it as straight-forward as that.
How could this not be the worst attack on the US since 9/11?
12
@Carlos, at some point in time when the dollar is no longer the global currency for purchasing oil, that won't be much of a threat.
@Carlos You don't know that. The biggest mistake Bob Mueller made was announcing any indictments against anyone in Russia involved in trolling. That's a counter-intelligence operation and you NEVER announce those indictments in public unless all you're doing is a show trial...
You find out who those people are and when they go to start their car in the morning...they discover there's something wrong with the electronic circuitry...which is now wired to the gas tank.
Or they go to get in their elevator..and discover the cable is snapped as they approach the 30th floor.
Can we stop using the word "meddling"? Is this a Scooby Doo episode?
Maybe if the media would start using more realistic terms like manipulate and sabotage, people may pay more attention and take it more seriously. Probably not, but stop using the word meddling!
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@Zac
Great point, Zac. Love the Scooby Doo reference.
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The proper term is “conspiracy”. As in: “conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. Constitution and our current form of government, aided and abetted by a foreign autocrat in an effort to re-style The United States of America into a Russian-style oligarchy”.
Does that clear it up?
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Traitor and treacherous are spot on too!
2
Republicans are propping up a president who won't even listen to reports about significant foreign threats and a senior adviser who categorizes that interference as a couple of Facebook ads.
In doing so, they've shown a willingness to kowtow to a foreign dictator while disregarding their own citizens.
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@Suzanne Moniz Nearly $4 billion in advertising spent by those campaigns in 2016 including about $2 billion of free media for Trump.
Take $4 billion / $110,000 in fake FAcebook ads...and you end up with .0000275%.
Worse...the measurement of whether people actually engaged in those ads is not known. Facebook doesn't release that data..but since FB is the one saying it wasn't a factor...repeated by Obama....I think it's safe for you to move on to another rabbit hole.
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@Suzanne Moniz
It's because they helped him, and he knows they need their help again. At least, that's the surface-level interpretation.
10
Why on earth would his listen to reports of significant foreign threats?
1) He’s responsible for those threats
2) His power relies on those threats
3) to him they are NOT threats, rather just the deployment of his plan, more or less on schedule and still very successful
4) he could tell those who would try to report lots, lots more about the threats than they could tell him. LOTS more.
It’s the old saying, on a massive scale: ‘you can’t get someone to understand something when their salary depends on them NOT understanding it’.
16
Is Wray still on the job? This move should soon lead to his departure. Trump wants and needs Russia’s help in 2020. Can’t have meddling by the FBI.
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Obama was blocked from action by McConnell. Trump doesn’t want to stop a villain from helping him. Republicans are not patriotic and should stop pretending to love a country they fail to protect.
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@Deirdre Republicans used to be very patriotic. That was another time. McConnell blocked everything that Obama tried to do to protect this country. McConnell is up for reelection this year with Trump. End ths corrupt duo in 2020 .
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@Deirdre
Republicans love money and power, not much else.
9
@dmcguire4321 If President Obama had addressed the nation about Russian interference 1) the GOP would have cried foul, that he was "trying to rig the election" and 2) people like you would have dismissed it as trying to give Mrs. Clinton an edge. The fact that you consider those of us who are appalled at the Russian cyberattack and the Trump campaign's gleeful use of their materials "deluded" speaks volumes about you. (More than 140 contacts between Trump inc and Russia is not an accident.)
Of course Trump won't acknowledge what the Russians did. It would mean his campaign didn't do it on its own. And that he is more than happy to receive their help again.
The only way he will win again is if Dems and Indies stay home or throw away their votes like they did in 2016.
10
When are Republicans going to sound the alarm about Russian interference? We know the president isn't going to!
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@BSR They'd be sounding the alarm if Russia was "meddling" to help the Democrats.
14
This is just a very silly question. One word response: never.
8