Some journalists on the left like Aaron Mate and Dan Lazare tell me that the charges of Russian interference in U.S. politics are a “hoax” or “don’t really matter.” While I share their opposition to a new Cold War with Russia, that does not require averting one’s eyes from the record of Yevgeny Prigozhin, international...
Tag: Ukraine
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The Origins of the Ukraine Conspiracy Theory
It all began with Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign manager, now serving a seven-year prison sentence for bank fraud, tax fraud, money laundering, acting as an unregistered foreign agent, false statements, and witness tampering. Now Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is promoting Manafort’s defense of his felonious behavior: I was looking for the Democratic National...
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Schiff Says NSA and CIA Withhold Documents Relevant to Impeachment
One open secret of the National Security Agency is its ability to intercept the communications of foreign leaders. That ability, it is safe to say, include Ukraine president Voldymor Zelensky, the target of President Trump’s pressure campaign to extract a public statement about rival Joe Biden. How that Trump has been impeached and faces trial...
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The Republicans’ Ukraine Conspiracy Theory Explained
Trump’s Ukraine story is a constellation of factoids that amount to a fantasy. Which isn’t to say it won’t be politically effective. One important reason Democrats must be better prepared to fend off Ukraine-related conspiracy mongering is that Attorney General Barr is preparing some kind of ginned-up report that will line up neatly with Republican...
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The Trump Crack-Up: Federal Agencies Mobilize Against White House
As Congress embarks on impeachment proceedings, the leadership of federal agencies in Washington are growing increasingly outspoken. Without mentioning the president, they are warning that President Trump’s actions as a threat to democratic government. The American government is fracturing. Call it the Trump crack-up. A new inter-agency agency report illuminates the fissures between president and...
