I never worked in intelligence; however, I really don’t think it matters whether he was recruited, or whether Kompromat actually exists. The point, as Michael has eloquently stated, is that Trump is clearly regurgitating Russian propaganda, as have, several of his cabinet members, and close advisors. This should also give us cause for concern.
Additionally, we also know that when Trump went bankrupt in the 90’s it was Russian money that financed all his Golf Resorts, and Hotels. And when all the banks refused to lend him money, only one bank stepped up; Deutsche Bank, also home to Russian money; Deutsche was fined over $600 million on several instances for laundering Russian mob money, and sanctioned oligarchs.
Furthermore, the Russian mob has been the major financier for his Trump Soho operation, which was eventually uncovered as a money laundering scheme. And although there isn’t any evidence of foul play by Trump; the fact he worked with Russian mobsters speaks volumes, since the Russian mob also launders money for Putin, and the other Russian oligarchs; under sanctions.
And if you’ve been to many of Trump’s branded properties, Russian’s are some of Trump’s biggest purchasers of the condo’s.
Moreover, In 2006, at the height of the housing bubble, when real estate prices were at its peak, Trump purchased a West Palm Estate, at a record price for a Florida property; $46 million.
And Ironically, on July 16, 2008, Trump sold the home to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev through his County Road Property LLC, for $95 million. At the time it was the most expensive residential property sale to ever occur in the United States. This occurring when luxury real estate properties were underwater; 40-50%. Coincidence?
And given this was a several decade operation; to infiltrate the plutocratic class of people in America, it clearly was successful, since Trump, like so many others, worship the mighty dollar, more than their patriotism to this country.
Therefore, it begs a question; how many members of Trump’s inner circle are also compromised? Secondly, how many business executives with political clout, including media executives and personalities have also been compromised? We know Tucker Carlson definitely is. We also know that the Russian’s have successfully infiltrated conservative organizations like C-PAC and the NRA.
Therefore, they don’t need to be completely compromised, because their greed is their kryptonite, and that’s all the Russian’s need to gain “useful” idiots and willing accomplices, or assets.
Bottom line: Either way, Russia couldn’t ask for a better friend than Trump, and apparently, we are getting nothing in return. We’re helping to destroy the second largest economy in the world (Europe), at a time when they are most vulnerable; Trump and his tariffs, as well as a major recession throughout all of Europe, and the rise of white nationalism across the continent.
Additionally, Russia’s economy is smaller than four US states; its the size of Italy, with 100 million more people. Last I checked, we buy next to nothing from Russia, unless you include Russian Nesting Dolls, and some vodka.
Therefore, with Trump in charge, WE’RE ALL SCREWED! IMHO….:)
Great summary and much appreciated. I'm planning to move forward from the 80s and trae all this stuff .... LOL I'll be sure and give a shoutout to you for your comment.
Michael, maybe you can better explain to us what’s happening in real-time, because it’s becoming increasingly clear that some sort of quid pro quo is taking shape. Either that, or our worst nightmare is unfolding before our eyes.
And it’s not just Trump, Musk could have been just as vulnerable and compromised. Personality wise, he shares many of Trump’s worst, or possibly his best traits (depending on who you ask): Musk is also a petty, vindictive, malignant sociopath; completely devoid of empathy, as well as being reckless, and impulsive. And all anyone needs is just one college intro course in Child Psychology, to figure these two Master of Destruction’s pathologies out.
Additionally, Musk was heavily indebted, and leveraged in 2010, and almost went bankrupt before Obama gave him a lifeline; the $7,500 EV tax credit. So he would have been vulnerable to foreign influence, or maybe there’s more to this story?
And let’s face it, while the MSM has bought the “waste and fraud” justification for Musk’s DOGE team taking a sledgehammer to our government, there has to be more to this.
We know that Musk had a $3 million a year contract with USAID to provide StarLink to war ravaged Ukraine; shutting it down, after a call to from Putin, while the Ukrainian military was in the middle of an unmanned drone operation (using StarLink’s GPS system) in Crimea, which would have completely destroyed Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
Hence, Musk was under investigation by the Inspector General of USAID, for possibly a crime related to treason; a good reason to fire all the IG’s (deflection), and shut down USAID completely, especially if he was a willing accomplice for Russia.
Additionally, USAID is soft power, and now it’s completely lost; cost incalculable to Americas image and intelligence gathering. And who shuts down an entire agency or corporation (NGO) for an audit? It’s never been done before! Nor would any sane person ever try.
Moreover, who benefits from the arbitrary firing all the probationary CIA and FBI agents under 2 years of service? You would know more about how expensive and time consuming recruiting agents for the Clandestine Service can be; not to mention the actual training of these elite officers (at least $250k for basic training).
Not to mention, the incalculable damage it’s going to cost to for our espionage and counterintelligence operations against China and Russia, well into the next decade! Who’s going to replace all the seasoned intelligence officers retiring?
And after yesterday’s UN resolution’s, there is no doubt we are experiencing a realignment of the Western alliances, which only helps our adversary’s. Not to mention, how will affect the Directorate of Analysis, and our Five Eye Intelligence Alliance. This could be a game changer for Russia in its war with Ukraine, and the undermining of democratic institutions and regimes in Europe; possibly forcing many our allies to go Nuclear. And what could possibly go wrong.
At this point, we’re well past speculation with Trump and Musk. China has Musk over a barrel (his entire Tesla manufacturing business is in China, as well as its growth model). And the only thing that Russia has that Musk and some of the other American oligarchs could want, is access to Russia’s venerated Space Program.
That is, except for Trump, whose motives could be his Trump Tower Moscow project, or something far more nefarious. And Trump’s now a real billionaire, whose source of financing for his $10 billion crypto grift is concealed (20 unknown investors bought 80% of crypto coins), which has netted Trump at least $10 billion, but could be worth close to $80 billion over time. And his Truth Social (TMTG) is another example of his monetizing the presidency. It’s $12.5 billion market capitalization is not even a joke; it’s a punchline!
Bottom line: There is going to be real consequences to our National Security for decades to come, and these are self inflicted wounds. I guess the only speculation right now is whether this is our final death kneel, or is there a path forward, because while Trump and Musk can sell snow to an Eskimo; I’m not buying any of this.
So please do your best to shed some light on all of this chaos, because while to some this may make little sense, to me, this is the epitome of chaos theory; and the patterns are emerging in plain sight. Just some thoughts….:)
Exactly. Something doesn’t add up. Trump is too old and lazy and unsophisticated to think up these nightmarish schemes. He really just wants to golf on our dime, fly around in AF1 and hold rallies like a King. Thats it. Thats all he wants to do. There is definitely a quid pro quo arrangement.
Great summary. Wondering about how exactly this unfolded is a distraction for all the details you mention here, as what he and musk are doing is plainly observable and their 'why' is a given. It's just pathological greed. There's a lot of hand wringing about what we see and nobody presenting a clear path to removing these lifetime grifters from the handles of power. It's infuriating that our gvmt allowed this to happen over something like Tesla's bottom line or a real estate developers personal problems without building better guardrails to prevent abuse of the Treasury through corporate handouts. I don't want to hear another blinking word about 'public-private partnerships'. Our gvmt has been outsourcing critical functions and it's killing the country. Their extraordinary level of illegitimacy is stunning. There is literally zero explanation in the rational world for overthrowing both the US and the EU and subjugating their economic or security interests to a small GDP country like Russia with a nuclear stockpile, except for the 'comfort' of a war criminal about his own borders and ability to extract resources from their neighbors when they can't eat oil. The worst people in the world with the most nefarious intentions are now running the board. What can we do to change this?
“There is literally zero explanation in the rational world for overthrowing both the US and the EU and subjugating their economic or security interests to a small GDP country like Russia with a nuclear stockpile, except for the 'comfort' of a war criminal about his own borders and ability to extract resources from their neighbors when they can't eat oil. The worst people in the world with the most nefarious intentions are now running the board.”
Well said! I think a lot of this has to do with guys like Peter Thiel, who believe democracy impedes progress; at least the “type” of progress they want. And there in lies the rub! What is their idea of progress? Thiel doesn’t believe women should vote; they’re too emotional; according to the fascist guy!
And personally, I think many of these tech-bro billionaires are not only libertarian’s (no regulations), but embody a quote by HL Mencken, who said:
“Democracy is the theory that the common man knows exactly what he wants, and gets it: GOOD & HARD!”
In other words, I don’t believe billionaires think the common man should be voting at all, because they’re too stupid. And quite frankly, we’re already on the way to becoming a full throated, Cristo-fascist kakistocracy, anyway!…:)
“And let’s face it, while the MSM has bought the “waste and fraud” justification for Musk’s DOGE team taking a sledgehammer to our government, there has to be more to this.”
I’m pretty convinced musk is following the techno-autocracy playbook laid down by Thiel, Yarvin, and the rest of the Project 25 cabal. The AI/crypto dystopian future they want to build. I highly recommend journalist Gil Duran (The Nerd Reich) for more information. I wouldn’t have believed it, but it’s all in plain sight.
Great points. I can only add that you left out the sadistic aspects of Trump, and Musk. Both thoroughly enjoy watching people suffer, and die, and enjoy it more if they did something to help cause it. Sadism is often rejected because most don’t know that most forms of it do Not invoke sex. Look at how many times Trump half smiled while describing acts of violence during his speech to congress? And how he was re-energized after each? It’s a consistent pattern. Trump is at his best when his actions accomplish the same 4 things- 1) Power/Dominance enlarged; 2) Income increased; 3) Adulation received; and 4) Suffering inflicted. Watch for yourself, both old and new videos. Musk has a similar pattern, with a difference of wanting to be perceived as “cool,” liked, & accepted only eclipsed by his greed. The man’s addictions are satiated with every financial gain, but he’s still chasing the euphoria of his first financial high, and refuses to consider that nothing, not even owning the planet can make him feel that way ever again. But he can’t stop trying. Putin is also similar, but much less concerned about the opinion of what he calls “sheep.” There’s enough shared sociopathy between the three that Kompromat isn’t required to hold them together, and may be more for amusement with each other. Trump can easily deflect any reports of past transgressions as “Fake News,” and trust it can’t hurt him. Wrapping up, I appreciated seeing someone else add in their inhumane traits when analyzing their behaviors. We are the most blind to them when we mistakenly assume they are people just like us, and we can’t imagine ourselves doing any of that to other people. Or- basic propaganda. Thanks
Your analysis and the information cited by Jaffee jibes with what I’ve seen over the years in the news and Craig Unger’s book House of Trump House of Putin. I feel as though what we’re missing is - at best though unlikely - the proverbial smoking gun - or specific examples and/or a sense of how Trump might have been influenced in a certain instance. It seems unlikely that we’ll get any of that but it would be great.
Then again the money trail - Aaron Rupar- As the Mueller report shows, it's not just that he "knows" Russian oligarchs. It's that Russian oligarchs close to Putin are regular sources of money for him that mysteriously appears in his bank accounts when he needs it. Consider for instance the $95,000,000 that mysteriously showed up in his accounts when he was short of cash in 2008, from the Russian potash king Dmitriy Rybolovlev, or the Russian porn oligarchs who funneled just what was needed to allow Trump to launch Truth Social.
We are already, once again , seeing the proof in Trump aligning with Putin the aggressor in Ukraine and changing the narrative that Ukraine invaded or was the aggressor. There’s a lot of smoke and small fires but people continue to only fool themselves.
Michael, that was an excellent professional explanation. I have some experience in these matters, having served 25 years in the Hungarian Intelligence. In 1987, I was Deputy Chief of the Service, and 15 years earlier, I spent one year in a KGB school. In 1989-90, I was in the high command working on our leaving the KGB and joining the West.
I don't mean to brag; I just want to indicate that my experiences cover a quarter of a century in the thicket of the profession.
Again, congratulations on your analysis. You clearly distinguish between fact, probability, and guesswork.
Some of your commenters want to force this sensitive differentiation into fact, mirroring their wishes.
I read the comments- as long as MAGA-crazy commenters made further reading worthless.
Rybolovlev was I believe part of the Russian delegation in Saudi last week despite not being a diplomat. Surely that’s no coincidence. One cannot help but wonder about whether he’s a controller. Or just a reminder about what is owed to whom.
'Furthermore, the Russian mob has been the major financier for his Trump Soho operation, which was eventually uncovered as a money laundering scheme.’
The smoking-gun, Trump used some Brighton Beach contractors with mob ties (like half of New York) translates into him being a Russian asset. How could any of us have missed that?
He didn’t use Russian contractors, they were owners of the property; he put down nothing, and received a 10% stake in the limited partnership (Branding).
Far from being contractors in the project. And by itself, means nothing, but it’s not the only instance of his relationship with a foreign government, or people representing the interests of the Russian government.
It’s how we do business in New York. If they were Italian, as my people were, and as most construction bosses were two generations ago, they’d say he’s got mafia ties as if that means something. As they said about the Kennedys, then. Listen, Trump is not a Russian asset, let’s not be stupid AGAIN! That shit barely flew in 2017 on the strength of a highly dubious piss dossier, and now some crackpot crawls out of his safe space and says, “Oh, by the way, I can add a layer of truth to the last ten years of inane Trump is a Russian plant bullshit. Something that all y’all overlooked.” When are we going to grow up?
I’m from NY, my father was a developer; mostly Section 8 projects, but he also did commercial buildings for companies like MetLife.
And he never got in business with the mob, other than dealing with the unions, which they controlled in the 70’s and 80’s. It’s one thing to use them as contractors, but tell me any other major developer who literally gave them the majority stake in a building he was developing? Or who would do business with criminal elements?
And, as for the Steele dossier, many parts were confirmed, others not. Regardless, it’s irrelevant, and was not the reason for the Mueller investigation.
Additionally, the Mueller Report did not exonerate Trump, or many of his minions like Manafort, who pled guilty to crimes related to Russian interference in our elections. In fact, Mueller wrote , “he wouldn’t make a determination as to Trump’s participation, since you couldn’t indict a sitting president.” That said, Mueller indicted 34 individuals and three Russian businesses on charges ranging from computer hacking to conspiracy and financial crimes. Those indictments have led to seven guilty pleas and five people sentenced to prison; some of the guilty pleas received presidential pardons or had their convictions wiped out, when Trump told Barr not to defend the cases on appeal.
And my point isn’t whether he’s an asset. It’s the fact, he is a transactional president who has monetized the presidency before and is doing it again. On Inauguration Day, Trump made $10 billion on his crypto currency with 20 dark money investors controlling 80% of the coins.
Lastly, If there nothing to hide, release the names of the investors, foreign governments or companies who have made him $10 billion so far, with the opportunity to be as much as $80 billion by the time his term expires.
Let’s not forget that Mueller cited 10-11 instances of obstruction of justice by Trump. If any instance had been proven (which was likely), each would have been a felony in and of itself.
Trump made a lot of people in New York rich; he evicted plenty of New Yorkers as well. I lost a family business. My family was in New York for a fucking century, but the gentrification spurred by Trump sent everyone packing. If there’s anyone who should hate him, it’s me. Don’t try to convince me about the Mueller Report; he had less in the tank than Biden. The bottom line is that “we” created the monster that is Trump — we don’t have a problem with a methodology that created the monster, only the monster itself. Amid it all, we gave him his own TV show and celebrated the monster with catchphrases. He went on to make a lot of people in Hollywood rich. Then, Hillary Clinton had the bright idea of running him as a pied piper candidate. Mr. Jaffee, you reap what you fucking sow. And this is what America deserves. Too bad; I hope he takes a wrecking ball to the government. I never benefited one way or the other. And I’m not shedding any tears over it.
“Mr. Jaffee, you reap what you fucking sow. And this is what America deserves. Too bad; I hope he takes a wrecking ball to the government. I never benefited one way or the other. And I’m not shedding any tears over it.”
Got it! Your family suffered a loss from gentrification, so you blame the system. It’s not like other opportunities existed for you and your family to succeed in another way.
Perhaps, you see things from a very negative and parochial perspective. Instead of seeing the plethora of new opportunities, you still see the world for your families failures, or loss of a business, and would see the rest of us suffer as a result.
And like most hardcore members of the Trump cult, and Muskrat; better to burn the house down, than regroup and work towards a different career! Sorry you’ve become so jilted, it’s a terrible way to live, or more aptly: wasting it!
Remember, the federal government isn’t involved in local business and social issues, ordinances, laws, or the evolutions of a major city. Those decisions are made at the state and local level. Additionally, the states have plenty of leeway as to how to spend federal dollars allocated to the states, and municipalities. Let that sink in!..:)
Do not use the Royal “we” but take responsibility for your own errors in judgment. Many have never taken part in creating Monster Trump but knew he was a con since the 90s. That includes me.
I saw someone make a great point on another platform: Whether you believe Donald Trump is a Russian asset or not, if he was, would he be doing anything different than he is now? If he were, in fact, a Russian asset, what he'd be doing to promote Russian talking points and enact Putins vision, would look very much like this.
We should stop arguing over the how or the why and just accept what is and figure out how to combat someone who occupies our oval office. He is quite clearly compromised and as such not acting in OUR best interests but the interests of a hostile foreign nation.
I agree that we're probably never going to be able to pinpoint the exact nature of his relationship but i think it may be useful to document the evolution and the evidence that e has--for whatever combination of reasons--reached the conclusion that alignment with Putin's Russia is good for him and can at least be reationalized by him as good for America. He may also actually believe that. If you strip away all the "morality" fro the equation, as Trump seems to do, then the prospect of alignment with Russia starts to "make sense" -- assuming that, as an analyst, you can perform the exercise of eliminating morality, loyalty to allies and ideals, etc, from the equation. It's hard to do that because these things are fundamental to our historic world view. Anyway a breif comment is not the right place to try and explore this but i think somewhere in this mix is the key to undestanding Trump's worldview, his affinity for Russia (which may indeed be boosted by or anchored in some kind of kompromat they have on him).....it's an ugly mental exercise but maybe a necessary one.
I keep looking for a TRUMP property to rise on the Russian skyline, maybe not with the Brand on building, at least for now, but most assuredly, in the "FAMILY".
Good info. There’s lots of open source news article about Trumps’ closet people having Kremlin ties. I first looked at speaker Mike Johnson, out of curiosity. He accepted campaign donations from Oligarch Konstantin Nikolaev, who in turn sponsored the Russian honey-pot Maria Butina to come to the US, and get involved in the NRA, among other things. Butina ended up in a US prison, after her conviction for spying for the Kremlin. She was later returned to Russia in the last International prisoner swap. All of this came from US mainstream, credible media- saved screenshots. What I didn’t see in the reporting was anything connecting these dots. And what I still don’t see is anything connecting reporting of Mike Johnson’s personal finances, and he still claims not to have a checking account. I’m a disabled mental health worker, and I easily found all this. My sole expertise is with mentally ill human monsters, which does help in gaming out likely behaviors. I posted this around social media, with receipts, and it was mostly ignored. Maybe it’s so common that it doesn’t merit attention. Maybe it’s because I have no direct info of Johnson agreeing to do anything for Russia. And maybe I come from a time where this big of an appearance of impropriety would get a big reaction. But now it’s often that clouds of smoke don’t necessarily indicate there’s any fire causing them.
🙏🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🙏 I'm trying hard to hold onto HOPE that you're WRONG... But after discovering our Electorate is also COMPROMISED & MORALLY and ETHICALLY BANKRUPT.... DEMOCRACY is on LIFE - SUPPORT! 😳
To me the 100k spent on KGB friendly ads in leading Western publications is something very similar to a smoking gun. He delivered a successful active measure of the KGB. He may not even know the term active measure, but delivered it short and good! If we could track down the money. It would be clear. We may never be able to do it, but those ads shouted into the leading journals.
I appreciate your certitude and welcome contrarian comments. i think you're a little ahead of yourself regarding attitudes in the KGB in 1987. The writing was in no way on the wall in 87. Reagan was still scaring the shit out of Russia; Gorbachev was on his way up. He had beoe General Secretary of the CPSU from 1985 but didn't become head of state until 1988. He would still need to consolidate power -- becoing Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet from 1988 to 1989, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 1989 to 1990 and the president of the Soviet Union from 1990 to 1991. You are describing 1989 or 1990, not 1987. IMO, of course and you're welcome to take another view. But I think the facts and
Since you were active during the Reagan administration, I'm not sure I understand your take on "Reagan...scaring the shit out of Russia". Although that statement is largely true, it is misleading. It was well known at the time, among various intelligence agencies, that the USSR was coming apart at the seams. Intelligence summaries were making reference to the volatile situation in the USSR on a regular basis. Further, that same information was leaked to, and reported by, many media outlets. However, rather than hang back and watch the inevitable, the Reagan administration decided to engage - spending ghastly and unwarranted sums of taxpayers' dollars in the process. The technology to construct and support Star Wars was a prime example - it was never going to work because the "involved" scientists, engineers, etc had no idea how to accomplish what Reagan was promising. Reagan knew all this but blithely spent all that money anyway; a lot of corporate fat cats were the only real beneficiaries of that effort. Then Reagan laid claim to a glorious victory and the voting public ate it up in the same fashion that the current know-nothing MAGA Republicans are worshiping a thoroughly corrupt and compromised administration, accepting every lie exiting trump's mouth without ever stopping to consider what is the real truth.
Reagan was viewed by the KGB as capable of starting a pre-emptive nuclear attack and they were absolutely scared of him, particularly from the time he gave his "evil empire" speech in 1983; the Able Archer exercise in 83; Star Wars (Strategic Defense Initiative). There was no sense that the Soviet Union was coming apart until quite a bit later ....even in 1987 Gorbachev had still not consolidated power; 'glasnost' was not yet a thing. By 88, 89, I would say yes....it was eginning to fray. Before that, not so much.
So you conclude that Trump was likely considered a half-wit expected to be open to nefarious opportunities to improve his personal financial conditions and popularity in an effort to become powerful in the US? Got it.
That sounds about right. I think he would have been considere a uniquely American loudmouth totally in it for personal gain, an easy mark for recruitment but "recruitmet" could mean mutual cooperation without control.
Russian language specialist here, with experience in the old USSR… I agree with Mr. Sellers. Trump the visitor, whatever his value as a useful businessman, would have been instantly spotted as politically naive and ignorant about history — and so easily manipulated.
That's a good one. Like most people in the intel community i was appalled by soem of her statements defending Bashar al Assad and Putin. But I haven't done the kind of deep dive with her that I probably should, given the circumstances. It's a good idea to take a look, and I will.
Trump is an asset. Musk turned to be an agent. The current administration is staffed with sleepers, and russian terrorist state's collaborators of all sorts, you name it. As simple as that.
Currently the kremlin runs the USA.
This is the new Axis of Evil: The USA, Iran, North Korea, China, russian terrorist state.
This is the new reality.
Essentially, trough the US, russian territorist state to certain extent controls NATO now.
Not surprisingly the UK is considering withdrawal from the 5Eyes alliance.
Whatever goes through Musk's or Trump's hands lands on kremlin's desks first thing.
Musk and Trump are currently dismantling the US government on behalf of russian territorist state and building a dictatorship. Trump has already promised his voters it was the last election. He is in the process of fulfilling this promise.
This is the high treason. This is the highest level of emergency America has ever experienced. Reaction? Apart from few protests and outraged comments here and there, it doesn't seem there is any reaction. It seems the US political system for one reason or another is completely paralised.
In my view, it is time for the military to step in, declare martial law, court martial Musk, Trump and their cronies for high treason and call free of russian territorist state elections after. Otherwise you'll wake up in Belarus 2.0.
Trump just saved us from a multi-colored trans-infused communist takeover to install an actual red-blooded American communism. I like the way you think, comrade.
I would assume that the KGB would vet their candidates based on their actual capacity to serve their interests based on economic, social and personal needs. The fact that he has labeled himself the “king of debt” does put him in a category of having needs. You add that to a lowIQ and a naive and narcissistic personality, there is no question that he would have fallen for these overtures. I would add that it is highly possible that he has been on the KGB payroll (I’m sure CIA also has some global personalities in the payroll as well) all this time.
Which leads me to this: In 2020 right after his loss to Biden, he had a debt of $400M due. Who paid it?
LOL I think I'll be doing a series called "The Krasnov Files" or something like that, drilling down into that. We know Deutscebank bailed him out, and there were Russian connections there. I'm planning to drill down into the rest of what is known or suspected -- from 1987 to the present. I have some general ideas about this but need to freshen and do a more serious inquiry before I start 'opining' too much.
Can't be just a chump to grab this much power over people here. Just saying stupid is as stupid does doesn't explain the cult like hold he has over 1/3 of our citizens, yammering about a 3rd term. I think he's more than a useful idiot, he's a cheater who is adept at rigging the board - one can't underestimate the willingness of depravity.
He IS a useful idiot and has been since his daddy gave him the keys to the safe and had to find desperate ways of getting out of 4 bankruptcies.
He realized he is a glorified but successful street corner tie salesman he is still doing it now, selling trinkets, wine, tennis, cards, coins, pens…..he is the Dollar General or Family Dollar or Dollar Tree of politics.
Nah, DEFINITELY the Biden chumps outweigh Trump’s MAGA. I saw Biden bragging on TV about—lol—$80m for UKR he used to install a dirty prosecutor. Oh and the laptop from hell… surely we don’t forget about that.
Oh! And the secret meeting with Schumer, Blinkin, Nuland, Moulton, and Rice just before Trump and Zelenskyy met encouraging Zelenskyy not to sign the deal in violation of the Logan Act. After seeing UKR stealing young teen boys off neighborhood streets kicking and screaming being sent to the frontline to die, I think it’s a toss up between the two nations. Good on Trump for trying to negotiate peace.
Trump’s rhetoric and actions in recent years—his reluctance to criticize Putin, his efforts to weaken NATO, and his alignment with Russian disinformation campaigns—do not suggest someone acting under duress. Instead, they suggest someone who, for his own reasons, has fully embraced the Russian position.
Guys, i had to take out the ban hammer on Art Lover. i really don't like doing that but he was way too over the top and abusive. I really do welcome contrarian views -- they keep me on my toes and usually I can coax the into engaging civilly. But not this guy. Moving on. Sorry the abuse some other commenters suffered.
He is so fixated on grabbing the shiny )(*& he wants -- power, control, fealty, adoration -- that I doubt recruitment would even register to him. " A bear of very little brain," to quote Pooh.
Speaking as a Navy IS1(ret), you went JUST far enough to win me over. Very disciplined, you’ve laid out what you know, what you don’t know, and what you believe, based on available information. Kudos, sir!
The CIA would be expected to know more about this than they have revealed. An examination of Trump’s business failure - recovery time line, aligned against transactions with Russian oligarchs - laundered or otherwise may have been instructive. Perhaps Tulsi will get to the bottom of this 🙄.
Let’s assume the U.S. dictator was only surveilled and flattered in 1987. Putin didn’t seize power until more than a decade later. What about evidence over the past 2 decades that the Orange Traitor was compromised? Doesn’t Putin operate like a mafia boss? Doesn’t trolump have loans to repay? Wouldn’t donOLD fear for his life if he crosses putin? Shouldn’t he? Do you really think Ivana just “fell down the stairs?”
Correct. It wasn't exactly parroting their points -- he was basically starting on the theme we now hear from him, everyone in NATO is ripping off the US, etc. That wasn't a KGB talking point but it sure suited their purposes.
Too stupid for history, needed money, did what they wanted. Took out Russian talking points ad. How much better could an asset be? For a brief moment, I was in Russia in the early 90s. I clearly remember the “tour guide” asking me if I knew Donald Trump. And then we had a conversation about corruption, how much of it there was in Russia compared to the United States. She looked directly at me and said, you Americans are so naive, such babies. You have no idea what’s coming. 30 years later I understand.
Many years ago, a character in one of Charles McCarrey's thrillers says something along the lines of "Covert action does not consist of forcing people to do something they don't want to do. It's finding people who want to do what you want done and then helping them do it." Since 2015, I've thought this explained Trump's treachery and the open help from Russia in the most economical way. Note, this doesn't require any sort of explicit agreement.
Besides, from what little I've read of Russian espionage and covert action, especially in the U.S. in the '30's, '40's and '50's, it seems they are careful to assess the stability and reliability of a candidate before formally recruiting him. Trump certainly wouldn't pass muster on that score.
It's an interesting point you make about Putin operating much like a mafia don. I think that more at the crux of Putin's relationship with Trump.
Many of the photos of Trump with Putin show a deflated and fatigued Trump. Much like an underling with a mafia don.
I have come to suspect that the something Putin holds over Trump's head is not a pee tape but rather a live-witnessed "consequence" for Trump's "lack of cooperation" should he decide to further that pursuit.
Trump's enthusiasm in his support for Putin -- going above and beyond what would be required -- leaves me to feel his mostly cooperating based on positive inducement, not negative. That doesn't mean there isn't some threat in the mix, but Trump goes a lot farther in sucking up to Putin than a resentful, coerced collaborator would likely go. It's just speculation, and I'm not disagreeing--just putting it out there that i thin he's fully "under the spell", not just resentfully/reluctantly going along.
I don't think Trump's resentful. I think he's deglated. Look at the pictures. They clearly do not depict a person who is a co-equal in a partnership. He's owned by Putin. Trump's in over his head and can't get out.
Money and greed have always been Trump’s main focuses. And there was always available plenty of money to share, from buying apartments at double what he had paid to the well known Dutsch Bank money laundering.
I think there is plenty to ponder regarding the last 20 years. Thirty, actually. Beginning with the ads he took out whe he got back from Moscow .... up through the present day -- there is a lot to look at. Russian influene, Russian money in his condos and deals, Russian money in Deutsche bank possibly helping bail him out.....all the way up through today's UN Vote where we sided with Russia, North Korea, and Belarus against the rest of the civilized world.I'm sure there is influence, engagement, and common cause. I'm not sure hes a controlled asset and I'm not sure it matters whether he is or not -- he's a witting collaborator with the. most power of any one person in the world
I saw an article during the early pandemic - I apologize I can't recall where/author but it was not a fringe publication - where the author claimed an internal gvmt source for information that trump was an FBI informant against the Mafia and that complicated his relationship with the FBI - that what was happening during trump 1.0 w/fbi wasn't entirely straightforward. It seemed to fit the timeline of his shift towards collaborations with Russian 'investors' after the head of one of the families was indicted/convicted. I wish I could find that article now...
I've thought that too..it seems "obvious" especially after the statement trump made about being able ( misquote) to shoot anyone on Fifth Avenue..and get away with it...conspiracy theory??
All of trumps efforts since his visit to Moscow in the 1980’s suggest he was recruited by the KGB. Whether it was a willing recruitment, or just that the idiot did not understand, is immaterial. The USA and the world are stuck with Krasnov, AKA trump.
He got the validation from KGB he never got from Daddy. Didn't take them long to get the kompromat on the creeper. How do you suppose that worked with Elmo?
Do you remember being shocked by trumps first win? When I think about it in the light of him being allied with Russia it adds weight to the possibility of him being a Russian asset. His serial bankruptcies. The connection to Deutchbank loaning him money and buying fla properties and selling to oligarchs for a fabulous mark up. The wife from a country in the Russian sphere.. The intelligence agencies having concluded that Russia interfered in the election on trumps side. Trump being so vehemently opposed to the idea. Bristling at the suggestion. Him being enamored of the Russian dictator. His son saying money is no problem that they had a good supply from Russia. No reason given
Im sure you can site many more weird things that connect trump with the possibility that he is a Russian traitor. That sure is a lot of coincidences?
If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck……..
I never worked in intelligence; however, I really don’t think it matters whether he was recruited, or whether Kompromat actually exists. The point, as Michael has eloquently stated, is that Trump is clearly regurgitating Russian propaganda, as have, several of his cabinet members, and close advisors. This should also give us cause for concern.
Additionally, we also know that when Trump went bankrupt in the 90’s it was Russian money that financed all his Golf Resorts, and Hotels. And when all the banks refused to lend him money, only one bank stepped up; Deutsche Bank, also home to Russian money; Deutsche was fined over $600 million on several instances for laundering Russian mob money, and sanctioned oligarchs.
Furthermore, the Russian mob has been the major financier for his Trump Soho operation, which was eventually uncovered as a money laundering scheme. And although there isn’t any evidence of foul play by Trump; the fact he worked with Russian mobsters speaks volumes, since the Russian mob also launders money for Putin, and the other Russian oligarchs; under sanctions.
And if you’ve been to many of Trump’s branded properties, Russian’s are some of Trump’s biggest purchasers of the condo’s.
Moreover, In 2006, at the height of the housing bubble, when real estate prices were at its peak, Trump purchased a West Palm Estate, at a record price for a Florida property; $46 million.
And Ironically, on July 16, 2008, Trump sold the home to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev through his County Road Property LLC, for $95 million. At the time it was the most expensive residential property sale to ever occur in the United States. This occurring when luxury real estate properties were underwater; 40-50%. Coincidence?
And given this was a several decade operation; to infiltrate the plutocratic class of people in America, it clearly was successful, since Trump, like so many others, worship the mighty dollar, more than their patriotism to this country.
Therefore, it begs a question; how many members of Trump’s inner circle are also compromised? Secondly, how many business executives with political clout, including media executives and personalities have also been compromised? We know Tucker Carlson definitely is. We also know that the Russian’s have successfully infiltrated conservative organizations like C-PAC and the NRA.
Therefore, they don’t need to be completely compromised, because their greed is their kryptonite, and that’s all the Russian’s need to gain “useful” idiots and willing accomplices, or assets.
Bottom line: Either way, Russia couldn’t ask for a better friend than Trump, and apparently, we are getting nothing in return. We’re helping to destroy the second largest economy in the world (Europe), at a time when they are most vulnerable; Trump and his tariffs, as well as a major recession throughout all of Europe, and the rise of white nationalism across the continent.
Additionally, Russia’s economy is smaller than four US states; its the size of Italy, with 100 million more people. Last I checked, we buy next to nothing from Russia, unless you include Russian Nesting Dolls, and some vodka.
Therefore, with Trump in charge, WE’RE ALL SCREWED! IMHO….:)
Great summary and much appreciated. I'm planning to move forward from the 80s and trae all this stuff .... LOL I'll be sure and give a shoutout to you for your comment.
Michael, maybe you can better explain to us what’s happening in real-time, because it’s becoming increasingly clear that some sort of quid pro quo is taking shape. Either that, or our worst nightmare is unfolding before our eyes.
And it’s not just Trump, Musk could have been just as vulnerable and compromised. Personality wise, he shares many of Trump’s worst, or possibly his best traits (depending on who you ask): Musk is also a petty, vindictive, malignant sociopath; completely devoid of empathy, as well as being reckless, and impulsive. And all anyone needs is just one college intro course in Child Psychology, to figure these two Master of Destruction’s pathologies out.
Additionally, Musk was heavily indebted, and leveraged in 2010, and almost went bankrupt before Obama gave him a lifeline; the $7,500 EV tax credit. So he would have been vulnerable to foreign influence, or maybe there’s more to this story?
And let’s face it, while the MSM has bought the “waste and fraud” justification for Musk’s DOGE team taking a sledgehammer to our government, there has to be more to this.
We know that Musk had a $3 million a year contract with USAID to provide StarLink to war ravaged Ukraine; shutting it down, after a call to from Putin, while the Ukrainian military was in the middle of an unmanned drone operation (using StarLink’s GPS system) in Crimea, which would have completely destroyed Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
Hence, Musk was under investigation by the Inspector General of USAID, for possibly a crime related to treason; a good reason to fire all the IG’s (deflection), and shut down USAID completely, especially if he was a willing accomplice for Russia.
Additionally, USAID is soft power, and now it’s completely lost; cost incalculable to Americas image and intelligence gathering. And who shuts down an entire agency or corporation (NGO) for an audit? It’s never been done before! Nor would any sane person ever try.
Moreover, who benefits from the arbitrary firing all the probationary CIA and FBI agents under 2 years of service? You would know more about how expensive and time consuming recruiting agents for the Clandestine Service can be; not to mention the actual training of these elite officers (at least $250k for basic training).
Not to mention, the incalculable damage it’s going to cost to for our espionage and counterintelligence operations against China and Russia, well into the next decade! Who’s going to replace all the seasoned intelligence officers retiring?
And after yesterday’s UN resolution’s, there is no doubt we are experiencing a realignment of the Western alliances, which only helps our adversary’s. Not to mention, how will affect the Directorate of Analysis, and our Five Eye Intelligence Alliance. This could be a game changer for Russia in its war with Ukraine, and the undermining of democratic institutions and regimes in Europe; possibly forcing many our allies to go Nuclear. And what could possibly go wrong.
At this point, we’re well past speculation with Trump and Musk. China has Musk over a barrel (his entire Tesla manufacturing business is in China, as well as its growth model). And the only thing that Russia has that Musk and some of the other American oligarchs could want, is access to Russia’s venerated Space Program.
That is, except for Trump, whose motives could be his Trump Tower Moscow project, or something far more nefarious. And Trump’s now a real billionaire, whose source of financing for his $10 billion crypto grift is concealed (20 unknown investors bought 80% of crypto coins), which has netted Trump at least $10 billion, but could be worth close to $80 billion over time. And his Truth Social (TMTG) is another example of his monetizing the presidency. It’s $12.5 billion market capitalization is not even a joke; it’s a punchline!
Bottom line: There is going to be real consequences to our National Security for decades to come, and these are self inflicted wounds. I guess the only speculation right now is whether this is our final death kneel, or is there a path forward, because while Trump and Musk can sell snow to an Eskimo; I’m not buying any of this.
So please do your best to shed some light on all of this chaos, because while to some this may make little sense, to me, this is the epitome of chaos theory; and the patterns are emerging in plain sight. Just some thoughts….:)
Exactly. Something doesn’t add up. Trump is too old and lazy and unsophisticated to think up these nightmarish schemes. He really just wants to golf on our dime, fly around in AF1 and hold rallies like a King. Thats it. Thats all he wants to do. There is definitely a quid pro quo arrangement.
Hi my friend can I ask you a question
Great summary. Wondering about how exactly this unfolded is a distraction for all the details you mention here, as what he and musk are doing is plainly observable and their 'why' is a given. It's just pathological greed. There's a lot of hand wringing about what we see and nobody presenting a clear path to removing these lifetime grifters from the handles of power. It's infuriating that our gvmt allowed this to happen over something like Tesla's bottom line or a real estate developers personal problems without building better guardrails to prevent abuse of the Treasury through corporate handouts. I don't want to hear another blinking word about 'public-private partnerships'. Our gvmt has been outsourcing critical functions and it's killing the country. Their extraordinary level of illegitimacy is stunning. There is literally zero explanation in the rational world for overthrowing both the US and the EU and subjugating their economic or security interests to a small GDP country like Russia with a nuclear stockpile, except for the 'comfort' of a war criminal about his own borders and ability to extract resources from their neighbors when they can't eat oil. The worst people in the world with the most nefarious intentions are now running the board. What can we do to change this?
“There is literally zero explanation in the rational world for overthrowing both the US and the EU and subjugating their economic or security interests to a small GDP country like Russia with a nuclear stockpile, except for the 'comfort' of a war criminal about his own borders and ability to extract resources from their neighbors when they can't eat oil. The worst people in the world with the most nefarious intentions are now running the board.”
Well said! I think a lot of this has to do with guys like Peter Thiel, who believe democracy impedes progress; at least the “type” of progress they want. And there in lies the rub! What is their idea of progress? Thiel doesn’t believe women should vote; they’re too emotional; according to the fascist guy!
And personally, I think many of these tech-bro billionaires are not only libertarian’s (no regulations), but embody a quote by HL Mencken, who said:
“Democracy is the theory that the common man knows exactly what he wants, and gets it: GOOD & HARD!”
In other words, I don’t believe billionaires think the common man should be voting at all, because they’re too stupid. And quite frankly, we’re already on the way to becoming a full throated, Cristo-fascist kakistocracy, anyway!…:)
“And let’s face it, while the MSM has bought the “waste and fraud” justification for Musk’s DOGE team taking a sledgehammer to our government, there has to be more to this.”
I’m pretty convinced musk is following the techno-autocracy playbook laid down by Thiel, Yarvin, and the rest of the Project 25 cabal. The AI/crypto dystopian future they want to build. I highly recommend journalist Gil Duran (The Nerd Reich) for more information. I wouldn’t have believed it, but it’s all in plain sight.
Agreed. Thank you, I’ll check out the book!…:)
It’s his social media journal.
Great points. I can only add that you left out the sadistic aspects of Trump, and Musk. Both thoroughly enjoy watching people suffer, and die, and enjoy it more if they did something to help cause it. Sadism is often rejected because most don’t know that most forms of it do Not invoke sex. Look at how many times Trump half smiled while describing acts of violence during his speech to congress? And how he was re-energized after each? It’s a consistent pattern. Trump is at his best when his actions accomplish the same 4 things- 1) Power/Dominance enlarged; 2) Income increased; 3) Adulation received; and 4) Suffering inflicted. Watch for yourself, both old and new videos. Musk has a similar pattern, with a difference of wanting to be perceived as “cool,” liked, & accepted only eclipsed by his greed. The man’s addictions are satiated with every financial gain, but he’s still chasing the euphoria of his first financial high, and refuses to consider that nothing, not even owning the planet can make him feel that way ever again. But he can’t stop trying. Putin is also similar, but much less concerned about the opinion of what he calls “sheep.” There’s enough shared sociopathy between the three that Kompromat isn’t required to hold them together, and may be more for amusement with each other. Trump can easily deflect any reports of past transgressions as “Fake News,” and trust it can’t hurt him. Wrapping up, I appreciated seeing someone else add in their inhumane traits when analyzing their behaviors. We are the most blind to them when we mistakenly assume they are people just like us, and we can’t imagine ourselves doing any of that to other people. Or- basic propaganda. Thanks
Your analysis and the information cited by Jaffee jibes with what I’ve seen over the years in the news and Craig Unger’s book House of Trump House of Putin. I feel as though what we’re missing is - at best though unlikely - the proverbial smoking gun - or specific examples and/or a sense of how Trump might have been influenced in a certain instance. It seems unlikely that we’ll get any of that but it would be great.
Then again the money trail - Aaron Rupar- As the Mueller report shows, it's not just that he "knows" Russian oligarchs. It's that Russian oligarchs close to Putin are regular sources of money for him that mysteriously appears in his bank accounts when he needs it. Consider for instance the $95,000,000 that mysteriously showed up in his accounts when he was short of cash in 2008, from the Russian potash king Dmitriy Rybolovlev, or the Russian porn oligarchs who funneled just what was needed to allow Trump to launch Truth Social.
We are already, once again , seeing the proof in Trump aligning with Putin the aggressor in Ukraine and changing the narrative that Ukraine invaded or was the aggressor. There’s a lot of smoke and small fires but people continue to only fool themselves.
Michael, that was an excellent professional explanation. I have some experience in these matters, having served 25 years in the Hungarian Intelligence. In 1987, I was Deputy Chief of the Service, and 15 years earlier, I spent one year in a KGB school. In 1989-90, I was in the high command working on our leaving the KGB and joining the West.
I don't mean to brag; I just want to indicate that my experiences cover a quarter of a century in the thicket of the profession.
Again, congratulations on your analysis. You clearly distinguish between fact, probability, and guesswork.
Some of your commenters want to force this sensitive differentiation into fact, mirroring their wishes.
I read the comments- as long as MAGA-crazy commenters made further reading worthless.
Rybolovlev was I believe part of the Russian delegation in Saudi last week despite not being a diplomat. Surely that’s no coincidence. One cannot help but wonder about whether he’s a controller. Or just a reminder about what is owed to whom.
Exactly…:)
'Furthermore, the Russian mob has been the major financier for his Trump Soho operation, which was eventually uncovered as a money laundering scheme.’
The smoking-gun, Trump used some Brighton Beach contractors with mob ties (like half of New York) translates into him being a Russian asset. How could any of us have missed that?
He didn’t use Russian contractors, they were owners of the property; he put down nothing, and received a 10% stake in the limited partnership (Branding).
Far from being contractors in the project. And by itself, means nothing, but it’s not the only instance of his relationship with a foreign government, or people representing the interests of the Russian government.
It’s how we do business in New York. If they were Italian, as my people were, and as most construction bosses were two generations ago, they’d say he’s got mafia ties as if that means something. As they said about the Kennedys, then. Listen, Trump is not a Russian asset, let’s not be stupid AGAIN! That shit barely flew in 2017 on the strength of a highly dubious piss dossier, and now some crackpot crawls out of his safe space and says, “Oh, by the way, I can add a layer of truth to the last ten years of inane Trump is a Russian plant bullshit. Something that all y’all overlooked.” When are we going to grow up?
I’m from NY, my father was a developer; mostly Section 8 projects, but he also did commercial buildings for companies like MetLife.
And he never got in business with the mob, other than dealing with the unions, which they controlled in the 70’s and 80’s. It’s one thing to use them as contractors, but tell me any other major developer who literally gave them the majority stake in a building he was developing? Or who would do business with criminal elements?
And, as for the Steele dossier, many parts were confirmed, others not. Regardless, it’s irrelevant, and was not the reason for the Mueller investigation.
Additionally, the Mueller Report did not exonerate Trump, or many of his minions like Manafort, who pled guilty to crimes related to Russian interference in our elections. In fact, Mueller wrote , “he wouldn’t make a determination as to Trump’s participation, since you couldn’t indict a sitting president.” That said, Mueller indicted 34 individuals and three Russian businesses on charges ranging from computer hacking to conspiracy and financial crimes. Those indictments have led to seven guilty pleas and five people sentenced to prison; some of the guilty pleas received presidential pardons or had their convictions wiped out, when Trump told Barr not to defend the cases on appeal.
And my point isn’t whether he’s an asset. It’s the fact, he is a transactional president who has monetized the presidency before and is doing it again. On Inauguration Day, Trump made $10 billion on his crypto currency with 20 dark money investors controlling 80% of the coins.
Lastly, If there nothing to hide, release the names of the investors, foreign governments or companies who have made him $10 billion so far, with the opportunity to be as much as $80 billion by the time his term expires.
Let’s not forget that Mueller cited 10-11 instances of obstruction of justice by Trump. If any instance had been proven (which was likely), each would have been a felony in and of itself.
Great point👍
Trump made a lot of people in New York rich; he evicted plenty of New Yorkers as well. I lost a family business. My family was in New York for a fucking century, but the gentrification spurred by Trump sent everyone packing. If there’s anyone who should hate him, it’s me. Don’t try to convince me about the Mueller Report; he had less in the tank than Biden. The bottom line is that “we” created the monster that is Trump — we don’t have a problem with a methodology that created the monster, only the monster itself. Amid it all, we gave him his own TV show and celebrated the monster with catchphrases. He went on to make a lot of people in Hollywood rich. Then, Hillary Clinton had the bright idea of running him as a pied piper candidate. Mr. Jaffee, you reap what you fucking sow. And this is what America deserves. Too bad; I hope he takes a wrecking ball to the government. I never benefited one way or the other. And I’m not shedding any tears over it.
“Mr. Jaffee, you reap what you fucking sow. And this is what America deserves. Too bad; I hope he takes a wrecking ball to the government. I never benefited one way or the other. And I’m not shedding any tears over it.”
Got it! Your family suffered a loss from gentrification, so you blame the system. It’s not like other opportunities existed for you and your family to succeed in another way.
Perhaps, you see things from a very negative and parochial perspective. Instead of seeing the plethora of new opportunities, you still see the world for your families failures, or loss of a business, and would see the rest of us suffer as a result.
And like most hardcore members of the Trump cult, and Muskrat; better to burn the house down, than regroup and work towards a different career! Sorry you’ve become so jilted, it’s a terrible way to live, or more aptly: wasting it!
Remember, the federal government isn’t involved in local business and social issues, ordinances, laws, or the evolutions of a major city. Those decisions are made at the state and local level. Additionally, the states have plenty of leeway as to how to spend federal dollars allocated to the states, and municipalities. Let that sink in!..:)
Do not use the Royal “we” but take responsibility for your own errors in judgment. Many have never taken part in creating Monster Trump but knew he was a con since the 90s. That includes me.
Wait, can't we regurgitate the lies about Trump and golden showers in Moscow. Russia, Russia, Russia...blah, blah, blah.
Is “blah, blah, blah” a direct quote or did Chat GPT help?
AI is your domain. Very artificial indeed.
I just restacked you, because I find your insight uncanny.
Well said.
I saw someone make a great point on another platform: Whether you believe Donald Trump is a Russian asset or not, if he was, would he be doing anything different than he is now? If he were, in fact, a Russian asset, what he'd be doing to promote Russian talking points and enact Putins vision, would look very much like this.
We should stop arguing over the how or the why and just accept what is and figure out how to combat someone who occupies our oval office. He is quite clearly compromised and as such not acting in OUR best interests but the interests of a hostile foreign nation.
100% agree…:)
I agree that we're probably never going to be able to pinpoint the exact nature of his relationship but i think it may be useful to document the evolution and the evidence that e has--for whatever combination of reasons--reached the conclusion that alignment with Putin's Russia is good for him and can at least be reationalized by him as good for America. He may also actually believe that. If you strip away all the "morality" fro the equation, as Trump seems to do, then the prospect of alignment with Russia starts to "make sense" -- assuming that, as an analyst, you can perform the exercise of eliminating morality, loyalty to allies and ideals, etc, from the equation. It's hard to do that because these things are fundamental to our historic world view. Anyway a breif comment is not the right place to try and explore this but i think somewhere in this mix is the key to undestanding Trump's worldview, his affinity for Russia (which may indeed be boosted by or anchored in some kind of kompromat they have on him).....it's an ugly mental exercise but maybe a necessary one.
I keep looking for a TRUMP property to rise on the Russian skyline, maybe not with the Brand on building, at least for now, but most assuredly, in the "FAMILY".
Good info. There’s lots of open source news article about Trumps’ closet people having Kremlin ties. I first looked at speaker Mike Johnson, out of curiosity. He accepted campaign donations from Oligarch Konstantin Nikolaev, who in turn sponsored the Russian honey-pot Maria Butina to come to the US, and get involved in the NRA, among other things. Butina ended up in a US prison, after her conviction for spying for the Kremlin. She was later returned to Russia in the last International prisoner swap. All of this came from US mainstream, credible media- saved screenshots. What I didn’t see in the reporting was anything connecting these dots. And what I still don’t see is anything connecting reporting of Mike Johnson’s personal finances, and he still claims not to have a checking account. I’m a disabled mental health worker, and I easily found all this. My sole expertise is with mentally ill human monsters, which does help in gaming out likely behaviors. I posted this around social media, with receipts, and it was mostly ignored. Maybe it’s so common that it doesn’t merit attention. Maybe it’s because I have no direct info of Johnson agreeing to do anything for Russia. And maybe I come from a time where this big of an appearance of impropriety would get a big reaction. But now it’s often that clouds of smoke don’t necessarily indicate there’s any fire causing them.
🙏🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🙏 I'm trying hard to hold onto HOPE that you're WRONG... But after discovering our Electorate is also COMPROMISED & MORALLY and ETHICALLY BANKRUPT.... DEMOCRACY is on LIFE - SUPPORT! 😳
To me the 100k spent on KGB friendly ads in leading Western publications is something very similar to a smoking gun. He delivered a successful active measure of the KGB. He may not even know the term active measure, but delivered it short and good! If we could track down the money. It would be clear. We may never be able to do it, but those ads shouted into the leading journals.
Impeachment for treason
Impeach him that’s treason
I appreciate your certitude and welcome contrarian comments. i think you're a little ahead of yourself regarding attitudes in the KGB in 1987. The writing was in no way on the wall in 87. Reagan was still scaring the shit out of Russia; Gorbachev was on his way up. He had beoe General Secretary of the CPSU from 1985 but didn't become head of state until 1988. He would still need to consolidate power -- becoing Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet from 1988 to 1989, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 1989 to 1990 and the president of the Soviet Union from 1990 to 1991. You are describing 1989 or 1990, not 1987. IMO, of course and you're welcome to take another view. But I think the facts and
Since you were active during the Reagan administration, I'm not sure I understand your take on "Reagan...scaring the shit out of Russia". Although that statement is largely true, it is misleading. It was well known at the time, among various intelligence agencies, that the USSR was coming apart at the seams. Intelligence summaries were making reference to the volatile situation in the USSR on a regular basis. Further, that same information was leaked to, and reported by, many media outlets. However, rather than hang back and watch the inevitable, the Reagan administration decided to engage - spending ghastly and unwarranted sums of taxpayers' dollars in the process. The technology to construct and support Star Wars was a prime example - it was never going to work because the "involved" scientists, engineers, etc had no idea how to accomplish what Reagan was promising. Reagan knew all this but blithely spent all that money anyway; a lot of corporate fat cats were the only real beneficiaries of that effort. Then Reagan laid claim to a glorious victory and the voting public ate it up in the same fashion that the current know-nothing MAGA Republicans are worshiping a thoroughly corrupt and compromised administration, accepting every lie exiting trump's mouth without ever stopping to consider what is the real truth.
Reagan was viewed by the KGB as capable of starting a pre-emptive nuclear attack and they were absolutely scared of him, particularly from the time he gave his "evil empire" speech in 1983; the Able Archer exercise in 83; Star Wars (Strategic Defense Initiative). There was no sense that the Soviet Union was coming apart until quite a bit later ....even in 1987 Gorbachev had still not consolidated power; 'glasnost' was not yet a thing. By 88, 89, I would say yes....it was eginning to fray. Before that, not so much.
A a n
At least Reagan protected Gorbachev and Mrs G.
So you conclude that Trump was likely considered a half-wit expected to be open to nefarious opportunities to improve his personal financial conditions and popularity in an effort to become powerful in the US? Got it.
That sounds about right. I think he would have been considere a uniquely American loudmouth totally in it for personal gain, an easy mark for recruitment but "recruitmet" could mean mutual cooperation without control.
Russian language specialist here, with experience in the old USSR… I agree with Mr. Sellers. Trump the visitor, whatever his value as a useful businessman, would have been instantly spotted as politically naive and ignorant about history — and so easily manipulated.
And perhaps nekulterny [pardon my spelling, please] as well.
Close enough!
Either way, more likely Krasnov than not.
What would be different between now and then?
Oh yes. That’s been clear from early on.
That's a good one. Like most people in the intel community i was appalled by soem of her statements defending Bashar al Assad and Putin. But I haven't done the kind of deep dive with her that I probably should, given the circumstances. It's a good idea to take a look, and I will.
I’m here. I have done the deep dive. You should ask me.
Trump is an asset. Musk turned to be an agent. The current administration is staffed with sleepers, and russian terrorist state's collaborators of all sorts, you name it. As simple as that.
Currently the kremlin runs the USA.
This is the new Axis of Evil: The USA, Iran, North Korea, China, russian terrorist state.
This is the new reality.
Essentially, trough the US, russian territorist state to certain extent controls NATO now.
Not surprisingly the UK is considering withdrawal from the 5Eyes alliance.
Whatever goes through Musk's or Trump's hands lands on kremlin's desks first thing.
Musk and Trump are currently dismantling the US government on behalf of russian territorist state and building a dictatorship. Trump has already promised his voters it was the last election. He is in the process of fulfilling this promise.
This is the high treason. This is the highest level of emergency America has ever experienced. Reaction? Apart from few protests and outraged comments here and there, it doesn't seem there is any reaction. It seems the US political system for one reason or another is completely paralised.
In my view, it is time for the military to step in, declare martial law, court martial Musk, Trump and their cronies for high treason and call free of russian territorist state elections after. Otherwise you'll wake up in Belarus 2.0.
Valid concerns all.Don't count on the military after Friday night's massacre. Loyalists in charge there now.
I agree with a lot of that, and will be exploring it here, bit by bit. Hope it doesn't all burn down in the meantime.
Exactly. Now. We must not wait. We the People listening. Ready. 🤝🫂🫡🇺🇸🕯️
Like Russia in 2012.
Like Ukraine in 2014. They stopped it. US is talking, talking, talking.
IMHO it's time for the rest of the world to step in and excise the metastasing cancer.
Fortunately, that is easy, it's just been covered up by the contestants for national hegemony.
Democracy is not popular with those who seek to monopolise power for themselves - the malignant greedy.
https://www.talaria.fyi/p/petition-to-kick-russia-out-of-the
Trump just saved us from a multi-colored trans-infused communist takeover to install an actual red-blooded American communism. I like the way you think, comrade.
😵💫
I would assume that the KGB would vet their candidates based on their actual capacity to serve their interests based on economic, social and personal needs. The fact that he has labeled himself the “king of debt” does put him in a category of having needs. You add that to a lowIQ and a naive and narcissistic personality, there is no question that he would have fallen for these overtures. I would add that it is highly possible that he has been on the KGB payroll (I’m sure CIA also has some global personalities in the payroll as well) all this time.
Which leads me to this: In 2020 right after his loss to Biden, he had a debt of $400M due. Who paid it?
LOL I think I'll be doing a series called "The Krasnov Files" or something like that, drilling down into that. We know Deutscebank bailed him out, and there were Russian connections there. I'm planning to drill down into the rest of what is known or suspected -- from 1987 to the present. I have some general ideas about this but need to freshen and do a more serious inquiry before I start 'opining' too much.
Be more careful than ever as both of them get more desperate.
How much was he bailed out for?
I think you are spot on with the naive label. Donald is such a chump.
Can't be just a chump to grab this much power over people here. Just saying stupid is as stupid does doesn't explain the cult like hold he has over 1/3 of our citizens, yammering about a 3rd term. I think he's more than a useful idiot, he's a cheater who is adept at rigging the board - one can't underestimate the willingness of depravity.
He IS a useful idiot and has been since his daddy gave him the keys to the safe and had to find desperate ways of getting out of 4 bankruptcies.
He realized he is a glorified but successful street corner tie salesman he is still doing it now, selling trinkets, wine, tennis, cards, coins, pens…..he is the Dollar General or Family Dollar or Dollar Tree of politics.
Maybe the Trumper cult are just bigger chumps.
Nah, DEFINITELY the Biden chumps outweigh Trump’s MAGA. I saw Biden bragging on TV about—lol—$80m for UKR he used to install a dirty prosecutor. Oh and the laptop from hell… surely we don’t forget about that.
Oh! And the secret meeting with Schumer, Blinkin, Nuland, Moulton, and Rice just before Trump and Zelenskyy met encouraging Zelenskyy not to sign the deal in violation of the Logan Act. After seeing UKR stealing young teen boys off neighborhood streets kicking and screaming being sent to the frontline to die, I think it’s a toss up between the two nations. Good on Trump for trying to negotiate peace.
At this point in time, it’s still a free country, and you’re entitled to your opinion.
You misspelled "Champ."
😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣 Yeah, no I didn’t. You must be a Russian troll.
No, I'm an American patriot like Trump.
Enjoy the next 4 years.
Fascists who over ran Germany in the 1930s...sound like your statement... Please check out the history of Germany...
Trump’s rhetoric and actions in recent years—his reluctance to criticize Putin, his efforts to weaken NATO, and his alignment with Russian disinformation campaigns—do not suggest someone acting under duress. Instead, they suggest someone who, for his own reasons, has fully embraced the Russian position.
Amen to that. I wrote something similar in reply to another comment here. He's all-in with his embrace of Putin. Not getting dragge along.
Guys, i had to take out the ban hammer on Art Lover. i really don't like doing that but he was way too over the top and abusive. I really do welcome contrarian views -- they keep me on my toes and usually I can coax the into engaging civilly. But not this guy. Moving on. Sorry the abuse some other commenters suffered.
You Left out the fact That Russian oligarchs bought penthouses. And his son bragged about borrowing money from Russia.
Yup. Gonna get to that. ;-)
And the pee tape
He would not have known whether he was recruited or not.
Bingo. Honestly, i've had that thought every time I imagine the various scenarios.
He is so fixated on grabbing the shiny )(*& he wants -- power, control, fealty, adoration -- that I doubt recruitment would even register to him. " A bear of very little brain," to quote Pooh.
Speaking as a Navy IS1(ret), you went JUST far enough to win me over. Very disciplined, you’ve laid out what you know, what you don’t know, and what you believe, based on available information. Kudos, sir!
The CIA would be expected to know more about this than they have revealed. An examination of Trump’s business failure - recovery time line, aligned against transactions with Russian oligarchs - laundered or otherwise may have been instructive. Perhaps Tulsi will get to the bottom of this 🙄.
You are joking, right? Tulsi most likely would shred and launder any evidence that would incriminate the Orange menace.
Note the 🙄
Let’s assume the U.S. dictator was only surveilled and flattered in 1987. Putin didn’t seize power until more than a decade later. What about evidence over the past 2 decades that the Orange Traitor was compromised? Doesn’t Putin operate like a mafia boss? Doesn’t trolump have loans to repay? Wouldn’t donOLD fear for his life if he crosses putin? Shouldn’t he? Do you really think Ivana just “fell down the stairs?”
Falling down stairs sounds like falling out of windows to me. And now she’s buried on a private golf course.🤔
According to the Guardian article (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/29/trump-russia-asset-claims-former-kgb-spy-new-book?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other) he took out a full page ad parroting Russian (Soviet) foreign policy talking points immediately after returning from that 1987 trip.
Correct. It wasn't exactly parroting their points -- he was basically starting on the theme we now hear from him, everyone in NATO is ripping off the US, etc. That wasn't a KGB talking point but it sure suited their purposes.
Too stupid for history, needed money, did what they wanted. Took out Russian talking points ad. How much better could an asset be? For a brief moment, I was in Russia in the early 90s. I clearly remember the “tour guide” asking me if I knew Donald Trump. And then we had a conversation about corruption, how much of it there was in Russia compared to the United States. She looked directly at me and said, you Americans are so naive, such babies. You have no idea what’s coming. 30 years later I understand.
But why is a country like Russia running the board now?
Many years ago, a character in one of Charles McCarrey's thrillers says something along the lines of "Covert action does not consist of forcing people to do something they don't want to do. It's finding people who want to do what you want done and then helping them do it." Since 2015, I've thought this explained Trump's treachery and the open help from Russia in the most economical way. Note, this doesn't require any sort of explicit agreement.
Besides, from what little I've read of Russian espionage and covert action, especially in the U.S. in the '30's, '40's and '50's, it seems they are careful to assess the stability and reliability of a candidate before formally recruiting him. Trump certainly wouldn't pass muster on that score.
You sure have a lot of sympathy for the KGB and their point of view, tovarisch 🚩
It's an interesting point you make about Putin operating much like a mafia don. I think that more at the crux of Putin's relationship with Trump.
Many of the photos of Trump with Putin show a deflated and fatigued Trump. Much like an underling with a mafia don.
I have come to suspect that the something Putin holds over Trump's head is not a pee tape but rather a live-witnessed "consequence" for Trump's "lack of cooperation" should he decide to further that pursuit.
Trump's enthusiasm in his support for Putin -- going above and beyond what would be required -- leaves me to feel his mostly cooperating based on positive inducement, not negative. That doesn't mean there isn't some threat in the mix, but Trump goes a lot farther in sucking up to Putin than a resentful, coerced collaborator would likely go. It's just speculation, and I'm not disagreeing--just putting it out there that i thin he's fully "under the spell", not just resentfully/reluctantly going along.
I don't think Trump's resentful. I think he's deglated. Look at the pictures. They clearly do not depict a person who is a co-equal in a partnership. He's owned by Putin. Trump's in over his head and can't get out.
*deflated
Money and greed have always been Trump’s main focuses. And there was always available plenty of money to share, from buying apartments at double what he had paid to the well known Dutsch Bank money laundering.
You haven’t answered my questions about the last 20 years, michael. And what about Ivana’s classic Russian death?
I think there is plenty to ponder regarding the last 20 years. Thirty, actually. Beginning with the ads he took out whe he got back from Moscow .... up through the present day -- there is a lot to look at. Russian influene, Russian money in his condos and deals, Russian money in Deutsche bank possibly helping bail him out.....all the way up through today's UN Vote where we sided with Russia, North Korea, and Belarus against the rest of the civilized world.I'm sure there is influence, engagement, and common cause. I'm not sure hes a controlled asset and I'm not sure it matters whether he is or not -- he's a witting collaborator with the. most power of any one person in the world
Thank you, Michael, for responding. And you’re right, what matters is his treasonous devotion to a true enemy of our country and way of life
I saw an article during the early pandemic - I apologize I can't recall where/author but it was not a fringe publication - where the author claimed an internal gvmt source for information that trump was an FBI informant against the Mafia and that complicated his relationship with the FBI - that what was happening during trump 1.0 w/fbi wasn't entirely straightforward. It seemed to fit the timeline of his shift towards collaborations with Russian 'investors' after the head of one of the families was indicted/convicted. I wish I could find that article now...
I've thought that too..it seems "obvious" especially after the statement trump made about being able ( misquote) to shoot anyone on Fifth Avenue..and get away with it...conspiracy theory??
Putin never seized power. He was appointed by Yeltsin.
He was the man with no face, the wall flower, the safe bet. Power corrupt...etc
And where did Yeltsin end up?
All of trumps efforts since his visit to Moscow in the 1980’s suggest he was recruited by the KGB. Whether it was a willing recruitment, or just that the idiot did not understand, is immaterial. The USA and the world are stuck with Krasnov, AKA trump.
He got the validation from KGB he never got from Daddy. Didn't take them long to get the kompromat on the creeper. How do you suppose that worked with Elmo?
Do you remember being shocked by trumps first win? When I think about it in the light of him being allied with Russia it adds weight to the possibility of him being a Russian asset. His serial bankruptcies. The connection to Deutchbank loaning him money and buying fla properties and selling to oligarchs for a fabulous mark up. The wife from a country in the Russian sphere.. The intelligence agencies having concluded that Russia interfered in the election on trumps side. Trump being so vehemently opposed to the idea. Bristling at the suggestion. Him being enamored of the Russian dictator. His son saying money is no problem that they had a good supply from Russia. No reason given
Im sure you can site many more weird things that connect trump with the possibility that he is a Russian traitor. That sure is a lot of coincidences?
If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck……..