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The Guardian in the U.K. does a bang-up job consolidating and explaining ‘the unwieldy hydra’ that is the Trump-Russia Investigation. Their Timeline of Events is worth the price of admission (free).
I particularly like their List of Questions, with pop-up panels having brief but incisive Answers.
Here’s an example:
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How many Trump-Russia contacts were there?
The Guardian — 6 December 2017
How many contacts were there? The number is fluid, because new contacts are coming to light all the time.
Two media organizations are keeping updated tallies. CNN’s Marshall Cohen has counted at least 19 face-to-face interactions by at least 12 Trump associates with Russians or Kremlin-linked figures during the campaign or transition, and “at least 51 communications – meetings, phone calls, email exchanges and more”.
The Washington Post found that “members of the Trump campaign interacted with Russians at least 31 times throughout the campaign” in “at least 19 known meetings”.
Trump and his team have repeatedly denied any and all contacts. Two days after the election, spokeswoman Hope Hicks said: “We are not aware of any campaign representatives that were in touch with any foreign entities before yesterday, when Mr Trump spoke with many world leaders." Asked later during the transition whether “you or anyone in your campaign [had] any contact with Russia leading up to or during the campaign?” Trump replied, “No, not at all.”
Pay no attention to those Russian Meetings — that never even happened.
Why all the lies and secrecy — if there is really ‘no there, there’?
“No collusion, no collusion, everyone knows that” Trump frequently parrots — No Collusion, just several dozen secret meetings and contacts by Trump Team players. Just to talk about the weather no doubt, “everyone knows that” …
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In any event check out Guardian’s comprehensive research on the Russian intrusion into our U.S. Democracy — along with a strong assist from the Not-Ready-for-Prime-Time Trump Players:
Timeline of Events
List of Questions
The Key People
Forward these links to your friends and associates, who may finally be wondering:
“What is this ‘Trump Russia thing’ all about?” ... So much smoke, so where’s the fire?
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The Guardian — 6 December 2017
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What did all these people want? Reports say they advocated for assorted private agendas plus Russian policy objectives including ending US sanctions on Russia; discouraging the US from propping up an independent Ukraine; diminishing the Nato alliance; and disrupting American power and influence around the world.
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But Trump campaign figures discussed Russian policy priorities with Russian operatives during the US presidential campaign. Kislyak discussed sanctions with Michael Flynn and an unknown number of other Trump aides, according to Flynn's plea deal. Vesenitskaya, one of the attendees of the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting, claims to have left the meeting with a promise from Donald Trump Jr to review sanctions if his father were elected. That claim has been denied.
Investigators also appear to be looking at whether Trump aides sought to change the official Republican party platform on Ukraine at the Republican national convention. Some reports say the platform was changed in favor of Russia, while others disagree.
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Flynn copped a plea deal, saying he discussed lifting Russian Sanctions with the Russian Diplomat Kislyak, at the direction of his superiors — BEFORE the president-elect was even sworn in.
If that doesn’t constitute a consuming fire of collusion, I don’t know what would?
Perhaps a photo of Trump and Putin gleefully shaking hands — on their ongoing secret arrangement, that they both hope will continue to solidify their respective power bases, as the Putin influence campaign continues to roll on?
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Any Questions?