Traditionally, Finland has been rated the happiest nation on the planet. With its top ratings for healthy life expectancy, great social support systems, and its fantastic new team of young women leading the way, it’s not hard to see why. On the other hand, Russia, home to short-lived journalists and the vodka breakfast, has always been way down on the charts. But there are reasons why Russia’s happiness is rising, even if its healthcare system and crime rates are still heading in the wrong direction … because what is happiness if it’s not enjoying a good laugh? And Russia is definitely laughing about the success of its 2016 interference scheme.
As the Daily Beast reports, broadcasters on Russian state television have turned America’s travails into a regular source of humor. That includes not-half-joking suggestions that when Donald Trump finally leaves office, there will always be a place for him in Moscow.
One host on ITAR-TASS, Russia’s oldest and largest news agency, suggested that it might be time to ready another apartment in the Moscow district where Paul Manafort’s previous client, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, now lives in exile after he was forced out in protests against his pro-Russian government. But, of course, Trump isn’t expecting a measly apartment. He’s expecting an entire apartment building, the one that was put on temporary hold only months after Trump had secured the Republican nomination. The one in which Trump had promised a penthouse to Putin.
And there’s no doubt that Trump is still earning his block in Moscow, because his unflagging support of Putin—and the damage he’s doing in Ukraine—has become a part of Russia’s propaganda effort that’s working to depress Ukraine, instill fear, and support Putin’s military effort to take more Ukrainian territory. Russian broadcasters are issuing statements such as, “There are no disagreements or contradictions between Trump and Russia.” Not only does that appear to be shockingly true, but it’s an effective message in making Ukrainians and the Ukraine government understand that their position is weak and that U.S. support is no deeper than the momentary attention brought by the impeachment inquiry.
It’s not clear what color hat comes with the effort, but it is clear that Donald Trump is helping to Keep Ukraine Miserable. And terrified.
Of course, Donald Trump is not the only one who is providing Russia with ammunition against Ukraine. Republican claims from the impeachment inquiry been in heavy rotation on Russia media, but one long-time Russia fan is seeing his star rise again: Rudy Giuliani’s “documentary” that aired on right-wing propaganda broadcaster OAN has a second life in Russia. In that appearance, Giuliani accuses former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch of “lying under oath in Congress to whitewash Biden’s corruption.” But while the effort by Trump’s personal attorney to destroy perceived political opponents is both amusing and familiar to Russia viewers, it’s the other part of the story that’s really helpful to Moscow—the part where Trump and Giuliani back the CrowdStrike conspiracy theory. That conspiracy theory doesn’t just put the blame for 2016 interference on Ukraine and Hillary Clinton; it completely exonerates Russia and Vladimir Putin. It’s a narrative that helps Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine and furthers the goal of demeaning and devaluing U.S. intelligence.
As National Security Council official Fiona Hill pointed out in her testimony before the House impeachment inquiry, the conspiracy that Trump and Giuliani are pushing was authored by Moscow even before the 2016 election precisely to provide cover for its extensive military attack on U.S. institutions. It could not be more thrilled with how it’s working, and how Donald Trump is furthering its interests and working to move Russia to the top of those lists of happy countries.
