Summary
Putin’s actions after Trump’s election, including a delayed congratulations and a denial of a phone call, suggest a lack of respect for Trump’s personal relationship with him.
Russia’s intelligence chief’s statement that Trump owes them favors for their support in his election, along with hints that he is expected to “pay back” certain obligations, amounts to a bold threat of blackmail.
Trump’s foreign policy, which favors a realignment with Russia, may be challenged by Putin’s actions and the revelation of Russian interference in the election.
He’s already conditioned his base with fake pictures and videos of tons of stuff. He’s already convinced them to reject a reality they can see and hear and touch.
Putin could release that tape, DNA, and have the Pope and Joe Rogan personally attest to it’s authenticity and it wouldn’t matter.
Trump would say “deepfake” , fake news, radical left fabrication. His base would believe him. We’ve been living in a post-truth world for longer than most of us are willing to admit.
There is no kompromat that could shake his base.
I completely agree with the conditioning, but the crazier part is even if his base knew some horrible tapes were real, I don’t think they would care. It’s sunk cost fallacy at this point. There is nothing that will get people off the Trump train.