# How did the Russians meddle in our election? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 8, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293 "2018-08-08T19:11:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/102 "2018-08-15T12:46:57Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > If you have a cite from those agencies giving reasons for their opinion then by all means post them. I literally have; twice so far. But you’ll have to read them on your own; I cannot compel you to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/103 "2018-08-15T12:54:49Z")
The string attached to the payment to Bill Clinton was that he come to a certain location on a certain date and give a speech. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/104 "2018-08-15T16:16:37Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’ve pointed out Trump’s aggressive position against Russian interests as well as a trail of Russian money leading directly to the Clintons. No, you haven’t. You’ve made unsourced references to sanctions and a Syrian jet; if you were so kind as to document your facts, we could then point out how illusory Trump’s tepid responses have actually been, how sanctions have been imposed in spite of, and not because of, Trump’s best efforts, and how the only “trail of money” that goes from Russia to the Clintons is a tenuous route that relies on a Uranium-1 scandal that even [Fox news has debunked](https://www.businessinsider.com/fox-news-shep-smith-hillary-clinton-scandal-the-uranium-one-deal-2017-11). > [@](#): > > You literally have nothing in the way of a connection between the Russians. Is this what being gaslighted feels like? This is patently absurd: A Trump kid once bragged that they got the money they needed [from Russia](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/05/eric-trump-russia-investment-golf-course). Trump once brought a [beauty pageant](https://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/donald-trump-russia-moscow-miss-universe-223173) to Russia. Trump [wondered on Twitter](https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/347191326112112640) whether it would give him an in with Putin. During the campaign, Trump surrogates [met](http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/385156-lawyer-from-trump-tower-meeting-had-closer-ties-to-russia-than) with Russians for dirt on his opponent (you may have heard mention of this a time or two; Trump [admits](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-russia-sekulow_us_5b670c6ce4b0fd5c73dab466) it happened). Let’s see…also, on inauguration day, Trump’s National Security Advisor was purportedly [texting Russia](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/06/michael-flynn-russia-sanctions-trump-inauguration) about the fact that sanctions were going to be lifted. Oh, and Trump’s former Campaign Chairman (unpaid for the role, mind you), is deep in bed with [pro-Russian interests](https://www.politifact.com/global-news/article/2016/may/02/paul-manafort-donald-trumps-top-adviser-and-his-ti/). That’s just a quick synopsis based off of things I just thought of, and then quickly googled, in a few minutes. Do you still assert that there is literally nothing in the way of a connection? ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/105 "2018-08-15T19:27:27Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > 2 questions: > > 1. Of all the examples you have obviously heard in the threads you have participated in, why did you give two examples(one of which was extremely silly) that no one to speak of is actually putting forth? > > 2. Why are the words “meddle” and “collude” in quote marks, if not to support a position you already hold? I, for one, would love to hear the answers to these questions. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/106 "2018-08-16T01:23:25Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Do you still assert that there is literally nothing in the way of a connection? Compared to HRC, absolutely. There’s no comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/107 "2018-08-16T03:29:16Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Compared to HRC, absolutely. There’s no comparison. Wait… your claim is that in 2016 Russia did so much more for Clinton than for Trump that the two things can’t even be compared? Twenty-five Russian people and three Russian companies have been indicted for things they did in 2016, and the things they did all helped Trump. Zero Russian people and zero Russian companies have been indicted for things they did in 2016 to help Clinton. Zero. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/108 "2018-08-16T11:21:25Z")
Sorry if already mentioned, but the podcast [“Russia, If You’re Listening”](http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/russia-if-youre-listening/) is brilliant. Each 20 min episode looks at all the characters in the Russian involvement in the last US election. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/109 "2018-08-16T18:31:22Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > Wait… your claim is that in 2016 Russia did so much more for Clinton than for Trump that the two things can’t even be compared? No, no, no…didn’t you follow? There is “literally no connection” between Trump and Russia. How do we know? By looking at how involved Clinton was with Russia. Because, when you do, you find that you can’t draw any comparisons. It’s sort of like the other day when my wife accused me of eating all of the Oreos and I patiently explained to her that there is literally no evidence that I ate the Oreos, because the apples are still in the refrigerator. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/110 "2018-08-19T00:15:44Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > … an ambassador who published such a letter would cause a major diplomatic ruckus that would get him sent home in a trice. (What form of transport is a trice?) Not a vehicle; [unit of time](https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/trice): > [@Oxford Dictionaries](#): > > In a moment; very quickly. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/111 "2023-12-15T15:18:05Z")
Debated whether to bump an old thread or start a new one, flipped a coin, and still was not sure. But at least now I can blame the coin! > **[The mystery of the missing binder: How a collection of raw Russian...](https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2023/12/politics/missing-russia-intelligence-trump-dg/)** > > A binder containing highly classified information related to Russian election interference went missing at the end of Donald Trump’s presidency, raising alarms among intelligence officials. > [@](#): > > # The mystery of the missing binder: How a collection of raw Russian intelligence disappeared under Trump > > By Jeremy Herb, Katie Bo Lillis, Natasha Bertrand, Evan Perez and Zachary Cohen, CNN > > December 15, 2023 > > **Washington (CNN)** — A binder containing highly classified information related to **Russian election interference** went missing at the end of Donald Trump’s presidency, raising alarms among intelligence officials that some of the most closely guarded national security secrets from the US and its allies could be exposed, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. > > Its disappearance, which has not been previously reported, was so concerning that intelligence officials briefed Senate Intelligence Committee leaders last year about the missing materials and the government’s efforts to retrieve them, the sources said. > > In the two-plus years since Trump left office, the missing intelligence does not appear to have been found. > > The binder contained raw intelligence the US and its NATO allies collected on Russians and Russian agents, including sources and methods that informed the US government’s [assessment](https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/06/politics/intelligence-report-putin-election/index.html) that **Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to help Trump win the 2016 election** , sources tell CNN. **Emphasis mine** , JT ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/112 "2023-12-15T20:18:20Z")
As a good example of disinformation, recall that Hilliary was at death’s door and coughing up her lungs in 2016 according to assorted misinformation online. She seems to be quite healthy today. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/113 "2023-12-15T20:30:33Z")
Evidence of massive Russian disinformation campaign re Ukraine: > **[Ukraine war: How TikTok fakes pushed Russian lies to millions](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67687449)** > > The BBC uncovers a vast Russia-based network of fake TikTok accounts pushing disinformation about Ukraine. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/114 "2023-12-15T20:34:02Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > As a good example of disinformation, recall that Hilliary was at death’s door and coughing up her lungs in 2016 according to assorted misinformation online. She seems to be quite healthy today. Is there evidence that this was Russian disinformation? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2023, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/115 "2023-12-17T12:58:41Z")
There is a big security hole from what I can see. Shouldn’t it be recorded that ‘so-and-so’ requested this information, and it will be returned by xx-xx-xxxx. Or we follow up on it and renew the date. Shit local libraries have better security on cook-books. We should get Mr. Bookman on the case. (Seinfeld reference). ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293/116 "2023-12-19T13:28:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Is there evidence that this was Russian disinformation? As I understand, a lot of the Russian disinformation was embellishing or amplifying the whack-a-doodle stuff that whack-a-doodles like Alex Jones were making up - stuff like making sure pedophile pizza parlours stayed front and center in the online universe. I.e. “What is it that appeals directly to the insecurities of certain population segments, building distrust?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-russians-meddle-in-our-election/819293.md?page=5)