# Trump associates may have coordinated with Russians, according to US officials **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 23, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799 "2017-03-23T00:28:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/402 "2017-06-25T16:35:18Z")
They do. Sorta. So do we. Kinda. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/403 "2017-06-26T00:35:11Z")
Who knows, maybe the kneejerk “Russia” boogieman thing will be tempered now a bit. [CNN Is Imposing Strict New Rules On Its Russia Coverage](https://www.buzzfeed.com/passantino/cnn-russia-coverage-publishing-restrictions?utm_term=.ssgxYK5od#.hfQ0DPAe5) The email went out at 11:21 a.m. on Saturday from Rich Barbieri, the CNNMoney executive editor, saying “No one should publish any content involving Russia without coming to me and Jason,” a CNN vice president. … The now-deleted story was published Thursday and cited a single, unnamed source who claimed that the Senate Intelligence Committee was looking into a “$10-billion Russian investment fund whose chief executive met with a member of President Donald Trump’s transition team four days before Trump’s inauguration.” A source close to the network, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter, told BuzzFeed News earlier that the story was a “massive, massive fuck up and people will be disciplined.” The person said CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker and the head of the company’s human resources department are “directly involved” in an internal investigation examining how the story was handled. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/404 "2017-06-26T00:37:15Z")
OK, so maybe it was only $9.9 billion. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/405 "2017-06-26T15:46:56Z")
Anyone else noting the shift in the right wing talking points over the past few months? First it was that there was no evidence that Russia tampered with anything, but then the evidence became conclusive that this wasn’t true. Then, it was that there was no evidence that the tampering was intended to benefit any particular candidate, and then that fell apart with new evidence. Now, the past few days, the talking point seems to be a combination of two things: First, the people investigating the collusion are biased and second, that collusion isn’t necessarily illegal. Being that the talking points shift preceding new intelligence leaking, is this preemptive yet again? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/406 "2017-06-26T16:56:02Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Anyone else noting the shift in the right wing talking points over the past few months? First it was that there was no evidence that Russia tampered with anything, but then the evidence became conclusive that this wasn’t true. Then, it was that there was no evidence that the tampering was intended to benefit any particular candidate, and then that fell apart with new evidence. > > Now, the past few days, the talking point seems to be a combination of two things: First, the people investigating the collusion are biased and second, that collusion isn’t necessarily illegal. Being that the talking points shift preceding new intelligence leaking, is this preemptive yet again? Who knows? The whole situation is inherently unpredictable, IMO. The only thing I have any confidence of is that Mueller will pursue the investigation to the best of his ability, and if there’s anything to find, he’ll probably find it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/407 "2017-06-26T17:02:32Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Who knows? The whole situation is inherently unpredictable, IMO. **The only thing I have any confidence of is that Mueller will pursue the investigation to the best of his ability, and if there’s anything to find, he’ll probably find it.** "The only thing I have any confidence of is that Mueller will pursue the investigation to the best of his ability, and if there’s anything to find, [del]he’ll probably find it[/del] Trump will fire him. Fixed. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/408 "2017-06-26T17:09:51Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > "The only thing I have any confidence of is that Mueller will pursue the investigation to the best of his ability, and if there’s anything to find, [del]he’ll probably find it[/del] Trump will fire him. > Fixed. > 😉 Good point! ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/409 "2017-06-26T17:13:28Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > [Here you go.](https://twitter.com/benjaminwittes/status/872509992938688512) I don’t get it. And neither did Twitter apparently. Here are the top three replies: > [@](#): > > Boom? Boom what? > [@](#): > > To Sum Up: Big monkey off Trump’s back. Thanks to the 24/7 MSM hysterics & outrage over everything Trump, it’s a big letdown to his haters > [@](#): > > Wonder what mainstream media going to do now that Comey and NSA director confirm no pressure to drop Russia investigation. Big nothingburger Could you spell out for me what the significance of the “boom” was? Should it have been a big deal? Should I have been discussing it around the water cooler with my co-workers? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/410 "2017-06-26T17:19:15Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Anyone else noting the shift in the right wing talking points over the past few months? First it was that there was no evidence that Russia tampered with anything, but then the evidence became conclusive that this wasn’t true. Then, it was that there was no evidence that the tampering was intended to benefit any particular candidate, and then that fell apart with new evidence. > > Now, the past few days, the talking point seems to be a combination of two things: First, the people investigating the collusion are biased and second, that collusion isn’t necessarily illegal. Being that the talking points shift preceding new intelligence leaking, is this preemptive yet again? The story changes, but the message remains the same: “Don the Con is not a crook!” (Don’t forget the peace signs on either side of their heads.) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/411 "2017-06-26T17:20:51Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t get it. And neither did Twitter apparently. Here are the top three replies: > > Could you spell out for me what the significance of the “boom” was? Should it have been a big deal? Should I have been discussing it around the water cooler with my co-workers? Seriously? You’re reduced to citing random Twitter accounts? Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/412 "2017-06-26T17:25:35Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t get it. And neither did Twitter apparently. Here are the top three replies: You’re right. It was no big deal. It’s not like it initiated a massive multi-front criminal investigation into the president or anything. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/413 "2017-06-26T17:28:45Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Seriously? You’re reduced to citing random Twitter accounts? Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. I’m not “reduced” to any such thing. The post I was replying to cited a random Twitter account. You realize that, right? I was asking him to elaborate on his explanation of the “boom” beyond citing a random Twitter account. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/414 "2017-06-26T17:32:17Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’m not “reduced” to any such thing. The post I was replying to cited a random Twitter account. You realize that, right? I was asking him to elaborate on his explanation of the “boom” beyond citing a random Twitter account. Which lends your cite credibility? Try again. (Nor was his cite ‘random’ at all…it was from someone who knows Comey. But hey, whatever justifies your point, right?) ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/415 "2017-06-26T17:42:11Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’m not “reduced” to any such thing. The post I was replying to cited a random Twitter account. You realize that, right? I was asking him to elaborate on his explanation of the “boom” beyond citing a random Twitter account. The “random” twitter account was a good friend of Comey’s whose first “tick, tick, tick” tweet preceded his “boom” tweet which revealed something that turned out to be a very big deal, and showed that he wasn’t full of shit. He has, once more, tweeted “tick, tick, tick”, and because he was right the first time, lends credence to his doing it the second time. It was meant to imply no more and no less than that someone, who is in the middle of this thing, who predicted something previously again appears to be predicting something. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/416 "2017-06-26T21:51:58Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > "The only thing I have any confidence of is that Mueller will pursue the investigation to the best of his ability, and if there’s anything to find, [del]he’ll probably find it[/del] Trump will fire him. > Fixed. > 😉 If he even gets that far. As I’ve recently gleaned from the leading lights of the conservative comment section intelligentsia, Mueller and Comey are lifelong besties who often walk arm-in-arm under a parasol, batting their eyelashes and discussing how best to sabotage President Trump for no apparent reason. Mueller needs to be fired immediately, they say, and replaced by someone who can actually be trusted to be fair-minded, objective and non-partisan— like, say, Newt Gingrich. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/417 "2017-06-26T23:09:18Z")
So Trump and Fox have moved away from “hacking is a hoax” to “it’s Obama’s fault” to “it’s not illegal if Trump colluded.” Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/418 "2017-06-26T23:11:26Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > So Trump and Fox have moved away from “hacking is a hoax” to “it’s Obama’s fault” to “it’s not illegal if Trump colluded.” Interesting. Most interesting about it: that the blatant inconsistency fails to set off a _single_ alarm bell for those shuttling from one ‘explanation’ to the next. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/419 "2017-06-26T23:38:43Z")
Those aren’t explanations, they are “trial balloons”. Note that they are punditti, saying shit in the format of “just asking questions”. Maybe that would fly? No risk, they can just deny that we understood what they were saying. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/420 "2017-06-27T02:50:23Z")
Would any of our local Trump fans be willing to state that if there is evidence of collusion that this is a big deal? ---
**Author:** ![freewriterguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d2c977/32.png) [@freewriterguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freewriterguy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/421 "2017-06-27T03:59:58Z")
Russia didn’t vote for Trump, I did. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=22)