RussiaGate

In an era marked by unprecedented political, social, and technological upheavals, understanding the forces shaping our world has never been more urgent. From the dark currents of authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and Christian nationalism to the shadowy influence of dark money and disinformation, weโ€™re facing a web of interconnected threats that challenge the very foundations of democracy. To navigate this complex landscape, we need to rely on those trusted experts who have dedicated their lives to researching and exposing these dangersโ€”experts whose work sheds light on the hidden mechanisms at play in global power struggles.

This post is a curated guide to some of the top thought leaders in areas critical to understanding todayโ€™s political battlegrounds. These experts, from historians to journalists to security analysts, are at the forefront of their fields, providing the insights we need to decode the chaos and develop informed strategies for resistance. Whether you’re a seasoned activist, a curious reader, or someone just trying to make sense of the headlines, these voices are essential listening if weโ€™re to combat the disinformation and division threatening democratic norms.

In times like these, itโ€™s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the challenges we face. But by turning to trusted experts, we can arm ourselves with knowledgeโ€”one of the most powerful tools we have in the fight for a more just and equitable future.

Authoritarianism

The rise of authoritarianism isn’t a distant threat relegated to history booksโ€”it’s a real, present danger, creeping into the cracks of democracy worldwide. Understanding its mechanisms, from centralized power grabs to the erosion of civil liberties, is crucial to resisting its spread. Below are some of the most insightful thinkers and researchers who are sounding the alarm, dissecting how authoritarian regimes function, and offering solutions to protect democratic institutions.

  • Anne Applebaum — Anne Applebaum is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and journalist who specializes in authoritarianism, communism, and the resurgence of nationalism in Europe and the U.S. Her notable works include Gulag and Twilight of Democracy, exploring the rise of illiberal politics. (@anneapplebaum)
  • Ruth Ben-Ghiat — Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a historian and expert on authoritarianism, propaganda, and fascism, with a focus on the past and present dynamics of strongman rulers. She is the author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present and frequently writes about modern autocratic regimes. (@ruthbenghiat)
  • Natasha Bertrand — Natasha Bertrand is a journalist and national security correspondent, known for her work covering intelligence, foreign policy, and the investigation into Russian interference in U.S. elections. She has written for Politico, The Atlantic, and currently serves as a White House reporter for CNN. (@NatashaBertrand)
  • Joseph Fronczak — Joseph Fronczak is a historian who studies the history of global insurgencies, empire, and the politics of solidarity. His work explores the impact of colonialism and anti-colonial movements on modern international relations and transnational activism.
  • Masha Gessen — Masha Gessen is a Russian-American journalist and author who has written extensively on totalitarianism, Vladimir Putin‘s regime, and LGBTQ+ rights. Gessen’s book The Future Is History won the National Book Award for its profound exploration of Russia’s political culture. (@mashagessen)
  • Jason Stanley — Jason Stanley is a professor of philosophy at Yale University and the author of How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them. His research focuses on the intersections of propaganda, ideology, and authoritarianism, especially in contemporary contexts. (@jasonintrator)
  • Elizabeth Mika — Elizabeth Mika is a clinical psychologist and expert on authoritarianism and collective psychology, with a particular focus on the psychological mechanisms behind mass support for authoritarian leaders. She has contributed to anthologies and discussions on the psychology of totalitarianism and fascism. (@yourauntemma)
  • Timothy Snyder — Timothy Snyder is a historian specializing in Eastern European history and totalitarian regimes, best known for his books Bloodlands and On Tyranny, which explore the dangers of authoritarianism and the fragility of democracy. He is a professor at Yale University and a frequent commentator on modern political crises. (@TimothyDSnyder)
Timothy Snyder, authoritarianism expert on YouTube

Christian nationalism

Christian Nationalism is more than just a fringe ideologyโ€”itโ€™s a growing political force that merges religious fundamentalism with nationalist fervor, aiming to reshape American democracy into a theocratic state. This dangerous movement thrives on historical revisionism and a distorted version of Christian values. The experts listed here have been at the forefront of exposing and analyzing the real-world implications of Christian Nationalism, warning of its impact on policy, governance, and individual rights.

  • Tim Alberta — Tim Alberta is a journalist and political reporter, best known for his coverage of the Republican Party and conservative politics in the U.S. He is the author of American Carnage, which delves into the GOP’s transformation and the rise of Donald Trump. (@timalberta)
  • Anthea Butler — Anthea Butler is the Geraldine R. Segal Professor in American Social Thought and Chair of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in African American and American religion, race, politics, and evangelicalism. She is a prolific author and commentator, known for her work on religion and politics, including her recent book “White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America” and her contributions to the 1619 Project (@AntheaButler)
  • Robert P. Jones — Robert P. Jones is the president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and a leading scholar on religion and politics in America. He is a New York Times bestselling author, known for his books on white supremacy and American Christianity, including “The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future” and “White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity” (@robertpjones)
  • Kevin Kruse — Kevin M. Kruse is an American historian and professor of history at Princeton University, specializing in the political, social, and urban/suburban history of 20th-century America with a focus on modern conservatism. He has gained significant attention for his Twitter threads providing historical context for current political events and has authored several books, including “White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism (@kevinmkruse)
  • Sarah Posner — Sarah Posner is a Type Investigations reporting fellow who has spent years reporting on the increasing influence of the evangelical Christian right on mainstream politics. She is known for her in-depth analysis of Christian nationalism and its impact on various aspects of American society, including reproductive rights and LGBTQ issues (@sarahposner)
  • Katherine Stewart — Katherine Stewart is a journalist and author focusing on religious extremism and its influence on American politics. Her book The Power Worshippers examines the rise of Christian nationalism and its impact on the country’s political landscape. (@kathsstewart)
Christian nationalism illustration

Dark Money

Dark money flows through the veins of modern politics, influencing elections, legislation, and public opinion in ways most people never see. These hidden streams of funding empower corporations, billionaires, and interest groups to manipulate the political landscape without accountability. The researchers and journalists below have dedicated themselves to pulling back the curtain on these shadowy networks, offering a clearer picture of how wealth and power are wielded behind closed doors.

  • David Farenthold — David Farenthold is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has covered political corruption and the misuse of funds, particularly in his investigative reporting on Donald Trump’s charitable foundation. He is known for his in-depth investigations and work with The Washington Post and The New York Times. (@Fahrenthold)
  • Judd Legum — Judd Legum is a journalist and the founder of Popular Information, a newsletter focused on accountability journalism, corporate influence, and politics. He previously served as the editor-in-chief of ThinkProgress and frequently covers disinformation and media dynamics in U.S. politics. (@JuddLegum)
  • Jane Mayer — Jane Mayer is a staff writer for The New Yorker and the author of Dark Money, which explores the influence of wealthy conservative donors on American politics. She is an acclaimed investigative journalist, specializing in political corruption, the Koch network, and the intersection of money and policy. (@JaneMayerNYer)
  • Anne Nelson — Anne Nelson is an American journalist, author, playwright, and professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, known for her diverse career spanning war correspondence, award-winning books, and plays. Her work includes “Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right,” which examines the influence of conservative political groups, and she was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 2024 for her significant contributions to journalism. (@anelsona)

Disinformation

In an era of digital noise, disinformation is the poison that sows confusion, distrust, and division. From fake news and deepfakes to state-sponsored propaganda, the scale of disinformation campaigns is staggering, threatening not just elections but the very fabric of truth itself. The experts in this field are working to identify, expose, and counter the tactics used to manipulate public perception and undermine democracy.

  • Brooke Binkowski — Brooke Binkowski is a professional journalist whose career has taken her across the globe, covering stories in Mexico, Alaska, Europe, North Africa, and South America. She has worked for various news organizations including CNN, NPR, CBS, and the BBC, and currently serves as an interim news anchor at KPBS Public Media (@brooklynmarie)
  • Ben Collins — Ben Collins is an American businessman and journalist from Massachusetts who formerly worked as a reporter for NBC News, where he focused on disinformation and extremism. In 2024, he became the CEO of Global Tetrahedron, the media company that owns The Onion (@oneunderscore__)
  • Joan Donovan — Joan Donovan is an American social science researcher, sociologist, and academic renowned for her work on disinformation, online extremism, and media manipulation. She is the founder of The Critical Internet Studies Institute and currently serves as an assistant professor at Boston University’s College of Communication, following her tenure as a researcher at Harvard Kennedy School (@BostonJoan)
  • Karen Douglas — Karen Douglas is a Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Kent, specializing in the psychology of conspiracy theories. Her research examines why conspiracy theories appeal to people and their consequences for individuals, groups, and society. Douglas has been widely featured in media outlets like Time, The Guardian, and BBC, and is a co-editor of the textbook “Social Psychology” (@Karen_Douglas)
  • Kevin Roose — Kevin Roose is an American author, journalist, and technology columnist for The New York Times. He hosts the podcast “Rabbit Hole” and co-hosts “Hard Fork” for the Times. Roose has written three books, including “Futureproof: 9 Rules in the Age of Automation,” and gained attention for his early access to and reporting on Bing’s ChatGPT-based chatbot (@kevinroose)
  • Brandy Zadrozny — Brandy Zadrozny is an American investigative journalist and reporter for NBC News, focusing on political radicalization, extremism, and disinformation on the Internet. Before journalism, she worked as a librarian and researcher. Zadrozny has covered topics like QAnon, the Stop the Steal movement, and COVID-19 misinformation (@BrandyZadrozny)
  • Rebecca Lewis — Rebecca Lewis is a researcher and PhD candidate at Stanford University, studying online political subcultures and radicalization. Her work has focused on the alternative influence network on YouTube and the spread of far-right ideologies online. Lewis has published influential reports on these topics through the Data & Society Research Institute.
  • Alice Marwick — Alice E. Marwick is an Associate Professor in Communication and Principal Researcher at the Center for Information, Technology and Public Life at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research focuses on the intersection of social media, politics, gender, and privacy. Marwick has authored books on social media culture and networked privacy, and has written for publications like the New York Times and The Guardian (@alicetiara)
  • Nina Jankowicz — Nina Jankowicz is a disinformation expert and author who has advised governments and organizations on countering information manipulation. She briefly served as executive director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Disinformation Governance Board before it was disbanded. Jankowicz has written two books, “How to Lose the Information War” and “How to Be a Woman Online,” and is a frequent commentator on disinformation-related issues. (@wiczipedia)
Disinformation

Intelligence and National Security

Behind the headlines of political scandals and geopolitical maneuvering lies the world of intelligence and national securityโ€”a complex and often hidden battleground where information is power. Understanding how states gather intelligence, conduct espionage, and protect national interests is key to grasping global power dynamics. The experts featured here have deep insight into the covert world of intelligence operations and its implications for global security.

  • Frank Figliuzzi — Frank Figliuzzi served as the FBI‘s Assistant Director for Counterintelligence and spent 25 years as a Special Agent, directing all espionage investigations across the U.S. government. He is now a national security contributor for NBC News and MSNBC, as well as the author of “The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau’s Code of Excellence,” leveraging his extensive experience to provide insights on intelligence and national security matters (@FrankFigliuzzi1)
  • Carol Leonnig — Carol Leonnig is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist for The Washington Post, known for her coverage of government accountability and national security. She has co-authored several books, including “Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service” and “I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump’s Catastrophic Final Year,” providing in-depth reporting on the Trump administration and related political events. (@CarolLeonnig)
  • Asha Rangappa — Asha Rangappa is a lawyer, former FBI agent, and senior lecturer at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. She frequently appears as a legal and national security analyst on various news networks, offering insights on counterintelligence, constitutional law, and the intersection of national security and civil liberties. (@AshaRangappa_)
  • John Sipher — John Sipher is a former member of the CIA‘s Senior Intelligence Service who worked for the agency’s clandestine service for 28 years. He is now a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, co-founder of Spycraft Entertainment, and a frequent contributor to various media outlets on intelligence and national security matters (@john_sipher)
  • Sam Vinograd — Samantha Vinograd is a national security expert who has served in various roles within the U.S. government, including as Senior Advisor to the National Security Advisor during the Obama administration. She is currently the Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention at the Department of Homeland Security and provides regular commentary on national security issues. (@sam_vinograd)
  • Clint Watts — Clint Watts is a senior fellow at the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at George Washington University and a Foreign Policy Research Institute fellow. He previously served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, an FBI special agent, and has provided expert testimony to Congress on topics including terrorism, Russian interference, and cybersecurity (@selectedwisdom)
  • Marcy Wheeler — Marcy Wheeler is an independent journalist and national security expert who runs the blog “emptywheel.” She is known for her in-depth analysis of legal documents related to national security, surveillance, and political scandals. Wheeler’s work has been instrumental in uncovering details about various high-profile investigations, including the Mueller probe and other national security matters. (@emptywheel)

Law, Legal, and SCOTUS

At the intersection of governance and justice lies the lawโ€”an evolving field that shapes the boundaries of individual rights, state power, and societal norms. Whether itโ€™s landmark Supreme Court rulings or the legal frameworks used to regulate new technologies, understanding the law is essential to navigating the political and social landscape. The following legal scholars and practitioners have made significant contributions to dissecting the most pressing legal issues of our time.

  • George Conway — George Conway is an American lawyer and political activist known for his vocal criticism of former President Donald Trump, despite being the then-husband of Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway (he now helms PsychoPAC, a fundraising arm against a Trump second term). As a partner at the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, he gained prominence for successfully arguing the Supreme Court case Morrison v. National Australia Bank in 2010 and has since become a prominent figure in conservative legal circles, contributing to discussions on the rule of law and constitutional issues. (@gtconway3d)
  • Quinta Jurecic — Quinta Jurecic is a fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and a senior editor at Lawfare, as well as a contributing writer at The Atlantic. She co-hosts the “Arbiters of Truth” series on the Lawfare Podcast, focusing on misinformation and online information ecosystems, and her work has appeared in prominent publications such as the New York Times and the Washington Post. (@qjurecic)
  • Teri Kanefield — Teri Kanefield is an attorney, author, and legal analyst known for her clear explanations of complex legal and political issues. She has written numerous books for children and young adults on historical and legal topics, and regularly contributes analysis on current events, particularly related to constitutional law and democracy, through her blog and social media presence. (@Teri_Kanefield)
  • Dahlia Lithwick — Dahlia Lithwick is a Canadian-American lawyer, writer, and journalist who serves as a senior editor at Slate and contributing editor at Newsweek. She is known for her insightful legal commentary, particularly on Supreme Court issues, and hosts the award-winning podcast “Amicus” while also being a regular contributing analyst on MSNBC (@Dahlialithwick)
  • Joyce Vance — Joyce Vance is a Distinguished Professor from the Practice of Law at the University of Alabama School of Law and a legal analyst for NBC and MSNBC. She served as the United States Attorney in the Northern District of Alabama from 2009 to 2017, appointed by President Obama, and has focused her work on criminal justice reform, civil rights, and improving police-community relationships (@JoyceWhiteVance)
  • Maya Wiley — Maya Wiley is a nationally respected civil rights attorney and activist who has dedicated her life to fighting for justice, equality, and fairness. She has served in various roles, including as counsel to the mayor of New York City, chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, and as a faculty member at the New School University, while also working as a legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC (@mayawiley)
scales of justice

Politics

In an age of hyper-polarization, understanding the intricacies of politicsโ€”both domestic and globalโ€”is more crucial than ever. Whether it’s electoral strategies, policy debates, or the workings of political institutions, the experts in this field offer invaluable insights into the forces shaping our world. Below is a list of the most astute political analysts, reporters, and scholars whose work illuminates the evolving political landscape.

  • Yamiche Alcindor — Yamiche Alcindor is a prominent American journalist and political commentator. She currently serves as the Washington correspondent for NBC News and is a political contributor to NBC News and MSNBC. Previously, she was the White House correspondent for PBS NewsHour and has also worked for The New York Times and USA Today. (@Yamiche)
  • Rachel Maddow — Rachel Maddow is a political commentator, author, and television host. She is best known for hosting “The Rachel Maddow Show” on MSNBC, where she provides in-depth analysis of political news. Maddow has written several books, including “Blowout” and “Bag Man,” and is known for her liberal perspective and investigative reporting style. (@maddow)
  • Phil Rucker — Philip Rucker is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who serves as the deputy national editor at The Washington Post. He previously worked as the White House Bureau Chief for the Post during the Trump administration. Rucker has co-authored two books about the Trump presidency with his colleague Carol Leonnig: “A Very Stable Genius” and “I Alone Can Fix It.” (@PhilipRucker)
  • Jared Yates Sexton — Jared Yates Sexton is an author, political commentator, and associate professor of creative writing at Georgia Southern University. He has written several books, including “The People Are Going to Rise Like the Waters Upon Your Shore” and “American Rule,” focusing on American politics, history, and culture. Sexton is known for his analysis of right-wing extremism and political movements. (@JYSexton)
  • A.B. Stoddard — A.B. Stoddard is a political analyst and associate editor and columnist for RealClearPolitics. She regularly appears on various news networks to provide commentary on American politics. Stoddard is known for her non-partisan approach to political analysis and her insights into congressional politics and national elections.
  • Nicolle Wallace — Nicolle Wallace is an American television host, author, and former political commentator. She currently hosts MSNBC’s “Deadline: White House” and serves as a political analyst for the network. Wallace previously worked in Republican politics, serving as White House Communications Director during the George W. Bush administration and as a senior advisor for John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. (@NicolleDWallace)

Right-Wing History

The resurgence of far-right movements across the globe has deep historical roots, with ideological threads that stretch back to fascism, white supremacy, and nativism. Understanding these origins is key to unpacking the modern political landscape, as many of today’s right-wing movements draw heavily on historical narratives. The scholars below are dedicated to tracing these threads, helping us see the connections between past and present in the evolution of right-wing ideologies.

  • Seth Cotlar — Seth Cotlar is a Professor of History at Willamette University, specializing in the history of the United States between the American Revolution and the Civil War. His first book, “Tom Paine’s America: The Rise and Fall of Trans-Atlantic Radicalism in the Early Republic,” won the Best First Book Prize from the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic, and he is currently working on a cultural history of nostalgia in modernizing America from 1776 to 1865 (@sethcotlar)
  • John Dean — John Dean is an American former attorney who served as White House Counsel for President Richard Nixon from 1970 to 1973. He became a key figure in the Watergate scandal, eventually testifying against Nixon and other administration officials. Since then, Dean has worked as an investment banker, author, and political commentator, often criticizing Republican administrations. (@JohnWDean)
  • Joanne Freeman — Joanne Freeman is a professor of History and American Studies at Yale University, specializing in early American politics and political culture. She has authored several books on the revolutionary and early national periods, including “Affairs of Honor: National Politics in the New Republic” and “The Field of Blood: Violence in Congress and the Road to Civil War.” (@jbf1755)
  • Nicole Hemmer — Nicole Hemmer is an associate professor of History at Vanderbilt University and director of the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Center for the American Presidency. She specializes in media, conservatism, and the presidency, and has authored books such as “Partisans: The Conservative Revolutionaries Who Remade American Politics in the 1990s” and “Messengers of the Right: Conservative Media and the Transformation of American Politics.” (@pastpunditry)
  • Heather Cox Richardson — Heather Cox Richardson is an American historian and professor of history at Boston College, known for her expertise in 19th-century American history, particularly the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the American West. She gained widespread recognition for her nightly newsletter “Letters from an American,” which contextualizes current events within American history, and has authored several books including “To Make Men Free: A History of the Republican Party” and “Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America” (@HC_Richardson)
  • Julian Zelizer — Julian Zelizer is a professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University and a CNN Political Analyst. He has authored and edited numerous books on American political history, including “Burning Down the House: Newt Gingrich, the Fall of a Speaker, and the Rise of the New Republican Party” and “The Presidency of Donald J. Trump: A First Historical Assessment.” (@julianzelizer)

Russia and Ukraine

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is far more than a regional disputeโ€”itโ€™s a flashpoint in global geopolitics, with ramifications for democracy, security, and international law. Understanding the complex history and political motivations driving this conflict requires deep expertise. The experts listed here provide crucial analysis on everything from Russiaโ€™s imperial ambitions to Ukraineโ€™s struggle for sovereignty and the international communityโ€™s response.

  • Allison Gill — Dr. Allison Gill is a multifaceted talent who transitioned from a federal government executive to a comedian, author, and podcast host. She is best known as the executive producer and host of the popular podcast “Mueller, She Wrote,” which provides in-depth analysis of the Trump-Russia investigation (@muellershewrote)
  • Fiona Hill — Dr. Fiona Hill is an acclaimed foreign affairs specialist, author, and former presidential advisor who served on the US National Security Council from 2017 to 2019. Born in County Durham, England, she is now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and is widely recognized as an authority on Russian and European geopolitics.
  • Gary Kasparov — Garry Kasparov is a former World Chess Champion who held the title from 1985 to 2000 and is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. After retiring from professional chess in 2005, he became a prominent political activist and critic of Vladimir Putin, eventually leaving Russia in 2013 and settling in New York City (@Kasparov63)
  • Michael McFaul — Michael McFaul is the Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor of International Studies at Stanford University and a former U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014. He has authored several books on democracy and Russian politics, and currently serves as an analyst for NBC News and a contributing columnist to The Washington Post (@McFaul)
  • Molly McKew — Molly McKew is an American journalist and strategic consultant specializing in foreign policy and information warfare. She has worked as an adviser to foreign governments, including Georgia and Moldova, and has written extensively on Russian information operations and geopolitics for publications such as WIRED and Politico. (@MollyMcKew)
Vladimir Putin and the Russian propaganda campaigns unsealed by the DOJ

White Nationalism

White nationalism is not just an extremist ideologyโ€”itโ€™s a persistent and growing threat, gaining new life through online platforms, political rhetoric, and violent movements. From Charlottesville to Christchurch, the ideology has fueled domestic terrorism, hate crimes, and political insurgencies. The researchers below have been instrumental in tracking the rise of white nationalism, unpacking its myths, and revealing its insidious presence in mainstream discourse.

  • Carol Anderson — Carol Anderson is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies at Emory University and a historian known for her work on public policy and how it intersects with race, justice, and equality. She is the author of several acclaimed books, including “White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide” and “One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy.”
  • Kathleen Belew — Kathleen Belew is an associate professor of History at Northwestern University and an expert on the white power movement in the United States. She is the author of “Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America” and has testified before Congress on issues related to white nationalism and domestic terrorism. (@kathleen_belew)
  • Talia Lavin — Talia Lavin is an American journalist and author known for her investigative work on far-right extremism and white supremacist movements. She wrote the book “Culture Warlords: My Journey Into the Dark Web of White Supremacy” and has contributed to publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. (@mobydickenergy)
  • Cynthia Miller-Idriss — Cynthia Miller-Idriss is a professor of education and sociology at American University, where she leads the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL). She is an expert on far-right extremism and radicalization, having authored several books on the subject, including “Hate in the Homeland: The New Global Far Right.” (@milleridriss)
  • Vegas Tenold — Vegas Tenold is a Norwegian journalist and author who has extensively covered white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups in the United States. His book “Everything You Love Will Burn: Inside the Rebirth of White Nationalism in America” provides an in-depth look at various far-right organizations based on his years of firsthand reporting. (@Vegastenold)
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The war in Ukraine is less “surprising” to some who’ve seen it raging since 2014. Although it escalated greatly in 2022, the Ukraine war timeline ultimately dates back all the way to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

To understand the backstory — which is now inextricably intertwined with our own presidential history given the impeachment of Donald Trump over his phone calls with Zelensky to the Republican Party‘s current-day support of the aims of Vladimir Putin — we have to go back to a time when no one was stronger on anti-Russian policy than GOP darling Ronald Reagan.

  • 1991 — Ukraine declares independence and becomes an independent entity after the fall of the Soviet Union
  • 1994 — Ukraine agrees to give up its nuclear arsenal in exchange for a protection agreement with Russia, United States, Britain, and Ireland (Budapest Memorandum)
  • 2004 — Viktor Yanukovich “wins” election under dubious circumstances and is deposed for a do over election, which he loses to Viktor Yuschenko (Orange Revolution)
  • 2006 — Viktor Yanukovych begins working directly with Paul Manafort, in an effort to boost his image after his electoral loss. Manafort was known for his work helping the “Torturers’ Lobby” of brutal dictators around the world in the 1980s, with Roger Stone (another infamous dirty trickster best known for his role as a fixer for Richard Nixon).
  • 2007 — Yanukovych’s Party of Regions does well in the Ukranian parliamentary elections, gaining a large number of seats credited to Manafort’s strategic advice about Western-style campaigning.
  • 2010 — Yanukovych is elected President of Ukraine, again largely crediting Manafort’s strategies for his comeback.
  • Nov 2013 — Having promised a more European-style government in order to win the presidency in 2010, Yanukovych turned on his word and initiated more pro-Russian policies than the Ukranians had signed up for. Yanukovych is now beset by enormous public protests against the corruption of his regime, and his unilateral decision to abandon an association agreement with the EU in favor of a trade agreement with Russia (Maidan Revolution / Revolution of Dignity)
  • Feb 2014 — After a harrowing 93 days barricaded inside Kyiv’s Maidan Square, activists are victorious; Yanukovich is deposed and flees to Russia
  • Mar 2014 — Russian forces invade and annex the region of Crimea within Ukraine
  • Apr 2014 — Russian forces invade the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine, escalating a war that continues to this day and had already killed more than 14,000 people by the time the 2022 large scale invasion began
  • Apr 2014 — Hunter Biden and business partner Devon Archer join the board of Burisma
  • May 2014 — Candy magnate Petro Poroshenko succeeds Yanukovych as president of Ukraine
Continue reading Ukraine War Timeline
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Hybrid Warfare

Information warfare involves the use and management of information to gain a competitive advantage over an opponent, including both offensive and defensive measures. Offensive tactics might involve cyber attacks, hacking, and disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining an adversary’s decision-making process or public morale. Defensive measures focus on protecting one’s own information systems and networks from similar attacks. Information warfare is heavily reliant on technology and the internet, making it particularly relevant in the digital age.

Information warfare, by Midjourney

Geopolitical conflict is now less about the collision of massive armies and much more about a combination of information warfare, intelligence, espionage, criminal networks, cyberwarfare, psychological warfare, and an overall blend of strategies in addition to traditional “hot” war mechanisms like troop deployment — as well as more modern twists on military engagement including drone strikes and cyberoffensives (the Russia-Ukraine conflict is a canonical modern example of this hybrid warfare strategy). Russian psychological warfare of the Cold War era presaged much of what was to come in modern day spy vs. spy intensity, and the advent of the Internet, social media, and an entirely new digital threat horizon heralds the growth of this form of conflict for years and decades to come.

Information warfare in the United States

Nor is it simply a geopolitical problem manifested by foreign adversaries — now information warfare is a domestic disturbance fomented largely by right-wing political actors and reactionaries in a massive backlash to the cultural and social progress of multiethnic democracy in America since the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. From massive corporate PR campaigns lying to the public about the cancerous consequences of smoking to the deliberate seeding of conspiracy theories like QAnon into political discourse, the information warfare playbook has gone mainstream within the Republican party.

Whether we’re aware of it or not, we as American citizens are unwitting infantry in a new form of slow-moving Civil War. In this war, some of the first armaments to pick up are in this set of dictionaries below. Knowledge has always been power — but now, knowledge is one of our best defenses against the Dark Arts as well.

Information warfare terms

More dictionaries ยป

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In it simplest form, active measures incorporates information warfare aimed at undermining the West.

Active measures (“ะฐะบั‚ะธะฒะฝั‹ะต ะผะตั€ะพะฟั€ะธัั‚ะธั” in Russian) refer to a form of political warfare conducted by the Soviet Union and now, by extension, Russia, to influence the course of world events. These measures include a wide range of activities, such as espionage, the dissemination of propaganda, and the establishment of front organizations, all aimed at manipulating the public opinion and decision-making processes in other countries.

The goal is often to destabilize opponents and weaken alliances contrary to the interests of the Soviet Union or Russia, without engaging in much riskier direct military conflict.

Disinformation in active measures

Historically, active measures have included complex operations, such as spreading disinformation, orchestrating smear campaigns, and using psychological warfare to sow discord and confusion among the target population. For example, during the Cold War, the KGB engaged in active measures to spread false information about the United States, aiming to weaken its credibility and influence on the global stage.

These operations were meticulously planned and could span years or even decades, employing a variety of tactics from leaking altered documents to fostering relationships with sympathetic or unknowing individuals within influential positions.

In the digital age, the concept of active measures has evolved with technology. Social media platforms and the internet have become fertile grounds for such operations, allowing for the rapid spread of disinformation and the manipulation of public opinion on a scale previously unimaginable.

These modern active measures can involve cyber attacks, the use of trolls and bots to amplify divisive content, and the strategic release of hacked information to influence political outcomes, as seen in various elections around the world (the Wikileaks email dumps that helped Trump eke out the presidency in 2016, e.g.). The adaptability and covert nature of active measures make them a persistent challenge for governments and societies trying to safeguard democratic processes and maintain national security.

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Sockpuppets are fake social media accounts used by trolls for deceptive and covert actions, avoiding culpability for abuse, aggression, death threats, doxxing, and other criminal acts against targets.

In the digital age, the battleground for political influence has extended beyond traditional media to the vast, interconnected realm of social media. Central to this new frontier are “sockpuppet” accounts – fake online personas created for deceptive purposes. These shadowy figures have become tools in the hands of authoritarian regimes, perhaps most notably Russia, to manipulate public opinion and infiltrate the political systems of countries like the UK, Ukraine, and the US.

What are sockpuppet accounts?

A sockpuppet account is a fake online identity used for purposes of deception. Unlike simple trolls or spam accounts, sockpuppets are more sophisticated. They mimic real users, often stealing photos and personal data to appear authentic. These accounts engage in activities ranging from posting comments to spreading disinformation, all designed to manipulate public opinion.

The Strategic Use of Sockpuppets

Sockpuppet accounts are a cog in the larger machinery of cyber warfare. They play a critical role in shaping narratives and influencing public discourse. In countries like Russia, where the state exerts considerable control over media, these accounts are often state-sponsored or affiliated with groups that align with government interests.

Case Studies: Russia’s global reach

  1. The United Kingdom: Investigations have revealed Russian interference in the Brexit referendum. Sockpuppet accounts spread divisive content to influence public opinion and exacerbate social tensions. Their goal was to weaken the European Union by supporting the UK’s departure.
  2. Ukraine: Russia’s geopolitical interests in Ukraine have been furthered through a barrage of sockpuppet accounts. These accounts disseminate pro-Russian propaganda and misinformation to destabilize Ukraine’s political landscape, particularly during times of crisis, elections, or — most notably — during its own current war of aggression against its neighbor nation.
  3. The United States: The 2016 US Presidential elections saw an unprecedented level of interference. Russian sockpuppets spread divisive content, fake news, and even organized real-life events, creating an environment of distrust and chaos. Their goal was to sow discord and undermine the democratic process.
Vladimir Putin with his sheep, by Midjourney

How sockpuppets operate

Sockpuppets often work in networks, creating an echo chamber effect. They amplify messages, create false trends, and give the illusion of widespread support for a particular viewpoint. Advanced tactics include deepfakes and AI-generated text, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between real and fake content.

Detection and countermeasures

Detecting sockpuppets is challenging due to their evolving sophistication. Social media platforms are employing AI-based algorithms to identify and remove these accounts. However, the arms race between detection methods and evasion techniques continues. Governments and independent watchdogs also play a crucial role in exposing such operations.

Implications for democracy

The use of sockpuppet accounts by authoritarian regimes like Russia poses a significant threat to democratic processes. By influencing public opinion and political outcomes in other countries, they undermine the very essence of democracy โ€“ the informed consent of the governed. This digital interference erodes trust in democratic institutions and fuels political polarization.

As we continue to navigate the complex landscape of digital information, the challenge posed by sockpuppet accounts remains significant. Awareness and vigilance are key. Social media platforms, governments, and individuals must collaborate to safeguard the integrity of our political systems. As citizens, staying informed and critically evaluating online information is our first line of defense against this invisible but potent threat.

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the deep state

The “deep state” conspiracy theory, particularly as it has been emphasized by supporters of former President Donald Trump, alleges the existence of a hidden, powerful network within the U.S. government, working to undermine and oppose Trump’s presidency and agenda. In reality, the epithet is an elaborate way of discrediting the non-partisan civil service personnel who are brought in to government for their expertise and competence, who typically remain in their posts through Presidential transitions regardless of which party is occupying the White House.

The deep state gathers in front of the US Capitol, by Midjourney

Origin of the deep state meme

The term “deep state” originated in Turkey in the 1990s, referring to a clandestine network of military officers and their civilian allies who, it was believed, were manipulating Turkish politics. In the American context, the term was popularized during the Trump administration as a meme, evolving to imply a shadowy coalition — echoing other popular conspiracy theories such as the antisemitic global cabal theory — within the U.S. government, including intelligence agencies, the civil service, and other parts of the bureaucracy.

Main claims

  1. Bureaucratic opposition: The theory posits that career government officials, particularly in intelligence and law enforcement agencies, are systematically working against Trump’s interests. This includes alleged sabotage of his policies and leaking information to the media.
  2. Manipulation of information: Proponents believe that these officials manipulate or withhold information to influence government policy and public opinion against Trump.
  3. Alleged connections with other theories: The deep state theory often intersects with other conspiracy theories, like those surrounding the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and the impeachment proceedings against Trump. It suggests these events were orchestrated by the deep state to discredit or destabilize his presidency.

Contextual factors

  1. Political polarization: The rise of the deep state theory is partly attributed to the increasing political polarization in the U.S. It serves as a narrative to explain and rally against perceived opposition within the government.
  2. Media influence: Certain media outlets and social media platforms have played a significant role in propagating this theory. It’s often amplified by commentators who support Trump, contributing to its widespread dissemination among his base.
  3. Trump’s endorsement: Trump himself has referenced the deep state, particularly when discussing investigations into his administration or when responding to criticism from within the government.

Criticism and counterarguments to deep state “theory”

  1. Lack of concrete evidence: Critics argue that the deep state theory lacks substantial evidence. They contend that routine government processes, checks and balances, and the separation of powers are mischaracterized as clandestine operations.
  2. Undermining trust in institutions: There’s concern that such theories undermine public trust in vital governmental institutions, particularly those responsible for national security and law enforcement.
  3. Political tool: Detractors view the deep state concept as a political tool used to dismiss or discredit legitimate investigation and opposition.
Deep state conspiracy theory, as illustrated by Midjourney

Impact on governance and society

  1. Influence on supporters: For many Trump supporters, the deep state theory provides an explanatory framework for understanding his political challenges and defeats. It galvanizes his base by portraying him as an outsider battling corrupt, entrenched interests.
  2. Public trust and conspiracism: The theory contributes to a broader erosion of trust in government and institutions, fostering a climate where conspiratorial thinking becomes more mainstream.
  3. Policy implications: Belief in the deep state can impact policy discussions and decisions, as it frames certain government actions and policies as inherently suspect or malicious.

Comparative perspective

Globally, similar theories exist in various forms, often reflecting local political and historical contexts. They typically emerge in situations where there is a distrust of the political establishment and are used to explain perceived injustices or power imbalances.

The deep state conspiracy theory as espoused by Trump’s MAGA movement plays a significant role in current American political discourse, impacting public perception of government, policy debates, and the broader social and political climate. Its lack of verifiable evidence and potential to undermine democratic institutions make it a dangerous propaganda prop applied recklessly by the current GOP frontrunner for the 2024 nomination.

Books on conspiracy theories

Conspiracy Theory Books

More conspiracy theories

What is QAnon?
9/11 conspiracy theories
Global cabal
The Illuminati
PizzaGate
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Project Lakhta is the internal name for the disinformation operation that Yevgeniy Prigozhin‘s Internet Research Agency is running to interfere in elections across the Western world, according to the Robert Mueller indictments relating to the Russian attacks on the 2016 election.

The op included/includes bots on social media, fake influencers, paid crisis actors, massive propaganda, financial fraud, old-fashioned spying, and more. There is no evidence this operation has ceased its activities — indeed what would be the incentive, following such Great Success??

In fact, prosecutions are still ongoing.

Project Lakhta and the Internet Research Agency: Russia's troll factory

History of Project Lakhta

Project Lakhta was a covert operation ordered by Russian president Vladimir Putin with the goal of interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The interference aimed to harm the campaign of Hillary Clinton, boost the candidacy of Donald Trump, and increase political and social discord in the United States. The Internet Research Agency (IRA), a Russian troll farm, created thousands of social media accounts to support radical political groups and promote events in support of Trump and against Clinton. The operation also involved computer hackers affiliated with the Russian military intelligence service infiltrating information systems of the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign officials, then publicly releasing the stolen files and emails. The U.S. intelligence community, the FBI, and the Senate and House Intelligence Committees conducted investigations into the matter. These investigations concluded that Russian interference was “sweeping and systematic” and “violated U.S. criminal law”, but there was insufficient evidence to bring any conspiracy or coordination charges against Trump or his associates (โ€‹1โ€‹).

Scale of Project Lakhta

In 2018 a Russian national, Elena Khusyaynova, was charged with being a key member of Project Lakhta. Khusyaynova served as the chief accountant of the operation and managed its financial aspects, including paying off Russian political activists posing as U.S. citizens, advertising on social media platforms, and promoting news postings on social networks. Between 2016 and 2018, Project Lakhta’s expenses exceeded $35 million and its operating budget was over $10 million. The operation allegedly involved the creation of thousands of fake social media accounts to aggravate political groups and create divides before the election. The charges were unsealed in Alexandria, Virginia, emphasizing that the complaint does not allege that Khusyaynova or the broader conspiracy had any effect on the outcome of an election. In response to these meddling efforts and a recent data breach, Facebook is reportedly seeking to acquire a major cybersecurity firm to enhance its security measures (โ€‹2โ€‹).

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How shall we think about Russia’s ongoing intrusion into the U.S. political realm — especially its attacks on the heart of democracy: our election system?

I think James Madison — the Father of the Constitution — would have had many choice words about this development. Since we cannot alas ask him his opinion any longer, perhaps his parting words to the beloved country he was instrumental in creating can suffice:

The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is the Union of the States be cherished and perpetuated. Let the open enemy to it be regarded as a Pandora with her box opened; and the disguised one, as the Serpent creeping with his deadly wiles into Paradise.”

— “Advice to My Country,” James Madison, 1834
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This list casts a wide net in enumerating the various principals of interest to Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election… and beyond. The Russia scandal has continued to unspool throughout the Trump presidency, including the real estate magnate’s first impeachment over his extortion of Ukraine, and his second impeachment over the armed insurrection he incited following his failed re-election bid. It continues to this day.

Plus, don’t miss the RussiaGate Lexicon — and please note these are both works in progress and being updated as new details emerge about the Russia scandal, the Trump family criminal organization, and Putin’s revanchist influence in American politics.

Bestiary

NameNationalityTypeKnown for
Huma AbedinAmericanCivil servantTop aide to Hillary Clinton
ABLVLatvianBankOne of the largest private banks in Latvia
Roman AbramovichRussianOligarchRussian steel magnate whose Evraz company was given the green light to supply steel to DAPL by the Trump administration
ACU Strategic PartnersLobbyistA company seeking to build nuclear power plants in the Middle East in partnership with a sanctioned Russia company; Mike Flynn was working for them without having disclosed it to the US government as required.
AeroflotRussian
Aras AgalarovRussianOligarchEmin's father; a wealthy Russian-Azerbaijani oligarch who has received lucrative construction contracts from the Kremlin. Known as "Putin's Builder"
Emin AgalarovRussianOligarchPopular Russian-Azerbaijani singer and businessperson who may have facilitated a handoff of hacked information to Donald Trump Jr via surrogates
Evsei AgronRussianRussian Mafia
Rinat AkhmetovUkranianOligarchUkranian steel magnate who brokered the relationship between Paul Manafort and defeated presidential candidate Victor Yanukovich
Rinat AkhmetshinRussianForeign IntelligenceFormer Soviety spy who attending the June 9 meeting in Trump Tower between Don Jr, Jared Kushner, Paul Manafort, and Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya
Vagit AlekperovRussianOligarchCEO of Lukoil, Russia's second largest oil and gas company, that sought the services offered by Trump data firm Cambridge Analytica
Alfa Bank / Alfa GroupRussianBankLargest private commercial bank in Russia, that reportedly had a mysterious secret server connection to the Trump Organization during the campaign. The head of Alfa Group is the father-in-law of Dutch lawyer Alex Van Der Zwaan, currently serving 30 days in federal prison after being indicted by the FBI in the Mueller investigation.
Leyla AliyevaAzerbaijaniWife of Emin Agalarov and daughter of the president of Ajerbaijan.
Dmitri AlperovichCompanyHead of Crowdstrike, the US security firm that first broke the results of the DNC hack investigation, concluding the Russian military intelligence agency was behind it.
@America_1st_RussianForeign IntelligenceIRA-controlled Twitter account, an anti-immigration persona with 24,000 followers
American MediaAmericanMedia OutletHelped bury stories portraying Trump in a bad light before the election, via catch and kill methodology among others
Anbang InsuranceChineseCompany
Michael AntonFlight 93
AppleAmericanCompanyThe House might come after messaging records for principals.
Tevfik ArifOligarchco-founder of Bayrock and Kazakh-born Soviet official turned real estate tycoon
Andrey ArtemenkoUkranianMember of the Ukranian parliament who says Trump personal lawyer Michael Cohen and business crony Felix Sater confirmed the White House received his โ€œpeace proposalโ€ (suggesting Russia โ€œleaseโ€ the country for 100 years)
Julian AssangeAustralianHackerEditor-in-chief of Wikileaks and former hacker from Australia, currently holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London on the lam from rape charges in Sweden; he is suspected of coordinating with the Russian government on the cyber attack on the American election in 2016.
Artem AvetisyanRussianOligarchRussian banker and consultant who bought Bank of Cyprus's Russian-based businesseses; a transaction overseen by Wilbur Ross
Mykola AzarovUkranianPoliticianFormer Prime Minister of Ukraine who was ousted in the Maidan revolution along with President Viktor Yanukovych.
Bank of CyprusCypriotBank
Steve BannonAmericanPrincipal actor
Elena BaronoffSuspected organized crime figure who accompanied Ivanka and Don Jr to Russia in 2007-2008
Andrey BaranovRussianOligarchHead of investor relations for Rosneft who met with Carter Page in Moscow after his 2016 speech.
Tom Barrack
Alan BaskaevRussianWorked at the Internet Research Agency
Fabien BaussartFrenchForeign IntelligenceCooperated with Russia in the Syrian civil war and nominated Putin for a Nobel Peace Prize; Donald Trump, Jr. spoke at an event held by Baussart's French think tank.
Bayrock GroupCompanyEmployed Felix Sater for a number of shady real estate dealings involving Mr Trump. Founded by Tevfik Arif, a Russian oligarch.
Being PatrioticRussianForeign IntelligenceAn IRA-controlled Facebook group that bought ads in support of the Trump campaign, and had over 200,000 followers by the time it was finally deactivated in mid-2017
Brian BenczkowskiCivil servantTrump's pick to lead the DOJ's criminal division; once represented a Putin-tied Russian bank
Berserk BearRussianHackerHacker group
Jeffrey Berman
Leonid BershidskyRussianJournalistWell-known journalist who was the founding editor of Russiaโ€™s top business daily, Vedomosti, as well as the first publisher of the Russian edition of Forbes; left the country during the Brain Drain. โ€œThe Kremlin doesnโ€™t care because it doesnโ€™t consider the likes of me Russiaโ€™s best and brightest,โ€ he told me by email after his departure to Germany in the summer of 2014. โ€œTo them, weโ€™re the traitors, the fifth column.โ€
Vitaly BespalovRussian26-year-old former worker at the Internet Research Agency in Russia who has spoken to the US media about his experiences in the "factory of lies"
Preet BhararaAmericanLawyerU.S. Attorney who was prosecuting the Prevezon Holdings case when he was fired by Trump, shortly after which the huge case about to go to trial abruptly settled.
Black FistRussianForeign IntelligenceIRA-controlled persona claiming to want to teach African-Americans self-defense to protect themselves when contacted by police, that hired an actual self-defense instructor in NY to offer classes sponsored by Black Fist
Black Matters USRussianForeign IntelligenceIRA-controlled account posing as grassroots activists
Black Sea Cable
Darren BlantonAmericanhis company Colt Ventures provided data management services to the Trump campaign
Tony BlinkenAmericanCivil servantJohn Kerry's deputy secretary of state under Obama
Anna Vladislavovna BogachevaRussianForeign IntelligenceWorked for the Internet Research Agency from at least April 2014 to at least July 2014; she served on the translator project and oversaw the group's data analysis operations. She is one of the operatives who traveled to the United States to gather intel.
Mikhail BogdanovPoliticianRussian deputy foreign minister
Gen. Alexander BortnikovRussianForeign IntelligenceDirector of FSB circa 2015
Maria Anatolyevna BovdaForeign IntelligenceWorked for the Internet Research Agency from at least November 2013 to at least October 2014. She was at one time head of the translator project, along with other positions.
Donna BrazileCivil servant
John BrennanAmericanIntelligence CommunityActing CIA director under Obama; one of the 3 who brief Trump and Obama about the Russian attack on Election 2016
Bridges LLCAmericanCompanyLLC begun by Maria Butina and Paul Erickson in South Dakota
Elliot BroidyAmericanLobbyistMajor Trump campaign donor and Deputy Finance Chair of the RNC, who suspiciously took hundreds of millions of dollars from the UAE and was working on a business deal with the corrupt Prime Minister of Malaysia implicated in a heist of $4.5 billion dollars. Had himself been charged with felony bribery, ended up turning state's witness, plea-bargained his case down to a misdimeanor while those he bribed went to prison. Also, he was reportedly negotiating a deal wherein he stood to benefit to the tune of $75 million, to drop the Feds' case into the Malaysian theft.
William BrowderAmericanActivistFounder of Hermitage Capital, who worked with Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky to uncover a $230 million money laundering scheme from Prevezon Holdings into NYC real estate. He has sought justice for the murder of Magnitsky in 2009.
Mikhail Leonidivich BurchikRussianForeign IntelligenceOne of the 13 Russian nationals indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in February 2018, in connection with the Internet Research Agency's attack on the U.S. 2016 election. Burchik was Executive Director, the #2 in the organization, from at least March 2014.
Christopher Bancroft Burnham
Sen. Richard BurrAmericanPolitician(R-NC) and chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, one of the committees in Congress conducting Russia investigations
Richard BurtAmericanLobbyistHelped Trump write his first foreign policy speech
Evgeny BuryakovRussian
Maria ButinaRussianForeign Intelligence"Personal assistant" to Alexander Torshin, she claims to have started several gun rights organizations in Russia
BuzzfeedAmericanMedia OutletOriginally broke the story of the Steele dossier and published what of it they had.
Mikhail BystrovRussianForeign IntelligenceOne of the 13 Russians indicted by Robert Mueller's Special Counsel in February 2018, Bystrov was General Director -- the organization's highest-ranking position -- by April 2014.
Matthew Calamari
Cambridge AnalyticaBritishCompanyData analytics company that worked for the Trump campaign and has been indicted in the UK for data theft.
Michael CaputoAmericanUnregistered Foreign AgentMember of Trump's campaign team, in charge of communications for New York. Left the campaign after voicing approval of the installation of Paul Manafort, replacing Corey Lewandowski as Trump's campaign manager.
CendynAmericanCompanyCloud computing company that hosted the Trump Organization and may have information on the Alfa Bank link during the campaign
Center for Political and Foreign AffairsFrenchFrench right-wing group that hosted a Trump trip to Paris during the home stretch of the campaign
Mike CernovichAmericanMedia PersonalityAlt-Right personality in the U.S. who lives in Orange County, CA
Jason ChaffetzAmericanMedia PersonalityBowing out of politics after announcing a move to Fox and whining about the cost of living as a Senator
Yuri ChaikaLawyerRussian prosecutor general
James ClapperAmericanIntelligence CommunityDirector of National Intelligence under Obama; one of the 3 who brief Trump and Obama about the Russian attack on Election 2016
Bill ClintonAmericanPolitician
Hillary ClintonAmericanPolitician
Dan CoatesAmericanIntelligence CommunityDirector of National Intelligence who testified that there is no doubt Russia sees its 2016 efforts as having been successful.
Michael CohenAmericanLawyerTrump's personal lawyer. Convicted of various federal crimes including campaign finance violations; sentenced to 3 years in prison.
Roy CohnAmericanLawyerTrump's mentor and ruthless, vicious lawyer
Susan Collins (R-ME)AmericanPoliticianSenator from Maine who has been a voice of moderation within the Republican-controlled Senate, siding several times with the Democrats and voting against her own party.
James ComeyAmericanIntelligence CommunityBeing fired by Donald Trump as the FBI Director
Mike ConawayAmericanIntelligence Communitynew leader of the House Intelligence Committee's Russia probe after the recusal of Devin Nunes
Concord CateringRussianCompanyCompany owned by Yevgeniy Prigozhin, known to be nicknamed "Putin's Chef" and inside the Russian president's inner circle.
Sam Clovis
Colt VenturesAmericanCompanyprovided data management services to the Trump campaign, and an investor in VizSense -- a social media company who worked reportedly for the campaign and for Michael Flynn
Columbus Nova
Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX)AmericanPoliticianLeader of the House Intelligence Committee, one of the Congressional committees investigating the Russia scandal
Concord Management and Consulting
George ConwayAmericanLawyerHusband of Kellyanne Conway, a lawyer who has represented a corporation accused of bribing Russian officials
Kellyanne ConwayAmericanOligarch
Rep. John ConyersAmericanPoliticianCriticized the firing of Sally Yates: "If dedicated government officials deem [Trump's] directives to be unlawful and unconstitutional, he will simply fire them as if government is a reality show."
Alex CopsonLobbyistManaging director of ACU Strategic Partners, a firm Mike Flynn was consulting for regarding building nuclear power plants in the Middle East.
Mark Corallo
Jerome CorsiAmericanMedia PersonalityIntermediary between Roger Stone and Wikileaks, an arm of the Russian intelligence apparatus
Ed CoxAmericanNew York Republican Party Chairman and son-in-law of Richard Nixon who recommends Carter Page to the Trump campaign
Randolph "Randy" CredicoRoger Stone's publicly identified intermediary between himself and Julian Assange of Wikileaks. When subpoena'd by Congress, he pled the Fifth.
Crocus GroupRussianCompanyReal estate developmenr firm owned by the Agalarovs, that secured the Moscow location for Trump's 2013 Miss Universe pageant
CrowdstrikeAmericanCompanyOne of the US private security contractors who implicated the Russians in the hack of the DNC servers.
Olivia CulpoAmericanMedia PersonalityThe reigning Miss Universe at the time of the 2013 Moscow pageant (and former Miss USA, and noted Trump favorite)
Rep. Elijah CummingsAmericanPoliticianranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, one of the first to request an investigation into Michael Flynn
Michael DanielAmericanIntelligence CommunityWhite House director of cybersecurity
Stormy DanielsAmerican
Keith Davidson
Davis Manifort Partners, Inc. (DMP)AmericanCompanyPolitical consulting company created by Paul Manafort in 2005.
DCLeaksRussianForeign IntelligenceA cutout of the GRU, this account directly released and coordinated with Wikileaks to release more widely the stolen emails from Clinton, the DNC, and the DCCC
Rick DearbornAmerican
Definers Public AffairsAmericanLobbyistGOP strategy firm hired by Facebook to besmirch its rivals and tar them with accusations of being tied to George Soros
Wendi DengOligarchEx-wife of Rupert Murdoch, friend of Ivanka Trump, and friend of Russian oligarhcs + Putin (rumored to be Putins' girlfriend)
Diana DenmanAmerican
Department of JusticeAmericanGovernment agency
Oleg DeripaskaRussianOligarchRussian billionaire and Kremlin insider barred from the US due to organized crime links [contact w/Paul Manafort]
Deutsche BankGermanBankBoth the Risk Division's Goup Risk Office and Credit Risk Management teams are under scrutiny from House Democrats at the HPSCI for due diligence on Trump transactions that have anything to do with the bank's own confirmed history of laundering Russian money.
Sheri Dillon
Igor Diveykin
Kirill DmitrievRussianForeign IntelligenceChief executive of the state-run Russian Direct Investment Fund, their sovereign wealth fund, who met with Erik Prince at a bar in the Seychelles, with George Nader present.
DMP International, LLC (DMI)Company started by Paul Manafort in 2011 to consult, lobby, and do PR for Ukranian dictator Victor Yanukovich, whom Manafort helped get elected in 2010 until fleeing the country in 2014.
Dmitry DokuchaevFSB handler of Russian DNC hacker
Annie Donaldson
Donbas regionUkranianTerritoryArea of Ukraine where a counter-revolution emerged after students ousted former President Viktor Yanukovych and Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and overthrew the government.
Don't Shoot UsRussianForeign IntelligenceAn IRA-controlled Facebook group with more than 250,000 followers by the time it was deactivated in mid-2017
Jack DorseyAmericanTech tycoonCo-founder and CEO of Twitter and Square
Alexander DownerTop Australian diplomat in Britain, who had drinks with George Papadopolous in London the night he blabbed about the Russians having dirt on Hillary Clinton.
DragonFlyRussianForeign IntelligenceHacker group
Alexander DuginRussianRussia's most well-known neo-fascist ideologue, & Kremlin confidant
Pavel DurovRussianFounder of the successful VKontakte social network website, often described as Russiaโ€™s Facebook. Durov said he had been forced out of the company over his refusal to co-operate with the security services, and that his company was now under the โ€œfull controlโ€ of Kremlin-friendly figures
Arkady Dvorkovich
Josh EarnestAmericanCivil servantObama White House press secretary in 2016
Fedor EmelianenkoOligarchMMA star, former Trump business partner, and friend of Putin
En+ Group PlcCompanyOne of Oleg Deripaska's companies whose sanctions were lifted by the Trump administration.
Energetic BearRussianForeign IntelligenceHacker group connected to the Kremlin
Boris Epshteyn
Paul EricksonAmerican Unregistered Foreign AgentAttempted to set up a backchannel between the NRA and the Russian government during the Trump campaign.
Oleg ErovinkinForeign Intelligenceex-KGB chief linked to helping the Christopher Steele dossier on Trump, reportedly found dead in the back of his car in Moscow on Boxing Day
European Centre for a Modern Ukraine (the Centre)LobbyistNGO entity created by Manafort and Gates in Belgium in 2012 to serve as an "arm's length" front for their work with Yanukovich.
EuroSibEnergo JSCRussianCompanyOne of Oleg Deripaska's companies whose sanctions were lifted by the Trump administration.
FacebookAmericanCompany
FAN (Federal Agency of News)RussianPrincipal actorFictional corporate twin entity to the IRA (indicted by Mueller) that is suing Facebook on First Amendment grounds... surely to go up to a COTUS tipped by Kavangaugh, as all such hyper-controversial cases are liable to be?!?!
Fancy BearRussianForeign IntelligenceHacked Democratic Party emails during the 2016 US presidential election; also hacked MAcros campaign emails in France.
Nigel FarageBritishPoliticianFormer UKIP leader now under investigation for ties to WikiLeaks and Julian Assange
FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)AmericanIntelligence CommunityInvestigation of domestic terror units and criminal cells, as well as foreign criminal groups within the U.S.
Federal AssemblyRussianRussian Parliament
Federal Election Commission (FEC)AmericanPoliticianOverseeing the process generally of national and state elections
Diane FeinsteinAmericanPoliticianUS Senator from California who published Glenn Simpson of Fusion GPS's transcript of testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
FireEyeAmericanCompanySecurity firm
Dmitry FirtashUkranianOligarchUkranian oligarch and nagural gas magnate who got sweetheart deals within Putin's inner circle
Marc Elias
Jon FinerAmericanCivil servantJohn Kerry's chief of staff
FL GroupIcelandicCompanyIcelandic hedge fund with ties to Putin, that invested in Trump Soho via FBI informant and convicted felon Sal Lauria
Michael FlynnAmericanIntelligence CommunityAs the new NSA director he advocated military intervention in the Middle East and an alliance with Russia; later it turned out he'd accepted undisclosed payments from the Rurkish government and lied about undisclosed meetings with the Russian Ambassador, ๎ค‚Sergey Kislyak
Flynn Intel GroupAmericanCompany
Four Seasons Hotels and ResortsCompanyHosted the meeting in the Seychelles between Erik Prince and Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund
Fox NewsAmericanMedia Outlet
Free Beacon AmericanMedia Outletsee: Washington Free Beacon
Mikhail Maratovich FridmanRussianOligarchinvested $200m in Uber (?)
Peter Fritsch
Frontier Services GroupAmericanCompanyErik Prince's company, who has ignored document requests from Congress relating to the meeting in the Seychelles with Kirill Dmitriev
FSBRussianForeign Intelligencethe Russian Federal Security Service
Fusion GPSAmericanPolitical research firm hired first by conservative billionaire, later by the Clinton campaign, that ultimately led to the Steele dossier.
Dmitry FyodorovRussianPrincipal actorWorked at the Internet Research Agency before being employed at Facebook
Michael GaetaIntelligence Community
Gang of EightAmericanIntelligence Community
Alan Garten
Rick GatesAmericanLobbyistPaul Manafort's right hand man, indicted along with the former Trump campaign manager for a number of federal crimes from money laundering to illegal foreign lobbying and tax evasion.
Gazeta.ruRussianMedia Outlet
GazpromRussianCompanyRussia's energy monopolgy and largest gas company
General Services AdministrationAmerican
GeorgiaGeorgianNation-stateFormer Soviet state
GerasimovRussianMilitaryRussian General who wrote seminal asymmetric warfare doc
Masha GessenJournalistJournalist and author who has lived extensively in Russia and studied the rise of Putin
Igor GirkinRussianActivistLeader of the Ukranian pro-Russian separatists in Donbas, he is alleged to have been connected to the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17
Rudy GiulianiAmericanPoliticianPublicly "predicted" the Comey "re-opening" of Clinton's emails when the Anthony Weiner laptop was found
Glavplakat
Nikolai GlushkovRussianRussian MafiaFormer Boris Berezovsky associate turned up murdered in the UK, 8 days after the poisoning and attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal in London.
Richard Goettlich
Rob GoldstoneRussian MafiaPublicist of Russian-Azerbaijani singer Emin Agalarov who set up the June 9 meeting between Don Jr, Kushner, Manafort, and the Russians
GoogleAmericanCompanyOnline search company whose system was gamed, hacked, or perhaps simply used intentionally to sow disinformation to some of the most vulnerable citizen targets, as identified by stolen and purchased predictive user data.
Mikhail GorbachevRussianPoliticianGlasnost
Sergei Gordeev
J.D. Gordon
Sebastian GorkaHungarianMedia PersonalityFormer counterterrorism analyst for Fox News who joined the administration as an adviser; his ties to the Hungarian right had come increasingly under scrutiny before his departure from the White House. Prior to immigrating to the United States, Gorka had mounted an unsuccessful political career in Hungary and, in doing so, once expressed support for a far-right militia in the country.
Sergey Gorkov
Nikolai Gorokhov
Government Accountability OfficeAmericanA watchdog organization for financial and other high-profile crimes within the U.S.
Trey GowdyAmericanPolitician(R-SC) Chair of the House Oversight Committee
Rhona Graff
Sen. Chuck GrassleyAmericanPolitician(R-IA)
GRURussianIntelligence CommunitySoviety military intelligence services
GSAAmericanGovernment agencyHas been asserted by TFA that documents were "unlawfully" given to the Special Counsel's Office by this agency, including parts susceptible to privilege.
Guccifer 2.0RussianHackerA cutout of the GRU, this account directly released and coordinated with Wikileaks to release more widely the stolen emails from Clinton, the DNC, and the DCCC
Shane HableAmericanCivil servantHillary for America IT chief
Alex HaldermanAmericanIntelligence CommunityTestified before the House Intelligence Committee on the probable ability of the Russians to hack an election
Sean HannityAmericanMedia PersonalityMade claims on his show that the Steele dossier launched the Russia probe, which isn't accurate.
Hapsburg groupEuropeanPoliticianInformal name given to the set of former European politicians whom Paul Manafort and Rick Gates paid to espouse pro-Yanukovich talking points.
Charles HarderAmericanLawyerRepresenting Trump in the Stormy Daniels case; also represented Terry Bolea in the Gawker trial
Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA)AmericanPoliticianMember of the House Intelligence Committee, one of the Congressional committees investigating the Russia scandal
Hermitage Capital ManagementThe investment fund client of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who uncovered a $230 million money laundering scheme through New York real estate via Prevezon, a Russian holding company.
Hope HicksAmericanPrincipal actorYet another former White House Communications Director, she resigned the day after giving 9 hours of testimony on the Hill to the House Intelligence Committee. Til then she had been the longest-running current member of the Trump campaign.
Rick HohltAmerican
Dylan Howard
Jon HuntsmanAmericanCivil servantUS Ambassador to Russia
William HurdAmericanLawyerPaul Erickson's lawyer
Jon IadonisiTied to VizSense Inc. and White Canvas Group, 2 firms that did business with Michael Flynn
Ivan IlyinRussianChristian fascist philosopher who inspired much of Vladimir Putin's political philosophy
ImgurAmericanCompanyPlatform used by the Russian disinformation campaign that House Democrats want to subpoena
InstagramAmericanCompanyPlatform used by the Russian disinformation campaign that House Democrats want to subpoena the transition team for records of
Andrew Intrater
IRA (Internet Research Agency) RussianPrincipal actorWell-known troll farm with ties to the Kremlin, funded and run by Russian oligarch and "Putin's Chef" Yevgeniy Prigozhin (who also oversees private mercenary military forces in Syria and Ukraine.
Iron LibertyRussianForeign Intelligence
IskraMedia OutletThe main Bolshevik newspaper in the early 20th century
Darrell IssaAmericanPolitician
Viktor IvanovRussianOne of Putin's closest allies, he's the head of anti-narcotics in Russia; has spoken out against marijuana legalization in the US (!)
@jenn_abramsRussianForeign IntelligenceIRA-controlled Twitter account claiming to be a Virginian Trump supporter with 70,000 followers
Ramzan KadyrovRussianPoliticianChechnya's Kremlin-backed leader, who is thought to be behind the murder of Putin critic and opposition leader Boris Nemtsov. Kadyrov received a medal from Putin the month after Nemtsov's murder.
Brittany Kaiser
Oleg KaluginRussian, AmericanForeign IntelligenceFormer KGB agent who became a U.S. citizen and grew critical of Putin's regime.
Denis KatsyvRussianOligarchSole shareholder of Prevezon, implicated in the $230m theft of Russian taxpayer dollars
Irakly "Ike" KaveladzeRussianRussian Mafia8th person at Don Jr's June 9 meeting; VP at Crocus Group, owned by Aras Agalarov โ€” a lawyer for the Russian real estate firm, he has been identified by the Government Accountability Office as part of a large ring of Russian money-laundering operations.
Robert KelnerAmericanLawyerMike Flynn's lawyer
Brian KempAmericanPoliticianGeorgia secretary of state who bristled at the idea of DHS's warning about the election integrity and attempts to hack voter registration
John KerryAmericanPoliticianSecretary of State under Obama from 2013 to 2018
KetchumAmericanCompanyWestern PR firm that helps place pro-Russian op-eds in Western media (like Putin's in NYTimes on 9/11/13)
KGBRussianIntelligence CommunityThe Soviet secret service, renowned for ruthlessness and duplicity
Eva KhanRussianDaughter of a Russian oligarch, married to Alex van der Zwaan -- the first to go to prison in the Mueller investigation.
German KhanRussianOligarchRussian oligarch billionaire, principal of Alfa Bank (Russia's largest privste bank) and the father-in-law of Alex van der Zwaan who has pleaded guilty to MUeller's team.
Mikhail KhodorkovskyRussianOligarchEx-oil tycoon unexpectedly freed by Putin ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics
Elena Alekseevna KhusyaynovaRussianPrincipal actorFAN's chief accountant and an indictee under Mueller's Russian investigation
Konstantin KilimnikRussianForeign IntelligencePaul Manafort's business associate in the Ukraine
Sergey KislyakRussianForeign IntelligenceRussian Ambassador who spoke with ๎ค‚Mike Flynn [tracker] about lifting sanctions in undisclosed series of meetings
KLS Research LLCCompanyCompany formed by Peter Smith to facilitate and manage his question to find Hillary's missing emails.
Artem KlyushinRussianOligarchYoung Russian billionaire who claims to have been instrumental in getting Trump elected.
KoalaRussianForeign Intelligence
Aleksandr KoganCambridge Analytica researcher who oversaw the harvesting of 50 million Facebook user accounts' info who also moonlighted as a lecturer at St. Petersburg University
KommersantRussianMedia OutletLong-respected business newspaper purchased by pro-Kremlin oligarch Alisher Usmanov
KomsomolRussianLeninist Youth League organization for Communists aged 14 to 28 in the late 80s & early 90s
Konstantin KosachevRussian
Andrei KostinRussianCEO of VTB, one of the largest Russian banks (and under US sanctions)
Bรฉla Kovacs (KGBรฉla) HungarianOne of the leaders of Jobbik, Hungary's pro-Putin rightist party, who is accused of being a Russian spy.
Dmitry KovtunRussianForeign IntelligenceOne of the two main suspects in the UK's murder investigation case of former FSB/KGB spy turned informant and expat dissident, Alexander Litvinenko -- killed by polonium-210 poisoning after having tea with the two then-current KGB officers in November, 2006.
Vladimir KozhinRussianForeign IntelligenceSenior Putin aide who attended the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in lieu of Putin.
Kozy BearRussianForeign IntelligenceThe Dutch intelligence community alerted the DNC way back in 2015 that they had been hacked back in 2014.
The KremlinRussianPrincipal actor
Jody KrissFormer Bayrock partner who filed a lawsuit in January, 2017 alleging tax evasion of as much as $250 million in income + Russian money laundering
Aleksandra KrylovaRussianForeign IntelligenceServed as Director and 3rd highest employee within the Internet Research Agency, from at least September 2013. She was one of two employees of the IRA who obtained visas and entered the United States on June 4, 2014.
Mikhail KulaginRussianForeign IntelligenceRussian diplomat recalled to Russia, fearing his cover would be blown re: heavy involvement in the 2016 election, including the veterans' pensions ruse
Charles KushnerAmericanOligarchFather of Jared, the elder Kushner committed campaign fraud, blackmailed his own sister, and spent time in federal prison before re-emerging to help run the family business and, of course, suck at the teat of the Presidency
Jared KushnerAmericanPrincipal actorThe evil son-in-law so evil he owned a billion dollar building at 666 Fifth Ave. in Manhattan
Kushner CompaniesAmericanCompany
David LaufmanAmericanIntelligence CommunityFormer chief of the DOJ's Counterintelligence & Export Control Section
Sal LauriaRussian MafiaFBI informant and convicted felon who brokered a $150 million deal for Sater with FL Group, an Icelandic hedge fund tied to Putin that also invested in the Trump Soho project
Sergei LavrovPoliticianRussian Foreign Minister
Platon Lebedev
Marie Le PenFrenchPoliticianhead of the French far-Right party
Pyotr LevashovRussianHackerRussian hacker who ran the sprawling Kelihos botnet, a massive spam and scam network; indicted by a US grand jury on 4/21/17
Lenta.ruRussian
Lev LevievRussianOligarchRussian "king of diamonds" who was a partner in Prevezon (involved in the Magnistsky-exposed money laundering of $230m in Russian tax dollars) and sold several floors of the NYTimes building in Manhattan to Jared Kushner
Ruslan LeviyevRussianFormer police investigator from the Siberian city of Surgut, who left the force after becoming disgusted by the โ€œculture of corruptionโ€ he had witnessed, and moved to Moscow in 2009. Inspired, like so many others, by the anti-Putin protests of 2011โ€“12, Leviyev, a tattooed 29-year-old, is now one of the countryโ€™s top โ€œsocial media dissidentsโ€.
Val LevitanRussianOligarchRussian Canadian CEO of developer Talon (Trump Toronto); had no previous experience in real estate or construction
Corey LewandowskiAmericanLobbyistDonald Trump's first campaign manager; succeeded by Paul Manafort.
Robert LiButtiAlleged mobster and associate of John Gotti, who is on video with Trump in the 80s at a WrestleMania event
Ronald Lieberman
Vladimir LisinRussianOligarchRussian steel mogul who made $830m in 3 days after the election
Aleksandr LitvinenkoRussianForeign Intelligenceformer Russian FSB agent who informed on Putin's connections to the Russian mafia and was assassinated by polonium-210 poisoning in 2006
Marina LitvinenkoRussian
Oleg LobovTies to the Romneys?!
Andrey LugovoyRussianForeign IntelligenceOne of the two main suspects in the UK's murder investigation case of former FSB/KGB spy turned informant and expat dissident, Alexander Litvinenko -- killed by polonium-210 poisoning after having tea with the two then-current KGB officers in November, 2006. Lugovoy is currently a sitting member of the Russian parliament: deputy of the State Duma.
LukoilRussianCompanyRussia's second largest oil company after Rosneft, they contracted with Trump data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica
Loretta LynchAmericanCivil servantUS Attorney General under Barack Obama
Lyovochin
Rachel MaddowAmericanJournalistHost of the most popular nighttime news show on MSNBC; she's been following the Russia story aggressively for over a year in meticulously detailed fashion.
Sergei MagnitskyLawyerlawyer who tried to expose the theft of $230 million of Russian taxpayers' money by Prevezon Holdings (laundered into NYC real estate) before being arrested and allegedly tortured prior to his death in a Moscow prison in 2009; the 2012 Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act is a landmark human rights act named after him.
Main Intelligence DirectorateRussianForeign IntelligenceDivision of the GRU that carried out the second half of the Russian attack on our democracy -- cyber intrusions and hacking of stolen materials from the Clinton campaign, disseminated by WikiLeaks
Ted Malloch
Jason Maloni
Paul ManafortAmericanPrincipal actor
Jeanette ManfraAmericanIntelligence CommunityHead of cybersecurity at the Department of Homeland Security who confirmed to NBC News that the Russians successfully infiltrated "an exceptionally small number" of voter regidstration rolls in 21 states.
@march_for_trumpRussianForeign IntelligenceIRA-controlled accouunt created in May 2016 to promote IRA-organized rallies in support of the Trump Campaign
John Mashburn
John McCainAmericanPolitician
KT McFarlandAmericanIntelligence CommunityDeputy Nartional Security Advisor under Mike Flynn. Asked to step down by HR McMaster.
Don McGahnAmericanLawyerWhite House counsel from XXXX-XXXX
Evan McMullenAmericanPolitician
MediumAmericanCompanySocial media and blogging community frequented by the Russians during their efforts at sowing propaganda and discord during the American 2016 Presidential election.
Dmitry MedvedevRussianPoliticianRussian Prime Minister
Menatep
Rebecca MercerAmericanOligarch
Robert MercerAmericanPrincipal actorShadowy billionaire Trump backer and donor who also backs Breitbart, Cambridge Analytica, and John Bolton.
Met Life InsuranceHolds Trump debt
MI6BritishForeign IntelligenceBritish intelligence agency; the rough equivalent of the American CIA.
Joseph MifsudDirector of the London Academy of Diplomacy who meets with George Papadopoulos in Italy.
Leonid MikhelsonOligarchpart owner of Novatek who made $1.9b from the stock pop post-Trump
Military Unit 26165RussianForeign IntelligenceGRU cyberunit dedicated to targeting military, politival, governmental, and non-governmental organizations outside of Russia, including the U.S. Separate from this investigation, Unit 26165 was charged by a grad jury for hacking the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, the World Doping Agency, and other international sport associations.
Military Unit 74455RussianForeign IntelligenceA GRU unit engaged in cyber operations, including assisting in the release of the documents stolen by Unit 26165, the promotion of those releases, and the publication of anti-Clinton content on social media accounts operated by the GRU. This unit also hacked computers belonging to the stater boards of elections, secretaries of state, and U.S. companies supplying software and other technology related to elections.
Stephen MillerAmericanPrincipal actorAggressively anti-immigrant advisor to Trump, co-writing many of his most vitriolic speeches
Sergei MillianBelarusianRussian MafiaTrump associate, head of the Russian-American chamber of commerce, and one of the sources of the Steele dossier
Marat MindiyarovRussianPrincipal actorFormer worker at the Russian troll factory, the Internet Research Agency, who told the Western press what it was like inside the farm.
Semion MogilevichRussianRussian MafiaNotorious mobster
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al NahyanEmiratiThe crown prince of Abu Dhabi.
Mossack FonsecaLawyerWorld's fourth largest offshore law firm, whose files were published as the Panama Papers in a German newspaper
Robert MuellerAmericanCivil servantSpecial Counsel at the DOJ, investigating RussiaGate
MVDMinistry of Internal Affairs; supervises all police, prisons, and "public order militias"
George NaderAmericanLobbyistLebanese-American businessman who lobbies for the UAE, and was at the meeting in the Seychelles with Erik Prince and the Russians
Alexsei NavalnyRussianActivistPutin critic and activist blogger; has been arrested, charged, & sentenced several times (but recognized as a political prisoner by NGOs)
Boris NemtsovRussianPoliticianPutin critic and opposition politician who was shot dead in Moscow in 2015 by a member of the Chechen security forces
New IslandRussianCompanyRestaurant of Yevgeny Prigozhin that became a favorite of Putin's, netting Mr Prigozhin lucrative contracts for shady operations as "Putin's Chef"
Newsru.comRussian
Alexander NixBritishPrincipal actorCEO of Trump data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica
NKVDRussianForeign Intelligencea forerunner to the KGB under Stalin
NRAAmericanLobbyistHosted a number of conduits between the Trump campaign and Russian nationals, particularly Russian billionaires and oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin.
NSA (National Security Agency)AmericanIntelligence Community
Sam NunbergAmericanCivil servantFormer Trump aide who made a series of bizarre statements on cable TV before testifying to Robert Mueller's team
Devin NunesAmericanPolitician
NY ObserverAmericanMedia OutletWebsite owned by Jarek Kushner as part of Observer Media
Observer MediaAmericanMedia OutletMedia company owned by Jared Kushner.
Keith OlbermannAmericanMedia PersonalityAmerican TV host
Opposition BlocUkrainianSuccessor ruling party in Ukraine after Victor Yanukovich fled to Moscow and his Party of Regions toppled.
Viktor OrbanHungarianPoliticianPresident of Hungary, noted for his pro-Putin and anti-refugee beliefs
OrbisBritishCompanySteele's research firm
Alex Oronovdead โ€” Bryan Cohen's father-in-law (brother of Trump's personal lawyer
OstankinoRussianMedia OutletRussia's TV network
Ozero Cooperative
Pacific Life InsuranceHolds Trump debt
Carter PageAmericanPrincipal actor
@Pamela_Moore13RussianForeign IntelligenceIRA-controlled Twitter account claiming to be a Texan Trump supporter with 70,000 followers
George PapadopoulosAmericanPrincipal actorMember of the Trump campaign who has pled guilty in the Robert Mueller investigation and flipped to become a cooperating witness. Will serve jail time.
Brad ParscaleAmericanPrincipal actorHead of the Trump campaign's digital operation
Party of RegionsUkranianUkranian political party run by Victor Yanukovych, the pro-Putin dictator ushered into power by Paul Manafort.
Stefan Passantino
Sam PattenAmerican
PBK
David PeckerAmericanPrincipal actorHelped American Media bury stories unfavorable to Trump leading up to the election -- a campaign contribution violation, not to mention a moral violation
Mike PenceAmericanPrincipal actorVice President of the United States
Pericles Emerging Markets
Perkins Coie
Dmitry PeskovRussianPrincipal actorPutin's press secretary. Michael Cohen was in touch with him as late at June 2016, during the presidential campaign, in talks over the Trump Tower Moscow deal.
Walid PharesFox News counterterrorism analyst & one of Trump's 5 initial national security advisors
John PodestaAmericanCivil servantHis stolen emails were one of several tronches of stolen documents released by Wikileaks at strategic moments during the 2016 presidential election campaign.
Victor PodobnyyRussianForeign IntelligenceRussian agent who received intelligence information from American energy consultant Carter Page beginning in January 2013
Sergey PolozovRussianWorked for the Internet Research Agency as its head of IT from April 2014 to at least July 2014; he oversaw the buildout of the U.S. infrastructure for the Russian operations.
Mike PompeoAmericanCivil servantCIA Director who went from praising to condemning Wikileaks
Petro PoroshenkoUkranianPoliticianUkranian president
Prevezon HoldingsCypriotCompanya Cyprus company that has invested in Manhattan real estate and which prosecutors allege was the receptacle for some of the $230 million stolen from Russian taxpayers in 2007; part of Hermitage Capital, the investment fund Magnitsky was investigating until his murder in a Moscow prison in 2009.
Reince PriebusAmericanCivil servant
Yevgeniy PrigozhinRussianForeign Intelligence"Putin's Chef" -- a former caterer and restauranteur who now runs Vladimir Putin's internet propaganda operations via the Internet Research Agency as well as overseeing mercenary forces operating in Syria and Ukraine.
Erik PrinceAmericanOligarchSec. of Education Betsy DuVoss's brother, who met a Russian oligarch in the Seychelles during the campaign to talk about lifting sanctions. Founded and runs Blackwater, a formidable private security firm often accompanying US military operations as the theater of war becomes increasingly privatized and mercenaries find themselves duking it out in the desert armed with the plausible deniability of being at arm's length from their country's official foreign policy.
Vitaly Pruss
Project VeritasAmericanMedia Outlet
Pussy RiotRussianActivist
Vladimir PutinRussianPrincipal actor
Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL)AmericanPoliticianMember of the House Intelligence Committee, one of the Congressional committees investigating the Russia scandal
RedditAmericanCompanyWas asked by House Democrats on March 7, 2018 to provide intel on the scope and scale of the Russian disinformation effort on their platforms during the 2016 election
RelcomRussianCompanyOne of the first private companies or "collectives" formed under Gorbachev's glasnost reforms, it brokered the first proto-Internet within the Soviet Union and first connection to the outside world โ€” playing a key role in thwarting the attempted coup against Gorbachev by the KGB in August, 1991
Right to Bear ArmsRussianMoscow-based entity begun by Maria Butina and Alexander Torshin -- odd, in a country with no gun rights at all.
Ritz CarltonAmericanCompanyHosted Donald Trump during his 2013 visit to Moscow for the Miss Universe pageant
RodinaRussianextreme nationalist party in Russia c. 2003 that hinted at ethnic cleansing; The Guardian reported it had actually been set up as a prop by Putin & cronies, to draw votes away from the other far-right Communist Party
Ed RogersAmericanLobbyistHired by Alfa Bank: a former REagan administration official
Mike RogersAmericanIntelligence CommunityAdmiral and Director of the National Security Agency under Obama; one of the 3 who briefed Trump and Obama about the Russian attack on Election 2016
Dana RohrabacherAmericanPoliticianRepresentative (R-CA 48th District) since 2013; dubbed "Putin's favorite Congressman"
Sergei RolduginRussianPutin ally implicated in the Panama Papers
RosneftRussianCompanyRussia's state oil company
Rossiiskaia GazetaRussianMedia OutletRussia's official government newspaper
Wilbur RossAmericanPoliticianUS Secretary of Commerce and single largest shareholder of the Bank of Cyprus, the famous haven for Russian oligarchs to stash their billions
RossotrudnichestvoRussian
Steve RothCEO of Vornado, a $20 billion real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns 49.5% of Jared Kushner's building at 666 Fifth Avenue; he's also on Trump's economic advisory team
Andrei Rozov
RT.comRussianMedia OutletRussian state-owned news service
RUPTLYRussianMedia OutletThe Kremlin's new video news agency
RusalRussianCompanyOne of Oleg Deripaska's companies whose sanctions have been lifted by Trump's Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.
Russian-American Chamber of Commerce in the USA
Russian Direct Investment FundRussianRussia's sovereign wealth fund
Russian Imperial MovementRussianpart of the far-right coalition within Russia seeking to build an international consensus, this group advocates "Christian Orthodox imperial nationalism"
Sergei RyabkovRussianPoliticianRussian Deputy Foreign Minister
Paul RyanAmericanPoliticianSpeaker of the House (R-WI) and a Trump defender and denialist
Dmitry RybolovlevRussianOligarchthe โ€œFertilizer Kingโ€ โ€” fertilizer billionaire who purchased Trump's Palm Beach mansion for $95 million, but never moved in
Konstantin Rykov
Anatoli Samochornov
Sheryl SandbergAmericanOligarch
Sarah Huckabee SandersAmericanCivil servant
Felix SaterRussianRussian MafiaRussian mobster and FBI informant who runs Bayrock, a money-laundering firm designed to hide dirty Russian money in Trump's taxes
Saudi ArabiaSaudi ArabianNation-state
SberbankRussianBankRussia's largest bank
Anthony ScaramucciAmericanCivil servantTrump press secretary for all of 10 days
Dan ScavinoAmericanPrincipal actorManaged the Trump campaign's social media
Rep. Adam SchiffAmericanPoliticianTop-ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee overseeing that chamber's Russia investigation
Keith SchillerAmericanTrump's longtime security chief and confidant
Eric SchneidermanAmericanLawyerNew York State Attorney General who has a long history of legal cases with Trump
Chuck SchumerAmericanPolitician(D-NY) and Sen. Minority Leader
SCL Group Limited
Igor SechinRussianOligarchPresident of Rosneft at the time Exxon violated Russian sanctions to help protect his property interest
Secured BordersRussianForeign IntelligenceAn IRA-controlled Facebook group that bought ads in support of the Trump Campaign, and had over 130,000 followers at the time it was deactivated in mid-2017
Jay SekulowAmericanLawyerTrump's personal lawyer
Jeff SessionsAmericanPrincipal actorTrump's first US Attorney General, before Bill Barr. He has recused himself from the Russia investigation because of his curious, multi-part memory loss of meetings with Russian agents.
Alex ShnaiderUkranianOligarchUkrainian steel magnate & partner at Talon International who is managing Trump Toronto hotel as it goes into default
Paula ShugartAmericanPresident of the Miss Universe Organization, who reported directly to Trump at the time of the 2013 Moscow pageant
Konstantin SidorkovRussianDirector of PArtnership Marketing for vKontakte, a Russian social media site, that had communications with the Trump campaign about setting up a profile.
Siemens AGCompany
Sinclair MediaAmericanMedia OutletConservative broadcasting conglomerate gobbling up local TV stations and forcing them to air canned right-wing footage with each segment.
Glenn SimpsonAmericanHead of research firm Fusion FPS who commissioned the Christopher Steele dossier.
Paul SingerAmericanOligarchBillionaire financier who originally commissioned research firm Fusion GPS to start compiling opposition research on Donald Trump. He abandoned the project after Trump secured the nomination.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & FlomLawyerLaw firm retained by Paul Manafort and Rick Gates to "whitewash" Victor Yanukovich's imprisonment of his political rival, Yulia Tymochenko, in Ukraine.
Matt SkiberRussianForeign IntelligenceAn IRA-controlled Facebook account that organized a pro-Trump rally near Trump Tower in mid-2016
Sergei SkripalRussianFormer Russian official turned British spy who was attacked with his daughter Yulia with nerve gas in southern England, reputedly by agents of the Kremlin.
Yulia SkripalRussianSergei's daughter
Dan SmithAmericanCivil servantHead of the State Dept's intelligence bureau under Obama
Peter SmithAmericanAlleged to have solicited help on the dark web in finding Hillary's "missing" emails from the Russians
SnapchatAmericanCompanyOne of the social networks the Democratic oversight committees want to send document requests to, to request more intel on the scope and scale of the Russian campaign on their platforms
Edward SnowdenAmericanIntelligence CommunityControversial former employee for private firms working within the US government who absconded with millions of top secret NSA and other departmental intelligence documents, fled to Hong Kong where he alerted the press, and flew on to Moscow where he lives under the protection of the Kremlin.
SolidarityPolishPolish workers' party confronting Communism in the late '80s
Oleg SolodukhinRussian
Reuben SorensenNuclear non-proliferation expert who briefed Mike Flynn on the ACU's nuclear program and rejoiced that he would be named head of the NSA.
Sean SpicerAmericanCivil servantTrump's press secretary
SputnikRussianMedia OutletRussian news wire proffering fake news
Joseph StalinRussianPolitician
Alex StamosAmericanPrincipal actorEx-Facebook security chief
StasiGermanForeign IntelligenceNickname for the Ministry of State Security in East Germany during the Cold War
Christopher SteeleBritishForeign IntelligenceFormer British MI6 intelligence agent who put together the Steele Dossier on Donald Trump's dealings with Russia
Beny Steinmetz
Daniel Steinmetz
Raz Steinmetz
Roger StoneAmericanLobbyistLong-time political advisor best known for being part of Richard Nixon's "Dirty Tricks" crew who perpetuated Watergate among much else; he "predicted" the release of Clinton's hacked emails
Stop All ImmigrantsRussianForeign IntelligenceAn IRA-controlled Facebook group
Stop All InvadersRussianForeign IntelligenceAn IRA-controlled Facebook group that bought Facebook ads in support of Donald Trump
Lee StranahanMedia PersonalityWorks for Sputnik in Russia. Never responded to an official Congressional inquiry.
Strana.ruRussian
SUP MediaRussianMedia OutletRussia's largest blogging service via acquisition of LiveJournal from Six Apart
Vladislav SurkovRussianPrincipal actorPutin's disinformation machine
SVRRussianIntelligence CommunityRussian foreign intelligence service
Eric SwalwellAmericanPoliticianDemocrat on the House Intelligence Committee
John Szobocsan
Matt Tait
Talon InternationalCompany
Tambov-Malyshev groupRussianRussian Mafiaorganized crime ring based in St. Petersburg w/ties to Putin; led by Gennadiy Petrov and Aleksandr Malyshev
Targeted VictoryLobbyistGOP strategy firm hired by Facebook
@TEN_GOPRussianForeign IntelligenceAn IRA-controlled Twitter account posing as the Tennessee GOP Party.
TFAAmericanTrump for America, Inc., the business entity formed to handle the Trump transition
Rex TillersonAmericanPrincipal actorU.S. Secretary of State and former CEO of Exxon
Gennady TimchenkoOligarch23% owner of natural gas company Novatek, who made $1.8b from surges in pro-Russian market following Trump's election
Ivan TimofeevRussianProgram director at the Russian International Affairs Council, a government-funded think tank, who met with George Papadopolous to try to establish a meeting between Trump and Putin.
Alimzhan TokhtakhounovRussianRussian MafiaNicknamed "The Little Taiwanese," he's one of Russia's most notorious mobsters. At the time of the 2013 Miss Universe pageant, he had been indicted in the U.S. for protecting a high-stakes illegal gambling operation run out of Trump Tower.
Alexander TorshinRussianPrincipal actorRussian central banker, Putin confidant, NRA whisperer, handler of Maria Butina
Vadim TrincherRussianRussian MafiaRan a Russian-American gambling crime ring out of Trump Tower. Serving 5 years for racketeering.
The Translator DepartmentRussianForeign IntelligenceDepartment within the IRA dedicated to U.S. operations
Donald J. TrumpAmericanPrincipal actor
Donald J. Trump JrAmericanPrincipal actor
Donald J. Trump Revocable TrustAmerican
Eric TrumpAmericanPrincipal actor
Fred TrumpAmericanOligarchDonald Trump's father, who built the family real estate fortune and handed it off to his son to ruin it
Ivanka TrumpAmericanPrincipal actorDaddy's little girl
Trump FoundationAmericanPrincipal actor
Trump OrganizationAmericanPrincipal actor
Trump TransitionAmericanPrincipal actor
TsargradRussian
TumblrAmericanCompanyWas asked by House Democrats on March 7, 2018 to provide intel on the scope and scale of the Russian disinformation effort on their platforms during the 2016 election
TurboatomUkranianCompanyUkranian state-owned company who was the target of a bribery offer from ACU Strategic Partners -- who Mike Flynn was working with -- to accept a $45 billion contract to build reactors in Saudi Arabia in exchange for supporting the lifting of sanctions levied against Russia by the US and EU.
TurkeyTurkishNation-state
TV RainRussianMedia OutletIndependent Russian broadcaster
TwitterAmericanCompany
Yulia TymoshenkoUkranianPoliticianRan against Victor Yanukovich in the 2010 Presidentials elections, and was jailed by him under spurious charges following his Paul Manafort-aided win.
UAE
UBS Real EstateHolds Trump debt
United Muslims of AmericaRussianForeign IntelligenceAn IRA-controlled Facebook account that had over 300,000 followers at the time it was finally deactivated in mid-2017
United RussiaRussianPolitical Party of Russian PResident Vladimir Putin
Viktor VekselbergRussianOligarchPutin-connected oligarch with connections to secretary of commerce ๎ค‚Wilbur Ross [tracker]
Natalia VeselnitskayaRussianRussian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin who met with Donald Trump Jr, Paul Manafort, and Kared Kushner at Trump Tower in June 2016 about the dirt Russia had on Hillary Clinton. At the time she was representing Prevezon Holdings in the case the U.S. Justice Department had brought against them for a $230 million money laundering scheme that lawyer Sergei Magnitsky had uncovered.
VizSense Inc.AmericanCompanyProvided social media services to the Trump campaign and Michael Flynn
vKontakteRussianRussian social network; equivalent analog to Facebook
VnesheconombankRussianBankRussian state-owned development bank, under investigation for Russian election interference
VornadoCompany$20 billion REIT that's an ~equal partner with Jared Kushner in the 666 Fifth Ave. building in Manhattan; Steve Roth, CEO, is an advisor to Trump
Rosemary VrablicBankExecutive at Deutsche Bank's private wealth unit who helped finance many of Trump's real estate projects after other banks (and the "regular" side of Deutsche Bank) wouldn't deal with him any more, following massive losses
VTB BankRussianBankRussia's largest commercial bank; under US and EU sanctions for money laundering
Sen. Mark WarnerAmericanPolitician(D-VA) โ€” top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee
Washington Free BeaconMedia Outlet
The Washington PostAmericanMedia Outletvenerable local paper purchased by Jeff Bezos in 2013
Debbie Wasserman SchultzAmerican
Jeff WeaverAmerican
Anthony WeinerAmericanPolitician
Allen WeisselbergAmericanPrincipal actor
WhatsAppThe House HPSCI committee wants to subpoena them for communication records relating to principals in the Trump campaign
Julian David Wheatland
Acting AG Matt WhitakerAmericanIntelligence Community
White Canvas GroupAmericanLobbyistUndertook Turkey-related work for Michael Flynn
The White HouseAmericanCivil servantSupposed to be a civil servant but often a lobbyist, The White House includes the President and high-level senior staff
WikileaksHacker
World National-Conservatism Movement (WNCM)Globalumbrella term for Russia's movement to unite an international extreme far-right coalition
Christopher WrayAmericancandidate for the next FBI Director, to replace James Comey
Christopher WylieAmericanWhistleblower from Trump data team Cambridge Analytica who revealed the existence of a formerly secret client: Lukoil, Russia's #2 oil and gas company
Viktor YanukovychUkranianPoliticianUkraine's former pro-Moscow president; he paid $12.7 million to help influence the Ukranian election his way before being ousted from power in 2013. Paul Manafort made many of the millions he later laundered with Rick Gates via undisclosed lobbying for Mr Yanukovych.
Sally YatesAmericanDeputy Attorney General under Barack Obama and Acting Attorney General following the inauguration of Donald Trump. She was dismissed by him after 10 days when she instructed the Justice Department not to allow Trump's Muslim ban to be enforced because it violated the law and the Constitution.
Steve YatesAmerican
Boris YeltsinRussianPoliticianFirst President of the Russian Federation, after he orchestrated Russia's exit from the USSR (and thus, its downfall, as all the Soviet satellite republics followed suit). He ruled from 1991 to 1999, never quite managing to usher in a true democracy before settling on a successor, an obscure and unknown former KGB officer stationed in East Berlin during the Second World War: Vladimir Putin.
YoutubeAmericanCompanyFavored propaganda platform for Russian agents used in the cyberattacks against the 2016 election
YukosRussian
Yunarmia"Young Army" โ€” created in 2015 by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to "encourage patriotism among schoolchildren"
Mark ZuckerbergAmericanOligarchCEO of Facebook, whose platform was used by the Russians in their influence campaign against the 2016 U.S. elections
Alex van der ZwaanDutchDutch lawyer caught lying to the FBI about his law firm Skadden's report on Ukranian dictator Victor Yanukovich's imprisonment of his presidential rival Yulia Tymochenko in Ukraine. Has plead guilty to Robert Mueller's team.
Read more

Did Russia hack the 2016 US election? Most certainly. The FBI, CIA, and entire intelligence community is in agreement on this point. Russian information warfare has been infamous the world over for decades — with a recent flare up starting with the Brexit vote as an obvious canary in a larger coalmine, and extending to the proliferation of right-wing movements around the world: particularly in Eastern Europe on Putin’s doorstep.

The following list is an attempt to demystify the language surrounding Russian interference in the election of Donald Trump, and Vladimir Putin’s efforts to undermine the Western order — in retaliation for the fall of the Soviet Union which happened under his watch as a young KGB agent stationed in Dresden, Germany.

See also: the RussiaGate Bestiary which lists the individuals involved in the Russian 2016 election interference investigation of Trump campaign conspiracy and fraud. Please note: both of these resources are works in progress and are being updated frequently.

TermDefinition
4chanA notorious internet message board with an unruly culture capable of trolling, pranks, and crimes.
8chanIf 4chan isn't raw and lawless enough for you, try the even more right-wing "free speech"-haven 8chan, which is notorious for incubating a large swath of the Gamergate culture.
The ActLas Vegas nightclub in the Palazzo, owned by Sheldon Adelson, under surveillance by the Nevada Gaming Control Board for obscene performances. Site of the Miss USA pageant party attended by Trump and the Agalarov's in June 2013.
active measuresinformation warfare aimed at undermining the West
Air Force OneThe U.S. presidential plane.
AMS PanelThe GRU's "nerve center" through which they monitored the middle servers that monitored the DNC and DCCC networks. Housed on a leased computer located in Arizona.
art critic in civilian clothing"joke" used by the KGB to refer to themselves while informing on dissidents under Soviet rule
attorney work product
backdoora method, often secret, of bypassing regular login authentication or encryption of a computer or server
Bakucapital of Azerbaijan
banana republicpolitically unstable countries whose economies are monocultures controlled by an oligarchy; puppet states
Bank Secrecy ActLegal statute requiring persons managing funds in excess of $10,000 in foreign banks disclose said accounts to the US Treasury.
bespredel"limitless and total lack of accountability of the elite oligarchs"
blind trustA financial trust in which the beneficiaries have no access to the holdings of the trust, or any knowledge of its investments and contents
Bolotnaya SquareThe square was the site of the biggest protests in Russia since the Soviet era, in December 2011
BolshevikThe majority faction within the Marxist revolutionary party led by Vladimir Lenin to power in Russia during the October Revolution of 1917, eventually becoming the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
bolt holeA type of retreat or refuge for those in the survivalist subculture, to be absconded to in case of disaster or apocalypse.
BNDGerman foreign intelligence agency
bug-out location (BOL)Another name for a bolt hole or survivalist refuge location.
CalexitMovement to split the state of Californnia into East and West states
capital flightRefers to the massive ongoing exodus of both legitimate and illegitimate funds of Russian oligarchs and their state cronies to "safe havens" in foreign banks and offshore accounts outside of Russia
28 C.F.R. 600.8(c)"at the conclusion of the Special Counsel's work, he...shall provide the Attorney General a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions the Special Counsel reached"
Charter 77Informal Czech resistance movement against the communist regime, named after a document that was deemed a political crime to distribute.
ChekismLoyalty to the concept of an unbroken chain of Russian security services, all the way from Lenin's Cheka to the KGB to the FSB
Chronicle of Current EventsSoviet dissident periodical (samizdat) from 1968 to the early 1980s that reported on the human rights violations in the Soviet Union
Cold War
Color Revolutions
computational propaganda
cooperating witness
CPACConservative Political Action Conference
CPSUCommunist Party of the Soviet Union
Crimeaterritory in eastern Ukraine invaded and "annexed" by Putin in 2014; unrecognized and condemned by the international community
criminal investigation
Crocus City Hall7000-seat theater complex in Moscow built by Aras Agalarov; site of the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow
Cuban Missile Crisis
cut out
cyberspies
cyberwarfare
Cyprus
DACA
dachacountry estate
Dark Web
data transfer
deep stateNetworks of opposition within governments who undermine the official regime
demoshizashort for โ€˜democratic schizophrenicsโ€™
deposition
dรฉtentestrategy of easing geopolitical tensions between nations; used in particular to describe attempts to "cool off" antagonism during the Cold War
dezinformatsiyaRussian information warfare
diaspora
directoriesThe file folder organizational structure on your computer
disinformation
DIOGThe FBI's Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide
document theft
DonbasTerritory in eastern Ukraine where Russian aggression has resumed as of Jan 29, 2017 following two years of Minsk Two ceasefire agreement
Doomsday Clock
doxingresearching and broadcasting personally identifiable information about an individual
Dumathe lower house of the Federal Assembly, Russia's Parliament
Eastern Bloc
Echo MoskvyDemocratic radio station in Moscow seminal is thwarting the KGB-led coup against Gorbachev in 1991
encryption
"Eternal Rome"ideology positing Russia as a geopolitical bulwark of conservatism against a weak-kneed West (part of Alexander Dugin's reformulation of Eurasianism theory)
Evening Internetthe first blog in Russia, founded by Anton Nossik
executive privilege
exfiltrationThe removal or copying of data from one server to another without the knowledge of the owner
fake news
fallout shelter
false flagcovert operations designed to deceive by appearing as though they are carried out by other entities, groups, or nations than those who actually executed them
FAPSIOne of the agencies spun out from the former KGB to head Govt Comms & Info (modeled after the NSA) โ€” this division was instrumental in controlling the unfolding of the Russian internet
Federal AssemblyRussian Parliament
fifth column
fifth world warnon-linear war; the war of all against all
Financial Crimes Enforcement NEtwork (FinCEN)Department within the Treasury that handles and maiontains FBAR filings from US persons holding in excess of $10,000 in foreign banks.
FISA Court
FISA warrant
Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA)Legal statute requiring those persons lobbying on behalf of a foreign government or other entity to register such with the U.S. government.
foreign bank account report (FBAR)Required disclosure to the US treasury by persons holding in excess of $10,000 in funds in foreign banks.
forensics
FreedomFestConservative evangelical event annually in Las Vegas
frozen conflict zonesterm for several unrecognized pseudo states within former Soviet territories who have broken away from the national government and are operating as Russian protectorates
FSBthe Russian Federal Security Service
GamerGate
Gazeta.ru
GazpromRussia's energy monopolgy and largest gas company
Georgia
Ghost StoriesFBI operation allowing a sleeper cell of 10 KGB spies to operate in the U.S. for 10 years, to reverse engineer their methods. At the end of the sting, FBI Director Robert Mueller rounded them all up and expelled them from the country.
glasnost"increased government transparency" or openness โ€” a slogan employed by Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet leader in the 1980s
Glavplakat
"global cabal"euphemism in far-right Russian discourse to refer to a perceived "Jewish conspiracy" behind the international order of institutions like NATO and the EU
globalization
Grand Jury16 to 23 people impaneled to hear evidence from a legal prosecution, and decide if said prosecution has a caseworthy set of evidence to bring charges.
Grenadines
hashtag
Helsinki Accords
honeypot
hybrid warfare
IC (Intelligence Community)
iMessageApple's version of SMS
information warfare
interlocuter
IRC
IskraThe main Bolshevik newspaper in the early 20th century
Jacksonโ€“Vanik amendment to the Trade Act of 1974
kakistocracy
keyloggingTechnique that enabled the GRU to record passwords, internal communications, banking info, and sensitive personal info from compromised DCCC and DNC employees
KGBThe Soviet secret service, renowned for ruthlessness and duplicity
kleptocracyform of government in which the leaders harbor organized crime rings and often participate in or lead them; the police, military, civil government, and other governmental agencies may routinely participate in illicit activities and enterprises.
KommersantLong-respected business newspaper purchased by pro-Kremlin oligarch Alisher Usmanov
kompromatcompromising material on a head of state or other important figure; typically used for blackmail purposes
KomsomolLeninist Youth League organization for Communists aged 14 to 28 in the late 80s & early 90s
The Kremlin
Kuchinothe oldest top-secret research facility of the KGB, 12 miles east of Moscow
Kurchatov InstitutePreeminent Soviet nuclear research facility still in operation today in the far north of Moscow
Latvia
Lenta.ru
liberalismPolitical and ethical framework based on individual liberty via human rights and equal protection
Logan Act
lords on the boards
Mafia stateA systematic corruption of government by organized crime syndicates.
Magnitsky Act
Maidan revolutionStudent protests that ousted the Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych, that started Nov 21, 2013.
malware
Marxism
maskirovkawar of deception and concealment
Menatep
Menshevik
middle serversIntermediary sets of servers used by the GRU to communicate with their malware implants in infected U.S. computers and networks -- for an arm's length, plausible deniability strategy
MimikatzPiece of malware whose function is a hacker credential harvesting tool
Minsk TwoColloquial name of the 2015 ceasefire agreement between Russia & Ukraine following the annexation of Crimea
Mitrokhin Archive
Mokhovaya Squarewell-known landmark in front of the Kremlin
MSK-IXThe main Internet exchange point in Russia
MVDMinistry of Internal Affairs; supervises all police, prisons, and "public order militias"
nationalism
National Prayer Breakfast
neutralize
Never-Trump
Newsru.com
NKVDa forerunner to the KGB under Stalin
non-linear warfare
NotPetya
novichokmilitary-grade nerve agent developed by Russia and used in the poisoning of former FSB agent turned Putin critic Andrei Skripal and his daughter in Lonson in March, 2018
Novorossiaregion of eastern Ukraine occupied by Russian separatists
October Revolutionthe Nov 7, 1917 Bolshevik revolution and armed overthrow of the government, leading to the creation of the USSR
October Surprise
oligarchy
one-party state
open source intelligence
operating system
operatives
opposhort form of opposition research
opposition research
OSINTopen source intelligence
OstankinoRussia's TV network
Ozero Cooperative
perestroikapolicy of restructuring or rebuilding the Soviet government, employed by Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s
plausible deniability
plea deal
plead the Fifth
Plovdiv, BulgariaSafe "bolt hole" identified for Eastern European hackers paid by Trump and the Kremlin if things went south
ponyatiyaan unwritten understanding about how things must be done
populism
postmodernism
"post office boxes"Secret Soviet military and security research facilities, known only to the public by their P.O. Box number
post-truth
power grid intrusions
Prague, Czech Republic
proizvolRussian word for "arbitrariness"
Project LakhtaInternal name for the operation that Prigozhin's IRA was running to interfere in elections across the Western world, according to the Mueller indictments.
Project Ripon
propaganda
provokatsiya
rar.exeA hacker tool used to compile and compress materials for exfiltration to GRU servers from the DNC and DCCC networks
RedditAmerican social network inhabited by numerous denizens of the alt-Right and hosting notoriously grotesque subreddits.
refuseniksTerm given during the Soviet era, particularly under Stalin, for Jews who had been denied permission to emigrate
reiding
RelcomOne of the first private companies or "collectives" formed under Gorbachev's glasnost reforms, it brokered the first proto-Internet within the Soviet Union and first connection to the outside world โ€” playing a key role in thwarting the attempted coup against Gorbachev by the KGB in August, 1991
rent-a-peer
retweetWhen a Twitter user amplifies the tweet of another, by "retweeting" it out to her or his network
Rodinaextreme nationalist party in Russia c. 2003 that hinted at ethnic cleansing; The Guardian reported it had actually been set up as a prop by Putin & cronies, to draw votes away from the other far-right Communist Party
RosatomRussian company building Turkey's first nuclear plant
Rose RevolutionPeaceful protest-driven pro-Western transfer of power in the former Soviet state of Georgia in Nov 2003
RosneftRussia's state oil company
Rossiiskaia GazetaRussia's official government newspaper
RT.comstate-owned Russian news service
Rublevkabillionaire's row in Moscow
Russian Imperial Movementpart of the far-right coalition within Russia seeking to build an international consensus, this group advocates "Christian Orthodox imperial nationalism"
RussophobiaPopular hysteria against Russia and Russians perceived to be the case by Russia and Russians
samizdatin the Soviet era, the creation by hand and distribution of copies of literature and other material banned by the state
SberbankRussia's largest bank
SDNs (specially designated nationals)Individuals against whom secondary sanctions have been applied
The Seychelles
shadow profilesData that Facebook collects on people who are not members of Facebook, via association with their friends who are
shestidesiatniki"Sixties' Generation" in the Soviet Union, who shared a lot in common with the American New Left. Advocated for political reform.
Siemens AG
silovikiRussian term for those who have backgrounds and employment in security services, the military, and police; more specifically a reference to Putin's security cabal
Signal
sistemaRussian term to denote "how the government really works" (as opposed to via formal state institutions)
SJWSocial Justice Warriors, a term which has somehow been wielded as a pejorative by alt-righters and other radical right cadre, energing out of Gamergate culture.
SMSAka "texting"
Snow Revolutionpopular protests beginning in Moscow in 2011, demanding the reinstatement of free elections & the ability to form opposition parties
sockpuppet accountsFake social media accounts used by trolls for deceptive and covert actions, avoiding culpability for abuse, aggression, death threats, doxxing, and other criminal acts against targets.
SolidarityPolish workers' party confronting Communism in the late '80s
SORMSystem of Operative Search Measures โ€” the system in use by the FSB to eavesdrop on the Russian internet
South Stream pipeline Gazprom project through Balkans and Central Europe
"sovereign democracy"system in which democratic procedures are retained, but without any actual democratic freedoms; brainchild of Vladislav Surkov
sovereign wealth fund
spasitelniiRussian word for "redemptive"
spearphishingAn email designed to appear as if from a trusted source, to solicit information that allows the sender to gain access to an account or network, or installs malware that later enables the sender to gain access to an account or network
specialistsMoniker given to the IRA employees assigned to operate the social media accounts in the U.S., including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Tumblr.
SputnikRussian news wire proffering fake news
StasiNickname for the Ministry of State Security in East Germany during the Cold War
Steele dossier
stochastic terrorism
Stoleshnikov Lanepedestrian street in Moscow lined with designer boutiques
St. PetersburgLocation of the headquarters for the IRA, Internet Research Agency, aka Putin's troll farm, at 55 Savushkina Street.
Strana.ru
subpoena
SUP MediaRussia's largest blogging service via acquisition of LiveJournal from Six Apart
SVRRussian foreign intelligence service
swattinghoaxed reports to emergency services intended to provoke a SWAT team response at the target's home; a form of Internet-based attack used by Gamergate, the alt-Right, and other groups and individuals
tax returns
The ThawBrief period of reform under Nikita Khrushchev between 1956 and 1964, when Khrushchev takes over from Stalin and is replaced by Leonid Brezhnev
tradecraft
"translator project"
trial balloonInformation put out or leaked to the media to gauge public reaction.
Trump Tower MoscowThen-candidate Trump signed a letter of intent to move forward with this project in 2015, while at the same time denying its existence publicly, repeatedly.
truthiness
Turkish StreamProposed gas pipeline allowing Russia to extend its control over Turkey and European energy markets
Ukranian occupation
unmaskingIntelligence protocol redacting American identities from transcripts of foreign intercepts
USPER
Velvet Revolution
vertical of powerreference to the tightly controlled power cabal structure Putin has amassed around himself
vKontakteRussian social network; equivalent analog to Facebook
vlastpower
VPN
VTBRussia's largest commercial bank
wag the dog
watering holehacker attacks that infect entire websites
whataboutismClassic debate tactic of old Soviet apologists to deflect criticism of Soviet policy; whenever an American would levy a critique, the response would be, "What about the bad things America does?"
white knights
white nationalism
Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation
World National-Conservatism Movement (WNCM)umbrella term for Russia's movement to unite an international extreme far-right coalition
X-AgentMultifunction hacking tool that allowed Russian GRU Military Unit 26165 to log keystrokes, take screenshots, and gather other data about the infected computers
X-TunnelHacking tool creating an encrypted connection between the victim DCCC/DNC computers and the GRU-controlled computers to facilitate a large-scale data transfer
Yes CaliforniaMovement to secede from the US entirely, run by Marcus Ruiz Evans, Louis J. Marinelli
Yukos
zakaznews information that has been paid for by special interest
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The FBI took the extraordinary step of initiating a counterintelligence investigation into the President of the United States, based according to the New York Times on the firing of James Comey and Trump‘s public actions surrounding that event, in which he linked the firing to the Russia investigation vociferously several times.

This is a historical first.

Hold on to your hats.

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Dictatorships generally do not foster, or even tolerate, the kind of creative disruption of the status quo necessary to the existence of a dynamic free market. Plus, the economy of the Russian state can best be described as a mafia state, or kleptocracy. Thus Vladimir Putin needs to find other ways to shore up both the national finances and the support of his cronies (much less so, of his people, who are primarily afterthoughts in the Russian power structure).

After the fall of the Soviet Union, the rapid shift to capitalism was done with little oversight and many hands in the cookie jar. The Russian land’s rich stores of minerals, oil and gas, heavy metals, and other natural resources were rapidly privatized and newly-minted oligarchs flexed wealth and power in a way never before dreamed of in the former USSR.

The combination of powerful new gatekeepers who locked up the Russian economy early via capital flight and never let it go overshadowed the capitalistic transition and, in a very real way, hijacked it before it ever really got underway. The result is, some 30 years on, an unpopular creaking kleptocratic regime reviled around the world for its stubborn aggression, subversion of democratic processes around the world particularly in Europe and the United States, support for organized crime, and significant financial crimes on the part of the state itself.

Putin’s autocratic rule from dull to terrifyingly devious has a chilling effect on hope, self-determination, self-governance, and ultimately — on happiness, freedom, and creativity. Totalitarianism is capable of exerting control, but always fails to inspire anything except for eventual revolution against the oppressors.

Here is a granular look at major indicators of the economy of the Russian Federation.

OECD Country Dashboard: Russian economy

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We Americans thought it ended, anyhow — but we were wrong. The revanchism that in some sense was of high potential after the fall of the former Soviet Union indeed came to pass — and later to be accelerated by the rise of Vladimir Putin to power.

Along with that trajectory, a curious development path for the former Soviet state: mostly, a descent into organized crime at the highest echelons of government. In some sense, organized crime is the government.

Here’s a great #longread from the Guardian about the history of a modern-day mafia state.

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While we wring our hands in the United States over whether or not such a strategy is even conceivable, the erstwhile President of Russia has been running this playbook out in the open in Ukraine and Eastern Europe for some time. With help from Propagandist-in-Chief Vladislav Surkov, Putin has leveraged the open secrets about the psychology of crowds we learned in the late 19th and early 20th century to stir up emotional antagonisms within the political spectrum — to predictable results.

It’s no accident that fascism is on the march in America. The conditions have been brewing for some time, predominantly since the Conservative movement began breaking away more militantly from democratic principles and towards authoritarian philosophy (elite rule by force: preferably invisible force via economic hegemony for the middle and upper classes, and violent force / the carceral state for The Undesirables) in the late 1970s and 1980s. All Putin had to do was make use of available prevailing conditions and tools — the rise of social media in the 2000s counterintuitively blew a gaping wide security hole in the American persuasion landscape that Cold War Soviet operatives of the 1960s would scarcely have believed.

Today, as in parts of Europe between the world wars, the U.S. has partisan gridlock within The Establishment sector of politics; this exacerbates the impatience with and contempt for the status quo (aka the Liberal world order) that in some sense naturally congeals at the far right and far left margins of the political spectrum as a simple consequence of the Normal Distribution (the Median Voter Theorem captures this tendency quite succinctly). Under such conditions, an influence campaign like the one Russia wielded against the United States during the 2016 election season was tasked merely with tilting the playing field a little further — a task that platforms like Facebook and Twitter were in some sense fundamentally engineered to accomplish, in exchange for ad revenue.

New World Order? Be careful what we wish for

“Both Italian and German fascists had done their best to make democracy work badly. But the deadlock of liberal constitutions was not something the fascists alone had brought about. ‘The collapse of the Liberal state,’ says Roberto Vivarelli, ‘occurred independently of fascism.’ At the time it was tempting to see the malfunction of democratic government after 1918 as a systemic crisis marking the historic terminus of liberalism. Since the revival of constitutional democracy since World War II, it has seemed more plausible to see it as a circumstantial crisis growing out of the strains of World War I, a sudden enlargement of democracy, and the Bolshevik Revolution. However we interpret the deadlock of democratic government, no fascist movement is likely to reach office without it.”

— Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism

100 years on, it feels like we’re back at the start.

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