It Starts: Credentialed Media Run Stories That Russia Is Looking To Get Trump Re-Elected

Who’s surprised by this? Especially with all the anonymous sources. Here’s the NY Times

Lawmakers Are Warned That Russia Is Meddling to Re-elect Trump

Intelligence officials warned House lawmakers last week that Russia was interfering in the 2020 campaign to try to get President Trump re-elected, five people familiar with the matter said, a disclosure to Congress that angered Mr. Trump, who complained that Democrats would use it against him.

The day after the Feb. 13 briefing to lawmakers, the president berated Joseph Maguire, the outgoing acting director of national intelligence, for allowing it to take place, people familiar with the exchange said. Mr. Trump was particularly irritated that Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California and the leader of the impeachment proceedings, was at the briefing.

During the briefing to the House Intelligence Committee, Mr. Trump’s allies challenged the conclusions, arguing that he had been tough on Russia and that he had strengthened European security.

And then the Washington Post

Senior intelligence official told lawmakers that Russia wants to see Trump reelected

A senior U.S. intelligence official told lawmakers last week that Russia wants to see President Trump reelected, viewing his administration as more favorable to the Kremlin’s interests, according to people who were briefed on the comments.

After learning of that analysis, which was provided to House lawmakers in a classified hearing, Trump grew angry at his acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, in the Oval Office, seeing Maguire and his staff as disloyal for speaking to Congress about Russia’s perceived preference. The intelligence official’s analysis and Trump’s furious response ­ruined Maguire’s chances of becoming the permanent intelligence chief, according to people familiar with the matter who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter.

It was not clear what specific steps, if any, U.S. intelligence officials think Russia may have taken to help Trump, according to the individuals.

Now, this is all meant to do two things: first, both these articles, and many others from other outlets, go on to mention Trump’s appointment of Richard Grenell to replace Maguire, so, it’s meant to say that Grenell is compromised.

Second, this is the Democrat leaning Credentialed Media attempting to position that if Trump wins in 2020 it is because of Russia Russia Russia. It’s Excuse Making, just like they did in 2016. Further, that Trump is Putin’s guy and will take care of Russia (hey, remember when Obama tried to stop the interference in 2016? That’s right, he didn’t).

If Putin is saying this stuff, it’s to cause chaos, just like in 2016, because he knows Democrats will lose their minds. Remember the report that Putin wanted Hillary to lose to anybody because she and Obama interfered in Russia’s elections, a “Senior intelligence officials told Time that a Russian military intelligence officer with GRU said his group “was going to cause chaos in the upcoming U.S. election”.

This is about sewing chaos. And making Trump’s upcoming re-election as illegitimate.

More:

Source familiar w/house briefing @CBSNews says briefers pressed for evidence to back up claims Russia “trying to help POTUS in 2020.” Asked if there was signals intelligence – such as phone intercepts or “SIGINT” – to back up claims, source said briefers had none to offer #DNI

— Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) February 21, 2020

So, I guess it was just based on a feeling from people who don’t like Trump? If only he hadn’t give Russia that reset button and talked about having more flexibility.