This, THIS is what we should be worrying about

[RandomAccess]

9. Yes, there's a lot that's going on that's very, very bad, and

it's really hard to keep track of everything.

But unfortunately, this author loses me just about completely at the very beginning with the ill-informed comment that Russia is "nonsense," and "just a shiny distraction.:

>>>> Americans, you need to start paying attention. Like, really paying attention — to the issues that actually matter.

Stop getting distracted!

Take this Russian collusion nonsense. Lots of Americans are obsessed with it, but it’s just a shiny distraction. <<<<

I'll admit I'm obsessed with it, but I spend a fair amount of time on other problems -- many, in fact.

But anyone who thinks this is merely "nonsense," either doesn't get it or wouldn't mind their grandchildren - and maybe children -- being forced to speak Russian.

What we've recently learned, and Rachel covered it brilliantly the last 2 nights, is that Russia has invaded not only our politics (just about the whole damn GOP), but they've made significant inroads with the NRA and conservative Christians, both of whom are just fine with being more friendly with Russia. This didn't happen last week or last month, Russia has been implementing these incursion plans for years now.

And let's not forget Bannon's ties with Russia either. He's a big proponent/student of Aleksandr Dugin -- the self-avowed fascist who is a Putin favorite.

Link to tweet

THREAD: ALEXANDER DUGIN RIGHT HAND MAN SENIOR COUNCELOR TO VLADIMIR PUTIN
1)This is where Drain the Swamp Originates IMG
- Dugin is the most influential ethnic nationalist thinker in the world and the architect of Russian foreign policy.
- If you want to understand the philosophical underpinnings of disinformation that de-legitimizes democracy, he is your guy.
- He acts and writes like a crank but has massive influence on Vladimir Putin. Here is his trajectory to influence in the US.
- 1988 - Dugin is member of nationalist / racist / anti-semitic party Pamyat, rumored started by KGB
- 1992 - Dugin joins National Bolshevik Party, a nationalist / racist / anti-semitic party.
- 1994 - Dugin splits NBP part to form a MORE racist and aggressive anti-Kasparov party and gain Putin's support.
- 1998 - Dugin: "genuine, true, radically revolutionary and consistent, fascist fascism" in Russia http://natl.re/1uBFqCz LINK DEAD
- 2001 - Dugin officially starts Eurasia party. Eurasianism is (1) LGBT hostility (2) Authoritarianism (3) Anti-Globalization.
- 2002-2004 - Dugin agitates for foreign policy elements of Eurasianism, direct alliances with friendly authoritarians states.
- Also, Euroasia movement is what it sounds like, a plan to take over Europe and asia. Pacific ocean to atlantic ocean
- Yes and some of it stems from National Socialism.
- They are closely tied to the Alt-Right in the US
- 2004 - Moscow subway bombings change everything. Russian policy pivots to embrace Neo Eurasianism. Dugin much legitimized.
- 2005 - Eurasian militias begin springing up around Russia and Ukraine, under leadership of Dugin.


It's a little frightening to me that this "Russia obsession" has to be defended at all, by anyone TO anyone. (Which is not intended as an insult to you, Brainstormy, but rather to the author, Catherine Rampell.)

And now that I've actually focused on that author's name, I remember her from Twitter. And not in a good way.