Democracy, Populism, & Domestic Politics, Russia , United States Our partisan bickering gives Vladimir Putin a powerful tool of political influence

In the controversy over the release of the dueling memos from the House Intelligence Committee, the United States has handed Russia a tool of influence far more powerful than its military. As the Nunes memo and President Trump’s tweets seek to discredit America’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies, they also prove the case that election meddling works.

When Vladimir Putin launched Russia’s cyber efforts to influence the U.S. election in spring 2016, he likely sought to increase the odds of a Trump presidency — one that would simultaneously respect Russia’s place in the world and, perhaps, improve U.S.-Russia relations. What he ultimately achieved was far, far more valuable: an internal questioning of the legitimacy of the key institutions of the American government and liberal democracy itself.

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