How America's Right-Wing Fell in Love with Putin and Moscow

[JA]

Russia is meddling in Western affairs by funding and supporting, albeit indirectly, political parties that threaten to destabilize Western politics and the post-WWII international order. But to attribute all this to Russia is simply the mad rantings of a conspiracy theorist who sees some elaborate master plan behind every event. The simple fact is that Russia, like any intelligent, aspiring power, exploits vulnerabilities. They recognized that the West's vulnerabilities today are centered on the issues of free trade, immigration, and national identity. Thus, they're aiding political parties and movements that were already focused on those issues.

This same thing happened during the Cold War when the Soviets were attempting to undermine the West via support for Communists. The result was witch hunts, fearmongering, red scares, and thought control;  all for the purpose of benefiting from the paranoia of the American public. Did Russia try to undermine us? Yes. Was it a serious threat? Not particularly. Democrats risk recreating Cold War paranoia and resurrecting McCarthy to get drunk and start subpoenaing all suspected "alt right" affiliated thinkers to appear before another Congressional investigatory committee.