Putin's Revenge, Part Two (full documentary) | FRONTLINE

FRONTLINE PBS | Official2 minutes read

Russian interference in the U.S. election, including cyber attacks and disinformation, aimed to undermine American democracy and seek revenge against perceived grievances, with connections to Trump's team raising suspicions of collusion with Moscow. Obama's cautious response to Russian interference, hesitating to take aggressive action to avoid influencing the election's outcome, eventually led to concerns about partisan motivations and the overshadowing of Putin's interference by other news stories like the release of the "Access Hollywood" tape.

Insights

  • Russian interference in the U.S. election involved a multifaceted approach, including cyber attacks, disinformation campaigns, and personal vendettas by Putin against perceived American interference, highlighting the complex motivations behind the aggressive tactics employed.
  • Obama's cautious response to Russian interference, balancing concerns about partisanship, election integrity, and potential bias, underscores the delicate political landscape surrounding foreign interference in elections and the challenges faced by leaders in navigating such situations without compromising national security or democratic processes.

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Recent questions

  • What were the key factors in the Russian campaign during the U.S. election?

    The Russian campaign during the U.S. election was characterized by aggressive tactics, including cyber attacks and disinformation. Three individuals linked to President Trump faced charges amid Russia's interference, with a focus on disrupting American democracy. Putin sought revenge for perceived grievances against the U.S., using tactics like phishing emails to breach American networks and leak sensitive information. The campaign aimed to undermine the election's integrity and exploit chaos among Democrats, ultimately raising suspicions of collusion with Trump's team.

  • How did Putin respond to perceived U.S. interference during the Sochi Olympics?

    During the Sochi Olympics, Putin believed the U.S. was involved in protests in Ukraine, leading to tensions and suspicions. Putin viewed Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland's presence in Ukraine as U.S. interference, escalating his perception of American involvement. This belief fueled Putin's aggressive tactics in Ukraine, marking a new form of warfare that included disinformation, cyber attacks, and military strategies. The Sochi Olympics served as a platform for Putin to showcase Russian greatness, but the perceived U.S. interference fueled his desire for revenge and retaliation.

  • What actions did Obama take in response to Russian interference in the U.S. election?

    In response to Russian interference in the U.S. election, Obama refrained from conflict with Russia but imposed sanctions targeting businesses and individuals. Obama had various cyber and non-cyber tools at his disposal to counter Russian actions, including destroying computer servers and revealing Putin's financial connections. Despite concerns about appearing partisan and influencing the election, Obama eventually agreed to publicly disclose intelligence about Russian interference. His administration sought bipartisan support before publicly calling out Putin, with efforts to avoid actions that could be perceived as favoring a particular candidate.

  • How did the leaked DNC emails impact the U.S. election?

    The DNC emails leaked by Russian hackers and published by Wikileaks caused chaos among Democrats and exploited by Trump's campaign. The leaked emails amplified negative focus on Hillary Clinton, distracting from policy discussions and influencing the media and social media landscape. The release of the DNC emails overshadowed concerns about Russian interference in the election, shifting the narrative and creating challenges for Clinton's campaign. The leaks contributed to a sense of chaos and uncertainty surrounding the election, impacting voter perceptions and potentially influencing the outcome.

  • What were the implications of Trump's alignment with Russian interests during the election?

    Trump's alignment with Russian interests during the election raised suspicions and questions of collusion with Moscow. His team had connections to Russia, leading to concerns about potential conflicts of interest and favoritism. Putin's personal interest in the election, fueled by past grievances against Clinton, made Trump favorable to the Russian leader. Trump's campaign faced scrutiny and accusations of being influenced by Russian interference, with implications for his presidency and the perception of his administration's relationship with foreign powers.

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Summary

00:00

Russian interference in US election and retaliation

  • Russian campaign was aggressive, intense, and worrisome.
  • Three individuals linked to President Trump face charges amid Russia election interference.
  • Cyber attack on John Podesta's email began with a phishing email.
  • Podesta received a phishing email, believed it was legitimate, and his emails were exposed.
  • 60,000 Podesta emails were part of a Russian campaign to disrupt the U.S. election.
  • Putin sought revenge for perceived grievances against the U.S.
  • Putin hosted the Sochi Olympics to showcase Russian greatness.
  • Protests in Ukraine during the Olympics led Putin to believe the U.S. was involved.
  • Putin viewed Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland's presence in Ukraine as U.S. interference.
  • Putin's use of disinformation, cyber attacks, and military tactics in Ukraine marked a new form of warfare.

14:58

Confronting Putin: Obama's Sanctions and Trump's Connections

  • Bullies intimidate and need to be confronted; Putin needed to be challenged to back off.
  • Obama refrained from conflict with Russia, avoiding providing weapons to Ukrainians.
  • Obama imposed sanctions on Russia, targeting businesses and individuals.
  • Putin's strategy involved deniable actions to avoid severe consequences.
  • Putin sought revenge and to undermine American democracy.
  • Trump's alignment with Russian interests made him favorable to Putin.
  • Trump's team had connections to Moscow, raising suspicions.
  • Putin had a personal interest in the election due to Clinton's past actions against him.
  • Russian hackers breached American networks, including the DNC.
  • The DNC emails leaked by Wikileaks caused chaos among Democrats, exploited by Trump.

29:19

Obama's Response to Russian Interference in Election

  • Obama had various cyber and non-cyber tools at his disposal to respond to Russian interference, including destroying computer servers and revealing Putin's financial connections.
  • Obama hesitated to respond aggressively to Russian interference to avoid influencing the election and being accused of bias.
  • Concerns about not undermining the election's integrity led Obama to avoid actions that could be seen as partisan.
  • Obama's administration expected Clinton to win, leading them to avoid taking actions that could be perceived as favoring her.
  • Obama sought bipartisan support before publicly calling out Putin and Russian interference in the election.
  • Top intelligence officials briefed congressional leaders on Russian interference, but Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell expressed skepticism and warned against challenging Putin.
  • Congressional briefings on Russian interference were held behind closed doors, with concerns raised about partisan motivations influencing the administration's actions.
  • Obama personally warned Putin about Russian interference at the G20 summit in China, but Putin denied involvement.
  • Russian-controlled media spread exaggerated and questionable stories about Clinton's health, influencing the American media and social media landscape.
  • Obama eventually agreed to publicly disclose intelligence about Russian interference, with concerns about appearing partisan and the statement's tone being carefully reviewed before release.

43:55

Tape scandal overshadows election interference and collusion.

  • News of the tape breaking at 4:00 p.m. becomes the dominant story of the day, overshadowing Putin's interference in the election.
  • The "Access Hollywood" video release coincides with Trump making deeply offensive comments about women.
  • Trump's campaign is thrown into disaster mode, with predictions of its end following the tape's surfacing.
  • Wikileaks releases John Podesta's emails shortly after the Trump tape, aiming to distract from the scandal.
  • Podesta's emails continue to leak, amplifying the negative focus on Hillary Clinton.
  • Trump's election is seen as a sign of strength for Putin, with questions of collusion with Russia plaguing his presidency.
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