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Russian media serve up smugness, mockery after U.S. vote – CBC.ca

Published

4 years ago

November 6, 2020

In the aftermath of the still-to-be-officially-called U.S. election, the hot take from Russian state TV pundits was that the election’s chaotic, indecisive conclusion demonstrates how far the mighty superpower has fallen.

The implications for what a Joe Biden presidency might mean for relations between the United States and Russia appeared secondary to the propaganda bonanza.

“The borders of insanity are limitless,” said political scientist Andranik Migranyan on the talk show Big Game on state-owned NTV.

“Each of the candidates accuses the other of stealing votes. This shows the deep crisis in the U.S.A.”

Stolen votes?

Guests on talk show 60 Minutes feigned being scandalized as they borrowed Donald Trump’s lines that mail-in votes in tight races such as Georgia and Pennsylvania had to have been “stolen” because there was no way so many of them were going Democratic.

WATCH | U.S. election exposes flaws, Moscow says:

The Kremlin says outdated rules in the United States have led to ‘shortcomings’ in the voting process. Russian state television has been repeating Donald Trump’s claims, without evidence, that the election is fraudulent and ‘rigged.’ 3:10

Other prominent voices struck an almost apocalyptic note.

The situation in the U.S. is “extreme,” said Gennady Zyuganov leader of Russia’s Communists, the second largest party in the country’s parliament.

He went on to raise the prospect of “anarchy” coupled with a looming “nuclear threat” to Russia as a result of the contested outcome.

Maria Zakharova, who speaks for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, said she hoped Russia could avoid “mass riots” in the country.

Election fairness especially sensitive

The U.S. frequently accuses Russia of rigging its elections — particularly those involving President Vladimir Putin — and the ongoing uncertainty has offered the Kremlin’s friendly voices an irresistible opportunity to turn the tables.

Putin won the last presidential race in 2018 with 77 per cent of the vote in a contest that was so heavily stage managed that potential challengers had to be approved or vetoed by the Kremlin.

People attend a rally to demand the release of jailed protesters who were detained during opposition demonstrations for fair elections in Moscow on Sept. 29, 2019. The placard shows protester Konstantin Kotov, who was sentenced to four years in prison for participation in unauthorized rallies. (Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)

The question of election fairness is especially sensitive as it has been the trigger for large scale unrest.

In the summer of 2019, authorities refused to allow several opposition candidates to run for seats in Moscow’s municipal elections leading to weeks of large street protests.

One of Putin’s frequent pronouncements is that liberal democratic values around the world are in decline, as well as the country that purports to be their greatest champion, the U.S.

To what extent Russians actually believe that is unclear, but the fallout from election night has been covered extensively.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin react at the end of the joint news conference after their meeting in Helsinki on July 16, 2018. (Leonhard Foeger/Reuters)

No ‘best candidate’ for Russia

Still, beyond propaganda value, there appeared to be little sign of remorse from commentators that Trump — the man the Kremlin was repeatedly accused of trying to install in the White House — was probably on his way out.

“There is no ‘best candidate’ for Russia in the United States,” said Aleksey Pushkov, a member of the ruling United Russia party from the Duma’s upper house.

While many state TV hosts continue to mockingly refer to Trump as “our guy,” the conventional wisdom from most pundits is that his administration failed to deliver for Russia.

Despite Trump’s unwillingness to personally criticize Putin, the U.S. imposed a succession of economic and political sanctions on Russia over the 2016 election interference and Russia’s use of nerve agent Novichok in an assassination attempt in 2018.

Tatiana Stanovaya, a Paris-based scholar with Carnegie Moscow Center who studies the power plays within Russia’s ruling elite, said there is no single “Kremlin view” about what a Biden presidency could mean.

In an Carnegie essay, she claims that there are nuanced positions among the groups closest to Putin, with some influencers feeling Trump’s ability to “sow chaos” among Western allies helped the Kremlin, while others believe his unpredictably did more harm than good.

Russian President Putin takes part in a video conference call with members of the Security Council in Moscow on Friday. (Aleksey Nikolskyi/Kremlin/Sputnik/Reuters)

“The problem is that Russia became a key tool for the [U.S. political] opposition to hit Trump,” Stanovaya told CBC News in a followup interview.

“So in the Kremlin now, they hope that this factor will disappear, and it will open the doors for bilateral dialogue.”

A topic of common interest

If, as it now appears more likely, Biden does move into the Oval Office in early January, the new dynamic may get an early test over the issue of extending a key nuclear arms pact, START III.

Putin has been pushing the Trump administration to accept a single year extension to give both sides time to negotiate a new agreement on nuclear weapons.

The move would also allow Russia to continue developing its next generation “hypersonic” weapons, which limit strategic nuclear missile launchers but does not address the number of warheads a country can possess.

Trump, however, appears to have little interest in extending the life of the agreement that was negotiated by his predecessor, Barack Obama, and shepherded through Congress by none other than Biden.

“About 90 per cent of all nuclear warheads, which together can destroy the planet several times, are in the possession of Russia and the United States. Is there a topic for common interests? Certainly,” former Russian ambassador to Washington Vladimir Lukin said in an interview published in the Daily Storm.

A protester wears a face mask of Putin as he holds a marionette of Trump during a demonstration in front of the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 27. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

Russian-American agenda

But other veteran foreign policy watchers doubt a single issue will be enough to move the needle and warm up a frozen relationship that nosedived after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Ukraine — and much of the world — considers the annexation illegal.

“I think that Russian-American agenda is limited to one issue — and that issue is preventing a military collision that leads to war,” said Dmitri Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center.

Trenin said a Biden presidency would also be more focused on pursuing a human rights agenda, and that would likely include addressing perceived violations inside Russia.

“I think the front line of Russia-U.S. confrontation will be extended to fully include Russian domestic politics — which Trump doesn’t really care about democracy, human rights and whatever you can think of,” Trenin said.

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What to stream this weekend: ‘Civil War,’ Snow Patrol, ‘How to Die Alone,’ ‘Tulsa King’ and ‘Uglies’

Published

5 days ago

September 13, 2024

Anne Joseph

Hallmark launching a streaming service with two new original series, and Bill Skarsgård out for revenge in “Boy Kills World” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Alex Garland’s “Civil War” starring Kirsten Dunst, Natasha Rothwell’s heartfelt comedy for Hulu called “How to Die Alone” and Sylvester Stallone’s second season of “Tulsa King” debuts.

NEW MOVIES TO STREAM SEPT. 9-15

— Alex Garland’s “Civil War” is finally making its debut on MAX on Friday. The film stars Kirsten Dunst as a veteran photojournalist covering a violent war that’s divided America; She reluctantly allows an aspiring photographer, played by Cailee Spaeny, to tag along as she, an editor (Stephen McKinley Henderson) and a reporter (Wagner Moura) make the dangerous journey to Washington, D.C., to interview the president (Nick Offerman), a blustery, rising despot who has given himself a third term, taken to attacking his citizens and shut himself off from the press. In my review, I called it a bellowing and haunting experience; Smart and thought-provoking with great performances. It’s well worth a watch.

— Joey King stars in Netflix’s adaptation of Scott Westerfeld’s “Uglies,” about a future society in which everyone is required to have beautifying cosmetic surgery at age 16. Streaming on Friday, McG directed the film, in which King’s character inadvertently finds herself in the midst of an uprising against the status quo. “Outer Banks” star Chase Stokes plays King’s best friend.

— Bill Skarsgård is out for revenge against the woman (Famke Janssen) who killed his family in “Boy Kills World,” coming to Hulu on Friday. Moritz Mohr directed the ultra-violent film, of which Variety critic Owen Gleiberman wrote: “It’s a depraved vision, yet I got caught up in its kick-ass revenge-horror pizzazz, its disreputable commitment to what it was doing.”

— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr

NEW MUSIC TO STREAM SEPT. 9-15

— The year was 2006. Snow Patrol, the Northern Irish-Scottish alternative rock band, released an album, “Eyes Open,” producing the biggest hit of their career: “Chasing Cars.” A lot has happened in the time since — three, soon to be four quality full-length albums, to be exact. On Friday, the band will release “The Forest Is the Path,” their first new album in seven years. Anthemic pop-rock is the name of the game across songs of love and loss, like “All,”“The Beginning” and “This Is the Sound Of Your Voice.”

— For fans of raucous guitar music, Jordan Peele’s 2022 sci-fi thriller, “NOPE,” provided a surprising, if tiny, thrill. One of the leads, Emerald “Em” Haywood portrayed by Keke Palmer, rocks a Jesus Lizard shirt. (Also featured through the film: Rage Against the Machine, Wipers, Mr Bungle, Butthole Surfers and Earth band shirts.) The Austin noise rock band are a less than obvious pick, having been signed to the legendary Touch and Go Records and having stopped releasing new albums in 1998. That changes on Friday the 13th, when “Rack” arrives. And for those curious: The Jesus Lizard’s intensity never went away.

— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

NEW SHOWS TO STREAM SEPT. 9-15

— Hallmark launched a streaming service called Hallmark+ on Tuesday with two new original series, the scripted drama “The Chicken Sisters” and unscripted series “Celebrations with Lacey Chabert.” If you’re a Hallmark holiday movies fan, you know Chabert. She’s starred in more than 30 of their films and many are holiday themed. Off camera, Chabert has a passion for throwing parties and entertaining. In “Celebrations,” deserving people are surprised with a bash in their honor — planned with Chabert’s help. “The Chicken Sisters” stars Schuyler Fisk, Wendie Malick and Lea Thompson in a show about employees at rival chicken restaurants in a small town. The eight-episode series is based on a novel of the same name.

— Natasha Rothwell of “Insecure” and “The White Lotus” fame created and stars in a new heartfelt comedy for Hulu called “How to Die Alone.” She plays Mel, a broke, go-along-to-get-along, single, airport employee who, after a near-death experience, makes the conscious decision to take risks and pursue her dreams. Rothwell has been working on the series for the past eight years and described it to The AP as “the most vulnerable piece of art I’ve ever put into the world.” Like Mel, Rothwell had to learn to bet on herself to make the show she wanted to make. “In the Venn diagram of me and Mel, there’s significant overlap,” said Rothwell. It premieres Friday on Hulu.

— Shailene Woodley, DeWanda Wise and Betty Gilpin star in a new drama for Starz called “Three Women,” about entrepreneur Sloane, homemaker Lina and student Maggie who are each stepping into their power and making life-changing decisions. They’re interviewed by a writer named Gia (Woodley.) The series is based on a 2019 best-selling book of the same name by Lisa Taddeo. “Three Women” premieres Friday on Starz.

— Sylvester Stallone’s second season of “Tulsa King” debuts Sunday on Paramount+. Stallone plays Dwight Manfredi, a mafia boss who was recently released from prison after serving 25 years. He’s sent to Tulsa to set up a new crime syndicate. The series is created by Taylor Sheridan of “Yellowstone” fame.

— Alicia Rancilio

NEW VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

— One thing about the title of Focus Entertainment’s Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 — you know exactly what you’re in for. You are Demetrian Titus, a genetically enhanced brute sent into battle against the Tyranids, an insectoid species with an insatiable craving for human flesh. You have a rocket-powered suit of armor and an arsenal of ridiculous weapons like the “Chainsword,” the “Thunderhammer” and the “Melta Rifle,” so what could go wrong? Besides the squishy single-player mode, there are cooperative missions and six-vs.-six free-for-alls. You can suit up now on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S or PC.

— Likewise, Wild Bastards isn’t exactly the kind of title that’s going to attract fans of, say, Animal Crossing. It’s another sci-fi shooter, but the protagonists are a gang of 13 varmints — aliens and androids included — who are on the run from the law. Each outlaw has a distinctive set of weapons and special powers: Sarge, for example, is a robot with horse genes, while Billy the Squid is … well, you get the idea. Australian studio Blue Manchu developed the 2019 cult hit Void Bastards, and this Wild-West-in-space spinoff has the same snarky humor and vibrant, neon-drenched cartoon look. Saddle up on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch or PC.

— Lou Kesten

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Trump could cash out his DJT stock within weeks. Here’s what happens if he sells

Published

4 weeks ago

August 23, 2024

Harry Miller

Former President Donald Trump is on the brink of a significant financial decision that could have far-reaching implications for both his personal wealth and the future of his fledgling social media company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG). As the lockup period on his shares in TMTG, which owns Truth Social, nears its end, Trump could soon be free to sell his substantial stake in the company. However, the potential payday, which makes up a large portion of his net worth, comes with considerable risks for Trump and his supporters.

Trump’s stake in TMTG comprises nearly 59% of the company, amounting to 114,750,000 shares. As of now, this holding is valued at approximately $2.6 billion. These shares are currently under a lockup agreement, a common feature of initial public offerings (IPOs), designed to prevent company insiders from immediately selling their shares and potentially destabilizing the stock. The lockup, which began after TMTG’s merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), is set to expire on September 25, though it could end earlier if certain conditions are met.

Should Trump decide to sell his shares after the lockup expires, the market could respond in unpredictable ways. The sale of a substantial number of shares by a major stakeholder like Trump could flood the market, potentially driving down the stock price. Daniel Bradley, a finance professor at the University of South Florida, suggests that the market might react negatively to such a large sale, particularly if there aren’t enough buyers to absorb the supply. This could lead to a sharp decline in the stock’s value, impacting both Trump’s personal wealth and the company’s market standing.

Moreover, Trump’s involvement in Truth Social has been a key driver of investor interest. The platform, marketed as a free speech alternative to mainstream social media, has attracted a loyal user base largely due to Trump’s presence. If Trump were to sell his stake, it might signal a lack of confidence in the company, potentially shaking investor confidence and further depressing the stock price.

Trump’s decision is also influenced by his ongoing legal battles, which have already cost him over $100 million in legal fees. Selling his shares could provide a significant financial boost, helping him cover these mounting expenses. However, this move could also have political ramifications, especially as he continues his bid for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential race.

Trump Media’s success is closely tied to Trump’s political fortunes. The company’s stock has shown volatility in response to developments in the presidential race, with Trump’s chances of winning having a direct impact on the stock’s value. If Trump sells his stake, it could be interpreted as a lack of confidence in his own political future, potentially undermining both his campaign and the company’s prospects.

Truth Social, the flagship product of TMTG, has faced challenges in generating traffic and advertising revenue, especially compared to established social media giants like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Despite this, the company’s valuation has remained high, fueled by investor speculation on Trump’s political future. If Trump remains in the race and manages to secure the presidency, the value of his shares could increase. Conversely, any missteps on the campaign trail could have the opposite effect, further destabilizing the stock.

As the lockup period comes to an end, Trump faces a critical decision that could shape the future of both his personal finances and Truth Social. Whether he chooses to hold onto his shares or cash out, the outcome will likely have significant consequences for the company, its investors, and Trump’s political aspirations.

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Arizona man accused of social media threats to Trump is arrested

Published

4 weeks ago

August 23, 2024

Harry Miller

Cochise County, AZ — Law enforcement officials in Arizona have apprehended Ronald Lee Syvrud, a 66-year-old resident of Cochise County, after a manhunt was launched following alleged death threats he made against former President Donald Trump. The threats reportedly surfaced in social media posts over the past two weeks, as Trump visited the US-Mexico border in Cochise County on Thursday.

Syvrud, who hails from Benson, Arizona, located about 50 miles southeast of Tucson, was captured by the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday afternoon. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed his arrest, stating, “This subject has been taken into custody without incident.”

In addition to the alleged threats against Trump, Syvrud is wanted for multiple offences, including failure to register as a sex offender. He also faces several warrants in both Wisconsin and Arizona, including charges for driving under the influence and a felony hit-and-run.

The timing of the arrest coincided with Trump’s visit to Cochise County, where he toured the US-Mexico border. During his visit, Trump addressed the ongoing border issues and criticized his political rival, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, for what he described as lax immigration policies. When asked by reporters about the ongoing manhunt for Syvrud, Trump responded, “No, I have not heard that, but I am not that surprised and the reason is because I want to do things that are very bad for the bad guys.”

This incident marks the latest in a series of threats against political figures during the current election cycle. Just earlier this month, a 66-year-old Virginia man was arrested on suspicion of making death threats against Vice President Kamala Harris and other public officials.