Maddow Blog-Pelosi wonders aloud what Putin might have as leverage over Trump

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Nancy Pelosi wonders what Vladimir Putin has over Donald Trump. Oddly enough, Trump's own director of National Intelligence wondered the same thing.

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/pelosi-wonders-aloud-putin-might-leverage-trump-rcna139568

On Friday morning, the world learned of the death of Alexei Navalny, and President Joe Biden was quick to condemn the developments and blame Vladimir Putin for killing the Russian opposition leader. The Democrat added this week that the United States is considering “additional sanctions” on Russia as a result.....

But as part of the same comments, Pelosi also raised a related question:

“You wonder, what does Putin have on Donald Trump that he always has to be beholden to him, his buddy in vileness? ... I don’t know what [Putin] has on [Trump], but I think it’s probably financial.”

Oddly enough, the Democratic congresswoman isn’t the only one who’s pondered the question.

Former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, who also served as a Republican senator before joining Trump’s team, had similar concerns. Bob Woodward wrote in his 2020 book, “Rage,” that Coats spent much of his tenure wondering what Putin had on Trump — a concern that intensified over time.

“How else to explain the president’s behavior? Coats could see no other explanation,” Woodward wrote.

In other words, Trump’s handpicked director of National Intelligence, during his tenure on the Republican president’s national security team, reportedly suspected that Trump had been compromised by Russia — and the longer Coats served alongside the GOP president, the more he feared his suspicions were true.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. From Putin's apparent delight

I think it's actually a deal. Trump gets his debts forgiven, and he gets to carve up the USA for himself and rename Pennsylvania (there is Transylvania? how about Trumpsylvania?). Putin gets Alaska and a few other Asian countries, as well as Eastern Europe and the demise of NATO.

Pure speculation of course, but they sure seem delighted with each other.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Yes I think it is transactional. That is how these two operate.

There was a deal made along the lines you state.

I would add:

Trump gets total permanent power and access to all US national wealth in the US.
Just like Trump has in Russia.

Trump in return carves up Europe and has control of the European continent.
China gets the Pacific.
Saudi and Iran have the Mideast.

The global autocratic bloc becomes the 21st century superpowers.
Trump is considered an ally of theirs.
But if he gets too silly or demanding, he falls out of a window.

[lame54]

2. At this point Putin could reveal the worst...

And it wouldn't move the needle

[republianmushroom]

4. My bet, Russian money.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. I still wonder if the pee tape or something similar exista

[republianmushroom]

6. Money, the only thing and I mean, the only thing, trump holds sacred.

[canetoad]

7. Off-topic I know

Last night I was listening to Laurence O'Donnell's interview with NY Gov Kathy Hochul. She sounds exactly like Nancy Pelosi - it was eerie.