Average members of the movement have come to believe that Putin and those around him support everything that they oppose such as Leftism, Islamism, Iran, and the “MAGA dissidents”.
You might be overestimating Loomer's influence. MAGA may not be anyone's idea of a brain trust, but she's about on the same level as the Q-anon crowd, despite the president's undue attention to her.
I've noticed these trends in general though over the past 18 months. I personally believe that Russia's misguided soft power approach that I call "Potemkinism", or the creation of alternative realities about Russian policy for "strategic purposes" (cynically making people like Russia even on false premises), is a large part to blame.
Honestly, Laura isn't completely wrong in presenting Russia as supporting everything that MAGA opposes because Russia's publicly financed international media and state-affiliated "Non-Russian Pro-Russians" lend credence to this, especially many of the latter, who are rabidly anti-MAGA (it's their right, I don't care, but they're associated with Russia).
For instance, think of the top five NRPRs. In any order, the average person might think of Jackson Hinkle, Pepe Escobar, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Sarah Bils due to her founding "Donbass Devushka Geopolitics" (now rebranded as DDG).
Hinkle, Escobar, and Bils are Leftists, Islamists, and even outspoken "Third Worldists" openly opposed to MAGA and Trump personally, while Carlson and Owens are two of the most prominent "MAGA dissidents", all five being promoted by Russia.
Hinkle and Escobar are friends with Lavrov and Zakharova, Carlson interviewed Putin and Lavrov, Candace just visited Russia for a major conference, and Bils has been a VIP guest of the country and even met Rybar's Zvinchuk, who has a $10M bounty:
Laura harangues Hinkle, Carlson, and Owens, all of whom she reminds her audience are associated with Russia (she exaggerates their relationship but they're at minimum "state-adjacent"), so it's easy to see why average folks consider them Russian-backed.
They're also under the false impression that every single information product from Russia's publicly financed media flagships is approved by the Kremlin, which reinforces the above notion that Russia supports everything that MAGA opposes.
Add Dugin to the mix, who she's turned into "Putin's Rasputin" (as others before her have falsely described him), and the narrative that she's pushing is arguably pretty compelling for average folks in my personal opinion.
To elaborate a bit more, there are Russian-friendly conservative voices in MAGA that could have been promoted either instead of these anti-MAGA people (given the sensitivity of ongoing talks with Trump 2.0 these last 18 months) or at least together with the Leftists, Islamists, and "Third Worldists" to balance them out.
That didn't happen for whatever reason, with the closest that it came being Kirill Dmitriev's X posts, which come off as trying way too hard to ingratiate himself with the movement and also backfired after he started publicly embracing Candace, Tucker, MTG, etc.
Russia's policies are what they are, and nobody expects them to be perfectly aligned with the US' for obvious reasons, but their divergences could have been explained much better to MAGA -- both average members and those in Trump 2.0 -- but Russia's broken feedback loops prevented it from realizing this.
Of the 112 million followers Trump has, I'm sure most are aware of Loomer, Owens and Carlson, and have them suggested to add to their feed regularly.
So if you take the Venn diagram of Trump and Loomer, what that means is that about ~110 million ppl don't seem to care for her that much, or find her a bit sketch.
They meet with him in connection with the “International Russophile Movement” (Pepe had a private meeting with him after 2023’s inaugural event with a small handful of other unnamed figures according to his posts at the time), while they had a private dinner with her and two Chinese experts in St. Petersburg (Pepe has also since interviewed her with ex-CIA Larry Johnson and used to flirtatiously refer to her online as a “goddess” despite her being a married Orthodox Christian):
Still odd why virtual "nobodies" are meeting with such high officials of foreign governments. Additionally, their activities are most likely tracked by US intelligence 24/7 since they do.
I followed hinkle until 2 yrs ago. He is a guy who never worked. Sees himself as all too relevant The narcissist nature of him is easily identified I still follow Carlson. Owen’s is the mirror of a terrible mini series but I give her credit for visiting Russia. Again loomer is a psycho
I feel in hindsight like MAGA, as Trump conceptualized it (not as it was then -- to a degree, wishfully -- understood by supporters), is exactly what he's doing now for better or for worse.
Regarding the "MAGA dissidents", I understand where the honest ones among them are coming from, but I've come to conclude -- in my opinion -- that the big names have ulterior motives (mostly clout, possibly foreign -- Qatari? -- financing).
I think that the whole movement is in flux and struggling to (re?-)define itself amidst the rapid changes at home and abroad, the latter to a large degree initiated by Trump 2.0 (tariff wars, Venezuela, Iran, Russia-Ukraine, etc.).
"Trump does not have unbridled control of the US geopolitical response to Ukraine." Indeed.
There's this bit in the book Moscow 2042 (a futuristic comedy by Vladimir Voinovich) where in the year 2042 the CIA is fully staffed by (secret) KBG agents, and the KBG by (secret) CIA agents.
I can imagine Trump and Putin asking each other, "but I thought they were your people...?" It's not just that the US doesn't control Zelensky, but how many other players there are and what's driving them. It appears too that Russia's ability to infiltrate/influence European politics has fallen off radically since the fall of the Berlin Wall...but it begs the question, who filled the vacuum?
Though Maga looked up to Putin and Russia, Because they want to be what Russia has done in the religious aspect,social aspect. And time and time again the Republicans party has betrayed there,as their focus has always been war and the money it brings. Then again why would a party then if gets support for war effort would do what Maga wants. Its not the first time Republicans have faulted in that aspect.
Maga movement could feel hijacked by neocons again,like in Britian Conservative party voters because of their necons totally gave up in Uk general elections. Ukraine war has totally been the British Conservative party initiative. And even British people have vast differences for that war to reach a consensus that war has been good for British economy. Nor in general good for British people.
Most things will be clear in the next midterms. Does these Loomers and Shapiros, the maga social media influencers hold much sway with maga voters. Its not like maga voters don't doubt Charlie Kirk's assasination. And the slight hint of their movement getting adrift after that.
November Midterms are the key from here. The next three months will determine can the Republicans party pull the maga voters again to show up again at the polls.
I don't think Russia can achieve that. Although MAGA has multiple internal factions, the largest faction in MAGA, the die-hard Trumpers, wants America to be great, AND they don't mind making everybody else suffer to achieve that goal. I think that attitude is solid in the US "Deep South" and unlikely to change. The Christian fundamentalists in the US are almost all zionists. It is estimated that one quarter of the US population is in this group. For them, Iran may as well be nuked out of the Earth, and they would not be concerned. Gaza only has subhumans, if humans at all, in their minds.
For the above kinds of voters and similarly minded folks, Russians blocking the will of the Americans is the fundamental sin. It does not matter who attacked whom first, or cultural or geographical concerns, or anything else. These groups either support the US due to tribal mentality or support Israel because of mental distortion (E.g., if I can go to heaven, I don't mind Israelis killing a few Palestinians, etc.) I don't think Russians can achieve anything here. Certainly not by touting things like the Anchorage Agreement/Spririt. For these people, the Anchorage Agreement, if any, is a major US concession that got no return favor.
As for the Independents (me included) who picked Trump for the sake of voting against Harris, and the MAHA group (health and farming oriented) have either drifted away a long time back or are in the process of doing so. There are rumors that RFK Jr. may resign soon. For the above kinds of voters and similarly minded folks, Russians should emphasize playing for peace. However, due to Russia's own national interests and the necessary extension of Russia's concerns in West Asia, Russia can only push forward with its own military actions and support Iran's.
In short, in the eyes of the neocons, the Russia-US relationship is a zero-sum game. As for the so-called MAGA "grouping", it is almost a zero-sum game. I believe Russia can yield very little before controlling the entire east bank of the Dnieper and US forces out of West Asia (except Israel). For most of people in the MAGA "grouping", that is a total defeat, and certainly does not make America great.
Instead of trying to appease MAGA, Russia should try to appease the pseudo-neutral, especially countries in Asia and Africa. Ship out oil through the Arctic path or even the Far East to Asia, and grains to Africa. Using markup as low as tolerable to Russia's budget and war needs. These countries are only pseudo-neutral because they still perceive the US as the hegemon. And this is why the Iranian FM asked, when the US and Israel bombed Iran for six weeks, who in the international community came to the help of Iran? If there was none, then why shouldn't Iran charge a toll for oil shipped to these countries? Russia does not need to send resources out for free, but at least these countries have a chance to become truly neutral.
According to Iran's deputy foreign minister, at least some European states (Spain probably among them) refused to aid the U.S. once the war resumed. Earlier the list was longer, though President Pezeshkian last year claimed "Europe" was also at war with Iran.
"Despite those remarks, Sánchez said their exchange consisted only of «kind words and pleasantries.»
Sánchez said he learned of Trump’s criticism through the media and stressed that the US president never raised the issue directly with him.
He said he received Trump’s comments «calmly and patiently,» and «with a certain normalcy,» adding that, despite the rhetoric, bilateral relations between Spain and the United States remain «very positive.»"
If I were to decide for Iran, Spain would be listed as "somewhat better treated" and would receive a discount on tolls. But from Russia's point of view, Spain is no friendlier than the EU/NATO-Central, no need to give special treatment. Russia does have an immediate technical problem: there are few ports in Russia's Far East equipped for energy products export, and insufficient pipeline/railroad capacity for a large increase in energy/grain export from the FE. We can ask if the US Navy would be eager to stop and inspect the Russian Shadow Fleet in the Sea of Japan.
Russian “soft power” has always been a disaster. Whether due to naivety or incompetence, it doesn’t matter: after 14 years of Western sanctions against Russia, the fact that the Kremlin has not seriously addressed the issue is, once again, incongruous.
I believe that they're under the illusion that "everything is going according to plan", "everyone loves us", and "everyone hates the US" due to their broken feedback loops and obsequious foreigners -- both representing other governments and civil society activists -- tell them what they want to hear in pursuit of their own interests and Russia's "soft power supervisors" are none the wiser (circling back to the broken feedback loop problem).
I agree, Russia considers itself to be the world's moral superpower, it seems, and this self-identification blinds it to the fact that no other foreign government actually shares this view with all that entails.
I subscribe to Igor “Strelkov” Guirkine’s Telegram channel, so I’ve picked up a few insights into this issue of the Kremlin supposedly being in a state of “autosuggestion” and other “broken feedback loops.”
I’ve concluded that power wears people down. And that power exercised for such a long time wears people down… tremendously!
Not to mention the problems related to interpersonal relationships, which, over such a long period, can only lead to compromise and corruption.
Another problem, which is present everywhere but which I consider to be exceptionally intense here, is a cultural reluctance to tell superiors something that goes against their expectations, especially if it’s bad news.
Bottom-up feedback about the total failure of a policy will inevitably provoke a superior somewhere up the chain, and then to save themselves from taking the fall as they fear their own superiors might plot for convenience, they themselves plot to blame someone below them.
With time, most members of the chain tacitly agreed that it’s better to suppress such info for as long as possible. Of course exceptions exist, but this crucial cultural favor, in my honest opinion, explains why this problem is so bad in Russia (in my view, even worse than the stereotypes).
Win "back" MAGA? Did Putin ever win MAGA the first time? I think the whole thing, including this Laura Logan recognizing Zelensky instead of Putin as her God is a nothingburger.
I really do believe that most average members of MAGA were friendly towards Russia and Putin personally but I've noticed, in my personal opinion from my own observations, that they've gradually soured on them since Trump's return to office.
I think you are very much correct Andrew. But personally I think Russia's hedging its bets with China is probably the bigger leak.
That said I'm still unsure why more banging on the drum of Ukraine corruption has not been done. I'd think Russia has the spy craft to capture and drip incriminating details.
Understanding EE politics and players is Greek to most Americans. Obviously, it has to be turned into a story, contextualized, made interesting. But in this day and age it's easier than ever: just ask AI to explain it in the style of Trump.
And sorry Laura's surname is Loomer not Logan! lol Had never heard of her until now but again I am not an American living in America, so maybe she's famous there...
I believe you Andrew but I guess what I meant was are they influential at all on American public opinion? MAGA appears to be in a sorry state atm and pretty divided given Trump not sticking to his election campaign promises, ie America first, no more foreign wars etc... so their opinion whatever it is doesn't amount to much. Not to mention that MAGA members' opinion of Trump himself has soured quite a bit since he was elected. But again, I haven't followed MAGA closely so you definitely know better. Anyhow, when was the last time Trump uttered the word MAGA? He has no use for them atm.
Average MAGA members trust Trump, not as much as QAnon cultists did ("trust the plan"), but more than they've ever trusted a politician. They're therefore open to reconsidering their views about certain issues about which they disagree with him, such as the Third Gulf War, Loomer, and Ukraine. They might still hold true to their original opinions, but most won't fiercely condemn him even if they strongly disagree with him for the purpose of maintaining "unity" and the like.
All that being the case, as I sincerely understand it to be from my observations (many of the people who I'm still in contact with from back home in the US are MAGA), I really do believe that average MAGA members are willing to reconsider their views about Russia, Putin, Ukraine, and Zelensky as Trump continues "escalating to de-escalate'. They believe that everything is under control in terms of risk management and that Russia either bluffs or walks back its threats a lot.
They also like how the US is now profiting from the conflict by selling arms to NATO for transfer to Ukraine, which ends their main complaint of having to pay for this potential forever war like they paid for Afghanistan and Iraq. Most still don't like Zelensky personally and many dislike Ukraine in general, but they now see the whole venture as a business opportunity. Others, feeling resentful towards Russia due to perceiving it opposing all that they support, back Ukraine as "revenge".
Another factor to consider is that MAGA as a whole, like most Americans, are in some sense deeply nationalistic, seeing the U.S. as a kind of unipolar arbiter. Even though MAGA is at odds with "liberal-globalist" factions, both view America as a kind of imperial enforcer and conduit for their respective projects.
Yes, excellent point: even if the world is objectively, in some senses, becoming multipolar, they still want the US to remain head and shoulders above the rest, especially among those who've come to understand how their living standards are directly dependent on the US maintaining its leading role in the global system (whatever shape it takes and however it evolves).
The Third Gulf War seems to have affected average Americans much more than the Ukrainian Conflict due to higher prices at the pump and for longer too, with lots of uncertainty about prices in general but also due to a non-insignificant share of families somewhat struggling to make ends meet and thus being unable to conveniently spend more on gas and groceries.
The Ukrainian Conflict is something that they're reminded of by the media, including social media, and if they see Ukrainian flags flying around. If there aren't any flags in their neighborhood and they turn off their computers, phones, and TVs, the average American -- MAGA or not -- doesn't even think about the Ukrainian Conflict anymore.
You're welcome! The most common complaints that I've heard from MAGA about Putin/Russia are (to paraphrase):
* "Why isn't Putin ending the war when Trump gave him an off-ramp?" (the innuendo being that he's motivated by more than he publicly said and they thought, thus opening them up to believing scandalous reports about speculative ulterior motives)
* "Why is Russia allied with Iran?" (a gross misperception that was weaponized by Russia and Iran's adversaries but lent false credence by the "Non-Russian Pro-Russians'" "Potemkinist" takes)
* "Why are all these communists, Muslims, and Third Worlders all over Russian media all the time?" (already addressed)
* "Why are there so many Muslims in Russia? Why does Putin's buddy in Belarus send Muslims into Europe?" (only relatively more informed MAGA mention this, it's admittedly rare, and it's influenced by anti-Russian "Christian Nationalists")
* "Is Putin scared to escalate against Ukraine after all that's happened? Maybe we were wrong about him and he's not a strongman? If so, maybe we (the US) can take advantage of it, make money, etc.?"
Is it an unenlightened position or unedifying, not sure which. I supposed it goes with the Democratic party being referred to as communists! You have certainly stretched the bonds Andrew.
For decades Dugin has worked to steer anti-globalists toward a BRICS-style alter-globalism, while marginalizing those within the movement who criticize this alternative globalism.
I personally believe that she was paid off by India to flip-flop on the country, and while I'm sure she was remunerated for flip-flopping on Ukraine, I believe that it was mostly personal and brought about by a combination of her rivalry with Tucker and Candace, her belief that Dugin is Putin's advisor (and thus told Putin to give nukes to Iran like Dugin once suggested in a tweet), and also believing that the Russian state is truly out to get her after misperceiving RT's tweets about Tucker, Candace, and derogatory ones about her as having been authorized by the Kremlin and possibly as high as Putin himself (average people, in my experience, truly believe that every single thing that they do is approved by some official even though it's not true).
I have a very poor opinion of my government's ability to shape public opinion, so I would be very surprised (and a little delighted) if they have managed to buy her off!
In his book "The Great Game" Vikram Sood, the former head of R&AW laments on successive Indian governments' inability to play narrative games.
On reflection, I think you might be right: I've heard that the only reason India is going to buy Apache helicopters is to placate Trump when we rebuffed his attempts to push the F-35 on us.
Dont feel so bad. It seems China, Iran, and Russia cant comprehend the science of modern "optics" either. The concept of public perception seems beyond their grasp.
Yes, that’s why Russia and company seek out friendly Westerners to — ideally — articulate their policies (in Russia’s case, “Potemkinism” — the creation of alternative realities about Russian policy, simply put, falsely presenting them to make people like Russia on false premises like the lie that Putin is an anti-Zionist — dominates and is counterproductive).
In Russia’s case, however, the friendly foreigner — with presumable exceptions — is generally expected to just parrot talking points, not think on their own, critique policies on occasion with a view towards improving them, and most definitely NEVER share any feedback (it’s usually considered an insult to a superior’s intelligence here for cultural reasons).
This overall deprives Russia of a valuable source of info, the genuinely Russian-friendly foreigner working in media, due to the very strict top-down approach. You’ll also notice, and once you do, you’ll see it everywhere, that Russia at least doesn’t want credentialed and experienced experts (such people tend to be free-thinking and do what was described above regarding what Russia doesn't want), and instead only wants podcasters, influencers, and activists who’ll parrot talking points “for the cause” (at least superficially since most’s real motive is clout and mostly money).
Loomer is in the same category as Candace Owen’s, and does not speak for maga. She is a loose cannon.
Maga voters sees Trump as useful and saner than the Democrats, but is very unhappy with foreign wars. The American First subset of maga is livid with Trump for the Zionist purity testing of Trump admin personnel. The Epstein files was a rubicon on Trumps trust. Trump was trust me, and maga voters don’t. And this Iran war debacle is making things worse. The hubris and overreach of Israeli lobbying in this administration is amazing, and is resulting in a lowered reputation of Israel among most voters, especially younger ones.
Iran is in large part about stepping on the gas hose going to China, while staying far from East Asia and in rather friendly territory. Of course that can't really be said publicly.
Trump was viscerally anger when the SC ruled against the one tariff vector. Perhaps this is plan B.
I think MAGA has been partly victimized by joint Iranian–Ukrainian influence operations such as the Epstein files, Russian "aid" to Iran, and so on. Figures such as Loomer do not vet the information they receive, and Trump is notoriously suggestive (not to say illogical), hence the wild, irrational, 180° swings in policy.
The claims about Russian support for Iran are very dangerous and are likely being spun in part by wily Iranian state actors using gullible NRPRs in alliance with anti-Russia Western "deep-state" influencers, in order to cynically stop Trump from escalating in the Persian Gulf by engineering World War III over Ukraine instead.
The Kremlin has more important things to think about than Loomer or whatever it is MAGA thinks about it. We’re well past that now, And if Trump doesn’t care what MAGA thinks why should Putin.
Ukraine is now a testing field for drone warfare. Since there is a general lack of training or knowledge on such warfare it has become “popular” as a place to learn or try out newer war tech. Their current strategy seems to destroy all Wildberries locations. Wildberries is the Amazon of Russia.
Two things. First, Laura Loomer's audience is small and most of it may not even be human. Second, the "MAGA dissidents" outnumber the people you call MAGA.
Sorry but this is a completely useless post. The American people are beyond any hope of salvation except through a devastating earthquake and a collective cleansing in tears and blood.
They have been subjected to unrelenting propaganda for generations to the point of 'herd-zombification'.
Ukraine is one of the biggest grifts on the planet, so it's not surprising she eventually pulled herself up to the trough.
You might be overestimating Loomer's influence. MAGA may not be anyone's idea of a brain trust, but she's about on the same level as the Q-anon crowd, despite the president's undue attention to her.
I've noticed these trends in general though over the past 18 months. I personally believe that Russia's misguided soft power approach that I call "Potemkinism", or the creation of alternative realities about Russian policy for "strategic purposes" (cynically making people like Russia even on false premises), is a large part to blame.
Honestly, Laura isn't completely wrong in presenting Russia as supporting everything that MAGA opposes because Russia's publicly financed international media and state-affiliated "Non-Russian Pro-Russians" lend credence to this, especially many of the latter, who are rabidly anti-MAGA (it's their right, I don't care, but they're associated with Russia).
For instance, think of the top five NRPRs. In any order, the average person might think of Jackson Hinkle, Pepe Escobar, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Sarah Bils due to her founding "Donbass Devushka Geopolitics" (now rebranded as DDG).
Hinkle, Escobar, and Bils are Leftists, Islamists, and even outspoken "Third Worldists" openly opposed to MAGA and Trump personally, while Carlson and Owens are two of the most prominent "MAGA dissidents", all five being promoted by Russia.
Hinkle and Escobar are friends with Lavrov and Zakharova, Carlson interviewed Putin and Lavrov, Candace just visited Russia for a major conference, and Bils has been a VIP guest of the country and even met Rybar's Zvinchuk, who has a $10M bounty:
https://rewardsforjustice.net/rewards/rybar-employees/
Laura harangues Hinkle, Carlson, and Owens, all of whom she reminds her audience are associated with Russia (she exaggerates their relationship but they're at minimum "state-adjacent"), so it's easy to see why average folks consider them Russian-backed.
They're also under the false impression that every single information product from Russia's publicly financed media flagships is approved by the Kremlin, which reinforces the above notion that Russia supports everything that MAGA opposes.
Add Dugin to the mix, who she's turned into "Putin's Rasputin" (as others before her have falsely described him), and the narrative that she's pushing is arguably pretty compelling for average folks in my personal opinion.
To elaborate a bit more, there are Russian-friendly conservative voices in MAGA that could have been promoted either instead of these anti-MAGA people (given the sensitivity of ongoing talks with Trump 2.0 these last 18 months) or at least together with the Leftists, Islamists, and "Third Worldists" to balance them out.
That didn't happen for whatever reason, with the closest that it came being Kirill Dmitriev's X posts, which come off as trying way too hard to ingratiate himself with the movement and also backfired after he started publicly embracing Candace, Tucker, MTG, etc.
Russia's policies are what they are, and nobody expects them to be perfectly aligned with the US' for obvious reasons, but their divergences could have been explained much better to MAGA -- both average members and those in Trump 2.0 -- but Russia's broken feedback loops prevented it from realizing this.
Of the 112 million followers Trump has, I'm sure most are aware of Loomer, Owens and Carlson, and have them suggested to add to their feed regularly.
So if you take the Venn diagram of Trump and Loomer, what that means is that about ~110 million ppl don't seem to care for her that much, or find her a bit sketch.
" Hinkle and Escobar are friends with Lavrov and Zakharova, "
What are the odds ? Very strange.
They meet with him in connection with the “International Russophile Movement” (Pepe had a private meeting with him after 2023’s inaugural event with a small handful of other unnamed figures according to his posts at the time), while they had a private dinner with her and two Chinese experts in St. Petersburg (Pepe has also since interviewed her with ex-CIA Larry Johnson and used to flirtatiously refer to her online as a “goddess” despite her being a married Orthodox Christian):
https://t.me/jacksonhinkle/2062
And here’s the link to Pepe boasting about his private meeting with Lavrov in 2023 with three other unnamed people:
https://x.com/realpepeescobar/status/1635892531341807616?s=46
Still odd why virtual "nobodies" are meeting with such high officials of foreign governments. Additionally, their activities are most likely tracked by US intelligence 24/7 since they do.
FARA laws should see them arrested including Ritter, Johnson and et al. Maybe they registered the interests? Who knows? Suspicious though.
I followed hinkle until 2 yrs ago. He is a guy who never worked. Sees himself as all too relevant The narcissist nature of him is easily identified I still follow Carlson. Owen’s is the mirror of a terrible mini series but I give her credit for visiting Russia. Again loomer is a psycho
Theses MAGA are a bunch of half ass uneducated idiots .
I see Carlson as closer in ideology to maga than Loomer or even Trump.
Hey Andrew, the most anti-MAGA of the world are Trump and his bunch of nutjobs. They betrayed every promises of MAGA.
I feel in hindsight like MAGA, as Trump conceptualized it (not as it was then -- to a degree, wishfully -- understood by supporters), is exactly what he's doing now for better or for worse.
Regarding the "MAGA dissidents", I understand where the honest ones among them are coming from, but I've come to conclude -- in my opinion -- that the big names have ulterior motives (mostly clout, possibly foreign -- Qatari? -- financing).
I think that the whole movement is in flux and struggling to (re?-)define itself amidst the rapid changes at home and abroad, the latter to a large degree initiated by Trump 2.0 (tariff wars, Venezuela, Iran, Russia-Ukraine, etc.).
Can you explain why what Trump is doing is consistent with the idea of MAGA?
True, but the QAnon crowd are bigger than you might think.
"Trump does not have unbridled control of the US geopolitical response to Ukraine." Indeed.
There's this bit in the book Moscow 2042 (a futuristic comedy by Vladimir Voinovich) where in the year 2042 the CIA is fully staffed by (secret) KBG agents, and the KBG by (secret) CIA agents.
I can imagine Trump and Putin asking each other, "but I thought they were your people...?" It's not just that the US doesn't control Zelensky, but how many other players there are and what's driving them. It appears too that Russia's ability to infiltrate/influence European politics has fallen off radically since the fall of the Berlin Wall...but it begs the question, who filled the vacuum?
Though Maga looked up to Putin and Russia, Because they want to be what Russia has done in the religious aspect,social aspect. And time and time again the Republicans party has betrayed there,as their focus has always been war and the money it brings. Then again why would a party then if gets support for war effort would do what Maga wants. Its not the first time Republicans have faulted in that aspect.
Maga movement could feel hijacked by neocons again,like in Britian Conservative party voters because of their necons totally gave up in Uk general elections. Ukraine war has totally been the British Conservative party initiative. And even British people have vast differences for that war to reach a consensus that war has been good for British economy. Nor in general good for British people.
Most things will be clear in the next midterms. Does these Loomers and Shapiros, the maga social media influencers hold much sway with maga voters. Its not like maga voters don't doubt Charlie Kirk's assasination. And the slight hint of their movement getting adrift after that.
November Midterms are the key from here. The next three months will determine can the Republicans party pull the maga voters again to show up again at the polls.
I don't think Russia can achieve that. Although MAGA has multiple internal factions, the largest faction in MAGA, the die-hard Trumpers, wants America to be great, AND they don't mind making everybody else suffer to achieve that goal. I think that attitude is solid in the US "Deep South" and unlikely to change. The Christian fundamentalists in the US are almost all zionists. It is estimated that one quarter of the US population is in this group. For them, Iran may as well be nuked out of the Earth, and they would not be concerned. Gaza only has subhumans, if humans at all, in their minds.
For the above kinds of voters and similarly minded folks, Russians blocking the will of the Americans is the fundamental sin. It does not matter who attacked whom first, or cultural or geographical concerns, or anything else. These groups either support the US due to tribal mentality or support Israel because of mental distortion (E.g., if I can go to heaven, I don't mind Israelis killing a few Palestinians, etc.) I don't think Russians can achieve anything here. Certainly not by touting things like the Anchorage Agreement/Spririt. For these people, the Anchorage Agreement, if any, is a major US concession that got no return favor.
As for the Independents (me included) who picked Trump for the sake of voting against Harris, and the MAHA group (health and farming oriented) have either drifted away a long time back or are in the process of doing so. There are rumors that RFK Jr. may resign soon. For the above kinds of voters and similarly minded folks, Russians should emphasize playing for peace. However, due to Russia's own national interests and the necessary extension of Russia's concerns in West Asia, Russia can only push forward with its own military actions and support Iran's.
In short, in the eyes of the neocons, the Russia-US relationship is a zero-sum game. As for the so-called MAGA "grouping", it is almost a zero-sum game. I believe Russia can yield very little before controlling the entire east bank of the Dnieper and US forces out of West Asia (except Israel). For most of people in the MAGA "grouping", that is a total defeat, and certainly does not make America great.
Instead of trying to appease MAGA, Russia should try to appease the pseudo-neutral, especially countries in Asia and Africa. Ship out oil through the Arctic path or even the Far East to Asia, and grains to Africa. Using markup as low as tolerable to Russia's budget and war needs. These countries are only pseudo-neutral because they still perceive the US as the hegemon. And this is why the Iranian FM asked, when the US and Israel bombed Iran for six weeks, who in the international community came to the help of Iran? If there was none, then why shouldn't Iran charge a toll for oil shipped to these countries? Russia does not need to send resources out for free, but at least these countries have a chance to become truly neutral.
According to Iran's deputy foreign minister, at least some European states (Spain probably among them) refused to aid the U.S. once the war resumed. Earlier the list was longer, though President Pezeshkian last year claimed "Europe" was also at war with Iran.
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202607221714
Despite its neutrality toward Iran, Spain is among the most pugnacious backers of Kiev relative to its resource base:
https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/spains-sanchez-tells-ukraines-zelenskiy-iran-war-derail/
Trump largely has not fulfilled his threats to sever trade links with Spain:
https://time.com/article/2026/07/09/can-trump-cut-off-all-trade-with-spain-here-s-what-experts-say/
His stance shows the hollowness of his declarations:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/4/spain-no-to-israel-us-war-iran
"Despite those remarks, Sánchez said their exchange consisted only of «kind words and pleasantries.»
Sánchez said he learned of Trump’s criticism through the media and stressed that the US president never raised the issue directly with him.
He said he received Trump’s comments «calmly and patiently,» and «with a certain normalcy,» adding that, despite the rhetoric, bilateral relations between Spain and the United States remain «very positive.»"
https://efe.com/english/latest-news/2026-07-08/sanchez-trump-nato-meeting-cordial/
If I were to decide for Iran, Spain would be listed as "somewhat better treated" and would receive a discount on tolls. But from Russia's point of view, Spain is no friendlier than the EU/NATO-Central, no need to give special treatment. Russia does have an immediate technical problem: there are few ports in Russia's Far East equipped for energy products export, and insufficient pipeline/railroad capacity for a large increase in energy/grain export from the FE. We can ask if the US Navy would be eager to stop and inspect the Russian Shadow Fleet in the Sea of Japan.
Russian “soft power” has always been a disaster. Whether due to naivety or incompetence, it doesn’t matter: after 14 years of Western sanctions against Russia, the fact that the Kremlin has not seriously addressed the issue is, once again, incongruous.
I believe that they're under the illusion that "everything is going according to plan", "everyone loves us", and "everyone hates the US" due to their broken feedback loops and obsequious foreigners -- both representing other governments and civil society activists -- tell them what they want to hear in pursuit of their own interests and Russia's "soft power supervisors" are none the wiser (circling back to the broken feedback loop problem).
The Russians believe that they are in the right, so everyone eventually will accept this. Besides, we are Cultured Europeans! they tell themselves.
The Americans consider this line of thinking to be strictly for fools. They care nothing for right but trust only in power.
I agree, Russia considers itself to be the world's moral superpower, it seems, and this self-identification blinds it to the fact that no other foreign government actually shares this view with all that entails.
Even if they were, fat lot of good it does.
A moral superpower wouldn't deny the genocide in Palestine. They must perform some interesting mental gymnastics at the Kremlin.
Well seen
Thank you for your response.
I subscribe to Igor “Strelkov” Guirkine’s Telegram channel, so I’ve picked up a few insights into this issue of the Kremlin supposedly being in a state of “autosuggestion” and other “broken feedback loops.”
I’ve concluded that power wears people down. And that power exercised for such a long time wears people down… tremendously!
Not to mention the problems related to interpersonal relationships, which, over such a long period, can only lead to compromise and corruption.
" "everything is going according to plan", "everyone loves us", and "everyone hates the US" due to their broken feedback loops "
They could monitor social media feeds to gauge public sentiment, but I case thats too sophisticated for Russian intelligence.
Another problem, which is present everywhere but which I consider to be exceptionally intense here, is a cultural reluctance to tell superiors something that goes against their expectations, especially if it’s bad news.
Bottom-up feedback about the total failure of a policy will inevitably provoke a superior somewhere up the chain, and then to save themselves from taking the fall as they fear their own superiors might plot for convenience, they themselves plot to blame someone below them.
With time, most members of the chain tacitly agreed that it’s better to suppress such info for as long as possible. Of course exceptions exist, but this crucial cultural favor, in my honest opinion, explains why this problem is so bad in Russia (in my view, even worse than the stereotypes).
Win "back" MAGA? Did Putin ever win MAGA the first time? I think the whole thing, including this Laura Logan recognizing Zelensky instead of Putin as her God is a nothingburger.
I really do believe that most average members of MAGA were friendly towards Russia and Putin personally but I've noticed, in my personal opinion from my own observations, that they've gradually soured on them since Trump's return to office.
I think you are very much correct Andrew. But personally I think Russia's hedging its bets with China is probably the bigger leak.
That said I'm still unsure why more banging on the drum of Ukraine corruption has not been done. I'd think Russia has the spy craft to capture and drip incriminating details.
Understanding EE politics and players is Greek to most Americans. Obviously, it has to be turned into a story, contextualized, made interesting. But in this day and age it's easier than ever: just ask AI to explain it in the style of Trump.
And sorry Laura's surname is Loomer not Logan! lol Had never heard of her until now but again I am not an American living in America, so maybe she's famous there...
I believe you Andrew but I guess what I meant was are they influential at all on American public opinion? MAGA appears to be in a sorry state atm and pretty divided given Trump not sticking to his election campaign promises, ie America first, no more foreign wars etc... so their opinion whatever it is doesn't amount to much. Not to mention that MAGA members' opinion of Trump himself has soured quite a bit since he was elected. But again, I haven't followed MAGA closely so you definitely know better. Anyhow, when was the last time Trump uttered the word MAGA? He has no use for them atm.
Average MAGA members trust Trump, not as much as QAnon cultists did ("trust the plan"), but more than they've ever trusted a politician. They're therefore open to reconsidering their views about certain issues about which they disagree with him, such as the Third Gulf War, Loomer, and Ukraine. They might still hold true to their original opinions, but most won't fiercely condemn him even if they strongly disagree with him for the purpose of maintaining "unity" and the like.
All that being the case, as I sincerely understand it to be from my observations (many of the people who I'm still in contact with from back home in the US are MAGA), I really do believe that average MAGA members are willing to reconsider their views about Russia, Putin, Ukraine, and Zelensky as Trump continues "escalating to de-escalate'. They believe that everything is under control in terms of risk management and that Russia either bluffs or walks back its threats a lot.
They also like how the US is now profiting from the conflict by selling arms to NATO for transfer to Ukraine, which ends their main complaint of having to pay for this potential forever war like they paid for Afghanistan and Iraq. Most still don't like Zelensky personally and many dislike Ukraine in general, but they now see the whole venture as a business opportunity. Others, feeling resentful towards Russia due to perceiving it opposing all that they support, back Ukraine as "revenge".
Another factor to consider is that MAGA as a whole, like most Americans, are in some sense deeply nationalistic, seeing the U.S. as a kind of unipolar arbiter. Even though MAGA is at odds with "liberal-globalist" factions, both view America as a kind of imperial enforcer and conduit for their respective projects.
Yes, excellent point: even if the world is objectively, in some senses, becoming multipolar, they still want the US to remain head and shoulders above the rest, especially among those who've come to understand how their living standards are directly dependent on the US maintaining its leading role in the global system (whatever shape it takes and however it evolves).
The Third Gulf War seems to have affected average Americans much more than the Ukrainian Conflict due to higher prices at the pump and for longer too, with lots of uncertainty about prices in general but also due to a non-insignificant share of families somewhat struggling to make ends meet and thus being unable to conveniently spend more on gas and groceries.
The Ukrainian Conflict is something that they're reminded of by the media, including social media, and if they see Ukrainian flags flying around. If there aren't any flags in their neighborhood and they turn off their computers, phones, and TVs, the average American -- MAGA or not -- doesn't even think about the Ukrainian Conflict anymore.
Thank you for sharing this perspective Andrew. Very interesting.
You're welcome! The most common complaints that I've heard from MAGA about Putin/Russia are (to paraphrase):
* "Why isn't Putin ending the war when Trump gave him an off-ramp?" (the innuendo being that he's motivated by more than he publicly said and they thought, thus opening them up to believing scandalous reports about speculative ulterior motives)
* "Why is Russia allied with Iran?" (a gross misperception that was weaponized by Russia and Iran's adversaries but lent false credence by the "Non-Russian Pro-Russians'" "Potemkinist" takes)
* "Why are all these communists, Muslims, and Third Worlders all over Russian media all the time?" (already addressed)
* "Why are there so many Muslims in Russia? Why does Putin's buddy in Belarus send Muslims into Europe?" (only relatively more informed MAGA mention this, it's admittedly rare, and it's influenced by anti-Russian "Christian Nationalists")
* "Is Putin scared to escalate against Ukraine after all that's happened? Maybe we were wrong about him and he's not a strongman? If so, maybe we (the US) can take advantage of it, make money, etc.?"
Is it an unenlightened position or unedifying, not sure which. I supposed it goes with the Democratic party being referred to as communists! You have certainly stretched the bonds Andrew.
For decades Dugin has worked to steer anti-globalists toward a BRICS-style alter-globalism, while marginalizing those within the movement who criticize this alternative globalism.
Loomer has flipped her position more than once.
She was rabidly anti-India for years, and then suddenly showed up in India, and had a different take.
Indians took great pleasure in trolling her with her past posts.
She is in some ways the counterpart of Escobar, but with less credibility.
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/laura-loomer-india-visit-changes-narrative-critic-to-admirer-dalai-lama-india-today-conclave-2884909-2026-03-20
I personally believe that she was paid off by India to flip-flop on the country, and while I'm sure she was remunerated for flip-flopping on Ukraine, I believe that it was mostly personal and brought about by a combination of her rivalry with Tucker and Candace, her belief that Dugin is Putin's advisor (and thus told Putin to give nukes to Iran like Dugin once suggested in a tweet), and also believing that the Russian state is truly out to get her after misperceiving RT's tweets about Tucker, Candace, and derogatory ones about her as having been authorized by the Kremlin and possibly as high as Putin himself (average people, in my experience, truly believe that every single thing that they do is approved by some official even though it's not true).
I have a very poor opinion of my government's ability to shape public opinion, so I would be very surprised (and a little delighted) if they have managed to buy her off!
In his book "The Great Game" Vikram Sood, the former head of R&AW laments on successive Indian governments' inability to play narrative games.
On reflection, I think you might be right: I've heard that the only reason India is going to buy Apache helicopters is to placate Trump when we rebuffed his attempts to push the F-35 on us.
Dont feel so bad. It seems China, Iran, and Russia cant comprehend the science of modern "optics" either. The concept of public perception seems beyond their grasp.
Yes, that’s why Russia and company seek out friendly Westerners to — ideally — articulate their policies (in Russia’s case, “Potemkinism” — the creation of alternative realities about Russian policy, simply put, falsely presenting them to make people like Russia on false premises like the lie that Putin is an anti-Zionist — dominates and is counterproductive).
In Russia’s case, however, the friendly foreigner — with presumable exceptions — is generally expected to just parrot talking points, not think on their own, critique policies on occasion with a view towards improving them, and most definitely NEVER share any feedback (it’s usually considered an insult to a superior’s intelligence here for cultural reasons).
This overall deprives Russia of a valuable source of info, the genuinely Russian-friendly foreigner working in media, due to the very strict top-down approach. You’ll also notice, and once you do, you’ll see it everywhere, that Russia at least doesn’t want credentialed and experienced experts (such people tend to be free-thinking and do what was described above regarding what Russia doesn't want), and instead only wants podcasters, influencers, and activists who’ll parrot talking points “for the cause” (at least superficially since most’s real motive is clout and mostly money).
" Russia at least doesn’t want credentialed and experienced experts (such people tend to be free-thinking "
What you're describing sounds like a serious case of low self esteem.
Just found this from 2024. She ate dog food in an ad.
Hmm.
https://x.com/lauraloomer/status/1832239274646761798?s=46
Loomer is in the same category as Candace Owen’s, and does not speak for maga. She is a loose cannon.
Maga voters sees Trump as useful and saner than the Democrats, but is very unhappy with foreign wars. The American First subset of maga is livid with Trump for the Zionist purity testing of Trump admin personnel. The Epstein files was a rubicon on Trumps trust. Trump was trust me, and maga voters don’t. And this Iran war debacle is making things worse. The hubris and overreach of Israeli lobbying in this administration is amazing, and is resulting in a lowered reputation of Israel among most voters, especially younger ones.
Iran is in large part about stepping on the gas hose going to China, while staying far from East Asia and in rather friendly territory. Of course that can't really be said publicly.
Trump was viscerally anger when the SC ruled against the one tariff vector. Perhaps this is plan B.
Loomer is an unstable psychopath.
I think MAGA has been partly victimized by joint Iranian–Ukrainian influence operations such as the Epstein files, Russian "aid" to Iran, and so on. Figures such as Loomer do not vet the information they receive, and Trump is notoriously suggestive (not to say illogical), hence the wild, irrational, 180° swings in policy.
The claims about Russian support for Iran are very dangerous and are likely being spun in part by wily Iranian state actors using gullible NRPRs in alliance with anti-Russia Western "deep-state" influencers, in order to cynically stop Trump from escalating in the Persian Gulf by engineering World War III over Ukraine instead.
The Kremlin has more important things to think about than Loomer or whatever it is MAGA thinks about it. We’re well past that now, And if Trump doesn’t care what MAGA thinks why should Putin.
Ukraine is now a testing field for drone warfare. Since there is a general lack of training or knowledge on such warfare it has become “popular” as a place to learn or try out newer war tech. Their current strategy seems to destroy all Wildberries locations. Wildberries is the Amazon of Russia.
https://youtu.be/HiCYafRdZ_s?is=6B8pHXJ4hvtlOGoC
MAGS is first, foremost and entirely a cult. Whatever Trump is for, they are for..until Trump is against it. Then MAGA is against it.
Two things. First, Laura Loomer's audience is small and most of it may not even be human. Second, the "MAGA dissidents" outnumber the people you call MAGA.
Sorry but this is a completely useless post. The American people are beyond any hope of salvation except through a devastating earthquake and a collective cleansing in tears and blood.
They have been subjected to unrelenting propaganda for generations to the point of 'herd-zombification'.
Russia does not have to worry of MAGA Russia is GREAT . The worlds Nuclear power. Vast mineral and gas and oil resources.