I feel like the 2016 election would be a great backdrop for a new spy movie genre.

So the Mueller indictment charged 13 Russian nationals and 3 Russian organizations with conspiracy to defraud the US.  Listening to the various news sources and podcasts, these Russians released propaganda in support of Trump and against Clinton in an effort to influence the Presidential election.  In fact, the propaganda actually sounds very familiar to what a Political Action Committee (PAC) does when a PAC tries to influence elections too.

Which got me thinking… what’s the difference?  After some Internet research, a Newseek article described why the Russian propaganda to influence the elections is illegal.  A federal law found in regulation 110.20 “prohibits any foreign national from contributing, donating or spending funds in connection with any federal, state, or local election in the United States, either directly or indirectly.”  Another law also requires foreign “agents” to register with the US in an attempt to minimize any influence from non-American sources in elections.  What’s interesting is that US has also meddled in the political affairs of other nations too according to a a New York Times opinion article.  But I actually already knew that.  In all honesty, I was amused at the Russian interference.  It’s like US getting a taste of their own medicine.  But at the same time, I understand why US will want to try to influence foreign elections in order to have a more pro-American official leading the nation.  It’s the same reason Russia did what they did in 2016.

When you think about all that’s happened during the 2016 election, what’s disturbing is that Russian misinformation became the defacto truth creating even more divided America.  There was never any questioning of the misinformation.  The proliferation of #fakenews and #alternativefacts by even those in the Trump campaign is disturbing.  Do you remember when Kellyanne Conway termed the coin “Alternative Facts” for Sean Spicer’s “biggest audience to witness an inauguration. Period!“?  Compare that to these videos (here, here) of what the National Mall looked like from the previous President.  And then with #fakenews, incidents like Pizzagate makes you wonder why people aren’t thinking for themselves.