Panic World Did Russiagate matter?
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Dec 3, 2025 
Join Garrett Graff, a seasoned journalist and author of several works on security, as he delves into the complexities of Russian interference in the 2016 election. He argues that this interference not only influenced media narratives but also shaped Trump's grievance-driven politics. Graff compares Russia's ongoing impact to Watergate, highlighting how tactics like social engineering and troll accounts stoked division. He explores the long shadow of these events, emphasizing the need for accountability and hope for a transformative political future.
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Interference Shaped The Political Landscape
- Garrett M. Graff argues Russian interference shaped the media environment that determined how the 2016 campaign played out.
- That altered landscape triggered a chain from Flynn to Comey to Mueller and helped power Trumpism's grievance narrative.
Separate Operations, Shared Effects
- Graff separates IRA social-media trolls from GRU hack-and-leak operations as distinct campaigns.
- The hack-and-leak was run by Russian military intelligence, not the Internet Research Agency.
Trolls Pretended To Be Locals
- Ryan Broderick recounts IRA trolls posing as real community members, like a Tumblr account 'lagongirl' posing as a Black teenager.
- He cites Facebook event stings aimed at Black voters in Philadelphia to embarrass and confuse communities.