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Protect the Vote's avatar

Cheeto Just Follows What Putin Does

Putin’s crackdown on comedy in the early 2000s primarily targeted the hit political satire show Kukly ("Puppets"), which aired on the independent NTV network This campaign systematically eliminated independent television and established state-controlled media by transforming political parody into a criminalized offense During the 1990s, it ruthlessly mocked politicians, most notably portraying former President Boris Yeltsin as a stumbling drunk

When Putin became acting president in 2000, Kukly turned its focus to him. The show famously depicted him as a stiff judo master, a muttering, grotesque baby gnome, and a fairy-tale character who only appears attractive to those under a spell Because direct threats did not immediately stop the satire, the Putin administration used financial leverage to silence the network. Between 2000 and 2001, the Russian government orchestrated a hostile takeover of NTV through the state-controlled energy giant Gazprom. NTV’s critical journalists were fired, and the network was brought into complete alignment with the state

Without independent ownership, Kukly lost its biting political edge. The show was formally canceled in 2002 This aggressive suffocation of the show marked a historical turning point in Russia: it sent a clear message that ridiculing the ruler was no longer tolerated, laying the groundwork for the strict media censorship that defines the modern Russian state

Nothing that this moron Cheeto does is original What kind of advice do you think Putin gives his crony when they are on the phone for 2h? Authoritarians don’t die in the dark Putin is being exposed by Ukrainian war failures and his time is short Cheeto’s deranged mental psychosis is being exposed by Kimmel, Colbert, Fallon, and Myers and his time is short

Henry Rones's avatar

The corruption is just out in the open for all to see, and it’s at scale. The Nvidia chip deal really gets me, because it is clearly not in America’s security interests for China to receive our most advanced chips. For some short-term monetary gains, Trump is handing over to China the future of the century. But hey, he can brag about what a great lunch they gave him and that the ceremony was more “brilliant” than that Xi laid on for Putin.(He’s like a not very bright 8-year old who has been bribed with a Happy Meal.)

Ray's avatar

Trump is just catching up to Canada in terms of greasy diplomatic/business trips to China. As far back as the 1990’s, PM Chrétien would frequently load up the Airbus with the cabinet and Ottawa’s favourite business CEOs to grease palms in China. These were called “Team Canada” missions, which the United Front Work Department exploited for elite capture. Even back then, these junkets gave me the creeps.

Frau Katze's avatar

As a Canadian, I can confirm. Carney seems to like China, too.

JBR's avatar

Trump first America last.

GREG HE's avatar

Joe Biden (VP) did take his son to China

Henry Rones's avatar

But the Trump scale is massive., and no indication that Hunter Biden’s actions affected US policy. You may remember that in his first term Ivanka also met with Xi, and she walked away with a personal trademark deals (about 3 dozen approved). Over two years (2017 - 2019) these trademarks were routinely granted, coinciding or near in time with high- level China-U.S. trade talks and unexpected U.S. policy shifts. (In that period China also granted several trademarks to the Trump Organization itself.)

GREG HE's avatar

And China gave Hunter Biden $ millions of to manage. Bidens brother was also involved in the influence peddling. I seem to remember a whistle blower ex-partner implicating the whole family in "pay to play" schemes. They all leave a lot to be desired.

Henry Rones's avatar

The “whistleblower” was found to be a fabricator. Dream on

GREG HE's avatar

"dream on" so sad. not so the whistle blower.

Henry Rones's avatar

The FBI informant Smirnov, who alleged the Bidens each demanded a $5 million bribe from Burisma, was deemed not credible. DoJ investigated his claims and determined he had fabricated the allegations. In 2024 the FBI indicted him for making false statements to the FBI and creating a fictitious scheme to smear the Biden family.

GREG HE's avatar

the Biden FBI? Was he convicted?

GREG HE's avatar

and lets not forget all the presidential pardons Biden signed on his way out.

Frau Katze's avatar

Hunter’s brother died in 2015.

Frau Katze's avatar

Never charged with anything

GREG HE's avatar

Whistle blower Bobolisky (s)