Russiaa s back, bigger and badder than ever

Back in March 2014, with Russian-speaking forces patrolling the streets of Crimea, until then a part of the sovereign country of Ukraine, I wrote an article arguing that, "We have entered a new Cold War." Fast-forward to this surreal moment in American - and global - history, and it appears that Vladimir Putin's Russia is handily winning this Cold War 2.0. This is no longer a battle between Communism and capitalism/democracy.

Top GOP leader: Senate to probe reports of Russia hacking

The top Senate Republican said Monday that Congress will investigate a CIA assessment that Russia interfered in the November election on behalf of Donald Trump, an intelligence conclusion that the incoming commander in chief has called "ridiculous." Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters that an inquiry would be conducted by the Senate intelligence panel.

Tillerson choice for State Department raises questions of corporate vs. national interest

ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson speaks during the IHS CERAWeek 2015 energy conference in Houston, Texas April 21, 2015. REUTERS/Daniel Kramer/File Photo The central question facing Exxon Mobil Corp Chief Executive Rex Tillerson if he becomes U.S. secretary of state is whether a lifelong oil man with close ties to Russia can pivot from advancing corporate interests to serving the national interest.

Obama Orders Investigation Into Election-Related Hacking Attacks

President Barack Obama has directed U.S. intelligence agencies to conduct an investigation into hacking attacks related to the U.S. election and issue a report before he leaves office next month, White House counterterrorism adviser Lisa Monaco said. The report, which will be provided to Congress but not necessarily made public, will examine what impact hacking by Russia may have had on the election last month, Monaco said Friday at a breakfast in Washington hosted by the Christian Science Monitor.

Trump: Russian hacking claims – ridiculous’

Donald Trump on Sunday called a recent CIA assessment of Russian hacking "ridiculous" and says he's not interested in getting daily intelligence briefings - an unprecedented public dismissal by a president-elect of the nation's massive and sophisticated intelligence apparatus. Trump's remarks come as key congressional Republicans joined Democrats in demanding a bipartisan investigation into the Kremlin's activities and questioned consideration of Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson - who has close business ties with Moscow - as head of the State Department.

We must know if Russia tipped the U.S. presidential election | Editorial

Just 27 days ago, in what was essentially a Paul Revere midnight ride through cyberspace, the director of the National Security Agency announced that the United States is Russia's play toy. "There shouldn't be any doubts in anybody's mind: This was not something that was done casually, this was not something that was done by chance, this was not a target that was selected purely arbitrarily," Admiral Michael Rogers said of hacked material released throughout the 2016 campaign.

Position Taken? Transition sources say Trump will nominate ExxonMobil …

President-elect Donald Trump will nominate ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson for secretary of state, according to two sources close to the transition. The sources warned that nothing is official until the president-elect announces it, which is likely to come over the next few days.

Trump rejects intel, lawmakers vow probe of Russia hacking

President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday called a recent CIA assessment of Russian hacking "ridiculous" and says he's not interested in getting daily intelligence briefings - an unprecedented rejection of the nation's massive and sophisticated intelligence apparatus. Trump's remarks come as key congressional Republicans joined Democrats in demanding a bipartisan investigation into the Kremlin's activities and questioned consideration of Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson - who has close business ties with Moscow - as head of the State Department.

Unnerving concerns over top pick

ExxonMobil chief Rex Tillerson is President-elect Donald Trump's likely pick for secretary of state, US media reports say, with some lawmakers quickly voicing concerns about his ties to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.Tillerson has extensive experience in international negotiations, overseeing his oil company's activities in more than 50 countries. But his links to Russia could be problematic, lawma... ExxonMobil chief Rex Tillerson is President-elect Donald Trump's likely pick for secretary of state, US media reports say, with some lawmakers quickly voicing concerns about his ties to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

FBI knew about Russia interference with election, Harry Reid says

The FBI knew that Russia was meddling in the U.S. election to help ensure a Donald Trump victory - but the agency's director turned a blind eye to the interference, outgoing Senate minority leader Harry Reid claimed. A day after a secret CIA assessment showed several people connected to the Russian government leaked hacked emails from the Democrats to whistleblowing site WikiLeaks, Reid called for the resignation of FBI director James Comey.

Report: Trump’s Secretary of State Is Rex Tillerson

Multiple outlets are reporting this, although it all traces back to NBC News at this point. Here is the Wall Street Journal from a couple of days ago talking about Tillerson's ties to Putin : Friends and associates said few U.S. citizens are closer to Mr. Putin than Mr. Tillerson, who has known Mr. Putin since he represented Exxon's interests in Russia during the regime of Boris Yeltsin.

Green Party candidate says she’s cooperating in Russia probe

The Senate intelligence committee has asked for documents from former presidential candidate Jill Stein as part of its probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, adding another new thread to the panel's investigation as it heads into 2018. Stein said in a statement overnight Tuesday that she was cooperating with the probe and is providing documents to the committee.

Trump Assembles a War Cabinet to Meet Foreign Threats

Flynn, the former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, has been known for his criticism of President Obama for failing to identify radical Islamists as the enemy. But his book expands the list of enemies to Russia, which seems like a strange pick since Flynn had appeared at the Russia Today propaganda channel's 10th anniversary celebration in Moscow, sitting next to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Member of Putin’s party: ‘United Russia won the elections in America’

President-elect Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a "USA Thank You" tour event on Dec. 1, 2016, in Cincinnati. President-elect Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a "USA Thank You" tour event on Dec. 1, 2016, in Cincinnati.

For Russia, Trump presidency offers hope of sanctions relief

Russia's government staunchly denies reports that it tampered in the U.S. election or supported either candidate, but once the results were in, members of President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party didn't hold back. "It turns out that United Russia won the elections in America," Viktor Nazarov, the governor of Omsk, Russia, declared in a radio interview.