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Dear @TheAtlantic - I'm throwing a flag on the field.
I was the lead editor on one of the first major public reports about Russian Fake News. I have testified before Congress about Russian Fake News. @FranklinFoer, your article needs to be fixed - now. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/06/putin-american-democracy/610570/
I was the lead editor on one of the first major public reports about Russian Fake News. I have testified before Congress about Russian Fake News. @FranklinFoer, your article needs to be fixed - now. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/06/putin-american-democracy/610570/
First - the good points. Good job highlighting the USG's response in hardening our defenses against Russia/China. But mixing fact with speculation/insinuation, and not clearly showing the difference, does no service to readers. It does the opposite.
Let's start with the headline. It echoes the FALSE & disproven claim that Putin, not American voters, elected @realDonaldTrump in 2016. To insinuate this false claim, that Putin may have elected Trump, or caused him to be elected, is 100%, uncut, Fake News. You must clarify.
And what about in 2020? Will Putin dictate the outcome? Your actual article doesn't back up the topline claim with proof. Highlighting vulnerabilities that need to be fixed - that's great. Making baseless claims that Putin is "well on his way" to stealing 2020 is dangerous. Fix!
Can Russia (or China) try to interfere in 2020? Absolutely. BUT let's be clear: we've yet to see any definitive evidence that hostile foreign powers are capable of dictating election outcomes in America. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Where's yours?
Smart readers can see the shell game. You switch from the phrase "Stealing the Next Election" to "continued their efforts to undermine American democracy." These are VERY different claims. @FranklinFoer: your piece should not have gone to press w/ this headline. I'd fix it!
Finally, Russia's actions were not partisan in 2016. Putin's bots & trolls supported @SenSanders as well. This fact is obliquely referenced. But why hide it? If @TheAtlantic is worried about democracy, why not fully cite Mueller's findings re: Sanders?
So, flag on the field! @TheAtlantic needs to fix and clarify this piece.
If we are going to defend ourselves from Russia and China, and we all want that, we can't roll out one-sided, partisan takes about the dangers to our democratic Republic.
If we are going to defend ourselves from Russia and China, and we all want that, we can't roll out one-sided, partisan takes about the dangers to our democratic Republic.
