As Russia provides intelligence that could put Americans at risk, the White House responds by easing Russian oil sanctions.
Problem: Team Trump shrugging with indifference as Russia provides Iran with intelligence that could put Americans at risk.
Bigger problem: Team Trump providing Russia with sanctions relief as it provides Iran with intelligence that could put Americans at risk.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-03-09T19:13:44.138Z
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/team-trump-says-and-does-all-the-wrong-things-as-russia-helps-iran-during-the-u-s-war
MS NOW reported over the weekend that Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Iranian forces strike American ships, aircraft and bases in the region, according two U.S. officials, one whom said point-blank,
“Russia is providing intelligence help to Iran.”
The Associated Press and The Washington Post had related reports, with the latter noting,
“The assistance … signals that the rapidly expanding conflict now features one of America’s chief nuclear-armed competitors with exquisite intelligence capabilities.” On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” host Kristen Welker pressed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on this, and he made no effort to deny the accuracy of the reporting, emphasizing that Iran’s “strategic partnership” with Russia is “not a secret.”.....
If we were to stop here, it would be a striking story about a Republican administration that has expressed little more than indifference to serious allegations.
But as it turns out, Team Trump isn’t just shrugging its shoulders about Russia’s aid to Iran during the war, it’s also taking steps that would benefit Russia as it aids Iran during the war. Reuters reported:
Trump administration officials on Sunday defended a decision to temporarily lift some sanctions on Russian oil and predicted that a sharp increase in gasoline prices resulting from the Iran war would last only weeks.
Appearing on multiple TV talk shows, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said a waiver issued last week to allow Indian purchases of Russian oil would alleviate pressure on the global market.
(
It’s worth noting for context that Trump has publicly boasted about getting India to stop buying Russian oil, including at a White House press conference in late February. So much for that idea.)....
Around the same time, on “Meet the Press,” Welker asked the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations about why the Republican administration would choose to help Russia right now.
“
I wouldn’t characterize it that way,” Waltz replied.
WELKER: Why is Trump helping Russia in this moment?
WALTZ:I wouldn't characterize it that way
WELKER: How else would you describe easing oil sanctions?
WALTZ: It's common sense to allow oil sitting on ships to go to India
WELKER: Russia will be getting that money as it wages its war in Ukraine
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-03-08T14:17:27.030Z
.....This hasn’t gone unnoticed on Capitol Hill.
“Russia is our adversary,” Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska told MS NOW last week. “
They hate us and what the U.S. stands for. The White House has had a moral blindness when it comes to Putin and Russia.”
Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, a former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, added, “T
his is an intolerable escalation by the Kremlin — one they must come to deeply regret. I call on the administration to impose swift and severe consequences for this blatant attempt to endanger American lives.”
The White House appears to have come to the opposite conclusion.
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