Ukraine Sought US Diplomats’ Advice On Trump Pressure Tactics: AP | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC

Desmond Butler, investigative reporter for the Associated Press, talks with Rachel Maddow about new reporting that even before the now infamous phone call with Donald Trump, Ukraine President Zelenskiy asked State Department officials for help understanding Trump's pressure for investigations of the Bidens and 2016. Aired on 11/18/19.
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Ukraine Sought US Diplomats' Advice On Trump Pressure Tactics: AP | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC

57 comments

  1. I hear there’s a growing number calling themselves the ‘Never Again’ Trumpers. We’ll hopefully hear more from them as time winds down for the 4 year Reich.

  2. Not hard to see that President Z was feeling enormous pressure…that was an awkward moment!! It keeps getting deeper and deeper!!

    1. @Jack Boot Exactly..he’s running America like he runs his crooked businesses. He has put a STAIN on America and how we treat our allies around the world. Pathetic and embarrassing to say the least!

    2. @Richard Barber There are likely thousands of them. All clearly wondering why trump seems to again show his inability to deliver the goods to Putin.

    3. @Kelly W. Disgraceful. And the republican defense has been even more horrific. listening to Nunes and Jordan was like listening to two uneducated children telling tales that would never convince anyone at all.

  3. I’ve been saying this for years, but I swear to God the whole GOP is being bankrolled by Russia. There is no other reasonable explanation why these GOP enablers would defend this piece of garbage & throw away all their long held “values” unless they were trying to save themselves as well.

    1. @Greg M Yeah, the very real possibility that the GOP was hacked made me initially suspicious as well. I have been saying for years the RNC was hacked also and that would go a long way in explaining why they all of a sudden lined up like lemmings behind Trump. I remember just how incredibly adamant Priebus was about denying they had NOT been hacked to the point it was unnatural, for lack of a better word. I also remember Graham was hacked and some of the hacked info was released, but it was not damning, it was almost like a warning shot saying “Yeah, we got the goods on you, you had better fall in line. I honestly think many in GOP leadership are fighting more for themselves than they are Trump. If just a handful at the top of the GOP leadership are compromised, Graham, McConnel, McCarthy… that could very well be enough to drive the whole Anti American GOP strategy. Sounds crazy, but I honestly can’t think of a better explanation as to their complete abandonment of their claimed values and 180 degree turn in favor of Russia.

    2. So lets get one thing straight here – the owners of the Federal Reserve have decided to save some chump change, and allow a country with the size of Economy of Italy to take their US holdings right under their noses? Do you even…

  4. *All American Officials both past and present in and out of the department should step up to plate sort of speak should testify in front of Congress as more witnesses confirming the president of the Ukraine was indeed under pressure* .

    1. @Chuck Kady With your poor grasp of the English language I’m not surprised you have to get your information from a YT video. The ”real Constitution”, as you put it, is hardly a mystery for those of us who can read ”plane” English and paid attention at school; which is why watching liars like Barr trying to explain it, and twist it, in defence of Trump is so entertaining; as are all you MAGAmorons doing the same. Keep up the good work Chucky, but maybe lay off the KKKoolaid for a while, it rots the brain!

    2. @Greg M 🍻 ….You bad. I have said that too. Russia hacked both DNC and RNC. They only made public what was being said and and done by the DNC. Russia wanted the dumbest party to win. The democrats would have told on themselves and Russia and then resigned. Democrats are not as dumb as Republicans even #presidentpussyassbitch = trump, said so.

  5. King Vlad Jong Trumplethinskin the first, will never abdicate you will have to grab your pitchforks and torches…

    1. And yet, he is the Great White Hope to millions of self-deluded Americans. A very depressing state indeed. The GOP does Herr Drumpf’s bidding and gives him plausible cover because they know Drumpf is their constituents’ folk hero. It is outrageous. Yet, this is the reality, at least for now.

    1. @Alabama Mothman when someone try to use it against the people they suppose to give it to as a play for pay or a favor, using taxpayers money against them ,to help them YES. ITS BRIBERY

    2. @Carnell Bell Absolutely , and let’s face it, this has always been Donnie’s M.O.
      Threaten, bully and pressure.

  6. The quid is already impeachable, even without a pro quo. If a hostage says the kidnapper was always nice to them and didn’t hurt anybody, kidnapping is still a crime, even if the kidnappers didn’t get any money.

  7. Zelenskiy ran on a strict anti-corruption platform, and on literally day 1 of his presidency, backed by continuous Trump admin. pressure, Perry dirties his hands with corruption.

    Good job, effers. With allies like you, who needs enemies.

    1. Well unlike trump I do believe that Pres. Z will indeed grow into the position. The whistleblower not only did an incredible service to our country by stepping forward, but also gave Ukrainian president a way out of being strong armed by trump and his minions.

  8. Imagine if the Democrats never won the House. What would the state of Democracy be with the Republicans controlling all three branches of government? Forgot, we already know.

    1. The new Dems were elected with a mandate to protect our sovereignty. The voters had im🍑ment in mind, That was even before this and more emoluments violations.🇺🇸

  9. Why do we even respect or allow this never elected, never authorized man to continue in this stolen office? The election was proven fraudulent.

    1. WTF are you on about. Your Russia/Ukraine/any other conspiracy setups were either debunked or in the process of being destroyed.
      Election fraud is a left wing concept as you will see when it is perpetrated as your last throw of the dice for 2020.
      #walkaway

  10. Rache’s explanation and analysis of the administration’s crooked Ukrainian dealings have been masterful. And she ALWAYS gives her sources as well as credit to those sources.

  11. Zelenskiy saying there was no pressure in front of Trump is like when the police show up and a battered wife says ‘ i fell down the stairs’ in front of her abusing husband.

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