Political Desperation Fuels Spy Agencies’ Latest Russia Conspiracy Theory

There is no evidence that “Russian disinformation” is hurting Biden or helping Trump

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines (R) testifies alongside Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns (L) at a hearing before the House Select Intelligence Committee in the Cannon Office Building on March 12, 2024 in Washington, DC. Leaders from the U.S. intelligence community are participating in hearings with both the Senate and House intelligence committees to lay out their perceived global threats to the United States. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

NBC News and CNN reported yesterday that Russia is trying to interfere in this year’s presidential election using “information warfare.” Russia is engaging in covert influence operations to help former president Donald Trump, just like it did in 2016, and is targeting swing states in particular, CNN and NBC News claim.

But the intelligence community (IC) has not presented any evidence of this alleged Russian election interference. NBC News and CNN simply cited an anonymous official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, whose claims are vague and unsubstantiated.