Heidi Siegmund Cuda: Does Trump's Inner Circle Have Russian Connections? - Thom Hartmann

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Investigative reporter Heidi Siegmund Cuda explains how open source records reveal troubling links between Trump political operatives and Russian oligarch money.

From Florida power brokers to sanctioned firms, the pattern keeps repeating. This is not ideology. It is influence and access.

Why is this story still treated as taboo in corporate media? - Aired on 12/30/2025.

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1. incredible how many great capitalist fortunes were made in soviet russia

armand hammer, the kochs, these guys, and

all right wingers from hell.

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2. Excellent point. And that's what Putin is dreaming of recreating.

I visited the USSR back in the late '80s with my grandmother and the peace group she joined. She invited me to join them on their first visit to their "sister town." And it couldn't have been more different than the Russia we hear about now. Back then it was under Gorbachev who had instituted more progressive policies, though he was stymied by the Russian hard liners because of President Reagan who never let up on Gorbachev, remember "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" But it was sure different than it is today, we met with other peace groups, after what they'd experienced during WWII fought on their own land, they never wanted to experience another war. And even people on the street were friendly, pleased to meet Americans. Sure is different from today - under Putin.

[rampartd]

3. in like 1990 i was in a group of scientists meeting in leningrad

with a similar russian group to exchange charts and data on the arctic ocean.

our leader was an old irish oceanographer who chose me more for alcoholic reputation than scientific expertise. the Russian officers , i am sorry to say, drank us under the table.

the ukrainians want no part of a reconstituted soviet union . i do not blame them.