Michael McFaul
The Diplomat
People, composure and the difficult conversation held well.
Michael McFaul is a seasoned diplomat and political scientist who has played a significant role in U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding Russia. This interview reveals his ability to navigate complex political landscapes while advocating for democratic values and fostering relationships across divides.
“Completely, completely. And his one of his campaign advisors, he told me very bluntly, you all, your business has a reputation of being a little bit cynical about these things, and most certainly that crowd who I've known for 30 years in Russia, they're pretty cynical people. And he said to me, his name was Sarkov. Is Sarkov?”
“I have no doubt that those things are related. He thought that we are interfering in his election, so when he had the chance for payback, he took it, particularly against her. I remember that statement, right?”
“No, no, no. He's an artist in Utah. But Steve, he was worldly because he'd lived in California before. And he kept every day, he would say, we got to get out of Montana, this parochial backwards place. You got to go abroad, you know, over, I'm not, this is not the right word, you got to go out of state to see the world for college.”
“Trump was. But then we get into the gray zon Did they make contact with the campaign to try to provide additional information that might help them? The answer to that is also yes. Natalia Versonitska, who I've never met before, but I know that system well.”
The Axe Files with David Axelrod — Ep. 245 — Michael McFaul
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