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President-elect Donald Trump is entering office dogged by allegations that he has 

 in political matters. The controversy is a large concern for many Americans, but less so for Russians.

"The Russians kind of responded with a collective shrug of their shoulders, like 'Oh really? We favor political candidates in the United States. Is that news? Oh really, we meddle in U.S. affairs?' as if there was nothing newsworthy about this," Russia expert 

Neither initial reports of Trump's involvement with Russia nor later 

reports of the country having details that leave the President-elect open for blackmail

 diminished the support most Russians show him, Hayes said.

However, the sanctions later imposed on Russia following evidence of their presidential election hacking did elicit a big response from the Kremlin.

"The sanctions are a constant source of irritation, anger and frustration," Hayes said. 


Putin has already created a path for dealing with them, though — he 

 against the U.S. after President Barack Obama expelled several Russian diplomats. 

"In other words he let Obama play bad cop, and he played good cop," Hayes said, setting the stage for negotiations with the new administration.

Almost certainly, Hayes said: "I believe Trump has criticized virtually every political leader I know in the world ... never an unflattering remark about Vladimir Putin. Nothing. Never a criticism of the Russian policies. That absence itself tells me that something is there."

"Do you think he's being blackmailed?" asked Eichten.

Putin and Trump also share a similar leadership style that Hayes calls the "personalization of power."

"Everything tends to gravitate to them as a person," Hayes said.

So, while those in other government institutions might disagree with them — in Trump's case, 

 — the chaos is encouraged because it sends the message that power lies in them as leaders and when a decision is made it is made because they chose to, not because they were influenced.

To listen to the whole conversation, click the audio player above.

Nick Hayes is University Chair in Critical Thinking at St. John's University and the College of St. Benedict. Gary Eichten is MPR News' Editor-at-large. This conversation titled "Russia's Visible Hand: Putin, Trump and Cybermischief" was recorded at St. John's University.

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Russia expert and history professor Nick Hayes shed some light on the recent allegations concerning Russia and the 2016 presidential election.

Russia expert and history professor Nick Hayes of St. John's University, in conversation with MPR's Gary Eichten about "Russia's Visible Hand: Putin, Trump and Cybermischief in the 2016 Election."

This Russia expert thinks Trump is being blackmailed

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