In the tangled web of political intrigue and media machinations, there’s little surprise when coincidences seem a bit too coincidental. Just look at the swirling brouhaha surrounding an unpublished document that was supposedly meant for President Trump’s eyes back in December 2016. Apparently, there was a big mystery briefing that suggested Russia did not interfere in the election to help Trump win—or anyone else for that matter. This nugget of truth, tucked away in a President’s Daily Brief that curiously never made it to Trump’s desk, paints an interesting picture of politics at play, or should we say a game of hide and seek with crucial intelligence?
As the story goes, had this particular daily brief found its way to Trump, it might have given him a significant ace up his sleeve. Imagine the opportunity he would have had to counteract Hillary Clinton’s ongoing claims about Russian interference stealing what she believed was rightfully hers. How convenient it was, then, that this intel seemed to disappear faster than a donut at a dieting convention. To the weary observer, it might just feel like a classic case of ‘if you don’t see it, it didn’t happen.’
Fast forward to today, and that very document – the one that could have silenced a thousand wagging tongues – has finally emerged, courtesy of a strategic release. This revelation, though late, brings to light an astonishing timeline that seems anything but accidental. Just as Christmas lights go up in December, so too did a flurry of reports pushing a narrative that Russia was the Grinch who stole Hillary’s presidency. All while intelligence bigwigs were busy penning an assessment that was quite the opposite of this now well-worn story.
The irony doesn’t end there. On the day President Obama approved this new narrative, the story hit the front pages; complete with glossy photos promptly painting the intrigue as settled fact. Here’s where we cue the meme-worthy “caption this” moments, because no sooner was this script decided than friendly media outlets began trumpeting the tale with gusto. The pre-baked storyline was now ready to serve to the public, hot out of the mainstream oven, even as the intelligence community was still busy cooking up their contradictory conclusions.
All in all, this scenario might just raise an eyebrow or two. Viewer discretion advised, because such seamless storytelling mixed with media enthusiasm might just lead one to wonder about the nature of coincidences in the political realm. In the ongoing saga of narrative vs. evidence, this plot twist is yet another chapter in politics entertaining as ever.
