RantCrush Top 5: February 6, 2017

Let’s talk through President Trump’s latest comments about Russia. In an interview with Fox News that aired on Saturday, Trump said that he respected Russian President Vladimir Putin. Bill O’Reilly countered, “But he’s a killer.” Trump answered, “There are a lot of killers. You think our country’s so innocent?” Now, Russia is demanding a formal apology from Fox News for calling its president a killer. And many are unhappy that our country’s president thinks we are on the same level as an authoritarian regime.

When has a Democratic political activists been poisoned by the GOP, or vice versa? We are not the same as #Putin. MR

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 5, 2017

According to Human Rights Watch, Russia has virtually no freedom of expression, association, or press and discriminates against LGBT people, women, and disabled citizens. Political opposition is crushed, sometimes through assassination. Comparing the U.S. to Russia “is as inexplicably bizarre as it is untrue. Does he not see the damage he does with comments like that, and the gift he gives to Russian propaganda?” said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California) to CNN.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.