WATCH: McCaskill Takes Down Trump by Asking Intelligence Chief ‘Who Benefits’ From ‘Trashing the Intelligence Community’
The Very Nations and Actors Who Most Want to Harm the United States
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill asked Director of National Intelligence James Clapper what so far has been one of the most important questions during Thursday’s Senate hearing into Russia’s hacking operations into the U.S. and the American election. The Democrat from Missouri, who now serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, asked Clapper, who stands to gain from Donald Trump’s repeated attacks on U.S. intelligence agencies.Â
“So let’s talk about who benefits from a president-elect trashing the intelligence community?,” Sen. McCaskill asked, pointedly. “Who benefits from that, Director Clapper? The American people? Them losing confidence in the intelligence community and the work of the intelligence community? Who actually is the benefactor of someone who’s about to become Commander-in-Chief, trashing the intelligence community?”
Clapper responded, saying there’s an “important distinction” between “healthy skepticism” and “disparagement.”
Clapper on Trump’s comments about the IC: I think there’s a difference between skepticism and disparagement https://t.co/HGmL4GD6wG
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 5, 2017
McCaskill went on to note that the “biggest benefactors are Iran, North Korea, China, Russia, and ISIS.”
Director Clapper on Pres.-elect Trump’s intel comments: Difference between healthy skepticism and disparagement. https://t.co/Tn39RcbJtb
— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) January 5, 2017
So, to sum up: Donald Trump is helping the very nations and actors who most want to harm the United States when he disparages the U.S. intelligence agencies.
How is that upholding the Constitution or keeping America safe?
How is that “making America great again”?

Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.
![]() |