Thread. As I’ve said, Putin and MbS want Trump to help them keep a tight grip on power at home. Oil price is key, and Trump is happy to raise gas prices to get the dictators’ help with the 2020 election. Quid pro quo. https://twitter.com/andrewsweiss/status/1248732566921924608

These Trump chats with his mentor Putin and his “friend” MbS drag free world discourse down to the mafia cartel’s level. Covid-19 is a handy excuse to “unite” on the authoritarians’ terms while they make no concessions.

Putin wants sanctions lifted; he and MbS both want to destroy US shale and energy sector in general. Trump only cares about the election and will stop at nothing. People keep underestimating this. The gloves are off.