The TrumpPutin relationship is examined. Russia. Putin has an untrammeled authority. I dont see any checks on his power. He is able to make singular, rapid decisions. The absolutism there is unlike anything ive ever seen in russia. All that power is propped up by an astonishing Approval Rating, over 80 . And thats according to american pollsters. Donald trump wins the presidency. But when the United States elected a new president , it looked like russia had fallen for a new leader. There were toasts all over moscow. At the parliament, known as the duma. On talk shows. And at bars. [ laughter ] we are the champions of the world but one man seemed utterly unsurprised by trumps victory. Hes happy to take credit. And that means that he won the u. S. Election. The man who is simultaneously president of russia and in charge of the United States. At the heart of all this are some deadly serious questions. Does Vladimir Putin have some kind of hold over donald trump . We simply dont know. But
rating has soared as high as 86% in recent years. consider that american presidents are happy when they break the 50% mark. how has he done it? partly, it s the cult of putin. he has mastered the art of the manly photo op. he rides horseback bare chested, finds ancient treasures under water, rides a submarine to the bottom of the black sea, flies planes, fights forest fires. there s something ridiculous about a middle-aged world leader riding around shirtless on a horse like conan the barbarian after a dozen donuts. who thinks this looks good? everything we find ridiculous about vladimir putin is very appealing in a media universe that he controls absolutely.
manly photo op. he rides horseback bare chested, finds ancient treasures under water, rides a submarine to the bottom of the black sea, flies planes, fights forest fires. there s something ridiculous about a middle-aged world leader riding around shirtless on a horse like conan the barbarian after a dozen donuts. who thinks this looks good? everything we find ridiculous about vladimir putin is very appealing in a media universe that he controls absolutely. perhaps the foundation of the putin juggernaut is a political truism no matter where you live. it s the economy, stupid. after the chaotic years of boris yeltsin, putin stepped in and stabilized the country, and he rode the wave of ever rising oil prices, which in russia s resource-rich economy, translated into rising wages and soaring stock indices.
the most powerful man in the world is also the most popular. vladimir putin! vladimir putin s approval ratings have soared as high as 86% in recent years. consider that american presidents are happy when they break the 50% mark. how has he done it? partly, it s the cult of putin. he has mastered the art of the manly photo op. he rides horseback bare chested, finds ancient treasures under water, rides a submarine to the bottom of the black sea, flies planes, fights forest fires. a middle-aged leader riding around shirtless on a horse like
the most powerful man in the world is also the most popular. vladimir putin! reporter: vladimir putin s approval rating has soared as high as 86% in recent years. consider that american presidents are happy when they break the 50% mark. reporter: how has he done it? partly, it s the cult of putin. he has mastered the art of the manly photo op. he rides horseback bare chested, finds ancient treasures under water, rides a submarine to the bottom of the black sea, flies planes, fights forest fires. there s something ridiculous about a middle-aged world leader riding around shirtless on a