America First, Russia Approved? Dissecting the Trump Administration’s Kremlin-Inflected Narratives

Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has led a significant realignment of U.S. foreign policy - one that increasingly reflects Kremlin-supported narratives surrounding the war in Ukraine, NATO, and the global liberal order. From proposing ceasefire terms that favor Russian strategic interests to downplaying Ukraine’s sovereignty, the administration’s rhetoric has raised questions about the erosion of traditional U.S. security commitments and a broader shift away from transatlantic norms.

Simultaneously, disinformation campaigns and foreign influence operations—especially those originating from Russia - have intensified, shaping domestic political discourse and shifting public opinion among segments of the American electorate. A growing number of Americans, particularly within Trump’s political base, now express sympathetic views toward Russia, revealing the power of media fragmentation and narrative manipulation.

In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, we explore the intersections of policy, politics, and media in a moment of global uncertainty. What does the Trump administration’s alignment with Kremlin interests mean for the U.S.-Russia-Ukraine dynamic? What role does the media play in reinforcing or resisting foreign narratives? And how might this shifting landscape impact democratic institutions and global security?

We’re joined by two experts who offer insight into these complex questions.

Dr. Jack Cunningham is a Fellow and Assistant Professor in the International Relations Program at Trinity College, University of Toronto, and serves as Program Coordinator at the Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History. His research focuses on modern conflict and Canadian foreign policy, with publications on nuclear diplomacy, the war in Afghanistan, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He is a former editor of International Journal, Canada’s leading journal of international affairs.

Jeffrey Dvorkin is a journalist, media ethicist, and Senior Fellow at Massey College, University of Toronto. He previously served as NPR’s first news ombudsman and Vice President of News and Information, as well as Managing Editor and Chief Journalist for CBC Radio. From 2010 to 2019, he directed the Journalism Program at the University of Toronto Scarborough. He is the author of Trusting the News in a Digital Age (Wiley, 2021), a critical examination of trust and transparency in modern journalism.

Produced by: Julia Brahy