Summary
Putin’s actions after Trump’s election, including a delayed congratulations and a denial of a phone call, suggest a lack of respect for Trump’s personal relationship with him.
Russia’s intelligence chief’s statement that Trump owes them favors for their support in his election, along with hints that he is expected to “pay back” certain obligations, amounts to a bold threat of blackmail.
Trump’s foreign policy, which favors a realignment with Russia, may be challenged by Putin’s actions and the revelation of Russian interference in the election.
The danger in this term is that there are far more groups who are far better prepared now to take advantage of this traits for their own gain. I think a good chunk of why his first term had so much bumbling about was because people weren’t prepared. Now groups like heritage front and such have a playbook on how to handle him, the potential for actual damage in this term is much greater.
IMO, I think the best chance at damage mitigation is if the GOP congress is as dysfunctional as it has been the last 2 years, but I don’t hold much faith in that.