Norwegian journalist Їne Back Їversen has some thoughts about the BFF who’s helping the Russians work the president. (I can’t vouch for all of this but FWIW, X’s AI Grok substantiates the sources.)

1: Let’s talk about Steve Witkoff, because I think the narrative of him being a “useful idiot” is a dangerous trap to walk in.

It’s darker than that.

Witkoff has spent three decades swimming in russian money, russian mob circles, and russian real-estate pipeline.

A thread 🧵

2: He isn’t just “a MAGA dude” advising Trump on Russia–Ukraine.
Witkoff is of russian descent, built his fortune through NYC networks flooded with post-Soviet criminal money, and is now pushing the kremlin wishlist so called “peace plan”
It’s not a coincidence.
It’s continuity.

. . . (Many additional points clipped.)

23: The question isn’t “Is he compromised?” The question is:

Why is US policy on Russia being shaped by someone whose entire worldview was formed in the one American industry russian intelligence spent decades infiltrating?

Ask; why is there so much willingness to ignore it?

. . .