Not even the most devoted partisan can claim this was a straight face. Russia kills journalists that speak against Putin, poison political opposition, and paint with microwave radiation any diplomat misguided enough to attempt a dialogue.
It's a mafia state, pure and simple.
Right, including me. That just happened to be the result.
> they routinely gobble up the narrative that the US is less free than Russia and other autocracies
There are certainly periodic discussions suggesting the US is less free than it's own PR would suggest, but that's not at all the same thing.
I fully agree IT in every industry deserves more respect, but Snowden is thoroughly enjoying his new found celebrity post-defection. To deny this is part of his motivation is to be blind.