GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher fiercely defends Russia, calls human rights violations 'baloney'


Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) is reportedly on an increasingly short list of candidates being considered by Donald Trump for secretary of state. But when pressed Wednesday night by Yahoo News' Bianna Golodryga about Trump's friendliness towards Russia, considering the human rights abuses committed by the nation, Rohrabacher scoffed, "Oh, baloney! Where do you come from?"
From there, the exchange became fiery and downright personal. Golodryga responded that she is from the former Soviet Union and that she came to the U.S. as a political refugee, to which Rohrabacher shot back: "Oh, well, then that's good, then the audience knows you're biased."
When challenged again about Russia's human rights violations, Rohrabacher, a former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan, said Reagan would have loved his stance on Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Reagan was the one who reached out to [Mikhail] Gorbachev," he explained. Again, Golodryga attempted to clarify: "Are you comparing Gorbachev to Vladimir Putin?"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Absolutely, I am," Rohrabacher confirmed. Watch the explosive exchange below. Jeva Lange
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Facebook: Sarah Wynn-Williams' shocking exposé
Talking Point Former executive's tell-all memoir of life behind the scenes at Meta 'makes for damning reading'
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: March 23, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Codeword: March 23, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published