I too am old enough to recall the Stalinist and post-stalinist revisionist history and "fake news" coming from the center behind the iron curtain. All of this Trump administration sounds too, too similar. 
Where is American outrage...? Okay, many are outraged, where is the efficacious action among those of "trust" to stand, challenge and dismiss this outrage?
Putin is proving his thesis - American style "democracy" does not protect.
Traditionalist RC political theory that "enlightened despotism" (under the thumb of it as dominant church) is the best form of government has a life, sadly.