I really think they are a part of the alt-right/Russian playbook now. Russia has always been known to stir up shit and the GOP is on a serious misinformation Kool-aid binge right now. I'll even go so far as to say that the current conflict in the Middle East has Russian fingerprints on it. They have done it before.
Who is the politician playing against in this chess? I think that's a dumb take.
Like are there pawns being sacrificed? Do they strategize to back enemies into corners with no way out?