It took nationwide humiliation at the polls to spur the president to action, but yesterday, he finally decided it was time to punish Russia for its coordinated cyberattacks against the U.S. But in light of Obama’s recent wake-up call, it’s important to remember that the Russians had help — from unwitting, inept players like John Podesta.

Here’s some light memory refreshment, Iowahawk-style:

Breaking: State Dept expels 20 Nigerian diplomats after John Podesta fails to receive $1 million wire transfer from nephew of General Okezi — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

Breaking: US expels 50 UK embassy staffers in furor over targeted Rick Astley video attacks on John Podesta — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

Breaking: State Dept expels Ireland, Spain, & Australia over refusal to recognize John Podesta's lottery-winning email notifications — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

Moth : bug zapper :: John Podesta : "CLICK HERE NOW" — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

Podesta may as well have had a huge flashing target on his back saying “Scam me.”

Well, anyway, as we’ve discussed here recently, because the election didn’t turn out the way they’d hoped, many in the media are framing Obama’s sanctions as punishment for “election hacking.” Podesta’s role doesn’t seem to be anywhere on their radar.

#BREAKING: President Obama orders sanctions against Russian intelligence services officials in response to election hacking — NPR (@NPR) December 29, 2016

.@NPR what "election hacking" are you referring to? — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 29, 2016

@iowahawkblog @NPR pretty sad state of affairs when half of america is siding with the russians — polishrogue (@roguishpole) December 29, 2016

.@roguishpole @NPR it's a pretty sad state of affairs when half of America is so fucking stupid they think Russia "hacked the election." — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 29, 2016

.@iowahawkblog @NPR Are you incapable of deductive reasoning? You honestly don't know what NPR's Twitter account means by election hacking? — Dennis DiClaudio (@dennisdiclaudio) December 29, 2016

@dennisdiclaudio Is it asking too much to use language that conveys what they believe is the case.

@iowahawkblog @NPR — coshoct (@coshoct) December 29, 2016

@coshoct With 140 character limit, we make allowances, especially when discussing the biggest story of the decade. @iowahawkblog @NPR — Dennis DiClaudio (@dennisdiclaudio) December 29, 2016

.@JonMcPhalen Good point. Which is exactly why @iowahawkblog should not have made the same mistake. — Dennis DiClaudio (@dennisdiclaudio) December 30, 2016

Iowahawk didn’t push any false narratives. But, giver that he is, he’s more than willing to push a true one:

.@dennisdiclaudio Well, far be it from me to push false narratives. So let's review reality thread-style, shall we? — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

Pull up a chair and drink this in:

1/ John Podesta, like 100% of everyone who has ever had a email account, received a password phishing email. He fell for it. — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

2/ According to some accounts, the phishing email had Russian fingerprints/ characteristics in its metadata. — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

3/ whatever the case, the password purloiners downloaded his emails, which eventually got into the hands of Wikileaks, who made them public. — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

4/ The emails were mildly embarrassing, revealing frequent circle jerking between the DNC and journalists. Mostly embarrassing to media. — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

5/ At the time of their release (Oct) they were hardly covered by any media, and largely dismissed as a big fat nothingburger. — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

6/ Not one of the people whose emails were revealed has ever disputed their authenticity or provenance. — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

7/ Fast forward to December. The October nothingburger has now magically transformed into "vote hacking" and "election hacking." — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

8/ new narrative: treasonous Trump operatives conspired with Putin to hypnotically mesmerize Clinton voters into pulling the wrong lever. — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

9/ This is not Alex Jones or angry conspiracy kook Facebook uncles, it's the NYTs, the WaPo, our beloved State Radio. — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

10/ how effective has this been? If polls are to be believed, 50%+ of Democrats believe the Russians literally modified vote tallies. — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

11/ none of this is a defense of Trump, or his garbage kleptocrat pal Putin. It's an indictment of our garbage narrative-driven media. — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

12/ it shouldn't have to take a drunk internet nobody to point any of this out, but hey, here we are.

<end thread> — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 30, 2016

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how it’s done.

RIP Russian election hacking narrative. Courtesy of @iowahawkblog — Tim Dreyer (@Timbotown) December 30, 2016

@iowahawkblog so glad that I read all of this.. best synopsis yet.. — michael thomas (@MDiggity216) December 30, 2016