Nope. Either there is trust, period, or there isn't. In this case there simply isn't, and if you are non-US person then US government definitely 100% falls into that category. We don't have same human rights you have as per US laws god dammit, how can we talk about any trust here. Our interest are momentarily aligned is the best we can go for.
Which is not the end of the world in any means, but lets be factual and act accordingly.
That's a classic false dilemma. While the US government is not perfect by far and has MANY flaws, the Russian government is an entirely different level of corrupt.
US corruption is a worldwide operation effort. Russia's is at best significant on Eurasia and US. It will take Putin some time to reach US level.
Putin will never reach that level because he's destroyed his soft power and set Russia back decades.
A government that maintains a procedure for regular peaceful replacement of itself?
You totally couldn't exploit that, right?
You can exploit anything, what's your point? There is still a fundamental difference at play.
replacing talking heads from 2 parties (that you are allowed to choose from) does not equal replacing government
Are you implying there was no fundamental difference between the Obama and Trump governments? Clinton and Bush?
fundamental, of course, no.
you're allowed to choose from 2 parties, thinking you're making a difference.
People that did or did not go to war, went without then obtained health care coverage I think would disagree with you.
Perhaps you were never in danger of any of those things, thus to you, there was/is no difference.
If you don't like those talking heads, vote for others. If you can't convince your peers to vote for others, then maybe they have a point.