US is the real loser if Senate passes virtue signaling Russia sanctions

['Jennifer Kavanagh', 'Dr. Jennifer Kavanagh Is A Senior Fellow', 'Director Of Military Analysis At Defense Priorities. Previously', 'Dr. Kavanagh Was A Senior Fellow At The Carnegie Endowment For International Peace', 'A Senior Political Scientist At The Rand Corporation. She Is Also An Adjunct Professor At Georgetown University.'] Responsible Statecraft 2026-08-04 05:05:02

But for many senators, the top priority is not enacting legislation that will help Americans but instead rushing to approve the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026 , known colloquially as the “Russia sanctions bill.” First, it codifies and expands sanctions against Kremlin officials, Russian oligarchs, and Russian banks and corporations. However, after more than four years of sanctions, Russian banks and corporations have already developed alternatives. The result was so bad for the U.S. economy that it led to the original Trump TACO ( Trump Always Chickens Out ). Russia’s economy is under strain, but it can withstand the modest costs that Graham’s sanctions bill will impose while sustaining the war effort.