MEDIA FAIL IN PROGRESS: Blue checks confuse NSC staffer for Russian Maria Butina

Who’s ready for a little Zapruder analysis this morning? At issue is this old photo released by the Russian news agency TASS that blue checks are convinced shows newly accused Russian national Maria Butina in the Oval Office meeting with President Trump last year:

https://twitter.com/WestWingReport/status/1019206520939188224

Here’s a front-on view of the mystery redhead from a now-deleted tweet by Dr. Dena Grayson, wife of Alan Grayson:

https://twitter.com/DrDenaGrayson/status/1019208942675775489

We got a screenshot of the pic she attached before she deleted it:

But the woman looks a lot like Cari Grace Lutkins of the National Security Council:

OK all, this may be Cari Lutkins from the NSC. I may delete this tweet… https://t.co/DI0zpju68I

— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) July 17, 2018

Update 9:55 — Here’s Singer’s deleted tweet:

"Senior Political Reporter" pic.twitter.com/nZZJjfEh6s

— Currently between fraudulent suspensions (@jtLOL) July 17, 2018

Here’s Ms. Lutkins:

Looks like Cari Grace Lutkins, who joined the NSC in 2017. pic.twitter.com/Bb4H8Oz5oU

— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) July 17, 2018

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And here’s Butina:

This is Maria Butina. pic.twitter.com/PK5LaSntQj

— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) July 17, 2018

And now it’s confirmed that it’s not Butina:

https://twitter.com/TomNamako/status/1019210350867156992

All redheads look alike?

All redheads are part of the same insidious conspiracy against humanity so yes, yes of course that unidentified woman in the White House is the same as the Russian spy. Even if they're different people, they are joined by the same evil psychic link.

— Esoteric Jeff (@EsotericCD) July 17, 2018

Screenshot for posterity:

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