Welcome to this week’s installment of The Intelligence Brief… on Wednesday, U.S. authorities revealed new evidence of actions by Russian state-sponsored media to fund propaganda efforts that align with views the Kremlin finds favorable. In our analysis, we’ll be looking at 1) what authorites have revealed about the alleged scheme, 2) who has been implemented in the alleged effort, 3) how the effort sought to target Americans with overall distrust for traditional media, and 4) the implications of the revelations amid the current 2024 election cycle and an ever-changing media landscape.
Quote of the Week
“Hahahaha!”
– Excerpt From a Response Issued by Russian State Media Agency RT
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Podcasts: In podcasts this week, on The Micah Hanks Program, historian Greg Eghigian jumps behind the microphone with us to discuss his book After the Flying Saucers Came. Elsewhere, on The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Stephanie dip their toes into a story about Chinese scientists who say they have found a way to produce water on the Moon. You can catch up on past episodes over on The Debrief’s Podcasts Page.
Video News: On the latest episode of Rebelliously Curious, Chrissy Newton is joined by Terrence Taylor, the visionary Founder of the African Institute of Future Technologies (AIFT), who brings a unique perspective on how advanced technologies like AI and robotics can bridge the digital divide. Be sure to check out other great content from The Debrief on our official YouTube Channel.
Now, it’s time to shift our attention over to revelations earlier this week involving an alleged effort by Russian state media to influence American political dialogue, which has implicated several well-known online influencers.
U.S. Authorities Charge Russian in Alleged Propaganda Scheme
This week, a U.S. indictment has further revealed why many of us feel that, in the modern internet age, it’s becoming harder to know what to believe, and also to determine what kinds of support mechanisms could exist behind influencer voices operating on social media.
That’s because on Wednesday, an indictment was filed against a media company based in Tennessee alleging that it has secretly been funded by Russian state media, in an effort to propel content deemed favorable by the Russian government.
As part of the indictment, several prominent influencers were implicated, including Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, and Benny Johnson, none of whom were apparently aware that the company had suspected ties to Russian state media. The claims have emerged just weeks before the U.S. election, stoking new concerns amid knowledge of past efforts by Russian intelligence agencies to influence American politics through propaganda and related efforts.
Secret Pro-Russian Propaganda Efforts
According to the indictment, an unnamed Tennessee-based media company linked to several prominent conservative influencers is believed to have been secretly financed by individuals associated with Russian state-controlled media.
Although the company is not named in the indictment, it is believed to be Tenet Media, which hosts a network of conservative influencers who have gained significant followings on social media platforms.
The apparent focus of the company’s involvement with Russian media had been to produce content for English-language audiences that promoted Kremlin interests, with the aim of using propaganda to worsen the division that exists over political issues, and thereby weakening opposition to Russian activities that include the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Several of the influencers involved have publicly expressed that they had no knowledge of the funding sources behind the company and have denied any wrongdoing.
Accused Russian Media Employees
In the indictment, the U.S. Justice Department has accused Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, two employees of Russian state media company RT, of funneling nearly $10 million to the unnamed Tennessee-based media company. The pair face charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, in addition to violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
Currently, Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva are not in custody, and it was not revealed on Wednesday whether they have legal representation yet amid the allegations of propaganda use and related funding mechanisms.
Resonating Distrust
Several of the key influencers now implicated with the pair’s actions have built large followings on social media, particularly among portions of the American populace that voice distrust for mainstream media, as well as concerns about overreaches of government.
None of the influencers have been accused of illegal activity, and the indictment issued on Wednesday clarifies that some of the individuals had been given misleading information about the funding sources behind the company they had been working with.
“Putin is a scumbag,” Tim Pool said in a statement online, denouncing the Russian government and its use of propaganda following the release of the indictment. Pool, an American journalist and YouTuber, first came to prominence for his coverage of the Occupy Wall Street protests in 2011. Benny Johnson, another of the influencers implicated with the operation, also posted a statement on social media following the revelations.
A Changing Media Landscape
In recent years, the changing media landscape has helped amplify the voices of influencers, who offer alternative views to those expressed by traditional mainstream media commentators. The significance of influencers and their ability to shape public opinion becomes a potential concern amid questions regarding the financial backing behind such commentary, as Wednesday’s indictment reveals.
Currently, Tenet Media has millions of followers on its various platforms, and six of the primary influencers who have worked with the company have more than 7 million followers on platforms that include YouTube and X. According to the revelations on Wednesday, some of them had been paid significant amounts of money, one receiving as much as $400,000 each month, in addition to a $100,000 signing bonus.
Wednesday’s revelations are only the latest in an ongoing series of attempts by Russia to interfere in American politics through propaganda, and mark the third consecutive American presidential election where such efforts have been revealed by U.S. authorities.
On Wednesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland, speaking at the Justice Department’s headquarters in Washington, called such activities “a bigger threat than it ever was before.”
“We will be relentlessly aggressive in countering attempts to interfere in our elections and undermine our democracy,” Garland said on Wednesday.
That concludes this week’s installment of The Intelligence Brief. You can read past editions of The Intelligence Brief at our website, or if you found this installment online, don’t forget to subscribe and get future email editions from us here. Also, if you have a tip or other information you’d like to send along directly to me, you can email me at micah [@] thedebrief [dot] org, or Tweet at me @MicahHanks.
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