Poison in the bloodstream

Sadly, we don't need Vlad's agents to spread lies, yet here we are

Last week, the Department of Justice handed down indictments for two Russian nationals accused of paying $10 million for American online influencers to spread Russian propaganda. Both Russians work for RT, an international media outlet funded by the Russian government that promotes Russian interests, usually at the expense of the truth.

That’s why it’s called propaganda.

The U.S. media outlet alleged to have been the recipient of Kremlin Kash was the Tennessee-based Tenent Media, home of right-wing personalities such as Tim Pool (long considered a “superspreader” of misinformation), and Laura Southern (called a star racist by The Atlantic magazine), among others. There was some concern among the new hires at last year’s launch of Tenent as to precisely what was the purpose of their new company, but the money was good, and that may have eased any curiosity the influencers had about who was signing their paychecks. Pool is said to have been paid $100,000 a week.

The indictment says Tenent’s personalities didn’t know they were the dupes of an expensive Russian propaganda effort, but feel free to question that.

Also feel free to tell yourself that the Tenent Six were espousing deeply-held beliefs when they spoke against Ukraine, against Biden, and for conspiracy theories – pretty much any theory, whaddya got. If they weren’t just Putin puppets, Pool, at least, folded like a cheap beach chair when the indictment news broke. From once banging on the table and saying, “Ukraine is the enemy of this country,” Pool slinked over to Xwitter to type, and this is verbatim: “Upon reflection I now understand that Ukraine is our Greatest ally As the breadbasket of Europe and a peace loving people we cannot allow the Fascist Russians to continue their crimes against humanity We must redouble our efforts and provide an additional $200b at once.”

(Now that is a quick conversion, but there must be something about an FBI indictment that makes you reexamine your life choices.)

As the stories are breaking, I am thinking of the adage that it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Conspiracy theories, “reporting” disconnected from fact, and moronic podcast guests should never be considered entertainment. Rather quickly, YouTube removed Tenent Media, along with other channels linked to Laura Chen, who with her husband Liam Donovan founded the company. Tenent closed shop the day after the indictment was made public. Chen also lost her job at Blaze Media.

If it’s any comfort, a 2023 New York University study said that 2016 Russian efforts to promote Trump’s campaign had only a small effect on American attitudes and voting behaviors. The study estimated that some 32 million X (formerly Twitter) and 126 million Facebook users were exposed to Russian propaganda. Even with well-targeted messages (particularly supporters of third-party candidates disengaged from the two-party system), we may have to accept the notion that conspiracy theorists do this to themselves without much help from bad actors outside our borders. We grow our own brand of stupid, but thanks anyway, Vlad.

Our technology has raced out of the barn and it’s over the next hill while we’re still discussing the role of AI in classrooms. And here is where I urge you to read 2018’s “The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America,” by Timothy Snyder.

Finally, and in closing, I leave you with one pro tip: If a foreign power that has historically worked against the interests of the U.S.A. has a favorite candidate in a U.S. election, vote for the other candidate. If you think Putin’s recent joke about supporting Kamala Harris is real, then I have only pity for you. I’m sad that I have to say that but yes. Here we are.