From: allin
Recent charges by the Department of Justice (DOJ) highlight concerns about Russian interference in media and politics, particularly through podcast infiltration to push pro-Kremlin narratives ahead of the US elections [01:08:47]. This development has reignited discussions about the influence of media and public figures on elections and the nature of foreign interference.
DOJ Charges and Allegations
The DOJ recently charged two Russian media operatives with infiltrating podcasts to disseminate pro-Kremlin talking points [01:09:37]. These individuals, identified as employees of the state-run Russia Today (RT), allegedly funneled $10 million into a Tennessee-based media company [01:09:55]. The scheme aimed to influence public opinion and sow social divisions, with wire transfers occurring from October of the previous year up to the month prior to the podcast discussion [01:10:01]. Specific talking points included placing blame on Ukraine for its conflict with Russia [01:10:14].
The operatives face charges of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each carrying a potential 20-year prison sentence [01:10:20].
Tenant Media and Associated Personalities
Although not explicitly named in the indictment, the company was quickly identified as Tenant Media, founded in 2023 by conservative commentator Lauren Chen [01:10:30]. Personalities associated with Tenant Media include Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Dave Rubin, and Lauren Southern [01:10:41]. In the past year, Tenant Media reportedly posted 2,000 videos, accumulating 16 million YouTube views [01:10:51]. The DOJ charges suggest that Russian operatives coordinated with the founders of Tenant Media, pressuring them to amplify pro-Russian videos and tweets [01:10:58]. The indicted personalities generally claimed they were unaware of the Russian connection, despite being paid sums of up to $100,000 per episode [01:12:57].
Perspectives on Russian Interference
The Role of Media and Advertising
One perspective argues that the incident underscores the pervasive influence of funding on media content. The absence of ads on the All-In Podcast, for example, is cited as a “single biggest clarifying function” for maintaining independent opinions and credibility [01:11:37]. It’s suggested that foreign state actors and multinational corporations will always find “unwitting people” to propagate their talking points [01:12:21].
Intentions Behind the Influence
There are differing views on Russia’s ultimate objective.
- Sowing Division: Some argue that Russia’s primary goal, akin to KGB tactics, is to sow division and cause chaos within countries [01:16:31]. This strategy aims to demoralize populations, erode trust in institutions and facts, and distract from Russia’s actions, such as the invasion of Ukraine [01:16:50]. This view maintains that Russia doesn’t care who wins an election, only that there is internal strife [01:16:34].
- Political Preference: An alternative view suggests that Russia might have a preference for certain candidates. For instance, the content pushed by Tenant Media, which was largely anti-Trump (e.g., criticisms on abortion, promoting extreme ideas like repealing the 19th Amendment), could be interpreted as an effort to benefit Kamala Harris, seen by some as a “weaker candidate” [01:15:00]. Reference was made to Putin’s recent public statements, where he “announced his endorsement of K haris” [01:15:58].
Historical Context and Skepticism
Some observers express skepticism about the current allegations, viewing them within a broader history of alleged Russian interference that has been contested or disproven.
- 2016 Election: The “Russia gate hoax” involved the Steele dossier, which was later revealed to be opposition research funded by Hillary Clinton’s campaign [01:19:36]. This dossier was then used by the “Deep State” to investigate the Trump campaign, including lying to the FISA court, resulting in a two-year investigation that was never proven [01:19:43].
- 2020 Election: Allegations resurfaced regarding Russian interference related to Hunter Biden’s laptop, which 51 security state operatives claimed was Russian disinformation, a claim that turned out to be false [01:20:09]. Additionally, groups like NewsGuard and Hamilton 68 were described as “bogus media watchdog groups” and “Deep State Ops” designed to censor conservative content as Russian disinformation [01:20:25].
- Convictions Around Trump: Despite claims of Trump’s non-compromise, individuals in his circle faced convictions related to Russian contacts or lying about them, including Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, and Roger Stone [01:21:13]. These figures were later pardoned [01:21:39].
This history leads some to caution against accepting such claims at “face value,” highlighting what they perceive as a “double standard” in how alleged foreign operations are interpreted depending on which political candidate they seem to benefit [01:20:54].
These events underscore the ongoing complexities and debates surrounding foreign influence in political discourse and the role of media entities in shaping public perception.