this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2024
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A federal indictment unsealed on Wednesday alleges that a Tennessee-based media company which played home to several prominent right-leaning online commentators was secretly a Russian government-backed influence operation. The company is accused of receiving nearly $10 million from employees of Russia Today (RT), a Russian state-backed media company, as part of “a scheme to create and distribute content to U.S. audiences with hidden Russian government messaging,” according to Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Tenet Media worked with American conservative or heterodox media figures, including Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, and Lauren Southern, who variously present themselves as independent journalists, documentarians, and political commentators. Not all of them immediately commented on having been publicly linked to a foreign propaganda site, but Johnson soon tweeted that he and other influencers had been “victims in this alleged scheme.” In his own tweet, Pool echoed that line, writing, in part, “Should these allegations prove true, I as well as the other personalities and commentators were deceived and are victims.” Rubin, too, described himself as a victim, adding, “I knew absolutely nothing about any of this fraudulent activity. Period.”

The indictment, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleges that RT and two specific employees, Kostiantyn “Kostya” Kalashnikov and Elena “Lena” Afanasyeva, worked to funnel money to Tenet Media as part of a series of “covert projects” to shape the opinions of Western audiences. RT has faced cancellations and sanctions in the United States, Europe, Canada, and the UK after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; federal authorities allege those travails led the company to instead create more covert means of influencing public perception.

While Tenet is only referred to in the indictment as “U.S. Company 1,” details made it readily identifiable. The indictment alleges that Tenet’s coverage “contain[ed] commentary on events and issues in the United States, such as immigration, inflation, and other topics…consistent with the Government of Russia’s interest in amplifying U.S. domestic divisions.”

The indictment also alleges that not everyone affiliated with Tenet was unaware of the scheme, stating that “Founders 1 and 2” of the company knew the source of their funding. The founders of Tenet Media are Lauren Chen and her husband; Chen is a conservative influencer and YouTuber who’s hosted a show on Blaze TV and who’s affiliated with Turning Point USA. Her husband, Liam Donovan, identifies himself on Twitter as the president

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[–] ZeroCool@slrpnk.net 27 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Tim Pool is a Kremlin mouthpiece. Least surprising news of the year. But oh boy, am I looking forward to the next episode of Knowledge Fight now. Should be a doozy.

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 21 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Can't wait to hear how the spin on this is from "Liberals" somehow.

[–] rayyy@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Cue the projection in 3, 2,1....

[–] Spitzspot@lemmings.world 17 points 2 months ago (1 children)

From the "law and order" party.

[–] Thebeardedsinglemalt@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

From the aMeRiCa FiRsT party

[–] don@lemm.ee 7 points 2 months ago

Republicans working hand in hand with Russians? No fuckin’ way! They’re the Patriotic™ party of the United States!

[–] todd_bonzalez@lemm.ee 5 points 2 months ago

You heard it straight from the party folks: Conservatives are easily tricked by Russian operatives.

[–] phoneymouse@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

Now do Republican congressman and senators.

[–] ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Russia wasted $10 million dollars on people who have to beg Joe Rogan for attention when someone cancels at the last minute. I almost feel sorry for them.

[–] IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

Prosecute these scumbags for working as unregistered agents of a foreign power?

[–] MediaBiasFactChecker@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

Mother Jones - News Source Context (Click to view Full Report)Information for Mother Jones:

MBFC: Left-Center - Credibility: High - Factual Reporting: High - United States of America
Wikipedia about this source

Search topics on Ground.Newshttps://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/09/tenet-media-russia/
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