Right Wing Media Stars Push Russian Propaganda
It has now been confirmed that Tenet Media - which includes Tim Pool and Benny Johnson - were paid millions of dollars to push talking points supplied by the Kremlin.
Hoo, boy y’all! What a day!
Earlier, Merrick Garland gave a press conference in which he said the Department of Justice had unsealed an indictment of two Russian agents for spreading Russian propaganda in the US in an effort to interfere in the 2024 election by helping Donald Trump.
At first, I thought “Good! More Russians indicted!” But as I began to read the indictment and watch how people were reacting to it, it became clear just how involved some of the most popular right wing podcasters and media outlets have been.
CNN is now confirming that Russian agents negotiated contracts worth millions of dollars for folks like Tim Pool and Benny Johnson - commentators for a company called Tenet media. As one sleuth pointed out - the Tenet Media mission statement matched that of “company 1” in the indictment, and the number of followers for both Tim Pool and Benny Johnson matched the number of followers mentioned in the indictment.
So while we all knew that these guys were pushing Russian talking points, we now know that they were paid by Russia, and we have proof that Russia was dictating their talking points.
In some of the exhibits attached to the indictments, we can see the talking points shared with this right wing nut jobs - and they read just like Trump’s campaign talking points.
For example, exhibit 8 is a document shared with Tenet media, and it says (translated from the original Russian):
Goal: To secure victory of a US. Political Party A (republican/Trump) at the US Presidential elections to be held in November of 2024.
Objectives:
To increase the percentage of Americans who believe that the US "has been doing way too much to support Ukraine" to 51% (as of 11/02/2023 such index was 41%, according to Gallup).
To increase the percentage of Americans who believe that the war is to be ended as soon as possible, even at the cost of territorial concessions on the part of Ukraine, to 53% (as of 11/02/2023 such index was 43%, according to Gallup).
To bring Candidate B (Biden’s) confidence rating down to the minimal level of 29% (as of 11/19/2023 this rating was 39%, based on CNNs "poll of polls").
Target audience:
Residents of "swing states whose voting results impact the outcomes of the elections more than other states. In 2024, such states, according to The New York Times and Sienna College, are Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Residents of conservative states where traditional values are strong who more often vote for candidates of the US. Political Party A: Alabama, Kansas, Texas, Wyoming, Louisiana, etc.
US citizens of Hispanic descent.
American Jews.
Community of American gamers, users of Reddit and image boards, such as 4chan (the "backbone" of the right-wing trends in the US segment of the Internet).
Exhibit 9 goes a step further:
Topics to discuss:
1. Encroaching universal poverty. Record Inflation. Halting of economic growth. Unaffordable prices for food or essential goods.
2. Risk of job loss for white Americans;
3. Privileges for people of color, perverts, and disabled;
4. Constant lies of the Biden administration about the real situation in the country,
5. Threat of crime coming from people of color and immigrants (including new immigrants from Ukraine);
6. Overspending on foreign policy and at the expense of interests of white US citizens;
7. Constant lies to the voters by Democrats in power.
8. Last but not least - America is suffering a defeat despite Biden’s efforts. We are being drawn into the war. Our guys will die in Ukraine.
Target Audience:
Trump voters. Trump supporters. Supporters of traditional family values. White americans in the lower middle and middle class.
Tucker Carlson even makes an appearance in the indictment:
On or about February 15, 2024, AFANASYEVA (as "Helena Shudra") shared with U.S. Company-l a video of a well-known U.S. political commentator visiting a grocery store in Russia. AFANASYEVA posted the video in the Producer Discord Channel. Later that day, Producer-1 privately messaged Founder-2 on Discord: "They want me to post this" — referencing the video that AFANASYEVA had posted — but "it just feels like overt shilling." Founder-2 replied that Founder-l "thinks we should put it out there." Producer-I acquiesced, responding, "alright I'll put it out tomorrow."
That’s right! TUCKER CARLSON was too overtly shilltastic for right wingers! But they shared the video anyhow.
And what did they get paid? Tim Pool and Benny Johnson got $400K a month to create four videos on the Russian talking points.
Both claim they were unwitting victims in the Russian op. Here’s Tim Pools statement:
My statement regarding allegations and the leaked DOJ Indictment
Should these allegations prove true, I as well as the other personalities and commentators were deceived and are victims. I cannot speak for anyone else at the company as to what they do or to what they are instructed
The Culture War Podcast was licensed by Tenet Media, it existed well before any license agreement with Tenet and it will continue to exist after any such agreement expires. The only change with the agreement was that the location of the live broadcast moved to Tenet's Youtube Channel.
Never at any point did anyone other than I have full editorial control of the show and the contents of the show are often apolitical. Examples include discussing spirituality, dating, and videos games.
The show is produced in its entirety by our local team without input from anyone external to the company
TCW is separate company not associated with http://Timcast.com or other properties. It exists solely for the production of the Culture War Podcast
That being said, we still do not know what is true as these are only allegations.
Putin is a scumbag, Russia sucks donkey balls
And to the journalists who wish to jump the gun, create their own narrative, or lie about what is currently going on,
you can eat my irish ass
And here is Benny Johnson’s statement:
A statement on the leaked DOJ indictment today:
A year ago, a media startup pitched my company to provide content as an independent contractor. Our lawyers negotiated a standard, arms length deal, which was later terminated. We are disturbed by the allegations in today’s indictment, which make clear that myself and other influencers were victims in this alleged scheme. My lawyers will handle anyone who states or suggests otherwise.
Funny how they both refer to the indictment as “leaked.” It was unsealed on the public docket. You can read the full indictment here.
Merrick Garland says the investigation is still ongoing, so hang on to your hats! Also, thanks for sticking with me through the “Russia is a hoax” years. I appreciate you!
~AG
I’ve been on the “Russia absolutely interfered” in our elections team since 2016. Tucker Carlson grocery shopping in Moscow, the interview w/Putin, the statement, “I’m almost ashamed to be American”, the years of lies and disinformation. It’s all there in the open, Tucker and many more traitorous people have been hard at work.
I thought I'd heard about the indictment, but after reading your substack piece, I realize that what I heard bears no relationship to what you wrote. What you wrote is clear, important, to the point and interesting. From now on, for me, you are the Chief spokesperson and explained-in-chief for stuff that matters. But, of course, you have been that for me and many others for a long time. Thank you! Keep up the good work - please. (And take good care of yourself, too!!)