The Tennessee-headquartered media company, Tenet Media, has been accused of being publicly funded by a network of Russian operatives in order to help further an overarching Kremlin-backed operation aimed at meddling with the US presidential election for 2024.A $10 million payment from employees of Russia Today, the Russian state media organisation was allegedly made to Tenet Media, which hosts several popular right-wing commentators—a transaction that has only now come to light as indictment materials were unsealed by the DOJ.Prosecutors claim a common thread to all of these payments: generating propaganda that would shape the attitudes and opinions of American voters—specifically in favour of political candidates who were more sympathetic to Russia, such as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
This network included Tenet Media, which identifies itself as a “composed of heterodox commentators focussing on Western political and cultural issues.” The indictment does not name Tenet Media explicitly but rather describes it in sufficient detail to clearly identify the company.The company website also lists high-profile conservatives such as Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, and Dave Rubin, all of whom have followings in the millions on YouTube and other social media.
Commentators React: “We Were Used As A Soccer Ball”
The Tenet Media commentators whose revelations prompted the incensed reaction of Otasi now claim they had no idea where the money came from or that it was being used in an unlawful way.The arrest prompted astonishment and concern from both Leonardo Bennet Johnson and Barstool Sports commentator Tim Pool. “Substantial allegations have been made against us… We are rushing to Tikketha Johnson with the (former) Twitter thread writing, “It is alleged that both I and other influencers were victims of this allegation.” Tim Pool was echoing sentiments with, “If these allegations are true, I… was conned and am a victim.
Dave Rubin confirmed the news of X releasing a statement; he wrote more in depth about this, saying: “I KNEW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT ANY OF THIS FRUAD (sic) ACTIVITY.” and upset with how both him and other commentators were being used without even knowing it.
Wider Annual Report Series: Russian Influence-Mongering in the West
The DOJ’s targeting of Tenet Media and the RT employees’ forms part of a broader, more aggressive push by the Biden government to get tough on Russian influence operations. Russia has denied trying to help Donald Trump become the US president, calls such accusations absurd, and in recent years America has accused Moscow of directly hacking into American systems.
The US government also seized 32 internet domains linked to these influence campaigns and has sanctioned 10 individuals—including RT’s editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, whom the report described as a central figure in Russia’s international disinformation efforts.
How to Weaponize Empathy from the Kremlin’s Playbook: Overt vs. covert influence
The recent change from in-your-face propaganda to the new style of influence operations comes after Russia Today (RT) was under heavy scrutiny and facing sanctions and limitations, especially in Western countries, that resulted since their invasion into Ukraine. That they were employed by Tenet Media to perpetuate pro-Russian narratives disguised as credible news or political comment is an example of how this new tactic functions.
The DOJ said that Defrates’ scheme included paying the production companies of several internet personalities without their consent. Even before they were charged as “unwitting influencers” by prosecutors, the three people whose businesses are now going under could have reasonable confidence that their activities echoed favorably with you-know-who. Give me a break if anyone should really be surprised to find out how an artificial online campaign is repeated in real life into rationalizations of Russian-friendly messages about—surprise! —posturing against US support for Ukraine or supporting other narratives meant to undercut your faith in American democratic institutions.
What’s Next for Tenet Media?
including Tenet Media has not responded to these allegations, but it seems as though the future affiliation of Tenor and opinionated commentators might be at stake. On the other hand, these are big implications. If the company is found to have indeed paid those who belonged in their pocket, it could be hammered for failing to register as a foreign agent under FARA (the Foreign Agents Registration Act), which requires that entities working on behalf of another government disclose themselves. ar: Russian Influence Operations Against the 2024 U.S. Election
The Tennessee-headquartered media company, Tenet Media, has been accused of being publicly funded by a network of Russian operatives in order to help further an overarching Kremlin-backed operation aimed at meddling with the US presidential election for 2024. A $10 million payment from employees of Russia Today, the Russian state media organization was allegedly made to Tenet Media, which hosts several popular right-wing commentators—aa transaction that has only now come to light as indictment materials were unsealed by the DOJ. Prosecutors claim a common thread to all of these payments: generating propaganda that would shape the attitudes and opinions of American voters—specifically in Favour of political candidates who were more sympathetic to Russia, such as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
This network included Tenet Media, which identifies itself as a “composed of heterodox commentators focusing on Western political and cultural issues.” The indictment does not name Tenet Media explicitly but rather describes it in sufficient detail to clearly identify the company. The company website also lists high-profile conservatives such as Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, and Dave Rubin, all of whom have followings in the millions on YouTube and other social media.
Commentators React: “We Were Used As A Soccer Ball”
The Tenet Media commentators whose revelations prompted the incensed reaction of Otasi now claim they had no idea where the money came from or that it was being used in an unlawful way. The arrest prompted astonishment and concern from both Leonardo Bennet Johnson and Barstool Sports commentator Tim Pool. “Substantial allegations have been made against us… We are rushing to Tikketha Johnson with the (former) Twitter thread writing, “It is alleged that both I and other influencers were victims of this allegation.” Tim Pool was echoing sentiments with, “If these allegations are true, I… was conned and am a victim.
Dave Rubin confirmed the news of X releasing a statement; he wrote more in depth about this, saying: “I KNEW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT ANY OF THIS FRUAD (sic) ACTIVITY.” and upset with how both him and other commentators were being used without even knowing it.
Wider Annual Report Series: Russian Influence-Mongering in the West
The DOJ’s targeting of Tenet Media and the RT employees forms part of a broader, more aggressive push by the Biden government to get tough on Russian influence operations. Russia has denied trying to help Donald Trump become the US president, calls such accusations absurd, and in recent years America has accused Moscow of directly hacking into American systems.
The US government also seized 32 internet domains linked to these influence campaigns and has sanctioned 10 individuals—including RT’s editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, whom the report described as a central figure in Russia’s international disinformation efforts.
How to Weaponize Empathy from the Kremlin’s Playbook: Overt vs. covert influence
The recent change from in-your-face propaganda to the new style of influence operations comes after Russia Today (RT) was under heavy scrutiny and facing sanctions and limitations, especially in Western countries, that resulted since their invasion into Ukraine. That they were employed by Tenet Media to perpetuate pro-Russian narratives disguised as credible news or political comment is an example of how this new tactic functions.
The DOJ said that Defrates’ scheme included paying the production companies of several internet personalities without their consent. Even before they were charged as “unwitting influencers” by prosecutors, the three people whose businesses are now going under could have reasonable confidence that their activities echoed favorably with you-know-who. Give me a break if anyone should really be surprised to find out how an artificial online campaign is repeated in real life into rationalizations of Russian-friendly messages about—surprise! —posturing against US support for Ukraine or supporting other narratives meant to undercut your faith in American democratic institutions.
What’s Next for Tenet Media?
Tenet Media has not responded to these allegations, but it seems as though the future affiliation of Tenor and opinionated commentators might be at stake. On the other hand, these are big implications. If the company is found to have indeed paid those who belonged in their pocket, it could be hammered for failing to register as a foreign agent under FARA (the Foreign Agents Registration Act), which requires that entities working on behalf of another government disclose themselves.
