What's happened
The Justice Department has indicted two Russians for orchestrating a covert influence operation using prominent conservative influencers to spread pro-Kremlin messages. The operation involved nearly $10 million funneled to Tenet Media, a Tennessee-based company, to promote content aligned with Russian interests ahead of the 2024 election.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The New York Times reported that the Justice Department's indictment revealed a sophisticated Russian operation that exploited established influencers to disseminate propaganda. Steven Lee Myers noted that this reflects a growing ideological convergence between parts of the Republican Party and Russian interests. Meanwhile, Axios highlighted the financial details of the operation, revealing that nearly $10 million was funneled through shell companies to Tenet Media, which aligns with the descriptions provided in the indictment. The Guardian emphasized the influencers' claims of being 'victims' in this scheme, underscoring the complexity of accountability in such operations. Together, these sources illustrate the multifaceted nature of the issue, from legal implications to the ethical responsibilities of influencers.
How we got here
In early 2022, Lauren Chen and Liam Donovan founded Tenet Media, which later attracted major conservative influencers. By November 2023, the platform was implicated in a Russian disinformation scheme, reflecting a shift in tactics from traditional trolling to leveraging established influencers.
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