An update to a previous News Views article:
It’s official: Far right extremists on social media and ‘news’ platforms that spread disinformation to muck up the 2024 election in order to help re-elect The Felon Guy are not just shitholes but have also become useful idiots for Vladimir Putin.
An indictment unsealed Wednesday alleges that a Russian state-controlled media outlet financed a Tennessee company. The indictment doesn’t name the company, but a description of the firm matches the online content creation company Tenet Media. The indictment accuses two Russian nationals, employed by Kremlin-operated media outlet Russia Today, of funneling nearly $10 million to covertly fund and direct the Tennessee company.
According to the indictment, Kalashnikov, 31, and Afanasyeva, 27, who were employees of Russia’s state-controlled media outlet RT, played pivotal roles in funneling nearly $10 million to a Tennessee-based online content creation company, referred to in court documents as U.S. Company-1. The content company, unbeknownst to its viewers, was funded and directed by RT to produce pro-Russian videos aimed at American social media users. This company is believed to be TENET Media, who touts right-wing hosts Lauren Southern, Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, and others, as part of their roster.
Remember Tucker Carlson’s visit to a Russian Grocery Store? Useful idiot!
On or about February 15, 2024, AFANASYEVA (as "Helena Shudra") shared with U.S. Company-I a video of a well-known U.S. political commentator visiting a grocery store in Russia. AF ANASYEV A posted the video in the Producer Discord Channel. Later that day, Producer-I privately messaged Founder-2 on Discord: "They want me to post this" -referencing the video that AF ANASYEVA had posted - but "it just feels like overt shilling." Founder-2 replied that Founder-I "thinks we should put it out there." Producer-I acquiesced, responding, "alright I'll put it out tomorrow."
What is Tenet Media?
Tenet Media is a network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues. Our goal is to support creators who question institutions that believe themselves to be above questioning. In our view, all issues du jour merit rigorous and honest discussion if one wants to come closest to the truth. For those interested in authentic coverage of the topics that matter most, Tenet Media is your home for content : fearless voices live here.
"Russia has long sought to exploit our free and open society by secretly influencing public opinion in the United States," said Attorney General Merrick Garland. "The Department of Justice will not tolerate these covert efforts by foreign adversaries to manipulate our democracy."
The DOJ alleges that between October 2023 and August 2024, RT transferred nearly $10 million to U.S. Company-1 through a network of shell companies in Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Mauritius. The funds were allegedly used to produce and distribute content designed to sow discord among Americans, amplifying domestic divisions on issues like immigration, inflation, and U.S. foreign policy.
