If you’ve spent any time on the internet or any social media platform this year, you know that there are a lot of weird political narratives being amplified. The same thing happened in 2016, a fever-dream of campaign email hacks and Russian bots. In the past eight years, Russia and other foreign actors have gotten more sophisticated in their disinformation campaigns. By that I mean, Russia has apparently fully co-opted several American conservatives to do their part to disrupt the presidential election. The Biden administration just announced a sweeping set of criminal charges and investigations into Russia’s ratf–king operation, all of which are designed to help Donald Trump.
The Biden administration announced a sweeping set of actions to tackle a major Russian government-backed effort to influence the 2024 US presidential election on Wednesday, including unveiling criminal charges against two Russian nationals, sanctions on 10 individuals and entities, and the seizure of 32 internet domains.
At Russian President Vladimir Putin’s direction, three Russian companies used fake profiles to promote false narratives on social media, US Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement. Internal documents produced by one of those Russian companies show one of the goals of the propaganda effort was to boost the candidacy of Donald Trump or whoever emerged as the Republican nominee for president, according to an FBI affidavit.
Separately, two employees of RT, the Russian state media network, were indicted in a US court for allegedly being part of a scheme that funneled nearly $10 million to set up and direct a Tennessee-based front company to produce online content aimed at sowing divisions among Americans, according to the Justice Department. The scheme targeted millions of American news consumers with what Attorney General Merrick Garland described as “hidden Russian government messaging.”
Taken together, the actions represent the Biden administration’s most significant public response yet to alleged Russian influence operations targeting American voters. After the US accused Iran of trying to hack both the Trump and Biden-Harris campaigns last month, Wednesday’s actions are a reminder that US officials continue to see Russia as a prominent foreign influence threat to November’s election, sources familiar with the matter said.
One of the three Russian companies allegedly behind the internet domains seized by the Justice Department is a company called Social Design Agency (SDA), which the Treasury Department previously sanctioned for allegedly running fake news sites in Europe on behalf of the Russian government.
You can read more at CNN – the FBI affidavit is 300 pages long, full of details about domain seizures and Russia’s moves to sow discord in general and support for Trump and Republicans specifically. In 2020, “Moscow conducted a range of influence operations in support of Trump and aimed at denigrating Joe Biden,” and they thought they could do the same thing this time. Russia is playing into white identity politics, saying that Kamala Harris will take away white jobs (lmao) and that Ukrainian immigrants are a huge threat (lol).
Here are the American Heartland voices being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to parrot Kremlin talking points:
A recently unsealed SDNY indictment alleges Tenet Media—which pays exorbitant sums to Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Dave Rubin, Lauren Southern, and others—is a front for the Russian government. https://t.co/b6CrfzAPJz
The indictment: https://t.co/3URzvj5BXn
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) September 4, 2024
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- Sterling, VA – Former US President Donald Trump and son Eric were seen golfing at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. Pictured: Donald Trump BACKGRID USA 25 MAY 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Miami, FL – View of protestors and supporters seen outside U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Florida in Miami, Florida. Pictured: Donald Trump Arraignment BACKGRID USA 13 JUNE 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York, NY – Former President Donald Trump speaks again briefly to the media before exiting the courtroom on his fraud charges related to his NY State properties at 60 Centre Street in Manhattan. Pictured: Donald Trump BACKGRID USA 2 OCTOBER 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- United States President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, about his decision to drop his Democratic presidential reelection bid. Featuring: Joe Biden Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States When: 24 Jul 2024 Credit: POOL via CNP/INSTARimages.com
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- United States President Joe Biden speaks at an event with United States Vice President Kamala Harris at Prince George’s County Community College in Largo, Maryland on Thursday, August 15, 2024. The event was centered around “lowering drug costs for the American people” and was their first joint appearance since President Biden dropped out of the presidential race, and endorsed Harris. Featuring: President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris Where: Largo, Maryland, United States When: 15 Aug 2024 Credit: CNP/INSTARimages
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- Event with US President Joe Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris on lowering drug costs for America at Prince George’s County Community College. Featuring: Vice President Kamala Harris Where: Largo, Maryland, United States When: 15 Aug 2024 Credit: MediaPunch/INSTARimages
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- US President Joe Biden with Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris during the day one of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago Featuring: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris Where: Chicago, Illinois, United States When: 20 Aug 2024 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- US President Joe Biden with Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris during the day one of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago Featuring: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris Where: Chicago, Illinois, United States When: 20 Aug 2024 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
It’s barely news anymore that Putin owns the entire Republican party. But while DOJ is at it, I suggest they take a very serious look at Tulsi Gabbard who spews Russian talking points better than anyone. She recently alleged that Joe Biden is controlled by “woke warmongers”. That’s not the way Republicans talk but it is the way Russian assets talk.
Russia, Russia, Russia. We all knew it already. I’m glad the DOJ is taking some kind of action.
Same. I don’t hold out any hope that MAGAs will really be kneecapped in any meaningful way but hopefully it can prevent things from getting even worse before Election Day. The number of people who fall for this stuff is mind boggling.
I was thinking of Tulsi while reading this too. She’s so clearly working for Russia. I have a friend who voted for her in 2016 and now he’s completely disgusted with what she’s turned into. The more I look into her it’s clear as day she’s been on the Kremlin payroll a while now. I hope she gets taken down in all of this.
Tulsi Gabbard grew up in a cult led by Christ Butler (Science of Identity Foundation). Her “swing” to “democrat” was just part of a plan to try to market herself as moving away from the homophobia and xenophobia she’d expressed earlier in her career was nothing more than political expedience to get her name out there. What she’s currently doing with Trump is just a public return to the roots she never left behind.
Info on SIF https://www.culteducation.com/group/1298-science-of-identity/34958-butler-s-web-part-3-grooming-the-second-generation.html
Info on Gabbard’s ties to SIF https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tulsi-gabbard-cult-putin-democrat-science-of-identity-b2556594.html
@Brassy Rebel Yes to all that you said!
It is not surprising that so many people are willing to sell their country to whomever pays them good money. These people are shameless traitors who dare call themselves patriots oh my God the irony. Many Trump supporters call Democrats socialists or communists because they want free universal healthcare but they are the ones parroting Kremlin talking points either for money or because they are incredibly stupid. I just can’t wrap my mind around how moronic and ignorant MAGATS are.
I remember when you sold your country to a foreign adversary, was called treason.
It still is.
Yes, remember Ethel and Julius Rosenberg – executed for treason for spying for the Soviet Union.
Now they would just be considered another run-of-the-mill member of the republican party. One that’s most likely an elected official no less.
No lie.
Spot on, @Traveller (and all).
Lord, this will just generate another round of media blitz from the Trump campaign on fake news, conspiracies from the cheating Demos to steal the election with these latest indictments. Wash, rinse, repeat. And Trump will do anything to protect his master overlord Putin.
I hate to say that when I saw the news I didn’t feel anything. I am so numb to the lies and propaganda being spread that I tune it out. That being said I am so grateful that DOJ was investigating these traitors and they have been exposed.
The corporate media is still corrupt and are not talking about tfg and his continues gaffs and malfunctions. If President Biden had said half of what that guy said at that farce of a town hall on Hannity there would be marathon coverage about how he is too old and feeble.
Let’s keep our foot on the gas folks!
Post card writing
Canvassing
Phone banking
Registering people to vote — and checking your registration to make sure it’s valid.
Keep those indictments coming!
It’s good to see these things coming out at last.
Yes! This is a bigger BFD than I think we realize 🙂
But we all need to VOTE! VOTE BLUE! Let’s make this an unquestionable BLUE WAVE in 2024!
At this point, do Maga peeps even care? If Trump asked them to bow down to Putin, they would. But I’m happy that there’s a money trail and people are being caught out. Keep it going bc I bet there’s a lot more.
They don’t. They have t-shirts that say “I would rather be Russian than a Democrat.” They have drank all of the Kool-Aid at this point.
What??? Oh, good gad.
They don’t but hopefully it might help convince undecideds, who Harris needs to win, that MAGA is not the way to go.
Let’s do Senators, Reps, and Supreme Court justices next!
And let’s also ask why there’s not much on this huge story in the NYT. Hmmm.
We all suspected this so it truly isnt surprising, if you read the posts coming from these people it is fairly obvious. I just hope the dominos continue to fall and they are all exposed. Enough is enough.. if these people love Russia so much time to send them there after they serve their time.
Its about time Merrick Garland did something! Im glad foreign entities trying to influence our elections is taken seriously this time. Fox is already doing enough spinning about these indictments that breakdancers would be proud. Elon Anti democracy Musk is also using his platform and money to help 45 and smear VP Harris. He said he wasn’t donating $45 mil/month to 45 – he didn’t say he wasn’t donating any money.
China’s consul general quickly left the US after a Chinese spy working for New York governors was recently charged with espionage. So its great to see the DOJ in action and taking action. We have enough American liars and traitors, esp in the Putin arm of the Repub party, that we don’t need any more help. Now, Merrick, let’s get back to those corrupt, lying & grifting Supreme Court Justices that were previously referred to your office for investigation -like Clarence Thomas cough. Speaking of, when is his equally corrupt wife going to be investigated?
Yes to everything you said, especially about Clarence Thomas and his treasonous wife. Just this week a respected judge told me that after a lifetime in the legal profession that the current Supreme Court literally made him ashamed.
Merrick Garland is good at his job, but this stuff does take time. He’s been building these cases, not sitting on his *rse. If the unthinkable happens, he’ll be replaced by a Russian-trump sycophant and that will be that.
BeanieBean, I agree that Merrick Garland has been doing more behind the scenes than we know. One of the areas he would have to contend with is all of the Trumpers that were left behind. I’m sure there’s stuff going on with that.
Jack Smith probably already has his subpoenas ready to deal with the Ginny Thomas and Republican politicians who were part of the insurrection conspiracy. I suspect after the new year we’ll be seeing a lot of action going down. It’s going to be satisfying to see these people held accountable for what they did.
Wish I could agree that “Merrick Garland is good at his job.” Unfortunately his temperament is far better suited to the calm deliberative atmosphere of a judicial appointment, rather than the aggressive urgency that’s needed for an administration that’s clearly expressed the importance of stopping those who would destroy democracy just to kiss the backside of their former faked reality show host. Garland has a whole department full of gung-ho legal beagles who’ve been ably supported by incredibly patriotic citizens parsing film and social media for IDs, and brave women, and men, who have willingly initiated personal relationships with potentially very dangerous people — all in the quest for justice. Yes, it takes time to build cases. But there were, or have been, robust processes to ensure all the i’s are dotted and t’s crossed in order to move, not sit, on cases. Great judge. Slow AG.
I got some junk mail today from trump campaign claiming he didn’t write (duh @@) and doesn’t support Project 2025. Interesting angle. Sure didn’t seem to be distancing himself from it when it got him the farthest right wingers. I’m thinking he’s scrambling, his campaign doesn’t know which way is up. This is good news. If you are volunteering for Harriz/Walz, keep it up, we are so close to election day and need all the momentum to get people out to vote.
I welcome these indictments but when I went to the CNN website to read the whole story yesterday, it was in small type buried low on the home page. I had to do a find for “Russia” to locate it.
Source for CNN story is here; link to affidavit is within the announcement: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-disrupts-covert-russian-government-sponsored-foreign-malign-influence
I seem to remember reading that Russia, Iran and China were all involved in their own propaganda campaigns to interfere in our elections. I believe Iran was going with anti-Trump stuff. DOJ does good work.
His supporters won’t care. But I think this is huge. Our mainstream media is not really covering it in depth – shocker.
Sometimes I daydream what it would be like to live in a country with zero MAGA. Zero Klan members. Zero White Supremacists. It would be sort of glorious. I wish they really would colonize Mars and all go there with Trump as their orange god dictator. They could build a giant wall around that planet and lie to people telling them Mexico paid for it. They’d have to pick their own fruit, do their own housework, raise their own kids (or the grandparents could do it). An all MAGA planet. They could air Trump speeches about bird cemeteries, the price of Tic Tacs, and shark attacks. And of course crowd sizes. And with different gravity, it would be easier for Trump to cheat at golf.
They could open carry, do their mass shooting thing taking each other out gradually and do the thoughts and prayers thing after every shooting. They could oppose infrastructure bills, pass tax laws that benefit Elon and Trump. Of course no vaccines cause freedom, so that will do them in as well. And they can f**k your feelings each other any time someone suggests a better way to do things. At their Oscars the best actor would be Scott Baio every year. The Athlete of the Year could be Hulk Hogan. The Pulitzer could go to that idiot who wrote the lynching song. They could sing the Russian National Anthem. Trump and Elon could populate the planet to ensure there are plenty of White people. The Nobel Peace Prize would go to Trump every year. Candace and Kanye could write op-eds about how that planet is so much better than ours and they want to go there. Everyone could wear a Let’s Go Brandon shirt, a maxi pad over their ear, and pretend they are running against Joe Biden.
They could call it Meird. (Mars + Weird). Dare to dream Side Eye. Dare to dream.
😂