FCC filing: Larry Ellison will own 77.5% of National Amusements via a trust and series of corporations after his son David completes the purchase of Paramount (Christopher Palmeri/Bloomberg)

Mediagazer: FCC filing: Larry Ellison will own 77.5% of National Amusements via a trust and series of corporations after his son David completes the purchase of Paramount (Christopher Palmeri/Bloomberg)

Top News:

Semafor:

Blaze Media's CEO says it has ended its contract with BlazeTV contributor Lauren Chen of Tenet Media, which is alleged to have been funded by Russia— The Scoop — A conservative American media company has fired one of the YouTubers implicated in an alleged Russian influence operation exposed …
Discussion: The Wrap, Raw Story and @Myerman@toot.bldrweb.org

Discussion:

Natalie Korach /
The Wrap: Blaze Fires YouTube Contributor Linked to Alleged Russian Influence Campaign

Brad Reed /
Raw Story: Right-wing media group fires contributor after she allegedly took Russian cash @Myerman@toot.bldrweb.org: A conservative American media company has fired one of the YouTubers implicated in an alleged Russian influence operation exposed by the US Department of Justice this week. — “Lauren Chen was an independent contractor, whose contract has been terminated,” Blaze Media CEO Tyler Cardon said in an email to Semafor. …

RELATED:
CNN: Source: Tenet Media is the Tennessee-based company the US DOJ alleges was being funded by Russia; Benny Johnson and Tim Pool say they were victims of the scheme

Discussion:
@bennyjohnson, Variety, NBC News, New York Daily News, CBS News, Newser, The Tennessean, Mediaite, @jayinkyiv, @ariehkovler, Forbes, Boing Boing, Gizmodo, The Daily Dot, Rolling Stone, @igorsushko, @kenklippenstein, @amydentata@tech.lgbt, @youranonnews, @deedotknudsen.bsky.social, @davidsacks, @lawindsor, @gravitysra1nbow, @ok_post_guy, @joshtpm, @markhertling, @meidastouch, @markhertling, @mattgertz, @rob_lowy912, @jaredlholt, @joshtpm, @luke_metro, @heerjeet, @joohnchoe, @very__regular, @Doreen32128@universeodon.com, @cturnbull1968, @luke_metro, @michaeldweiss, @nashvilleresist, @mattgertz, @ariehkovler, @lukeoneil47, @ariehkovler, @farhip, @taliaotg, @willsommer, @vastarien.bsky.social, The Daily Beast, @wxdylan.bsky.social, @donie, @taylorlorenz, @joeperticone, @justinbaragona, @oneunderscore__, @andycat3, @capitolhunters, @bradmossesq, @timcast, @alecluhn, @ariehkovler, @jaredlholt, @lopezmotorscars, @emptywheel, @itsmelissabrown, @aaronblake, @emptywheel, @thejusticedept, Associated Press, NPR, Mother Jones, @totallynomadic.bsky.social, The Tennessean, @texaspaulschroder@threads.net, @greg.doucette@threads.net, HuffPost, The Hollywood Reporter, @oldskoolguitar.bsky.social, New York Post, Tampa Free Press, The Guardian, @rjdeal.bsky.social, @furnace.bsky.social, @mollyknight.bsky.social, @crj418.bsky.social, @wiczipedia@threads.net, @coachfinstock.bsky.social, @bangatank.bsky.social, @mathandstuff.bsky.social, @r.v.cx, @georebekahjones@threads.net, @striderhlc.bsky.social, @tommyg.bsky.social, @markbarrington.bsky.social, @franklinjay.bsky.social, @theferocity.bsky.social, Mediaite, @protecttruth@mastodon.online, Raw Story, New Republic, @metacurity@infosec.exchange, The Independent, The Daily Dot, @mollyknight.bsky.social and Talking Points Memo

Discussion:

Benny Johnson /
@bennyjohnson: 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

Todd Spangler /
Variety: U.S. Officials Allege Russian Operatives Illegally Provided $10 Million to Fund Videos by American Right-Wing Social Media Stars NBC News: Russian money was funneled to right-wing creators through a pro-Trump media outlet, prosecutors say

Jessica Schladebeck /
New York Daily News: Right-wing influencers paid millions by Russian operation for propaganda videos: DOJ CBS News: U.S. says Russia funded media company that paid right-wing influencers millions for videos

Evan Mealins /
The Tennessean: What to know about Tenet Media, Tennessee company linked to Russian propagandists

Colby Hall /
Mediaite: WATCH: Alleged Russian Propagandist Tim Pool Screams That ‘Ukraine is the Enemy of the US’

Arieh Kovler /
@ariehkovler: Eventually they did a deal. Benny Johnson would (unknowingly) work for the Russians for $400,000 a month in exchange for 4 monthly videos. Plus a 100k signing bonus. Pool also agreed 100k a video but no bonus. Weak negotiating skills. [image]

Siladitya Ray /
Forbes: These Right-Wing Pundits Were Allegedly Funded By Russia—What To Know About DOJ Indictment

Ellsworth Toohey /
Boing Boing: Russia-praising Tim Pool denies knowledge of Russian money to podcast platform

Matthew Gault /
Gizmodo: Right-Wing Influencers Like Tim Pool Allegedly Paid by Kremlin Influence Campaign

Mikael Thalen /
The Daily Dot: Tim Pool's fans are convinced his threat to sue Kamala Harris prompted Russia propaganda indictments

Nikki McCann Ramirez /
Rolling Stone: Right-Wing Influencers Deny Knowledge of Russian Funding

Igor Sushko /
@igorsushko: Talking points the US citizen Kremlin agents were told to disseminate by Russia in exchange for $10 million to help Donald Trump in the upcoming election. Political Party A = Republican Party Candidate A = Donald Trump Political Party B = Democratic Party Candidate B = Joe Biden [image]

Ken Klippenstein /
@kenklippenstein: Russia is even more out of ideas than we are if the best they can come up with for an influence operation is bankrolling Benny Johnson and Tim Pool

Amy Dentata /
@amydentata@tech.lgbt: Everybody keeps saying Russia is supporting the far-right in the US because Russia is supporting the far-right in the US. — https://www.cbsnews.com/... #uspol @youranonnews: Tim Pool (@timcast): outed as a Russian propagandist. Tim was being paid $100,000 a week by Tenet Media. TM took millions in Kremlin cash as part of “a scheme to create and distribute content to U.S. audiences with hidden Russian government messaging"). Don't lie Tim, you knew. [video]

Dee /
@deedotknudsen.bsky.social: I made a huge mistake, sold out my country for cash [embedded post]

David Sacks /
@davidsacks: Even by the standards of Russia, Russia, Russia hoaxes, the Tenet Media/Lauren Chen case makes no sense: — Chen was riling up pro-lifers *against* Trump. @Cernovich, Steve Deace, and others had been calling out these “purists” for weeks, and now they're vindicated. — Chen was

Lauren Windsor /
@lawindsor: LMFAO... who could have guessed that former progressive host Dave Rubin (who was at The Young Turks back when I was launching The Undercurrent there in 2012!) turned rightwing shill would be *allegedly* peddling Russian propaganda @RubinReport

James /
@gravitysra1nbow: How do you live down finding out you were an actual real-life useful idiot. You have to go the rest of your life knowing another country sat down and had meetings about how stupid you are. They all got around a table and voted and said “Yeah he's fucking dumb, let's use him” @ok_post_guy: Lest you ever think actual people pay to listen to Tim Pool, ~90% of all of their revenue literally came from Russian shell companies [image]

Josh Marshall /
@joshtpm: 2/ So like you assume the money eventually traces back to the Scaifes or the Kochs or whoever funds the Federalist or some other random. But you never know. So it's probably easy to plug into that don't ask too many questions framework.

Mark Hertling /
@markhertling: The statement by @SecBlinken (above) is succinct, and the @JusticeDept_RP document outlining the activities is relatively short (about 200 pages), unbiased, and apolitical. It is a stunning report. 10/ https://abcnews.go.com/... @meidastouch: Look how quickly Fox jumps into action to defend and deflect from the Russian disinformation campaign exposed by DOJ. Very suspicious. [image]

Mark Hertling /
@markhertling: Many Americans will say “we've heard this before,” or “just another Russia hoax,” or “it's a democrat ploy.” I don't know how to counter those who believe that, other than to say “I've been watching this for years, have seen it happen in other countries, and it won't turn out

Matthew Gertz /
@mattgertz: The good news is there's someone out there with deep pockets willing to put real money into alternative media and actually pay their talent well. The bad news is that it's the Kremlin.

Rob Lowy /
@rob_lowy912: It doesn't matter if Tim Pool knew it was the Russians who were paying him What matters is that he was willing to take money to produce content to shape public opinion without telling you. If you still trust him, or any of the other hacks on his show, you are a fool.

Jared Holt /
@jaredlholt: If the Russian state thought I was a useful enough idiot for them to give me and my friends some chunks of cash, I would probably think long and hard about what I was doing with my life beyond the limits of “I am a victim”

Josh Marshall /
@joshtpm: Lots of ways to be victimized but having someone sneak up on you and give you hundreds of thousands of dollars is definitely the most upsetting to think about. Like how do you come back from that?

Josh Marshall /
@joshtpm: More seriously, I think the right's pretty long history of astroturf media probably makes them more vulnerable for this. For decades you've had various operations funded by a mix of family foundations, cut-out 501c3s, random rich guys. And you just don't ask a lot of questions.

Jeet Heer /
@heerjeet: @joshtpm The pre-history of this stuff is the now forgotten 2013 scandal where a bunch of these guys took money from Malaysia https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...

Lauren /
@very__regular: honestly just insulting how well a career as a professional lying scumbag pays

Carlos Turnbull /
@cturnbull1968: These are the talking points that the Ruskies paid Benny Johnson and Tim Pool to push and poison our political discourse and society. When can we schedule military tribunals and a visit to Gitmo for these two traitors? [image] @luke_metro: People on twitter will really be like “you believe in the mainstream media? that pales in effectiveness to my strategy, listening to independent thinkers” and then falling for a Russian psyop

Michael Weiss /
@michaeldweiss: Elon Musk naturally promoted nonsense peddled by Tenet Media, which was financed by now-indicted Russian operatives. @nashvilleresist: And to circle back for a sec with new info: We don't believe this company “didn't know” it was being used by Russia for a millisecond. https://apnews.com/... [image]

Matthew Gertz /
@mattgertz: The content creation company that federal prosectors say was a tool of Russian propagandists is Tenet Media, according to The Tennessean. Its apparently unwitting stars include Dave Rubin, Tim Pool, and Benny Johnson, seen below mocking the Russia “hoax” https://www.tennessean.com/... [image]

Matthew Gertz /
@mattgertz: Kirk and Beck also took issue with the Russia “hoax,” of course. [image]

Matthew Gertz /
@mattgertz: Ah so Charlie Kirk and Glenn Beck are employing someone who is running a Russian propaganda gambit on the side, good times. https://x.com/...

Arieh Kovler /
@ariehkovler: Commentator-6 is for sure Matt Christiansen. This is the video referenced in this paragraph. [image]

Arieh Kovler /
@ariehkovler: The Russians wanted to blame the ISIS Moscow attack on Ukraine. They got Commentator-3 to do it. If Dave Rubin is Commentator-1 than I think Johnson is 3, and vice versa. [image]

Luke /
@lukeoneil47: I love how we have to pretend that this was unknowingly. Yeah man they want to give you 400k a month for 4 videos. You're that good. They said that yeah.

Arieh Kovler /
@ariehkovler: To be clear, whether or not Benny was Commentator-1 or one of the others, neither I not the indictment are claiming he knew that he was working for the Russians. The question of whether he *should have known or suspected* is both more philosophical and harder to prove. [image]

Paul Farhi /
@farhip: This, from today's DOJ indictment of the alleged masterminds of a covert Russian effort to influence the U.S. election, indicates that one of Tucker Carlson's pro-Kremlin videos just wasn't subtle enough for Team Russia. [image] @taliaotg: so that skate park he bought because the skaters didn't wanna play with him - he bought that with russia bux?

Will Sommer /
@willsommer: A sign of how things are going after the Tenet indictment: prominent GOP attorney Harmeet Dhillon reminds everyone don't talk to the cops without a lawyer.

Will Sommer /
@willsommer: The Tenet Media indictment's revelation that Tim Pool was getting paid $100K an episode certainly puts his real estate purchases in a West Virginia in a new light. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Tam /
@vastarien.bsky.social: Tim Pool not really understanding the context is pretty on-brand. — ‘I was never told what to say’ — Yeah Tim, because they didn't need to tell you - you were already saying and doing everything they wanted. [embedded post]

Donie O'Sullivan /
@donie: NEW: CNN has independently confirmed the Russia funded US media company that paid American right-wing social media stars is Tenet Media, based in Tennessee. Some very big names tied up in all of this. Reporting w/ @ZcohenCNN @evanperez @snlyngaas https://www.cnn.com/...

Taylor Lorenz /
@taylorlorenz: Nothing exposes these far right grifters cosplaying as “independent media” more than exposing where they're actually getting all their money from

Joe Perticone /
@joeperticone: One anecdote I'll share that tells you a lot about Benny Johnson as a person is that at IJR, he cried the day two CBS-Roanoke reporters were murdered. Not because of the actual shooting, but because we told him he wasn't allowed to post the video of the murder on the website.

Justin Baragona /
@justinbaragona: “leaked”

Tim Onion /
@oneunderscore__: I keep posting and deleting stuff about Tim Pool because I can't actually put to words this feeling of almost religious vindication that is considerably better than what I imagine it'd be like to win the lottery.

Andy B /
@andycat3: Sure bud. [video] @capitolhunters: Today DOJ revealed a $10M op to use US podcasters to push Russian propaganda, since 2023. Let's remember that Lauren Southern, “Commentator-5”, went to Moscow in 2018 to make a film to “correct ” “America's irrational fear of Russia”. This stuff has been going on for years. 1/ [image]

@capitolhunters:
Today's DOJ announcement. The press release has a a link to the indictment. The “founders” of Tenet Media are BlazeTV host Lauren Chen and her husband Liam Donovan. They knew the money came from Russia. 5/ https://x.com/...

Bradley P. Moss /
@bradmossesq: Weird way to say “sorry I allegedly got unwittingly suckered into a Russian influence operation for money”

Tim Pool /
@timcast: 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

Alec Luhn /
@alecluhn: The funniest part is these far-right YouTubers initially worried their funder was too “woke” because his resume mentioned “social justice”—not that he was an obviously fake person, invented by Russia Today employees https://www.dailydot.com/...

Arieh Kovler /
@ariehkovler: This means a Russian intel agent was part of the internal conversations with Lauren Chen and Liam Donovan about how much to pay Benny Johnson and Tim Pool [image]

Jared Holt /
@jaredlholt: Is there any other media job that pays $400,000 per month for recording four videos a week, or is it just doing “anti-woke” conservative clickbait (From DOJ indictment involving Russian state media funneling millions to right-wing video mill Tenet Media) https://www.justice.gov/... [image] @lopezmotorscars: Tenet media got tasked with posting Tucker Carlsons grocery store propaganda. [image] @emptywheel: Imagine if all of Donald Trump's popularity is based on grift-boys getting paid $5M by Russia? 🤔

Melissa Brown /
@itsmelissabrown: Russian propagandists funnelled $10 million to a Tennessee company to push disinformation, the DOJ alleges. Though DOJ doesn't name the company, details match Tenet Media, a company registered in Nashville https://www.tennessean.com/...

Melissa Brown /
@itsmelissabrown: The company is registered to an office suite in Green Hills. https://www.tennessean.com/...

Melissa Brown /
@itsmelissabrown: @EvanMealins reports the indictments mentions a slogan of the unnamed company ("a network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues") that directly matches Tenet's slogan/description on multiple social media accounts.

Aaron Blake /
@aaronblake: Tucker Carlson's video in a Russian grocery store was apparently deemed not subtle enough for a Russian influence operation. [image]

@emptywheel:
Note, Benny and Pool have the same number of YouTUbe subscribers as named in ¶4 of the indictment.

@emptywheel:
If Commentator 1 and 2 ARE Benny and Pool, they demand $5M to spew the shite they do about Donald Trump. https://www.justice.gov/... [image] @thejusticedept: Two RT Employees Indicted for Covertly Funding and Directing U.S. Company that Published Thousands of Videos in Furtherance of Russian Interests 🔗: https://www.justice.gov/... [image] Associated Press: With charges and sanctions, US takes aim at Russian disinformation ahead of November election

Anna Merlan /
Mother Jones: New Indictment Alleges Conservative Media Company Took Millions of Kremlin Cash @totallynomadic.bsky.social: Explains the hyperbolic commentary over the last span of time tho. Tim and Benny really turned it up over the time since monetization on X. [embedded post]

Evan Mealins /
The Tennessean: Indictment: Russian propagandists used Tennessee content company to push disinformation

Paul Schroder /
@texaspaulschroder@threads.net: Tim Pool and Benny Johnson knew what the fu*k they were doing. They worked for Russia. They got paid BIG money. Meanwhile there are a ton of commentators and influencers on the left that are ONLY supported by their audiences. Not by the Democratic Party, Democratic donors and certainly not the government. …

T. Greg Doucette /
@greg.doucette@threads.net: I used to say rather frequently during Citrus Stalin's tenure that Republicans were a threat to national security. Turns out I was more right than I thought 😂

T. Greg Doucette /
@greg.doucette@threads.net: Turns out Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Laura Southern, Dave Rubin, and a bunch of other MAGA pundits were being bankrolled by the Soviets: https://www.tennessean.com/...

Paul Blumenthal /
HuffPost: DOJ Says 2 Russians Funded Big-Name Online Conservative Media Personalities

Zoe G. Phillips /
The Hollywood Reporter: DOJ Investigation Alleges Russia Sent $10M to U.S. Media Company @oldskoolguitar.bsky.social: Was shit this weird in Cold War 1 and we just didn't hear about it at the same speed or is reality just fuckin weird now?

Josh Christenson /
New York Post: ‘Secret’ Russian influence campaign paid $10M to prop up right-wing US commentators: indictment

Mike Jenkins /
Tampa Free Press: DOJ Indicts Two RT Employees For Funding U.S. Conservative Media Outlet In Alleged Kremlin-Backed Scheme

Rhonda /
@rjdeal.bsky.social: So they thought they were getting nearly half a million dollars EVERY MONTH for no reason at all?? And they're claiming victimhood? The audacity.

Molly Knight /
@mollyknight.bsky.social: In case you are wondering who Benny Johnson is: — “In July 2014, BuzzFeed found 41 instances of plagiarism in Benny Johnson's writings, comprising almost ten percent of his work. He was subsequently fired from BuzzFeed and apologized for the plagiarism.” — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_ J... …

Nina Jankowicz /
@wiczipedia@threads.net: Commentators like Tim Pool are implicated in this scheme. He's claiming he was “deceived” and “a victim.” He says he retained full editorial control, and yet we know commentators involved with these operations were getting steers from their handlers.

Nina Jankowicz /
@wiczipedia@threads.net: Waking up in Australia to the news of a huge Russian op uncovered, which hits upon a theme I've been repeating throughout my presentations here: Information laundering is alive and well, and one of the most powerful tools disinformation actors have in their arsenals as we careen toward November. …

Nina Jankowicz /
@wiczipedia@threads.net: These folks aren't doing due diligence about who is paying them, and millions of Americans are going to them for “unvarnished” takes on the news of the day. I'll close with the single best piece of advice I can give anyone trying to navigate this complex information environment:

Nina Jankowicz /
@wiczipedia@threads.net: There is a *second* document unsealed by the DOJ today, seizing 32 domains in the ongoing Russian “Doppelganger” operation. Here's the most interesting bit to me: Russia recognizes the fissure that baseless allegations of “censorship” represent, and is amplifying it. https://www.justice.gov/... @coachfinstock.bsky.social: LMAO CBS news doing a bang up job hiding Tim Pools identity with Timcast in the back [image]

Rob Shearer /
@r.v.cx: I have never worked in media. But if someone says “we have people willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars a month for you to deliver your political message; no ads for mattresses or vitamins required” you know you're a salaried propagandist. [embedded post]

Rebekah Jones /
@georebekahjones@threads.net: Haha. One of the pro-Desantis accounts that's been harassing me on Xittee for years was just outed as a paid Russian asset in a criminal indictment.

Tommy /
@tommyg.bsky.social: “Hey the nice Russian man gave us lots of money and his friends did all our media homework. How we were to know that something was fishy?”

Mark Barrington /
@markbarrington.bsky.social: Victims? Or willing dupes? Opinions differ.

Jay /
@franklinjay.bsky.social: 💀💀💀 — imagine spending millions and the best you can do is the dumb fuck in a beanie? [embedded post]

Saeed Jones /
@theferocity.bsky.social: I made out with Benny Johnson in an empty dressing room at BuzzFeed holiday party in 2013. It haunts me to this day. 😩 — Anyway, it's funny that's he's done literally everything BUT come out of the closet. Men will literally become traitors to their country rather than go to therapy. …

Sarah Rumpf /
Mediaite: Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson, Tim Pool Exposed as Working For Alleged Russian Influence Operation in New DOJ Indictment

Eric Blair /
@protecttruth@mastodon.online: Story from Josh Kovensky. — The hosts aren't innocent “victims.” They regularly take money from toxic US billionaires, so it's a short leap to fake Russian billionaires. — https://talkingpointsmemo.com/ ...

Sarah K. Burris /
Raw Story: Right-wing U.S. media company linked to Russian propaganda effort: Dept. of Justice @metacurity@infosec.exchange: Oh man, the Biden admin's actions against Russian propaganda today do not bode well for Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, Lauren Southern, and Dave Rubin of the execrable Tenet Media. — Is this Right-Wing Media Platform the Product of a $10 Million Russian Plot? — https://talkingpointsmemo.com/ ...

Alex Woodward /
The Independent: U.S. accuses Russian state media of enlisting right-wing influencers to meddle in election

David Covucci /
The Daily Dot: Media start-up from Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, and Dave Rubin was secret Russian influence campaign, indictment alleges

Molly Knight /
@mollyknight.bsky.social: I'm sorry but Russia allegedly paid Benny Johnson $400K a MONTH to ratfuck our elections?????? [embedded post] New York Times: The US sanctions five Russian news outlets including RT, sanctions RT's EIC, indicts two RT staffers, and seizes 32 domains, as it fights Russian influence

Discussion:
US Department of Justice, CNN, Voice of America, Semafor, Mediaite, @osullyville.bsky.social, @oneunderscore__, Wired, @semaforben, @kareemrifai, US Department of Justice, @eelarson, NPR, @rolandsmartin, @willsommer, @lrozen, @sewingdilemma, @lrozen, @willsommer, Adweek, @mtaibbi, @thetnholler, @yashar, @shanlonwu, @arictoler, @stevanzetti, @christogrozev, The Guardian, @alanfeuer, @muellershewrote, The Register, @1elizabeth_jacobs@threads.net, @info_rosalie@threads.net, The Record, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, Agence France-Presse, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, Bloomberg, Associated Press, @waldoj@mastodon.social, @joeabodnar@threads.net, @renee.diresta@threads.net, UPI, CBS News, @crispinburke@threads.net, @joeabodnar@threads.net, The Verge, BleepingComputer, @renee.diresta@threads.net, CNBC, Axios, Engadget, Tampa Free Press, The Moscow Times, Reuters, USA Today, Nextgov/FCW, KXTV, @renee.diresta@threads.net, @griffinkyle@threads.net, Fox News, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:
US Department of Justice: Two RT Employees Indicted for Covertly Funding and Directing U.S. Company that Published Thousands of Videos in Furtherance of Russian Interests

CNN:
Biden administration announces major actions to tackle Russian efforts to influence 2024 election

Zachary Leeman /
Mediaite: Harris-Walz Campaign Spox Dismisses Putin Saying He ‘Supports’ VP in Election: ‘They Prefer Donald Trump’

Dan O'Sullivan /
@osullyville.bsky.social: Not that it will ever shame them but something I'm savoring is the defense of Pool/Rubin/Johnson is that, as political commentators confidently and endlessly weighing in on any and all news, they are also too stupid to tell they are dupes to a foreign power operating on obviously shady terms. …

Tim Onion /
@oneunderscore__: Final thoughts on the Tim Pool/Benny Johnson: Even if you take their argument at face value — that they didn't know they were pawns of foreign influence — it's EXACTLY what years of disinfo reporting was trying to say: foreign influence campaigns are real, complex, happening.

Tim Onion /
@oneunderscore__: Instead of listening to the threat of foreign influence, they made entire careers out of denying it, calling it the “censorship industrial complex,” saying I was evil and should be thrown in jail for reporting about the very thing that duped them. Tim posted stuff like this. [image]

Kareem Rifai /
@kareemrifai: JUST NOW: Shocking documents from the Justice Department release on Russian election influence. One of the docs below describes a redacted US political party as having a “relatively pro-Russian agenda,” with a plan to create a Twitter sockpuppet network to promote said party. [image]

US Department of Justice:
Justice Department Disrupts Covert Russian Government-Sponsored Foreign Malign Influence Operation Targeting Audiences in the United States and Elsewhere

Erik Larson /
@eelarson: The alleged scheme also included using artificial intelligence tools to create pictures and videos to use in “negative advertisements about US politicians” and to register social media accounts that appeared to be news outlets such as CNN and the BBC

Erik Larson /
@eelarson: A wide-ranging Russian plot to influence the 2024 US election included internal planning documents from a Russia-backed entity saying it was in Russia's interest to ensure that Donald Trump or another Republican wins the White House https://www.bloomberg.com/... via @bpolitics

Erik Larson /
@eelarson: Since at least 2022, according to the FBI, Russian-controlled entities “cybersquatted” internet domains that led to fake websites that impersonated real media outlets, including Fox News and the Washington Post.

Will Sommer /
@willsommer: Two people described in the Tenet indictment as unnamed “founders” were very aware their operation was funded by Russians. Tenn. biz records list Tenet's founders as BlazeTV host and TPUSA contributor Lauren Chen aka “Roaming Millennial,” and her husband.

Laura Rozen /
@lrozen: @willsommer am perplexed why they weren't indicted

Laura Rozen /
@lrozen: @sewingdilEmma @willsommer company founders were not unwitting, per the indictment. the commentators may have been

Will Sommer /
@willsommer: This indictment alleges that right-wing commentators like Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, and Lauren Southern — as part of the “Tenet Media” YouTube channel — have been unwittingly working for a Russian influence operation. https://x.com/...

Will Sommer /
@willsommer: Funny moment in the Tenet indictment: a Tenet founder, who have told Youtubers their funding is coming from a Western European businessman, emails the investor for more money. When no one responds, Tenet's founder drops the pretense and googles “time in Moscow” [image]

Matt Taibbi /
@mtaibbi: Gosh what a shock that @KenDilanianNBC is the delivery boy for this Langley-created horseshit! Never would have thought @thetnholler: The @Tennessean notes the DOJ indictment about a Tennessee-based Kremlin misinformation op mentions a content company that describes itself the same way as Tenet Media, which puts out videos by some well-known far right- personalities. https://www.tennessean.com/... [image]

Yashar Ali /
@yashar: NEWS The US Department of Justice alleges that Tenet Media, which has Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, and Dave Rubin on its roster, received $10 million from the Russian government to publish content as part of a Russian influence operation. Tenet is owned and controlled by Lauren [image]

Shanlon Wu /
@shanlonwu: “Officials say that fighting election interference has been more difficult this year. Some Americans, particularly Mr. Trump's supporters, see accusations that Russia is spreading disinformation as efforts to undermine their views and policy positions” https://www.nytimes.com/...

Aric Toler /
@arictoler: The indictment specifies that two of the people who work for this Tennessee company (Tenet) were “deceived” — meaning they didn't know that the Russian government was running an influence op. Dave Rubin has 2.4 million subscribers and Tim Pool has 1.37 million. [image]

Aric Toler /
@arictoler: A new DoJ indictment alleges that RT employees “covertly fund[ed] and direct[ed]” a US company with $10m in order to push pro-Russia content. The company is based in Tennessee. There is one media company based in Tennessee with the same phrase listed in the indictment... [image]

Steven Monacelli /
@stevanzetti: You're telling me that Tenet Media — the Blaze Media / TPUSA adjacent outlet that features Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, and Texas' own Taylor Hansen — has been secretly funded and directed by Russia Today employees?

Christo Grozev /
@christogrozev: DOJ indicted today RT's employee Konstantin Kalashnikov for organizing illicit dissemination of fake news aiming to poison the domestic US election debate. Aptly, his Facebook profile is named “Novichok” [image]

Alan Feuer /
@alanfeuer: The U.S. company at the center of this Russian plot uses the same slogan, the indictment notes, as Tenet Media—the home of Lauren Southern, Tim Pool and Benny Johnson among others.

Alan Feuer /
@alanfeuer:

Jessica Lyons /
The Register: White House seizes 32 domains, issues criminal charges in massive election-meddling crackdown

Elizabeth Jacobs /
@1elizabeth_jacobs@threads.net: This isn't surprising in the least. They are regular purveyors of misinformation, including about COVID19 and vaccines. Who benefits from a sick and divided US population? Not the US. https://www.wired.com/...

E. Rosalie Li /
@info_rosalie@threads.net: Articles Shared by Probable Doppelgänger Accounts: This list reflects the headlines from links shared by probable Doppelgänger accounts in April and May 2024. https://infoepi.org/... 2/3

E. Rosalie Li /
@info_rosalie@threads.net: One picture is a report on content from suspected Doppelgänger accounts, published in May 2024. The other is page 54/5 of the AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF SEIZURE WARRANT related to election interference. We don't often get confirmation like this, so it's nice to see. 1/3

Jonathan Greig /
The Record: DOJ seizes dozens of domains used in Russian influence campaigns targeting swing states Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Russian Contract Soldier Who Fled To Kazakhstan To Avoid Ukraine War Gets 6 Years In Prison

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:
U.S. Accuses Russia Of Attempting To Influence 2024 Election Through Kremlin-Backed News Outlets

Associated Press:
Read the full federal indictment accusing Russians of funding divisive online content in the U.S.

Waldo Jaquith /
@waldoj@mastodon.social: Hey, the Kremlin funded and exerted editorial control over the work of Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, and Lauren Southern. What a deeply unsurprising turn of events. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Joe Bodnar /
@joeabodnar@threads.net: Tenet Media's YouTube is putting up numbers. Not even a year old and it has over 16 million views.

Renee DiResta /
@renee.diresta@threads.net: Buying authentic influencers is a far better use of funds than creating fake personas, because they bring their own trusting audiences and are actually, you know, real. Funding front media outlets is a classic state propaganda strategy. …

Crispin Burke /
@crispinburke@threads.net: The Tennessee-based [COMPANY-1] received nearly all of its $9.7 million in revenue from RT via shell companies. [COMPANY-1] did not disclose to its viewers that it was operating on behalf of RT. Meanwhile...

Joe Bodnar /
@joeabodnar@threads.net: Aric Toler connected this covert Russian funding to a company called Tenet Media. People working with Tenet: Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson. Woah. Woah. $10 million can do this I guess.

Lauren Feiner /
The Verge: Russia is trying to meddle with the US election again, Biden administration says

Renee DiResta /
@renee.diresta@threads.net: On a plane reading the fascinating DOJ indictment of two Russian nationals who ran a front media property, Tenet Media. My 1st reaction is that this reminds me of shell games Russia played w/left-leaning outlets via Maffick Media, which at one point sued FB for slapping a Russian state media label on them (and lost). …

Mike Jenkins /
Tampa Free Press: U.S. Department Of State Takes Action To Combat Kremlin-Supported Covert Influence In 2024 Elections

Bart Jansen /
USA Today: Feds accuse Russia's RT network in $10 million election misinformation plot

David DiMolfetta /
Nextgov/FCW: US says Russia conducted sustained disinformation campaign to sway 2024 election

Eric Tucker /
KXTV: US accuses Russia of using state media to spread disinformation before the November election

Renee DiResta /
@renee.diresta@threads.net: Long-running effort known as “Doppleganger” that began in ~2022 or so

Kyle Griffin /
@griffinkyle@threads.net: As alleged in an unsealed affidavit, the Russian companies Social Design Agency (SDA), Structura National Technology (Structura), and ANO Dialog, operating under the direction and control of the Russian Presidential Administration, used these domains, among others …

Kyle Griffin /
@griffinkyle@threads.net: New: The Justice Department just confirmed a Russian election interference campaign “operating under the direction and control of the Russian Presidential Administration.” DOJ announced the ongoing seizure of 32 internet domains used in Russian government-directed foreign malign influence campaigns — in violation of U.S. money laundering and criminal trademark laws. Fox News: 2 Russia-based RT employees indicted by US, internet domains seized in election influence probe

Wall Street Journal:

Leaked Disney files include personal data of some staff and customers and show that Disney+ had $2.4B+ revenue in Disney's March quarter, or ~43% of DTC revenue— Data trove sheds light on entertainment giant's operations, and exposes personal data of some staff and customers

Discussion:
The Streamable, The Media Leader, New York Post, Fox Business and Cord Cutters News

Discussion:

David Satin /
The Streamable: Hacked Data Shows How Valuable Hulu is as Disney and Comcast Spar Over Price

Sabrina Quagliozzi /
The Media Leader: Disney data leak exposes sensitive information, financial insights

Ariel Zilber /
New York Post: Leaked Disney data includes secrets on Disney+, ESPN+ and Genie theme park passes: report

TechCrunch:

YouTube announces AI detection tools to protect against copying creators' likeness, including their faces and voices, and plans to offer AI scraping controls— YouTube on Thursday announced a new set of AI detection tools to protect creators, including artists, actors …

Discussion:
YouTube Official Blog, The Media Leader and The Hollywood Reporter

Discussion:

Amjad Hanif /
YouTube Official Blog: New tools to protect creators and artists

Sabrina Quagliozzi /
The Media Leader: YouTube takes aim at AI misuse

Washington Post:

Mehdi Hasan's Zeteo News, launched in April, has 31K paid subs, including more than 1,000 at the $500+ “founder” level, accounting for ~$3M in annual revenue— The former MSNBC host's Substack-based Zeteo News has 31,000 paid subscribers and $3 million in annual revenue in just four months

Discussion:
@simondowens@threads.net, @jeremymbarr, @brianstelter and TVNewsCheck

Discussion:

Simon Owens /
@simondowens@threads.net: A lot of other cable news personalities are going to look at Mehdi Hasan's success at building a $3 million subscription business in only four months and wonder if it's worth it to them to make the jump to independent media. — https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Jeremy Barr /
@jeremymbarr: An update: Just four months in, Mehdi Hasan's @zeteo_news has attracted 31,000 paying subscribers and has an annualized revenue of about $3 million: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: Big #'s for @mehdirhasan: “The former MSNBC host's Substack-based Zeteo News has 31,000 paid subscribers and $3 million in annual revenue in just four months” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Press Gazette:

The Guardian's CFO says the outlet plans to start making product recommendations with the aim of diversifying revenue through affiliate links— The Guardian is preparing to launch an e-commerce platform as it continues to look for new areas of revenue diversification.

Discussion:
@baekdal

Discussion:

Thomas Baekdal /
@baekdal: “The Guardian will begin making product recommendations “based on the trust that we've got within the brand"" This trust is based on its high-quality journalism. So if this is ‘based on the trust’, I assume these product recommendations will have a high journalistic focus?

Bloomberg:

FCC filing: Larry Ellison will own 77.5% of National Amusements via a trust and series of corporations after his son David completes the purchase of Paramount— Paramount Global, the parent of CBS, will be controlled by software billionaire Larry Ellison after a group led by his son David completes …

Discussion:
@lucas_shaw

Associated Press:

The US charges Dimitri Simes, a Russian-born US citizen and ex-Trump adviser, with working for a sanctioned Russian state TV network and laundering the proceeds— The U.S. government has charged a Russian-born U.S. citizen and former adviser to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign …

Discussion:
Reuters, New York Times, Rolling Stone and Radio Free Europe/Radio …

Discussion:

Nikki McCann Ramirez /
Rolling Stone: Former Trump Campaign Adviser Charged Over Work for Russian State Media

Press Gazette:

Email: the FT US Guild says it has reached a tentative three-year deal setting minimum salaries at $75K; the contract still needs to be voted on by members— Journalists at the Financial Times (FT) have secured a pay deal, including a new minimum salary of $75,000 (£57,000), after almost two years of negotiations.

Discussion:
@newsguild, @coreypein.bsky.social, The NewsGuild and Talking Biz News

Discussion:
@newsguild: 🚨 First contract alert! Congratulations to our members at the Financial Times Guild (@FTUSGuild) for a contract win two years after winning their union. ✊ https://newsguild.org/...

Corey Pein /
@coreypein.bsky.social: More context: leading global financial journalists make less in one year than Russia paid Dave Rubin and Tim Pool for one hour's work. bsky.app/profile/medi... [embedded post]

Chris Roush /
Talking Biz News: FT union reaches deal

Nieman Lab:

The Salt Lake Tribune's first annual report shows $15.3M in 2023 revenue and $779K net profit; in July 2024, it had 9K print subscribers and 30K digital— The first daily newspaper in the U.S. to become a nonprofit has published a refreshingly readable and transparent annual report.

Discussion:
What Works

Discussion:

Wall Street Journal:

Filmmakers from the small budget, parallel world of faith-based entertainment are going mainstream, as Amazon, Netflix, and others focus on heartland viewers— Christian filmmakers have surprised the world with a series of box office hits. Their success could change the entertainment industry.

Discussion:
Luke Roush on LinkedIn

BBC:

The UK's CMA launches an investigation into whether the sale of Oasis tickets on Ticketmaster breached consumer protection law, including via “dynamic pricing”— The UK competition regulator has launched an investigation into the sale of Oasis tickets, including the use of “dynamic pricing”.

Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, CNN, Variety, Billboard, UPI, GOV.UK, @gergelyorosz, @deandunham, @cmagovuk, @daviddavismp, CMU, London Evening Standard, NME, The Guardian, Music Business Worldwide, Engadget, The Sun, WATN, Financial Times, NBC News, Politico, KXTV, Press Association and Big Issue, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Gareth Vipers /
Wall Street Journal: Getting Oasis Tickets Was a Nightmare. U.K. Regulators Are Probing Ticketmaster for Answers.

Hanna Ziady /
CNN: Ticketmaster probed in the UK over Oasis concert sales Variety: Oasis Tickets ‘Dynamic Pricing’: U.K. Competition and Markets Authority Launches Investigation Into Ticketmaster

Marc Schneider /
Billboard: Ticketmaster Targeted By U.K. Regulators Over Panned Oasis Sale

Clyde Hughes /
UPI: Britain to investigate Ticketmaster over Oasis ticket prices

Gergely Orosz /
@gergelyorosz: Odd how a ticketing site with a monopoly on selling tickets unable to the engineering challenge of “how to serve a ticketing site without crashing that is expected to get millions of interested fans?” While solving the more nuanced problem of dynamically priced tickets en masse

Lawyer Dean Dunham /
@deandunham: Last week I highlighted my view on the @LBC Consumer Hour and social media that the dynamic pricing model used by Ticketmaster is contrary to consumer laws. I'm delighted to see that the @CMAgovUK agrees that I may be right and is therefore investigating 👇 @cmagovuk: We've launched our investigation regarding the sale of tickets for #OasisLive25, including how so-called ‘dynamic pricing’ may have been used. We're looking at how Ticketmaster may have broken #ConsumerProtection law. Read our press release: https://www.gov.uk/... [image]

David Davis MP /
@daviddavismp: I am pleased to see the @CMAgovUK has announced an investigation into Ticketmaster to see if consumer protection law was breached in relation to the sale of Oasis tickets. https://www.gov.uk/...

Chris Cooke /
CMU: Oasis dynamic pricing backlash escalates as UK competition regulator launches formal investigation

Jonathan McCambridge /
London Evening Standard: Bid to ban dynamic ticket pricing in Ireland following Oasis furore

Emma Wilkes /
NME: Oasis reunion tour: CMA launches official government enquiry into dynamic surge ticket pricing

Murray Stassen /
Music Business Worldwide: UK COMPETITION REGULATOR LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO TICKETMASTER OVER OASIS TICKET SALE

Morgan Johnson /
The Sun: Ticketmaster to be probed by watchdog over Oasis sales after fans were left furious at ‘dynamic pricing’

Doha Madani /
NBC News: Oasis ticket sale prompts U.K. government scrutiny of Ticketmaster's ‘dynamic pricing’

Tom Bristow /
Politico: Oasis fiasco prompts UK Ticketmaster probe

Naomi Clarke /
Press Association: Dynamic pricing to be examined by European Commission amid Oasis ticket furore

Emily Chudy /
Big Issue: Oasis tickets row highlights how music fans are ‘taken advantage of’ amid a cost of living crisis

New York Times:

US prosecutors charge a man for allegedly using AI to create hundreds of thousands of songs and using bots to play them and get $10M in streaming royalties— Federal prosecutors charged a North Carolina musician with gaming the system to win royalties from streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

Discussion:

Kris Holt /
Engadget: Alleged fraudster got $10 million in royalties using robots to stream AI-made music

Dan Ackerman /
@danackerman: This is a bonkers paragraph to read in 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/... [image]

Sergiu Gatlan /
BleepingComputer: Musician charged with $10M streaming royalties fraud using AI and bots

Anagricel Duran /
NME: FBI arrest musician for streaming fraud and allegedly collecting $10million from AI-generated songs

Chris Cooke /
CMU: New York District Attorney brings criminal charges against man accused of sophisticated streaming fraud that raked in more than $10 million

Jason Weisberger /
Boing Boing: Massive AI streaming fraud farm busted by the FBI

Mandy Dalugdug /
Music Business Worldwide: This US musician allegedly generated $10m using bots to rack up fake streams of AI songs. He could face decades in prison for wire fraud and money laundering

Kyle Russell /
@kylebrussell: The problematic bit is using bots to gets fake streams on the music, not that AI was used to make them

US Department of Justice:
North Carolina Musician Charged With Music Streaming Fraud Aided By Artificial Intelligence

Dylan Smith /
Digital Music News: Musician Indicted Over Years-Long Streaming Fraud Scheme After Allegedly Making Over $10 Million on AI Tracks

Larry Neumeister /
Associated Press: A musician siphoned $10 million in royalties after using AI to create hundreds of thousands of songs, streaming them billions of times

Kristin Robinson /
Billboard: North Carolina Musician Accused of $10M Streaming Fraud With AI-Generated Songs

Maria Hernandez /