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 (Jeremy Barr/Washington Post)

Mediagazer: 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 (Jeremy Barr/Washington Post)

Top News:

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— American spy agencies have assessed that the Kremlin favors former President Donald J. Trump, seeing him as skeptical of U.S. support for Ukraine.
Discussion: CNN, US Department of Justice, NPR, CBS News, @eelarson, @lrozen, @kareemrifai, Wired, @muellershewrote, @willsommer, The Record, Bloomberg, @rolandsmartin, @willsommer, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, @mtaibbi, @semaforben, The Register, @1elizabeth_jacobs@threads.net, @yashar, @arictoler, The Record, Agence France-Presse, @arictoler, @eelarson, @alanfeuer, @info_rosalie@threads.net, @willsommer, @shanlonwu, @lrozen, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, @stevanzetti, @christogrozev, @alanfeuer, @eelarson, Associated Press, @sewingdilemma, @arictoler, @thetnholler, @info_rosalie@threads.net, @waldoj@mastodon.social, UPI, @crispinburke@threads.net, @joeabodnar@threads.net, @renee.diresta@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, US Department of Justice, @griffinkyle@threads.net, Semafor, Fox News and Mediaite, more at Techmeme »

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

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

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

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]

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: 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. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Russian Contract Soldier Who Fled To Kazakhstan To Avoid Ukraine War Gets 6 Years In Prison

Matt Taibbi /
@mtaibbi: Gosh what a shock that @KenDilanianNBC is the delivery boy for this Langley-created horseshit! Never would have thought

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/...

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]

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]

Jonathan Greig /
The Record: DOJ seizes dozens of domains used in Russian influence campaigns targeting swing states

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

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.

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

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]

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/...

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

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

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:

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

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] @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]

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

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/...

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.

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. …

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

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

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.

Diego Mendoza /
Semafor: ‘Psychological warfare’: US sanctions Russian actors over attempted election interference Fox News: 2 Russia-based RT employees indicted by US, internet domains seized in election influence probe

David Gilmour /
Mediaite: BREAKING: Biden Administration to Accuse Russia of 2024 Election Interference

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— The unnamed Tennessee-based company that the Justice Department alleges was being funded by Russian operatives working as part …

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

Discussion:
CBS News: U.S. says Russia funded media company that paid right-wing influencers millions for videos

Josh Kovensky /
Talking Points Memo: The US indictment of two RT employees describes funding and direction of a company that seems to match Tenet Media, which appears to employ Tim Pool and others @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]

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”

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]

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

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

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.

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

Anna Merlan /
Mother Jones: New Indictment Alleges Conservative Media Company Took Millions of Kremlin Cash

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

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

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

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... …

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]

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 @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/...

Associated Press:
WATCH: Garland announces actions to combat Russia's alleged election disinformation efforts @taliaotg: so that skate park he bought because the skaters didn't wanna play with him - he bought that with russia bux?

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.

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/...

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

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

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]

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. @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? @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]

Matthew Gertz /
@mattgertz: Kirk and Beck also took issue with the Russia “hoax,” of course. [image] @lopezmotorscars: Tenet media got tasked with posting Tucker Carlsons grocery store propaganda. [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]

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]

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]

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

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.

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. …

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

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 😂

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

Andy B /
@andycat3: Sure bud. [video]

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. @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] @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]

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

Michael Weiss /
@michaeldweiss: Elon Musk naturally promoted nonsense peddled by Tenet Media, which was financed by now-indicted Russian operatives.

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?”

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:

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

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/... @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] @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

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

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.

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. …

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]

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?

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/ ...

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.

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/ ...

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]

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

Justin Baragona /
@justinbaragona: “leaked”

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/...

Sarah K. Burris /
Raw Story: Right-wing U.S. media company linked to Russian propaganda effort: Dept. of Justice

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

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.

@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]

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/...

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. …

@emptywheel:
Imagine if all of Donald Trump's popularity is based on grift-boys getting paid $5M by Russia? 🤔

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/ ...

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/...

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Zoe G. Phillips /
The Hollywood Reporter: DOJ Investigation Alleges Russia Sent $10M to U.S. Media Company

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]

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

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]

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

Wall Street Journal:

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

Wired:

The Internet Archive loses its appeal of a US district court ruling that favored publishers in a copyright dispute over the nonprofit's ebook lending program— The legal battle was spurred by book publishers objecting to the archive's digital lending library.

Discussion:
The Verge, Publishers Weekly, VICE, The Bookseller, Bloomberg Law, @vanderhoofy, @future_of_music, Rolling Stone, @paulskallas, @msmaggiemayhem, @molly0xfff, @evacide, @mcmansionhell, @tyleralbertario, Publishing Perspectives, @spencerbeswick, @fbfishslap, @devlinhartline, @firewalkwjaime, @adamquinn__, @andymcnulty90, @alexeyguzey, @DM_Ronin@mstdn.social, @notjessewalker, @cremieuxrecueil, @neilturkewitz, @tjstiles_author, New York Times, @knibbs, @internetarchive, @publisherswkly, @draculavoice, @chrishudsonjr@mastodon.social, Reuters, TechCrunch, @bkastl@mastodon.social, @malteengeler@legal.social, @chrisg@kolektiva.social, @istuetzle@zirk.us, @evacide@hachyderm.io, MediaPost, @blogdiva@mastodon.social, @nixCraft@mastodon.social, @misty@digipres.club, @TechDesk@flipboard.social, Engadget, Gizmodo, @fmhilton@mastodon.sdf.org, @somebitslinks@tech.lgbt, Mailchimp, KAAL-TV, Public Knowledge and Library Journal infoDOCKET, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Andrew Albanese /
Publishers Weekly: Appeals Court Upholds Decision Against Internet Archive's Book Scanning Program

Maia Snow /
The Bookseller: US Court of Appeal backs publishers in copyright infringement case against Internet Archive

Erin Vanderhoof /
@vanderhoofy: it's impossible to overstate how important the internet archive has been for filling in gaps in access for any writer looking to do good work without a university affiliation! what is happening is really bad for everyone @future_of_music: The second circuit has sided with authors and publishers over Internet Archive in a lawsuit over the unlicensed scanning and redistribution of ebooks. This is a fairly straightforward decision—IA's case was always a legal longshot. https://storage.courtlistener.com/ ...

Jon Blistein /
Rolling Stone: Internet Archive Loses Appeal of Book Publishers' Copyright Infringement Suit

LindyMan /
@paulskallas: Of course the internet archive is going to crash and burn. You cant rely on one site to chronicle the internet. That's not how things work. Not Lindy The only thing that works is people saving what they think is valuable and passing it on to other people. Generation after @msmaggiemayhem: Disappointed by this setback for the Internet Archive. Library licensing for e-books is expensive (up to 300x the cost of an individual text) plus it is subject to censorship & retraction. Wiley, one of the plaintiff publishers, has withdrawn 1300 academic e-books from students. [image]

Molly White /
@molly0xfff: Seen a couple Takes about the Hachette opinion along the lines of “the @internetarchive should've stuck to just archiving the Internet and not testing copyright” and uhhh

Kate Wagner /
@mcmansionhell: I genuinely think this is the worst thing to ever happen to a repository of information since the burning of the library of alexandria @tyleralbertario: The Internet Archive's open library has been an incredible research asset for me and thousands of others, one of the greatest information democratization tools of the 21st century, all about to get obliterated like the Library of Alexandria. A dark day.

Porter Anderson /
Publishing Perspectives: Internet Archive Takes Another Blow in Court on Copyright

Spencer Beswick /
@spencerbeswick: Lewis Hyde's book “Common as Air: Revolution, Art, and Ownership” totally shaped my understanding of copyright and the commons. Reading it will impress upon you why destroying the Internet Archive is so bad for society! https://www.goodreads.com/... [image] @fbfishslap: As a reminder, this case was over the Internet Archive temporarily waiving the “only one person can read an ebook at a time” requirement on their library DURING A PANDEMIC WHEN PHYSICAL LIBRARIES WERE CLOSED

Devlin Hartline /
@devlinhartline: Hachette v. Internet Archive is out: 2d Circuit rejects controlled digital lending theory; IA's use is not transformative; all four fair use factors favor the publishers; the public benefits from shutting down IA's infringement. #copyright https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/ ... @firewalkwjaime: Extremely disappointing. Internet Archive has always been a useful tool through my high school years and I still consider it a very invaluable source towards my budding cinephilia, which only grows stronger now.

Adam Quinn /
@adamquinn__: I was just using Internet Archive earlier today to skim an obscure out-of-print book that happened to be on the topic of a dissertation paragraph I'm writing. When the dissertation becomes a book manuscript soon, I won't be touching any Hachette imprints with a ten foot pole.

Andy McNulty /
@andymcnulty90: This is so disappointing. I can't tell you how important the Internet Archive has been to my research over the years. I've found photos of relatives I never knew existed. I've read articles I would never be able to access without IA.

Alexey Guzey /
@alexeyguzey: Publishers to boycott: @DM_Ronin@mstdn.social: This is a huge blow for the digital libraries and creates an extremely dangerous precedent https://www.wired.com/... #Libraries #Books #InternetArchive #Tech #Technology #Publishing #Library

Jesse Walker /
@notjessewalker: The Internet Archive has reportedly lost its appeal in the Hachette case. I'm reupping this old thread in light of the news. @cremieuxrecueil: This is not good. Hachette Books, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Wiley have won their case and their books are going to be removed from the Internet Archive. If you still want or need to get their books for free, use libgen and Anna's Archive.

Neil Turkewitz /
@neilturkewitz: “IA asks this Court to bless the large scale copying & distribution of copyrighted books without permission from or payment to the Publishers or authors...This may be what IA & its amici prefer, but it is not an approach that the Copyright Act permits.” 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 And see... [image]

T.J. Stiles /
@tjstiles_author: Good news. “Scanning and lending,” when translated, means Internet Archive has been publishing its own unauthorized digital editions of books under rules it makes up for itself. It made tens of millions doing it. Authors got bupkis. Copyright covers all formats & editions. @knibbs: Very bad news for the Internet Archive today. Will be updating this story as comments/statements come in: https://www.wired.com/... @internetarchive: Internet Archive Responds to Appellate Opinion in Hachette v. Internet Archive “We are disappointed in today's opinion about the Internet Archive's digital lending of books that are available electronically elsewhere. We are reviewing the court's opinion and will continue to @publisherswkly: BREAKING: The Internet Archive has lost its appeal in Hachette v. Internet Archive, the long-running, closely watched copyright case over the scanning and lending of print library books. Full story to follow. @draculavoice: the internet itself had the potential, both as what it does and what it stood for as an entity, to be *about* information and history. the internet archive was proof that the internet could *be* an archive. but now, by law, it mustn't be. it is literally obligated to be worse.

Christopher Hudson /
@chrishudsonjr@mastodon.social: Fuck #copyright, fuck #IP, and fuck everyone uncritically regurgitating shallow anti-AI arguments that rely on empowering the intellectual “property” regime that results in bullshit like this. — “The Internet Archive Loses Its Appeal of a Major Copyright Case” — https://www.wired.com/...

Jonathan Stempel /
Reuters: Major book publishers defeat Internet Archive appeal over digital scanning

Devin Coldewey /
TechCrunch: Publishers prevail in lawsuit over Internet Archive's ‘emergency’ e-book lending

Bianca Kastl /
@bkastl@mastodon.social: Wait a moment. — Reading Books in a technological advanced way to simulate libraries is a problem. — But ripping entire libaries into “AI” systems is fine and no one cares? — https://www.wired.com/...

Malte Engeler /
@malteengeler@legal.social: They joked: — „If libraries were invented today they would be illegal. Well. It's not a joke anymore: — https://www.wired.com/...

Chris Gioran /
@chrisg@kolektiva.social: In many ways, copyright law, by its very existence, is sufficient proof that companies are exclusively extractive institutions. — Case in point: https://www.wired.com/... This is a major publisher directly supporting the idea that whatever they “own” is exclusively theirs to profit off from. … @istuetzle@zirk.us: THE INTERNET ARCHIVE has lost a major legal battle—in a decision that could have a significant impact on the future of internet history. — https://www.wired.com/... @evacide@hachyderm.io: If you hear a scream across the internet right now, it is the sound I am making while reading the Internet Archive v. Hatchette Books appeal, which IA has lost: https://www.wired.com/... @blogdiva@mastodon.social: without total control of media publishing, broadcasting, distribution & trading, there are no #techbro American billionaires; and without American #tech #billionaires, there is no American Fascism as we know it today. — if billionaires have no right to exist; neither their #media companies as we know them — the #FAANG & corporate media. … @nixCraft@mastodon.social: The Internet Archive Loses Its Appeal of a Major Copyright Case https://www.wired.com/... Next, all AI companies should also lose access to copyrighted books and art. Why are tech bros allowed to breach copyright? The law should be applied equally to all.

Misty /
@misty@digipres.club: The Internet Archive has lost its appeal on ebook lending: https://www.theverge.com/... The most important thing here is **don't panic**. They're not going to just disappear. This isn't good but it's not catastrophic. @TechDesk@flipboard.social: The Internet Archive has lost its appeal in a fight to lend out scanned ebooks without the approval of publishers. The Second Circuit ruled that permitting the archive's digital library would “allow for widescale copying that deprives creators of compensation and diminishes the incentive to produce new works.” …

Danny Gallagher /
Engadget: The Internet Archive loses its appeal of ebook copyright case ruling

Matthew Gault /
Gizmodo: In a Big Blow to Internet Archive, Appeals Court Says Online Lending Library Is Not Fair Use @fmhilton@mastodon.sdf.org: The Internet Archive has lost their appeal to digitize their books, and so it's going to probably shut down in the next few days. I don't see them taking it to the SC. — It's very expensive and might totally fail in this court of right wing fascists. — https://www.theverge.com/... @somebitslinks@tech.lgbt: Internet Archive loses appeal: Bad news for anyone who reads books or enjoys content — https://www.wired.com/... #internetarchive #archive.org #openlibrary #copyright #internet #archive #- KAAL-TV: An appeals court upholds a ruling that an online archive's book sharing violated copyright law

Shiva Stella /
Public Knowledge: Second Circuit Decision Limiting Book Lending Harms Libraries, Public

Gary Price /
Library Journal infoDOCKET: Second Circuit Court of Appeals Affirms District Court Ruling in Hachette v. Internet Archive

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:
@brianstelter and @jeremymbarr

Discussion:

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/ ...

IndieWire:

Sources: Disney pauses its adaptation of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, after five women alleged sexual assault against the author— IndieWire has learned the film, which had set up production offices, is now on hold due to multiple factors, including the claims against the book's author.

Discussion:
Deadline, AV Club, Rolling Stone, The Wrap and Variety

Discussion:

Matt Grobar /
Deadline: Neil Gaiman Pic ‘The Graveyard Book’ On Pause At Disney Amid Sexual Assault Allegations Against Author

Emily Zemler /
Rolling Stone: Disney Pauses Adaptation of ‘The Graveyard Book’ Amid Neil Gaiman Allegations

Stephanie Kaloi /
The Wrap: Disney's Pauses Production on Neil Gaiman Adaptation ‘The Graveyard Book’ After Sexual Misconduct Allegations

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

Press Gazette:

An interview with FT CEO John Ridding on how FT hit its highest-ever revenue of £500M last year, appealing to younger audiences, AI, and more— Financial Times chief executive John Ridding has pointed to three early decisions he made that have had a lasting impact on the health of the newspaper group.

Discussion:
Lisa MacLeod on LinkedIn and Warren Johnson on LinkedIn

Discussion:

Lisa MacLeod /
Lisa MacLeod on LinkedIn: Great interview with our CEO John Ridding at our FT Strategies Google News Initiative News In the Digital Age Event this week. …

The Guardian:

Kantar: 26% of marketers plan to cut back ad spending on X in 2025 and 14% say they will pull budgets this year, due to concerns about content on the platform— Annual survey highlights growing concern about platform content and trust in information disseminated

Discussion:

Jack Benjamin /
The Media Leader: Marketers' trust in ads on X drops to historic low

Melissa BearTrix /
@Melissabeartrix@hugz.online: His threats don't work ... Strange that ... Haha — Hugz & xXx — https://www.theguardian.com/ ...

Daniel Thomas /
Financial Times: Marketers threaten to cut spending on Elon Musk's X in record numbers

CNN:

A coalition of news outlets petitions a Nevada court to make public the proceedings around Rupert Murdoch's attempts to modify his family's succession plans— New York CNN — — A coalition of media organizations, including CNN, has petitioned a Nevada court to open …

TechCrunch:

YouTube expands its existing parental controls to let parents link their account to their teens' account and gain insight into the teens' activity— YouTube is expanding its existing set of parental controls with a new feature that would allow a parent to link their account to their teen's account …

Discussion:
MEDIANAMA, YouTube Official Blog, James Beser on LinkedIn, MediaPost, 9to5Google and The Verge, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Kamya Pandey /
MEDIANAMA: YouTube Launches New Feature Letting Parents Supervise Teen Creators' Channels

James Beser /
James Beser on LinkedIn: I am excited to announce the launch of a new supervised experience for teens on YouTube, giving parents and teens the option to link accounts …

Colin Kirkland /
MediaPost: YouTube Now Allows Parents To Link To Their Teen's Account

Jess Weatherbed /
The Verge: YouTube now lets parents keep tabs on their teen's channel

The Hollywood Reporter:

A look at ESPN's transformation over the last year, including overhauling its on-air talent, as it prepares to launch its flagship streaming service in 2025— As the sports powerhouse plans to launch a flagship service next year, it's overhauling its on-camera talent and executive ranks.