In a recent indictment, the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) accused a Tennessee-based company, believed to be Tenet Media, of accepting millions from the Russian state-owned media outlet RT (formerly Russia Today). According to the DoJ, the funds were used to promote pro-Russian propaganda and disinformation through prominent right-wing social media influencers, reaching large American audiences.
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| Russian TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov, centre, talks to service members before a ceremony inaugurating Vladimir Putin as president of Russia at the Kremlin in Moscow, May 7, 2024 |
Tenet Media allegedly facilitated the content of popular influencers such as Dave Rubin, Lauren Southern, and Tim Pool, who have been known for their controversial views. In August, Pool told his 1.3 million YouTube subscribers, “Ukraine is the enemy of this country,” echoing a sentiment that aligns with pro-Russian rhetoric. He further advocated for the cessation of U.S. support to Ukraine, calling it “the greatest threat to this nation and to the world.”
Despite widespread bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress for providing military and financial assistance to Ukraine during its ongoing war with Russia, a faction of the Republican party, led by figures like former president Donald Trump, is pushing to reduce or stop aid. This shift would undoubtedly benefit Russia, creating an opening for its ongoing campaign against Ukraine.
Though Pool and other influencers like Rubin denied any wrongdoing, Pool responded to the allegations via X (formerly Twitter) on September 5, stating, "Never at any point did anyone other than I have full editorial control of the show.” He claimed his content is often apolitical and did not directly address the indictment’s claims.
Russian Media and Financial Sanctions
The DoJ indictment is only part of the U.S. government’s efforts to curb Russian interference in American media. In a related move, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on RT, citing the organization’s involvement in the funding pipeline. Alongside RT, Dimitri Simes, a former Trump adviser and conservative commentator born in Russia, was also indicted. Simes is accused of working on behalf of Channel One, another state-controlled Russian media outlet.
In Russia, these indictments were quickly portrayed as part of a larger, ongoing informational warfare between the West and Moscow. Prominent Russian figures, including TV host Vladimir Solovyov, framed the U.S. actions as a new effort to discredit Donald Trump. Solovyov suggested that charging Simes was an attempt to connect Trump to Russian agents through Simes.
Solovyov even speculated that further indictments could target U.S. conservative pundits like Tucker Carlson, who interviewed President Vladimir Putin in February.
Margarita Simonyan Takes Center Stage
Margarita Simonyan, RT’s chief editor, became a key figure in the unfolding drama. Known for her close ties to the Kremlin, Simonyan took the allegations in stride, openly acknowledging her role in shaping Russian state media’s efforts. “I am the head of a Russian state media outlet that is funded by the government,” she stated boldly. “I am proud that I work for my country!”
Simonyan went even further on Solovyov’s talk show, hinting at Russia’s continued attempts to influence the media landscape in the U.S. through covert projects. She stopped short of directly confirming the allegations but hinted at underground efforts initiated after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“When the [invasion] started, our ability to work normally was shut down in all countries that support Ukraine, especially the United States and Europe,” Simonyan explained. “Our broadcasting was stopped, our licenses revoked, you couldn’t transfer money, you couldn’t work there.” In response, she claimed that RT had initiated several “guerrilla projects” that allowed them to continue their work covertly.
Though Simonyan refused to clarify whether these were the specific operations cited in the U.S. indictment, she boasted about their success, claiming they garnered “nearly 14 billion views,” even outperforming major international news outlets like the BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera.
A Broader Influence Strategy
Analysts believe that these developments highlight how Russia exploits existing divisions in Western societies to advance its agenda. Seva Gunitsky, a professor of Russian politics at the University of Toronto, noted that Russia doesn’t need to create new narratives but can amplify pre-existing biases and fractures in the U.S. political landscape.
“The Kremlin’s goal is less about promoting a specific ideological agenda and more about destabilizing its adversaries,” Gunitsky said. He argued that right-wing influencers were targeted as “a matter of convenience” because of their alignment with issues that resonate with Russian President Vladimir Putin, such as anti-globalism and opposition to progressive movements.
Ilya Budraitskis, a Russian historian, noted that the success of Kremlin narratives in the U.S. stems from deeper societal issues. “The almost verbatim repetition of Kremlin narratives on the war in Ukraine by U.S. bloggers is an obvious fact,” Budraitskis said. He added that widespread distrust of mainstream media, political institutions, and elites in the U.S. makes it easier for foreign disinformation to spread.
While the Kremlin may be taking advantage of these fissures, Budraitskis emphasized that it is not the source of these problems, though he added, “I am ready to believe that they paid someone money.”
A Growing Media Battlefield
As the U.S. government continues to combat Russian disinformation efforts, Russia’s response shows no sign of retreat. Figures like Simonyan and Solovyov continue to revel in the attention, casting themselves as defenders of free speech under siege by the West. Meanwhile, the allegations surrounding U.S.-based influencers suggest that the Kremlin’s media warfare is becoming increasingly sophisticated and deeply embedded in America’s political divide.
In the face of mounting pressure from U.S. authorities, Russia seems poised to continue its covert “guerrilla projects,” pushing the boundaries of media warfare in the 21st century.
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