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Blaze fires Conservative Pundit Lauren Chen linked to an alleged Russian operation

Y2kTheNewOldies

Y2kTheNewOldies

www.semafor.com

Blaze fires contributor linked to alleged Russian operation | Semafor

The fallout from a federal indictment continues across right-wing American media.
www.semafor.com www.semafor.com
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.

​

Chen and her husband, Liam Donovan, are the co-founders of Tenet Media, a previously obscure media company that paid eye-popping sums to right-wing influencers to produce videos that echoed Russian propaganda and other right-wing talking points, according to an indictment.
She also contributed videos to BlazeTV, an arm of Blaze Media, which was founded by the former Fox News host and talk radio figure Glenn Beck, which was not mentioned in Wednesday’s indictment.

The two Americans were also not named in the indictment, which instead charged two Russians associated with the state-owned Russia Today with money laundering and violating foreign influence laws.
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www.semafor.com

US reveals scope of Russian scheme to influence right-wing media figures | Semafor

The Kremlin vowed to respond in kind toward US media outlets over the US government crackdown on a sprawlingRussian influence campaign.
www.semafor.com www.semafor.com




apnews.com

Right-wing influencers were duped to work for covert Russian operation, US says

An indictment alleges a media company linked to six conservative influencers — including Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson — was secretly funded by Russian state media employees.
apnews.com apnews.com

It turns out multiple right wing pundits on Youtube and other places are also accused of being funded to amplify Russian Propaganda in these allegations. Some of the accused are Tim Pool, Dave Rubin allegedly involved in this scheme. Keep in mind some of these pundits also have a history of appearing on Fox News and Newsmax to push the same stuff there.

They have millions of followers online. They have been major players in right-wing political discourse since Donald Trump was president. And they worked unknowingly for a company that was a front for a Russian influence operation, U.S. prosecutors say.

An indictment filed Wednesday alleges a media company linked to six conservative influencers — including well-known personalities Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson — was secretly funded by Russian state media employees to churn out English-language videos that were “often consistent” with the Kremlin’s “interest in amplifying U.S. domestic divisions in order to weaken U.S. opposition” to Russian interests, like its war in Ukraine.

In addition to marking the third straight presidential election in which U.S. authorities have unveiled politically charged details about Russia’s attempted interference in U.S. politics, an indictment indicates how Moscow may be attempting to capitalize on the skyrocketing popularity of right-wing podcasters, livestreamers and other content creators who have found successful careers on social media in the years since Trump was in office.
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nationalpost.com

What we know about the two Canadian influencers accused of Russian propaganda

DOJ documents refer to Tenet Media, which was founded in 2023 by a Canadian influencer known as Lauren Chen and her husband, Liam Donavan
nationalpost.com nationalpost.com

montrealgazette.com

Quebec-born commentator and her husband alleged to have helped Russia spread misinformation

Lauren Chen is alleged to have helped a Russian state-controlled company to spread misinformation online through American commentators.
montrealgazette.com montrealgazette.com

Lauren Chen is also banned from Youtube due to the allegations under investigation. Now News outlets in Canada are looking at Lauren Chen's background prior to being a political pundit and having ties to Russia and the GOP.



The social media accounts of two of Canada's most vocal far-right pundits have fallen unusually silent after U.S. officials accused them of being collaborators of a covert Russian propaganda campaign.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department unsealed an indictment against two Russian nationals, accusing them of setting up a conservative media outlet as a front for pro-Kremlin propaganda.

The media outlet was unnamed in the indictment, but it was clear from details within that the charges referred to Tenet Media, founded in 2023 by the Canadian influencer known as Lauren Chen and her husband, Liam Donovan.

Among the people they hired last year was Chen's longtime friend and occasional collaborator Lauren Southern, another Canadian far-right influencer with a massive social media following.
Click to expand...
 
I'm not a lawyer but it appears to be clearly a violation of FARA. They almost certainly will be able to bring charges against Lauren Chen. The question what happens to those "pundits" under her. I wouldn't be surprised based on other FARA cases all the money earned from the foreign entity is forfeited as part of the prosecution.
 
www.usatoday.com

Lara Trump, Kari Lake, other notable Republicans appeared on podcasts accused of Russia tie

The media company now alleged to have been part of a Russian election interference plot featured interviews with many prominent Republicans.
www.usatoday.com

www.tennessean.com

What to know about Tenet Media, Tennessee company linked to Russian propagandists

Two Russian nationals are accused of funneling nearly $10 million to covertly fund and direct a Tennessee company.
www.tennessean.com




It turns out that Lauren Chen and her pundits on the payroll had registered their production company Tenet Media to a Tennessee address that's also a factor here. Her production company has done interviews with multiple allies of Trump according to the history of the company. This is how some of the allegations of election interference by "Foreign Agents" came into play.
 
inari said:
I'm not a lawyer but it appears to be clearly a violation of FARA. They almost certainly will be able to bring charges against Lauren Chen. The question what happens to those "pundits" under her. I wouldn't be surprised based on other FARA cases all the money earned from the foreign entity is forfeited as part of the prosecution.
Click to expand...
www.bbc.com

Tucker Carlson: Russian state media revels in Moscow visit

Every move the ex-Fox News host makes in Moscow is watched as he prepares to interview Vladimir Putin.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
www.local10.com

Pinecrest social media influencer among several conservatives duped into working for Russia, feds say

Pinecrest-based social media influencer Dave Rubin was among several conservatives in his field who were duped into working, unknowingly, for a company that was a front for a Russian influence operation, authorities say.
www.local10.com www.local10.com

We ran into this same issue before when Tucker Carlson went to Russia to interview Putin. We thought the same stuff like Tucker Carlson called into a congressional hearings and DOJ investigations over the same allegations Lauren Chen and pundits that are aligned with her are accused of doing. A Miami News outlet was looking for Dave Rubin given that he registered a Miami area address to Tenet Media.
 
Y2kTheNewOldies said:
www.bbc.com

Tucker Carlson: Russian state media revels in Moscow visit

Every move the ex-Fox News host makes in Moscow is watched as he prepares to interview Vladimir Putin.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
www.local10.com

Pinecrest social media influencer among several conservatives duped into working for Russia, feds say

Pinecrest-based social media influencer Dave Rubin was among several conservatives in his field who were duped into working, unknowingly, for a company that was a front for a Russian influence operation, authorities say.
www.local10.com www.local10.com

We ran into this same issue before when Tucker Carlson went to Russia to interview Putin. We thought the same stuff like Tucker Carlson called into a congressional hearings and DOJ investigations over the same allegations Lauren Chen and pundits that are aligned with her are accused of doing. A Miami News outlet was looking for Dave Rubin given that he registered a Miami area address to Tenet Media.
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I don't buy "duped". "Oh I have no idea how $100000 got dropped into my account"
 
gr8oldies said:
I don't buy "duped". "Oh I have no idea how $100000 got dropped into my account"
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True specifically people like Lauren Chen and Tucker Carlson given that they are leaders of media outlets while they are pundits. Also the number of Republicans specifically the McCain/Bush/Cheney/Kinzinger wings that showed up to both the DNC convention and Kamala Harris rallies to declare their endorsement to Democrats for the first time gave us a partial clue on what was going on. They said something like certain members of congress like MTG and Pro-Trump pundits like Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham specifically for the very allegations that have sparked this specific investigation. I don't blame the allies of Biden, Harris, Kinzinger and Cheney for not knowing who the accused pundits like Lauren Chen, Tim Pool, Dave Rubin are given that they had to witness similar allegations from inside congress. Fox News Hosts Keep Taking Putin’s Side in the War on Ukraine
 
I've often wondered how many of these politicians, right-wing talk hosts, and pundits that defend and promote Russia and Putin are either getting special deposits into their bank accounts or are publically jockeying to be.
Given what we know now, I suspect more will be investigated for their stream of income and motivations.
 
Kelly A said:
I've often wondered how many of these politicians, right-wing talk hosts, and pundits that defend and promote Russia and Putin are either getting special deposits into their bank accounts or are publically jockeying to be.
Given what we know now, I suspect more will be investigated for their stream of income and motivations.
Click to expand...
True too apparently this group of pundits still has videos on Rumble while they are banned from Youtube and the Blaze. Also in the indictment they accuse RT of paying the Pundits connected to Lauren Chen's Tenet Media $10 million in a contract.

There was a similar allegation at one point when Tucker Carlson was with Fox News the same stuff was taking place when in that allegation Carlsons Fox News show was dubbed in Russian and aired in that country until Fox News removed him because of their defamation settlement with Dominion related to the 2020 elections.


www.snopes.com

Were Clips of Tucker Carlson Being Aired on Russian TV?

Russian state television translated numerous clips from the Fox News anchor in the U.S.
www.snopes.com www.snopes.com


rumble.com

TENET Media

Browse the most recent videos from channel "TENET Media" uploaded to Rumble.com
rumble.com rumble.com


Our Story - Rumble

Why We Exist We are on a mission to protect a free and open internet. Our Story Back in 2013, as small content creators were quickly becoming deprioritized on incumbent...
corp.rumble.com corp.rumble.com

www.theguardian.com

US conservative influencers say they are ‘victims’ of Russian disinformation campaign

Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson addressed allegations that a company they were associated with had been paid to publish videos with messages in favour of Russia
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

The justice department accuses two employees of RT, a Russian state media company, of covertly funding the Tennessee-based content company to publish videos in favour of Russia. The justice department says the company did not disclose that it was funded by RT and that neither it nor its founders registered as required by law as an agent of a foreign principal.

RT ceased operating in the US after major television distributors dropped it following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. RT responded with ridicule to requests for comment from the Reuters news agency: “Three things are certain in life: death, taxes and RT’s interference in the US elections.”
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www.bbc.com

Right-wing US influencers say they were victims of alleged Russian plot

Several commentators said that, if the allegations proved true, they were "deceived" by the Russian government front.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
Conservative US influencers say if the allegations are proven, they were deceived by Russian media executives following the release of an indictment charging Moscow with interfering in the 2024 US election.

The indictment accuses state broadcaster RT, formerly Russia Today, of paying a Tennessee firm $10m (£7.6m) to "create and distribute content to US audiences with hidden Russian government messaging".
Click to expand...
 
Y2kTheNewOldies said:
It turns out multiple right wing pundits on Youtube and other places are also accused of being funded to amplify Russian Propaganda in these allegations. Some of the accused are Tim Pool, Dave Rubin allegedly involved in this scheme. Keep in mind some of these pundits also have a history of appearing on Fox News and Newsmax to push the same stuff there.
Click to expand...
Openly gay Dave Rubin is sure hoping that vehemently anti-LGBTQ Russia considers him to be "one of the good ones".
 
When you think about it, was Tucker's potential financial involvement with Russia one of the final straws that got him bounced?
Let's see: Fox settles a defamation suit for three quarters of a billion. Tucker is accused of creating a hostile work environment for female coworkers. Now potentially add-in being friends with a Communist dictatorship? There's your third strike if you ask me.
And then there's the aspects of being a constant jackass toward management and colleagues.
 

Another part of the story is that messages between Lauren Chen and Liam Donovan over the billing practices in the contract from Russia.

A private message between Chen and Donovan in May 2021 read, “So we’re billing the Russians from the corporation, right?” Two weeks later, another message said, “Also, the Russians paid. So we’re good to bill them for the next month I guess,” the legal filing details.
Two Russian state media employees, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, were charged by the Justice Department with money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Chen and Donovan have not been charged. CNN has not been able to reach the couple.

Rubin later said he was a victim of the elaborate scheme, posting on social media: “These allegations clearly show that I and other commentators were the victims of this scheme. I knew absolutely nothing about any of this fraudulent activity. Period.”

The Justice Department’s investigation into the covert Russian influence operation — and the Tenet Media founders themselves — could be ongoing, Van Grack told CNN, but suggested prosecutors unsealed the indictment this month to try to blunt the impact of the Russian propaganda on the November election.
Click to expand...
 
The crazy thing is if they just registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act they could have kept their little operation completely legal. That simple step could now cost them $10 million and years in prison.
 
Trump allies worry his ties to far-right activist Laura Loomer could cost him Georgia and North Carolina


Laura Loomer, who promoted a 9/11 conspiracy theory, joins Trump for ceremonies marking the attacks


https://www.reuters.com/world/us/wh...-conspiracy-theorist-laura-loomer-2024-09-12/


Here is another MAGA pundit who is considered way too close to Trump. Laura Loomer she is considered way too close to Trump's inner circle and has the same issues as the pundits from Tenet media such as being the most toxic among Right wing pundits. So far the investigation does not tie Loomer directly to Russia but it shows that being too dependent on questionable pundits does cause liabilities to both campaign and the country.
 
apnews.com

Facebook owner Meta bans Russia state media outlets over 'foreign interference'

Meta is banning Russia state media organization from its social media company platforms, alleging that the outlets used deceptive tactics to amplify Moscow’s propaganda.
apnews.com apnews.com

Here is an update Meta inc bans Russian State Media outlets for "Foreign Interference" from their own and operated apps like Facebook, Threads and Instagram


Facebook owner Meta (META.O), opens new tab said on Monday it was banning RT, Rossiya Segodnya and other Russian state media networks from its platforms, claiming the outlets had used deceptive tactics to carry out covert influence operations online.
The ban, strongly criticised by the Kremlin, marks a sharp escalation in measures by the world's biggest social media company against Russian state media, after years of more limited steps such as blocking the outlets from running ads and reducing the reach of their posts.

"After careful consideration, we expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media outlets. Rossiya Segodnya, RT and other related entities are now banned from our apps globally for foreign interference activity," the social media company said in a written statement.
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It's turns out that Lauren Chen and her pundits are also named as a person of interest along with all the pundits named in the Tenet Media/Russia allegations in the United States is also under investigation in Canada. Basically the allegations are that Tenet media isn't just using Russian Propaganda to spread conspiracy theories to influence the United States elections but also allegations that they tried to do the same stuff in Canada that's also at play here. Yes Meta and Google has banned Lauren Chen and her pundits off YouTube, Instagram and Facebook so far as part of banning Russian propaganda here.

Liberal MPs are calling for a committee investigation of Canadian connections to U.S. allegations that Russia has used state-run media, unwitting influencers and websites to spread disinformation.

At the same time, a Russian-Canadian activist group is asking the public inquiry investigating foreign interference to look into the issue during its next phase.

Last week, the U.S. Justice Department unsealed an indictment against two Russian nationals accusing them of setting up a conservative media outlet as a front for pro-Kremlin propaganda.

While the indictment doesn't name the Tennessee-based outlet, details in the court document match those of Tenet Media — a company founded by Canadian far-right commentator Lauren Chen and her husband Liam Donovan.
Click to expand...
 
www.newsweek.com

Tim Pool sues Kamala Harris HQ over 'Project 2025' post

The conservative podcaster claims that the Democrats have cost him millions of dollars.
www.newsweek.com www.newsweek.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1836188147396264046


www.dailydot.com

Tim Pool says Democrats won't go on his show because Harris shared clip of him calling for Democrats to be jailed

The remark was made in a lawsuit filed by Pool against the Harris presidential campaign.
www.dailydot.com www.dailydot.com


Apparently Tim Pool one of the accused pundits just sued The Kamala Harris Presidential Campaign for defamation. This is an odd one given that Tim Pool is basically borrowing a playbook from Trump and Kari Lake while hes under investigation for being on the payroll for Tenet Media with Lauren Chen. Also Tim Pool is also being named as a person of interest with Lauren Chen for spreading Russian propaganda in Canada too.
 
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