Kari Lake previews her plans for Voice of America in the next Administration.

[TheBigA]

That was one of the agencies specifically named by that initial cost reduction effort that included Elon Musk. The core objective in naming several heads of agencies was to scale them down or scale them out. The best example is the DoE.

Once again, Kari Lake was not named as the head of the VOA or USAGM. She worked in the white house. She wasn't confirmed by the senate and therefore has no role in running a government agency, which includes firing staff. That's why the judge ruled against her. This isn't a complicated situation.

We now have 1000 people "back at work" doing nothing on decommissioned transmitters and services.

The people who were fired were mainly journalists. The content they create can appear on any platform, not strictly shortwave.

 

[davideduardo]

Once again, Kari Lake was not named as the head of the VOA or USAGM. She worked in the white house. She wasn't confirmed by the senate and therefore has no role in running a government agency, which includes firing staff. That's why the judge ruled against her. This isn't a complicated situation.

So they name someone else to a post with a different name and do the same thing over while they further pursue the case in the courts.

The people who were fired were mainly journalists. The content they create can appear on any platform, not strictly shortwave.

And the content is supposed to, primarily, reach nations opposed to U.S. principals and policy. That is how it started, against the Axis powers and the communist surge after WW II and then throughout the cold war.

Now, there is no Iron Curtain, and technology has passed by all the principal method for those journalists and anchors. Short wave is dead, and the internet can be blocked by any country that wants to. The use of local stations through rentals or time buys only works if the host country allows it.

There is no platform. The concept, as even the BBC has recognized, is obsolete.

I was approached a number of times by the folks representing the VOA when I owned stations in the major cities of Ecuador about carrying VOA shows. I was even called in to see the U.S. Ambassador who tried to make me feel guilty about not "being patriotic"... of course, I was about 21 then and he was about 60 and schooled in the FDR years of government. I could see that nobody wanted to hear those shows, but he could not. He grew up on the Red and Blue networks, and I grew up on Gordon McLendon and Todd Storz.

They quit inviting me to U.S. Embassy affairs after that, which was a blessing.

Yet even today, some seem to want to do the "old style" VOA, even if they are playing to an empty theater.

 

[TheBigA]

And is building a marvelous and needed ballroom for official gatherings, such as even some of the smallest nations in our Hemisphere have. Instead, we did formal gatherings in tents on the lawn. Elegant!

When I was credentialed white house press, I covered numerous official gatherings. Yes I attended one in a tent on the south lawn. It was a wonderful charity event attended by a lot of artists and musicians, not world leaders. But most of them were held in the East Room, which is now demolished.

The founding fathers didn't want the president to live in a golden castle. They specifically placed his house in the middle of a swamp, while the capitol was built on a hill. This president told us he was going to "drain the swamp." Instead he's put a lot of lipstick on a pig.

the difference between a past administration that was ineffective in the view of conservatives and a new one that the same group believes is finally getting some needed stuff done.

Absolutely. Dictatorships are far more effective in getting stuff done than democracy. You make our point.

 

[TheBigA]

Now, there is no Iron Curtain, and technology has passed by all the principal method for those journalists and anchors. Short wave is dead, and the internet can be blocked by any country that wants to. The use of local stations through rentals or time buys only works if the host country allows it.

I'm not debating the value of shortwave. Kari Lake was very clear about why she fired the VOA staff. At no time did she talk about shortwave. These people were all fired because she decided they were all far left socialists. She said so in a press release. The judge ruled that she didn't have the authority to fire anyone. The judge didn't say anything about shortwave. So that's not at all part of this discussion.

 

[davideduardo]

I'm not debating the value of shortwave. Kari Lake was very clear about why she fired the VOA staff. At no time did she talk about shortwave. These people were all fired because she decided they were all far left socialists. She said so in a press release. The judge ruled that she didn't have the authority to fire anyone. The judge didn't say anything about shortwave. So that's not at all part of this discussion.

The whole VOA concept is dead. The basis for VOA is shortwave and the production of broadcast content. It is not a newspaper or a magazine, it is an audio service principally. And the means for its distribution are obsolete or ineffective.

 

[TheBigA]

The whole VOA concept is dead. The basis for VOA is shortwave and the production of broadcast content. It is not a newspaper or a magazine, it is an audio service principally. And the means for its distribution are obsolete or ineffective.

Once again, that's not the issue and the judge has ruled it's not for Kari Lake to decide. The congress decides how money is appropriated. They continue to believe in the VOA concept because they just appropriated $635 million for it.

 

[Mediafrog+]

The whole VOA concept is dead. The basis for VOA is shortwave and the production of broadcast content. It is not a newspaper or a magazine, it is an audio service principally. And the means for its distribution are obsolete or ineffective.

The BBC World Service actually just received a boost to its financing. It used to be shortwave centric, but is no longer so, concentrating on local rebroadcasts, online/mobile distribution, and podcasts. Curious to see how they’ll spend the money.

 

[vchimpanzee]

When I was credentialed white house press, I covered numerous official gatherings. Yes I attended one in a tent on the south lawn. It was a wonderful charity event attended by a lot of artists and musicians, not world leaders. But most of them were held in the East Room, which is now demolished.

The East Room is in the main building. I think the problem is that it wasn't big enough.

The East Wing housed offices of The First Lady and I agree it should have stayed or been rebuilt the way Truman rebuilt the main building--exactly as it was.

 

[vchimpanzee]

And is building a marvelous and needed ballroom for official gatherings, such as even some of the smallest nations in our Hemisphere have. Instead, we did formal gatherings in tents on the lawn. Elegant!

I agree with this, but it shouldn't have required demolishing an important building with no plans to rebuild it as it was.

 

[TheBigA]

The East Room is in the main building. I think the problem is that it wasn't big enough.

Correct. The East Room still exists, and in fact the president held his medal of freedom ceremony there just a week or two ago. It's where he talked about the curtains that he picked out.

 

[TheBigA]

VOA staffers file first amendment lawsuit against the administration:

VOA Reporters Claim First Amendment Violations In Federal Lawsuit.

A group of journalists has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging efforts to use Voice of America to promote propaganda and suppress reporting from the White House. The

www.insideradio.com

 

[gr8oldies]

When I was credentialed white house press, I covered numerous official gatherings. Yes I attended one in a tent on the south lawn. It was a wonderful charity event attended by a lot of artists and musicians, not world leaders. But most of them were held in the East Room, which is now demolished.

The founding fathers didn't want the president to live in a golden castle. They specifically placed his house in the middle of a swamp, while the capitol was built on a hill. This president told us he was going to "drain the swamp." Instead he's put a lot of lipstick on a pig.



Absolutely. Dictatorships are far more effective in getting stuff done than democracy. You make our point.

A war almost no one wants, gas up $1 and probably more, "we will have none of that woke renewal energy, burn those fossil fuels. Don't even THINK you're voting us out because we're disenfranchising you"

 

[davideduardo]

A war almost no one wants, gas up $1 and probably more, "we will have none of that woke renewal energy, burn those fossil fuels. Don't even THINK you're voting us out because we're disenfranchising you"

Before you say "almost no one wants" your statement needs to be qualified. Compared to Iran having a nuclear weapon and "death to the great Satan" as its philosophy, informed people will support a police action that is moderated and purposeful.

Our problem in the U.S. and the world is that news sources for, if not most people, for many are no longer verified and qualified. When 30" videos form public opinion, and the traditional news-in-depth sources like newspapers, OTA TV and radio newscasts and formerly huge magazines like Time and Newsweek no longer have much weight, how many people understand the threats of regimes like the theocracy in Iran?

 

[TheBigA]

Before you say "almost no one wants" your statement needs to be qualified.

Here's a Fox News Poll:

Fox News Poll: Voters oppose action in Iran but give US military positive marks

A new poll finds 58% of voters oppose U.S. military action in Iran, while Trump's disapproval rating hits a second-term high of 59%, the survey shows.

www.foxnews.com

In previous military actions, the government used the media to help tell the story. This government has done the opposite.

 

[davideduardo]

Here's a Fox News Poll:

Fox News Poll: Voters oppose action in Iran but give US military positive marks

A new poll finds 58% of voters oppose U.S. military action in Iran, while Trump's disapproval rating hits a second-term high of 59%, the survey shows.

www.foxnews.com

Remember, it took the bombing of Pearl Harbor to force the United States into WW II. Before that, no matter what source of public opinion you look at, a significant majority of Americans did not want to see our country involved in "the European problem".

"Before the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, a strong majority of Americans and a significant faction in Congress strongly opposed U.S. entry into World War II, preferring to focus on domestic issues and avoid foreign entanglements. Isolationist sentiment, driven by the memory of WWI and the Great Depression, was spearheaded by groups like the America First Committee, with support from figures like Charles Lindbergh. "
Or....
"Isolationist Sentiment: Over 80% of Americans surveyed in some polls were against entering the war, believing the country's interests were best served by staying out of foreign conflicts."

Both of these are from Google AI, but check out on verification. Few Americans appreciated the eventual threat of the Axis powers and the horrible genocide being conducted by Nazi Germany. Remember, well into the war, the U.S. refused a number of ships filled with refugees from allowing their passengers to disembark in the United States.

I don't think that many people believe that Americans are better informed today. To the contrary, quite a few "novelty" surveys have been done showing a large percentage of Americans don't know who we fought in the War of Independence.

 

[TheBigA]

Remember, it took the bombing of Pearl Harbor to force the United States into WW II.

And it took 9-11 to justify the Iraq war. But in that case, the president went to the people to say there were WMD. He was wrong, but at least he tried.

This president is the "I alone can fix it" president. He doesn't build a consensus with congress, other countries, or anyone. He sends his people to convince the congress, and even his staunchest supporters aren't in favor of this war.

‘Not Getting Enough Answers’: GOP Showing Signs Of Iran War Fatigue

“Washington’s war machine is hard at work,” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said Wednesday.

www.forbes.com

GOP Heavyweights Deliver a Stark Warning to Trump

Senior Republicans have gone public with a stinging rebuke of the Trump administration for keeping Congress in the dark over its Iran war strategy. The salvo from Rep. Mike Rogers, 67, of Alabama—chai...

www.yahoo.com

If Mike Rogers from Alabama isn't convinced, then he's in a lot of trouble. Here's more:

Conservatives gather for CPAC with the right openly divided over the Iran war

Conservatives are holding one of their largest annual gatherings as President Donald Trump faces a tough moment and a growing rift over the Iran war.

apnews.com

 

[TheBigA]

Fox News reports that VOA's Persian service is broadcasting inside Iran:

Voice of America pushes Trump’s message inside Iran as regime clamps down on communications: reports

VOA Persian service reportedly continues broadcasting inside Iran despite regime communication restrictions, covering "Operation Epic Fury" and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's death.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Mediafrog+]

Fox News reports that VOA's Persian service is broadcasting inside Iran:

That article is from four weeks ago.

It appears that the writer doesn’t understand the difference between “broadcasting to” and “broadcasting in”.

You will be hard pressed these days to find anyone that understands shortwave radio and how it works.

 

[gr8oldies]

Before you say "almost no one wants" your statement needs to be qualified. Compared to Iran having a nuclear weapon and "death to the great Satan" as its philosophy, informed people will support a police action that is moderated and purposeful.

Our problem in the U.S. and the world is that news sources for, if not most people, for many are no longer verified and qualified. When 30" videos form public opinion, and the traditional news-in-depth sources like newspapers, OTA TV and radio newscasts and formerly huge magazines like Time and Newsweek no longer have much weight, how many people understand the threats of regimes like the theocracy in Iran?

It just HAPPENED that Orange Jesus needed a distraction from the Epstein files after a horrible State of the Union, so he and his Fox News Secretary of Defense (oh, excuse me, War) go off half-cocked at Neytanyahu's bequest with no exit strategy other that Trump declaring victory (4 times now?) and Hegseth DEMANDING a "Patriotic Press" say "Glorious Leader Trump has achived total victory" while we're sending troops. Didn't he obliterate Iran's nuclear program 6 months ago? "And if you people in the media say anything but "obliterated" you are fake news". Pepperidge Farm Remembers

 

[davideduardo]

That article is from four weeks ago.

It appears that the writer doesn’t understand the difference between “broadcasting to” and “broadcasting in”.

You will be hard pressed these days to find anyone that understands shortwave radio and how it works.

Or find anyone with a shortwave radio!