Tenet Media said it's home to heterodox thinkers. DOJ says it's Kremlin funded

The U.S. Justice Department has unveiled a Russian influence campaign involving two employees of the Kremlin-run media company RT, who allegedly funneled $10 million to right-wing media personalities to disseminate pro-Russia propaganda in the U.S. The indictment names Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva as the individuals behind this scheme, which targeted a Tennessee-based media company, TENET Media. Although the indictment does not explicitly name the influencers, it is suggested that Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, David Rubin, and Lauren Southern were involved, as they have produced content for TENET Media. The indictment claims that these influencers were unaware of the Russian funding and have since expressed their shock, stating they were victims of the scheme. The Justice Department's actions are part of a broader strategy to counter Russian disinformation efforts, which have been a significant concern in U.S. politics. The indictment also coincides with sanctions against individuals and entities linked to Russian interference in elections. The case highlights the complexities of modern disinformation campaigns, which often aim to create distrust rather than persuade specific beliefs.

- The U.S. DOJ has charged two RT employees for funding a Russian influence campaign.

- Influencers like Tim Pool and Benny Johnson allegedly received money without knowing it was from the Kremlin.

- The campaign aimed to spread pro-Russia propaganda across social media platforms.

- The indictment is part of a larger effort to combat Russian disinformation in U.S. politics.

- Influencers involved have publicly stated they were victims of the alleged scheme.