“Unwitting” Russian Useful Idiots

 

MAGA INFLUENCERS BECOME RUSSIAN USEFUL IDIOTS

Benny Johnson and Tim Pool, two prominent mouthpieces in the MAGA media ecosystem, have long presented themselves as truth-tellers exposing the lies of the mainstream press. However, recent revelations from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) show that both of these figures, along with other influencers like Dave Rubin, and Tayler Hansen, were involved in a Russian-funded disinformation campaign, whether they knew it or not. According to a federal indictment, Russian state-backed entities funneled nearly $10 million into a media company believed to be Tenet Media, which employed Johnson, Pool, and others. While all of them claim they were unaware of the source of the funding, ignorance does not absolve one from the law.

Benny Johnson, no stranger to controversy, was fired from BuzzFeed in 2014 for plagiarism, an incident that had already called into question his credibility as a journalist. BuzzFeed’s internal review found over 40 instances of plagiarism in Johnson’s work, tarnishing his reputation. This history of ethical breaches only adds to the weight of his involvement in the Russian disinformation scheme. While he claims to have been an unwitting participant, his track record suggests a pattern of irresponsibility when it comes to the accuracy and integrity of his work​.

Dave Rubin, who has positioned himself as a free speech advocate and critic of mainstream media, now finds himself entangled in a scheme designed to manipulate American public opinion for Russian interests. Rubin’s significant following only magnifies the reach of the disinformation he helped spread, and while he insists that he was deceived by Tenet Media’s founders, his negligence in not thoroughly investigating the company’s funding is glaring. The law does not excuse such ignorance, especially when the content in question aims to interfere with American elections. Rubin, like the others, must face the reality that he played a key role in spreading harmful narratives.​

Tayler Hansen, another key figure in this media operation, was also swept into this disinformation campaign. Known for his activism and strong right-wing commentary, Hansen’s involvement underscores the pervasive nature of this Russian influence operation. While he, too, claims to be a victim of the scheme, Hansen’s participation in spreading propaganda—whether knowingly or not—poses a serious threat to American democracy. The DOJ’s investigation shows that all of these influencers, including Hansen, Rubin, Johnson, Pool were integral parts of a larger effort to sway public opinion in favor of Russian interests​

It’s important to understand that being "unwitting" participants in a foreign propaganda campaign does not negate the seriousness of their actions. The DOJ has made it clear that violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and conspiracy to commit money laundering are at the heart of this case. Johnson, Pool, Rubin, Hansen may not have known that Russian agents were behind the scenes, but the law still holds individuals accountable for their role in disseminating content designed to undermine American democracy. The DOJ’s pursuit of these violations underscores that such influence operations are not minor infractions; they are crimes that strike at the core of national security​.

Attorney General Merrick Garland, in his recent address before Congress, emphasized the significance of this case as part of a broader effort to counter foreign interference in U.S. elections. Garland made it clear that this kind of operation represents a "bigger threat than it ever was before" and that the U.S. government will be "relentlessly aggressive" in pursuing individuals and organizations involved in these schemes. Whether Pool, Johnson, Rubin, Hansen knowingly participated or were merely useful idiots in a larger operation is irrelevant when the consequences are this dire. The damage has been done, and the law will hopefully hold those responsible accountable​.

Pool, Johnson, and their colleagues have all issued statements claiming victimhood, asserting that they were deceived by Tenet Media’s founders. However, this defense feels hollow in light of the indictment. When dealing with political content that could shape public opinion and influence elections, due diligence is not just recommended—it’s required. Pool's and Johnson's claims that they were merely engaging in a “standard business deal” – and yet they ignored the profound responsibility that comes with their platform sizes. Their negligence, whether deliberate or accidental, helped spread Russian propaganda aimed at destabilizing the U.S. democracy​.

Furthermore, the law offers little sympathy for those who claim ignorance. Under FARA, anyone acting on behalf of a foreign government must register and disclose their activities, whether they are aware of the connection or not. The DOJ’s indictment makes it clear that the influencers involved in this scheme, including Rubin and Hansen, were tools in a larger Russian disinformation campaign. Even if they were unaware, their actions contributed to spreading narratives that benefitted a foreign adversary. Ignorance is not a defense when national security is at stake​.

As Congress continues to investigate foreign interference in U.S. elections, this case serves as a stark reminder that no one is above scrutiny, especially when national security is involved. The DOJ has taken a hardline stance on foreign interference, and cases like this illustrate why. The fact that Johnson, Pool, Rubin, Hansen were used as unwitting agents of Russian influence - does not make their actions any less dangerous or harmful. Their platforms helped spread divisive narratives, and for that, they should be held accountable by both the law and their audiences​.

Together, these five influencers represent a significant portion of the extreme MAGA alternative media landscape that appeals to audiences disillusioned with mainstream outlets. Their collective failure to recognize the origins of their funding or question the intent behind the content they were producing has serious consequences. The DOJ’s aggressive pursuit of this case signals that foreign interference will not be tolerated, no matter how large or influential the figures involved may be. Whether it’s Rubin’s insistence on free speech, Pool’s claim to be a victim, or Johnson’s dismissive stance on his role, the law is clear: ignorance is not a defense when it comes to safeguarding national security​

As the DOJ continues to uncover more about this operation, the involvement of Rubin, Johnson, Pool, and Hansen, underscores the broader issue of accountability in media. With thousands of followers and significant influence, these individuals cannot afford to be reckless in their business dealings. Their failure to recognize the signs of foreign interference has had devastating consequences, and they now face both legal and public scrutiny. The intertwining of their stories reveals a disturbing trend of media figures being used as tools for foreign powers, whether they realize it or not​, the involvement of these influencers demonstrates the pervasive nature of Russian influence operations. Whether through negligence, willful blindness, or just being plain fucking stupid, they contributed to the spread of dangerous disinformation that threatens the fabric of American democracy. Their audiences deserve better, and the law should hold them accountable for their actions, regardless of their claimed ignorance.

I guess in MAGA land, those supposedly against fake news, spread fake news! MAGA influencing requires zero fact checking, and they stand by the creed and motto of, never ever let facts get in the way of great bullshit story.

In the end, Johnson, Pool, Rubin, Hansen’s involvement in this Russian disinformation campaign highlights a broader issue with the MAGA media ecosystem: a reckless disregard for the truth. Whether intentional or not, they played a role in promoting Kremlin-backed narratives. They may try to paint themselves as victims of an elaborate scheme, but the fact remains—they helped spread disinformation that threatens the integrity of American democracy. Their audiences should demand more accountability from those who claim to stand for truth while spreading falsehoods.

Let’s make an example out of these influencers…..lock these MOFO’s up!

 NFTOS
Editor-In-Chief
Roger West

IN UNPRECEDENTED ACTION, JAMES COMEY BREAKS PROTOCOL TO MEDDLE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PROCESS

FBI Director James Comey acted against the directives of U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) officials when he sent a letter to members of Congress on Friday about new emails that may or may not relate to the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server, according to three media outlets.

The New Yorker, Washington Post, and ABC News all report that DOJ officials, who oversee the FBI, made it clear to Comey that the letter would go against long established protocol.

An anonymous DOJ official who spoke to the Post told Comey that the letter would go against the position that the agency doesn’t comment on ongoing investigations, nor that it takes any actions that could be seen as influencing an election. “It was conveyed to the FBI, and Comey made an independent decision to alert the Hill. He is operating independently of the Justice Department. And he knows it,” the source said.

The New Yorker even reports that the issue went as high as Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who, according to an anonymous administration official, told Comey that her preference would be not to send the letter for the same reasons.

“You don’t do this,” a former senior Justice Department official told the magazine. “It’s aberrational. It violates decades of practice.”

That practice was codified even further in 2012, when then-Attorney General Eric Holder sent a memo to all DOJ employees about “election year sensitivities.” It reads, “As Department employees…we must be particularly sensitive to safeguarding the Department’s reputation for fairness, neutrality, and nonpartisanship.” It instructs anyone with questions “regarding the timing of charges or overt investigative steps near the time of a primary or general election” to contact the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division.

A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment to the New Yorker as to whether Comey contacted that division.

According to the New Yorker’s source, Comey told Lynch that he had to break with the agency’s protocols because he had told Congress he would inform lawmakers of any developments in his investigation into whether Clinton mishandled classified information by using a private server. He also “felt that the impending election created a compelling need to inform the public,” New Yorker reporter Jane Mayer writes.

In his own explanations of his actions to FBI employees in a letter he sent to them on Friday obtained by the Washington Post, he wrote, “Of course, we don’t ordinarily tell Congress about ongoing investigations, but here I feel an obligation to do so given that I testified repeatedly in recent months that our investigation was completed. I also think it would be misleading to the American people were we not to supplement the record.”

The Clinton campaign has already accused Comey’s letter of being “long on innuendo and short on facts,” as campaign Chairman John Podesta put it in a call with the press, and called on him to give more information to the public. “His first duty is to the American people,” Podesta said. “We hope that he will take the occasion to explain why he decided to take this extraordinary step.”

[cross-posted from thinkprogress]

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STAFF WRITER

DOJ LETS DARREN WILSON WALK EVICERATES FERGUSON POLICE AND COURT SYSTEM

FERGUSON PROTESTER BEING TREATED FOR TEAR GAS

Yesterday the Department of Justice announced they would not charge former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson who fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown last August. The Justice Department said that they could not prove that Wilson’s decision to shoot Brown was “objectively unreasonable.” To find that he was guilty of a civil right violation, they would have also had to prove that his actions were motivated by racial bias.




But the Department of Justice, in a separate investigation, did find a plethora of evidence of systemic racial bias throughout the Ferguson Police Department and local court system. Here are the 9 most egregious examples.

An African-American man lost his federal contracting job due to trumped up charges:

For example, in the summer of 2012, a 32-year-old African-American man sat in his car cooling off after playing basketball in a Ferguson public park. An officer pulled up behind the man’s car, blocking him in, and demanded the man’s Social Security number and identification. Without any cause, the officer accused the man of being a pedophile, referring to the presence of children in the park, and ordered the man out of his car for a pat-down, although the officer had no reason to believe the man was armed. The officer also asked to search the man’s car. The man objected, citing his constitutional rights. In response, the officer arrested the man, reportedly at gunpoint, charging him with eight violations of Ferguson’s municipal code…because of these charges, he lost his job as a contractor with the federal government that he had held for years. (2)

An African-American man was arrested because his wife asked officers a question:

In June 2014, an African-American couple who had taken their children to play at the park allowed their small children to urinate in the bushes next to their parked car. An officer stopped them, threatened to cite them for allowing the children to “expose themselves,” and checked the father for warrants. When the mother asked if the officer had to detain the father in front of the children, the officer turned to the father and said, “you’re going to jail because your wife keeps running her mouth.” (27)

An African-American man was tased for 20 seconds even though he made no aggressive movements and was unarmed:

In January 2013, a patrol sergeant stopped an African-American man after he saw the man talk to an individual in a truck and then walk away. The sergeant detained the man, although he did not articulate any reasonable suspicion that criminal activity was afoot. When the man declined to answer questions or submit to a frisk…the sergeant grabbed the man by the belt, drew his ECW, and ordered the man to comply. The man crossed his arms and objected that he had not done anything wrong. Video captured by the ECW’s built-in camera shows that the man made no aggressive movement toward the officer. The sergeant fired the ECW, applying a five-second cycle of electricity and causing the man to fall to the ground. The sergeant almost immediately applied the ECW again, which he later justified in his report by claiming that the man tried to stand up. The video makes clear, however, that the man never tried to stand—he only writhed in pain on the ground. (34)

A 14-year-old African-American girl who got into a verbal altercation with a classmate was tased by a School Resource Officer:

In one case, an SRO decided to arrest a 14-year-old African-American student at the Ferguson Middle School for Failure to Comply when the student refused to leave the classroom after getting into a trivial argument with another student. The situation escalated, resulting in the student being drive-stunned with an ECW in the classroom and the school seeking a 180-day suspension for the student. (37)

A Ferguson officer told an African-American man: “N*****, I can find something to lock you up on,” then slammed his face into a wall:

This documentary evidence of explicit racial bias is consistent with reports from community members indicating that some FPD officers use racial epithets in dealing with members of the public. We spoke with one African-American man who, in August 2014, had an argument in his apartment to which FPD officers responded, and was immediately pulled out of the apartment by force. After telling the officer, “you don’t have a reason to lock me up,” he claims the officer responded: “N*****, I can find something to lock you up on.” When the man responded, “good luck with that,” the officer slammed his face into the wall, and after the man fell to the floor, the officer said, “don’t pass out motherf****r because I’m not carrying you to my car.” (73)

Ferguson officers dismissed concerns about bias, blamed disparity on lack of “personal responsibility” among African-Americans:

Several Ferguson officials told us during our investigation that it is a lack of “personal responsibility” among African-American members of the Ferguson community that causes African Americans to experience disproportionate harm under Ferguson’s approach to law enforcement. Our investigation suggests that this explanation is at odd with the facts. (74)

A Ferguson officer called an African-American man standing outside of Wal-Mart a “stupid motherf*****,” while police lieutenant watched and did nothing:

In December 2011, for example, an African- American man alleged that as he was standing outside of Wal-Mart, an officer called him a “stupid motherf****r” and a “bastard.” According to the man, a lieutenant was on the scene and did nothing to reproach the officer, instead threatening to arrest the man. (80)

At the courthouse, a Ferguson officer mocked an African-American man as “hooked on phonics”:

In June 2011, a 60-year-old man complained that an officer verbally harassed him while he stood in line to see the judge in municipal court. According to the man, the officer repeatedly ordered him to move forward as the line advanced and, because he did not advance far enough, turned to the other court-goers and joked, “he is hooked on phonics.” (80)

Officers, court officials, and supervisors regularly exchanged blatantly racist emails:

• A November 2008 email stated that President Barack Obama would not be President for very long because “what black man holds a steady job for four years.”

• A March 2010 email mocked African Americans through speech and familial stereotypes, using a story involving child support. One line from the email read: “I be so glad that dis be my last child support payment! Month after month, year after year, all dose payments!”

• An April 2011 email depicted President Barack Obama as a chimpanzee.

• A May 2011 email stated: “An African-American woman in New Orleans was admitted into the hospital for a pregnancy termination. Two weeks later she received a check for $5,000. She phoned the hospital to ask who it was from. The hospital said, ‘Crimestoppers.’”

• A June 2011 email described a man seeking to obtain “welfare” for his dogs because they are “mixed in color, unemployed, lazy, can’t speak English and have no frigging clue who their Daddies are.”

• An October 2011 email included a photo of a bare-chested group of dancing women, apparently in Africa, with the caption, “Michelle Obama’s High School Reunion.”

• A December 2011 email included jokes that are based on offensive stereotypes about Muslims. (72)

Hey Chief Justice Roberts, thought you said racism was over in America? 

Ferguson Police Department, you are this weeks worst people in the world! 

NFTOS

Blogger-In-Chief

Roger West

DOJ REPORT DUE OUT TODAY IS TO BE A SCATHING REPORT ON FERGUSON POLICE AND COURT SYSTEM

The Department of Justice will release a report on Wednesday that finds Ferguson City Police had a pattern of racial bias and excessive force, multiple outlets are reporting. The report will also detail that police made racist jokes on city email accounts, The New York Times reported.

Ferguson, which was the location of a white officer shooting unarmed black teenager Michael Brown, spurred nationwide protests over police brutality. At the time it was reported that Ferguson police were disproportionately targeting the city’s African-American population, and that finding is confirmed by the Justice Department’s forthcoming report.

African Americans make up 67 percent of the city’s population, but they made up 85 percent of vehicle stops and 93 percent of arrests, even though blacks were less likely to possess contraband like drugs or illegal guns. The AP also reported that blacks were 68 percent less likely to have their cases dismissed by the municipal judge, and that 95 percent of the people kept in jail for two days or more were black. Huffington Post reported that 88 percent of use-of-force cases were against African-American suspects.

FBI Director James Comey recently candidly addressed unconscious racial bias in policing, which might be progress for the law enforcement agency but long-running research and many activists have pointed out that police officers are biased in their work.

Attorney General Eric Holder has threatened to sue Ferguson police if it finds a pattern of racial discrimination. This threat may serve as an incentive for Ferguson police to change its practices.

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Blogger-In-Chief

Roger West

UNTITED STATES OF WHAT THE FUCK

What police problem you ask? So bad is the Cleveland police department, that once again, a second time in ten years, Cleveland's entire police department is directed to be under an entire reform to be conducted by the Department of Justice.

In a grotesque 59-page report released by the United States Department of Justice on Thursday reveals widespread, excessive use of force by police officers in Cleveland. Cleveland is the city where cops recently killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice while he was carrying a toy gun on a playground, and just before that, Tanesha Anderson died in police hands when cops were supposed to be transporting her for mental health treatment.

DOJ STEPS IS ON CLEVELAND PD Video Courtesy of MSNBC




The overarching conclusion of the report is that Cleveland police “too often use unnecessary and unreasonable force in violation of the Constitution,” and that “supervisors tolerate this behavior and, in some cases, endorse it.” The report points to a “pattern or practice of using unreasonable force in violation of the Fourth Amendment,” including the “unnecessary and excessive use of deadly force,” similar use of non-deadly force, and “excessive force against persons who are mentally ill or in crisis.”


CLEVELAND OFFICER FOUND TO BE INCAPABLE OF POLICING, GETS TO POLICE AND KILL. Video Courtesy of MSNBC

A press release accompanying the report announces that “the Justice Department and the city of Cleveland have signed a statement of principles committing them to develop a court enforceable consent decree that will include a requirement for an independent monitor who will oversee and ensure necessary reforms.” A consent decree is an agreement negotiated between DOJ and the city that can be overseen and potentially enforced by a federal court once it is finalized.

These above scathing reports show a police department so corrupt, that its unfathomable that in circa 2014, that this type of shit can be ongoing. What police problem?

If this blog is not proof positive that police forces have issues, if after reading this blog and viewing the horrible policing videos in Cleveland - that you say this is OK, that these actions are indeed acceptable in our towns and cities, then you are dumber than I give credit for.

In no way shape or form is the acceptable, we don't even treat our enemy combatants this horrible.

Pro-tip to all officers of law, maybe just maybe, let me suggest to you, the practice of letting unarmed citizens live.

I sit ashamed shaking my head.

“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” ~ Ben Franklin

"I CAN'T BREATHE"!


NFTOS
Blogger-In-Chief
Roger West

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REIGNS IN FERGUSON POLICE

A Department of Justice letter sent to the Police Chief Tom Jackson of Ferguson, Missouri on Friday instructed all officers to stop wearing “I Am Darren Wilson” bracelets. Another letter issued on Tuesday ordered members of the police department to wear readable name plates, after officers were seen wearing unidentifiable tags or none at all.

Protests have not stopped in Ferguson since officer Darren Wilson shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was unarmed, in August. And in response to civil unrest, which gained steam again after Brown’s memorial was burned to the ground on Tuesday, and the use of the slogan “I Am Mike Brown,” officers were photographed wearing the bracelets supporting the officer who killed him.

The DOJ letter sent to Jackson explained that the bracelets contributed to an “us versus them” mentality and “upset and agitated” others.

In a separate letter, the DOJ also said that officers must stop violating name tag protocol by obscuring or altogether not wearing their name tags. The practice, DOJ said, “conveys a message to community members that, through anonymity, officers may seek to act with impunity.”

Ferguson police previously drew national attention for the militarization of officers, which made the town look like a war scene and resulted in the arrest and attempted censorship of journalists on the ground. And clashes between police and protestors haven’t stopped.

Although Jackson gave Brown’s parents a video apology and joined protesters in the streets this week, Darren Wilson still hasn’t been charged, raising questions about the justice system and politics in the town. Ferguson has a history of racial tension, and research shows that justice is hard to come by for victims of police brutality. For example, a Supreme Court ruling gives police legal deference to determine “reasonable” force. But protesters say civil unrest will continue until the officer is held accountable.


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FERGUSON OFFICER SHOT

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Editor-In-Chief

Roger West