J. Cal

Let's get to the story here, comrade.

Let's get to the story here, comrade.

Well, we're going to do it anyway. So here we go. The DOJ discharged two Russian media operatives with infiltrating podcasts. Yes, to push pro-Kremlin talking points. This was a wild drop on Wednesday, Chamath. The DOJ charged two Russian media operatives as part of an alleged, wait for it, propaganda and misinformation scheme.

Well, we're going to do it anyway. So here we go. The DOJ discharged two Russian media operatives with infiltrating podcasts. Yes, to push pro-Kremlin talking points. This was a wild drop on Wednesday, Chamath. The DOJ charged two Russian media operatives as part of an alleged, wait for it, propaganda and misinformation scheme.

According to the charges, these two employees of the state-run Russia Today outlet, RT, funneled $10 million into a Tennessee-based media company to influence public opinion and sow social divisions. The wire transfers happened between October of last year And as recently as last month, this included placing blame on Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine for its conflict with Russia. Interesting.

According to the charges, these two employees of the state-run Russia Today outlet, RT, funneled $10 million into a Tennessee-based media company to influence public opinion and sow social divisions. The wire transfers happened between October of last year And as recently as last month, this included placing blame on Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine for its conflict with Russia. Interesting.

Both Russians are charged with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act and conspiracy to commit money laundering. They're looking at 20 years in jail. The indictment did not mention the company by name, but people quickly figured out who it was because of their location. The company is called Tenant Media, founded in 2023 by Lauren Chen, a conservative commentator.

Both Russians are charged with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act and conspiracy to commit money laundering. They're looking at 20 years in jail. The indictment did not mention the company by name, but people quickly figured out who it was because of their location. The company is called Tenant Media, founded in 2023 by Lauren Chen, a conservative commentator.

And their personalities included Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Dave Rubin, and Lauren Southern. These are right-leaning podcasters. In the last year, Tenant has posted 2,000 videos, which collectively had 16 million YouTube views, according to the DOJ charges. Looks like the Russian operatives were coordinating with the founders.

And their personalities included Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Dave Rubin, and Lauren Southern. These are right-leaning podcasters. In the last year, Tenant has posted 2,000 videos, which collectively had 16 million YouTube views, according to the DOJ charges. Looks like the Russian operatives were coordinating with the founders.

Okay. And just to be clear. I mean, do we all agree with that or not? I mean, I agree. It was a great move to not have advertising. Sure. Because there's zero pressure from anybody calling us saying we're going to pull our ad spots and also makes the pod easy to listen to. And none of us need the money.

Okay. And just to be clear. I mean, do we all agree with that or not? I mean, I agree. It was a great move to not have advertising. Sure. Because there's zero pressure from anybody calling us saying we're going to pull our ad spots and also makes the pod easy to listen to. And none of us need the money.

These personalities, Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Dave Ruman, Lauren Southern have, I think most of them have come out and said they didn't know. The indictment says that they didn't know these podcasters. And the indictment also says they were paid huge sums of money, upwards of $100,000 per episode to do this.

These personalities, Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Dave Ruman, Lauren Southern have, I think most of them have come out and said they didn't know. The indictment says that they didn't know these podcasters. And the indictment also says they were paid huge sums of money, upwards of $100,000 per episode to do this.

And it's unclear what they were asked to do in the indictment, but there are some pressure techniques to produce tweets around certain things that the Russians wanted propagated.

And it's unclear what they were asked to do in the indictment, but there are some pressure techniques to produce tweets around certain things that the Russians wanted propagated.

They said in the indictment that they wanted more traffic because they weren't hitting their traffic numbers and to please amplify different videos and tweets. that were pro-Russian. So that's in the indictment. So I guess the question then, Sachs, for you is- You're totally mischaracterizing this. What was mischaracterized? I would never mischaracterize this.

They said in the indictment that they wanted more traffic because they weren't hitting their traffic numbers and to please amplify different videos and tweets. that were pro-Russian. So that's in the indictment. So I guess the question then, Sachs, for you is- You're totally mischaracterizing this. What was mischaracterized? I would never mischaracterize this.

And I literally would never, I have no horse in the race here. There's no reason for me to mischaracterize it. So what am I getting wrong?

And I literally would never, I have no horse in the race here. There's no reason for me to mischaracterize it. So what am I getting wrong?