The latest edition of the <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> Files from investigative journalist Matt Taibbi revealed that <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">media</a> outlets, academics, and policymakers who cited an initiative meant to track supposed <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/russia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russian</a> <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/propaganda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disinformation</a> fell for a not-so-elaborate scam.
Hamilton 68, a computerized dashboard that monitored purported Russian bot infiltration, tracked 644 accounts supposedly linked to &#8220;Russian influence activities online,” according to an <a href="https://www.racket.news/p/move-over-jayson-blair-meet-hamilton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> and a social media <a href="https://twitter.com/mtaibbi/status/1619029772977455105" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thread</a> posted by Taibbi. Executives at Twitter “reverse-engineered” the list of accounts out of a concern that the users were influencing the American political conversation on behalf of the Russians. Only 36 of the 644 accounts were registered in Russia, while many of the rest were ordinary American accounts.
Executives wrote in internal company emails that the accounts were “​​neither strongly Russian nor strongly bots” and concluded there was “no evidence to support the statement that the dashboard is a finger on the pulse of Russian information.”
Yoel Roth, the social media company’s former Trust and Safety lead, characterized the project as “bulls***” in one of the messages. He noted that the site “falsely accuses a bunch of legitimate right-leaning accounts of being Russian bots” and earns “traction around partisan trends” to assert that “any right-leaning content is propagated by Russian bots.”
The project was launched by former FBI agent Clint Watts and received backing from the German Marshall Fund and the Alliance for Securing Democracy. The latter entity, a bipartisan think tank, has an advocacy panel that includes former acting CIA Director Michael Morell, former American ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, current Biden administration senior adviser John Podesta, and Bulwark editor-at-large Bill Kristol.
Allegations of collusion with Russia similarly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/in-other-words-it-was-made-up-jim-jordan-rips-trump-russia-conspiracy-after-latest-durham-filing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">followed</a> former President Donald Trump throughout his administration; Robert Mueller, a special counsel appointed by the Justice Department, investigated claims that the Trump campaign illegally coordinated with Russian agents to influence the 2016 election, eventually concluding that no such evidence existed.
Taibbi found that media outlets such as NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Mother Jones cited supposed data on Russian disinformation from Hamilton 68 on “hundreds if not thousands” of occasions. He noted that the outlets often used the dashboard to discredit various political figures, such as <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/russian-web-trolls-boo-biden-often-boost-gabbard-report-finds-n1085216?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tulsi Gabbard</a> and <a href="https://observer.com/2018/09/russian-propagandists-brett-kavanaugh-controversy-division-online/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brett Kavanaugh</a>, by linking them to purported disinformation operations.
Academics at postsecondary institutions like Harvard University and Princeton University also cited Hamilton 68, as did lawmakers such as Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA).
Social media users contacted by Taibbi were surprised to learn they were supposed purveyors of Russian disinformation. Conservative writer David Horowitz and businessman Dennis Michael Lynch were implicated in the Hamilton 68 list, as were “a range of political dissidents, including leftists, anarchists, and humorists,” according to Taibbi.
Many were unsuspecting everyday Americans. “I am a 73-year-old snowbird in Florida,” one individual said. “Supposedly in a free world, we are being watched at many levels, by what we say online,” said another individual, who told Taibbi she had experienced political persecution in Lebanon before moving to the West.
Previous editions of the Twitter Files, an initiative from independent journalists based on emails and other internal company documents provided by Twitter CEO Elon Musk, have shown that federal law enforcement <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-new-twitter-files-shows-how-federal-state-governments-monitor-americans-social-media-posts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">policed content</a> on the platform and asked executives to remove certain posts. There existed “an organized effort by representatives of the intelligence community” aimed at “senior executives at news and social media companies,” according to journalist Michael Shellenberger.

Elon Musk Acquires Twitter

New ‘Twitter Files’ Drop Shows Prominent Media Source For Supposed ‘Russian Disinformation’ Was A Fraud

New 'Twitter Files' Drop Shows Prominent Media Source For Supposed 'Russian Disinformation' Was A Fraud

Mainstream Media

Propaganda

Russia

Russiagate

Twitter

Fox News foreign correspondent Benjamin Hall revealed what saved his life in his first on-air interview since a bomb blast outside of Kyiv, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine</a>, killed two of his colleagues and nearly claimed his life as well.
Hall joined hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade on Thursday&#8217;s broadcast of &#8220;Fox &amp; Friends&#8221; to talk about his experience, his continuing recovery, and the nine words he&#8217;s credited with saving his life.
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="&#039;Everything went dark&#039;: Injured Fox News reporter reveals details of bombing" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xco6fYPZHsM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
On March 14, 2022, Hall was seriously injured in the Russian attack that killed Fox News cameraman <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/fox-news-cameraman-pierre-zakrzewski-killed-in-ukraine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pierre Zakrzewski</a> and Ukrainian producer <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/24-year-old-consultant-oleksandra-sasha-kuvshynova-killed-alongside-fox-news-cameraman-in-ukraine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oleksandra Kuvshynova</a>. He ultimately lost both feet, part of one leg, the use of one hand, and the vision in one eye — but during Thursday&#8217;s interview, he revealed what had pushed him to survive, to make it home, and to get back to broadcasting.
Thanking all those who had flooded him with their kind words and prayers, Hall said that the key to recovery was simple: &#8220;I think that when you’ve gone through something like I’ve gone through, the highs, the lows, you have to have a target, you have to get something to fight for.&#8221;
He went on to detail the first moments following the blast, immediately after everything around him had &#8220;gone dark,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/fox-news-benjamin-hall-urges-viewers-never-give-emotional-return-live-tv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reading an excerpt</a> from his upcoming memoir: &#8220;Saved: A War Reporter&#8217;s Mission To Make It Home.&#8221;
<blockquote>If I had the slightest iota of consciousness, it was a distant sense of shock waves and the feeling that every part of my body — bones, organs, sinew, my soul — had been knocked out of me. I was all but dead but improbably, out of this crippling nothingness, a figure came through, and I heard a familiar voice, as real as anything I’d ever known. “Daddy, you’ve got to get out of the car.”</blockquote>
Hall said that in that moment, he saw his daughters — and he crawled out of the car. Just as he got himself out, another shell landed a direct hit on the car.
&#8220;They brought me back, and I found the strength. I opened my eyes and managed to crawl out of the car. And then the third bomb hit the car itself. If it weren’t for them bringing me back, there is no way I would be here today,&#8221; he said.
Hall then revealed that the cameraman, Zakrzewski, had also gotten out of the car — and the two of them talked as they waited and hoped that help would arrive. &#8220;The two of us laid there for about 40 minutes, and talked, he passed away,&#8221; Hall said.
In the days, weeks, and even months that followed, Hall explained the <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/the-stuff-of-movies-fox-news-pentagon-reporter-worked-behind-the-scenes-to-get-gravely-wounded-colleague-out-of-ukraine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">risky civilian operation</a> that got him out of Ukraine — and credited the military hospitals at Landstuhl Air Force Base in Germany and Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, for rebuilding him in both body and mind.

Benjamin Hall

‘They Brought Me Back’: Fox News Reporter Reveals What Saved Him After Bomb Blast In Ukraine

Fox News Reporter Benjamin Hall Reveals What Saved Him After Bomb Blast In Ukraine

Fox News

Global Politics

Ukraine

Ukraine-Russia War

World

Good people everywhere want to see Ukraine defend itself against the brutal Russian invasion, but if the real goal of U.S. foreign policy is to oust Vladimir Putin, let&#8217;s hope the diplomats and spies have thought things through.
You don&#8217;t have to be a Russian stooge to worry about what could happen in a destabilized Russia, with Kremlin creeps and crooked oligarchs scrambling to fill a power vacuum. Putin might rock horns and a pitchfork, but as the saying goes, &#8220;better the devil you know than the devil you don&#8217;t.&#8221;
Instead of assuaging those concerns, we are told one of two things. The first is the denial that taking out Putin is the primary objective. The second is that his removal from power would be a good thing, and there is no need to worry. And the conversation seems to end there.
Consider that President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/was-biden-calling-for-regime-change-in-russia-after-sunday-mass-the-president-tells-reporters-no" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barked</a> in Poland last March, &#8220;For God&#8217;s sakes, this man cannot remain in power,&#8221; referring to the Russian president. The White House subsequently walked that statement back. Yet it seems Biden&#8217;s gaffe is actually a common sentiment in the Beltway by key players.
For example, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has never waivered from his insistence that Putin must be taken out. In March 2022, the South Carolinian called upon a member of the Russian government to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lindsey-graham-calls-for-russians-to-assassinate-putin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">assassinate Putin</a>. In May, he doubled down, adding that there is &#8220;<a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/watch-graham-says-there-is-no-off-ramp-in-war-lets-take-out-putin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">no off-ramp</a>&#8221; to ending the war.
In turn, billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars and military aid were sent, and hundreds of thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives were lost, with no end in sight.
Graham has continued to claim that the war will continue until the Russian president is out of office — one way or another.
Graham appears to be correct. This war could continue for at least the <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnRLottJr/status/1618296651994763265?s=20&amp;t=zdaSDmu5K6ZY057A4BLYJQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">next year,</a> thanks to the new shipment of U.S. tanks.
So that means more bloodshed for everybody, an escalation that could turn into World War III, and a smaller chance for a peaceful resolution anytime soon.
Readers should know that Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda made it clear at the World Economic Forum that Ukraine&#8217;s military success and leadership turnover in Russia go hand-in-hand.
The Lithuanian president let it slip that he doesn&#8217;t know what exactly would come next, but at least the war will have ended.
&#8220;I have no illusions that it will be a democratic government replacing Vladimir Putin — probably there will be a long transitional period ahead and nobody knows what will be the outcome — but probably it would lead to the resolution of this crisis in Ukraine,&#8221; he explained.
Nausėda seems to be the most honest one out there.
He&#8217;s at least admitting that he has no idea what it means to have a Russia without Putin. But even he, like most leaders, has a cavalier attitude about shaking up the Russian government. Individuals heeding more caution are told to shut up and accept that diplomatic measures are a no-go.
Putin is undeniably a tyrant. His crimes in Ukraine are horrific, and most Americans want Ukraine to win the war — whether that&#8217;s through negotiations or outright winning. The data indicate a growing number of taxpayers want Washington to push Ukraine into peace talks.  In December, a poll <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/3763325-nearly-half-of-americans-say-washington-should-push-ukraine-to-reach-peace-deal-with-russia-poll/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">showed</a> that 47% of Americans wanted Washington to advocate diplomacy and end the war – up from 38% who held that position last July.
At a time when it seems like world leaders should be doing everything possible to wind down the war, we are doing the opposite. Meanwhile, officials are ignoring the potential dangers of an unstable nuclear power with a &#8220;transitional&#8221; government. Transitioning to what exactly? It doesn&#8217;t really matter, we&#8217;re told.
Yet those who want Putin gone should be careful what they wish for. They just might get it, and what comes next could be far worse.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

KYIV, UKRAINE – JANUARY 20: (—-EDITORIAL USE ONLY â MANDATORY CREDIT – “UKRANIAN PRESIDENCY / HANDOUT” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS—-) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (4th R) meets with United States Senator Lindsey Graham (3rd R), Senator Richard Blumenthal (4th L) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (3rd L) in Kyiv, Ukraine on January 20, 2023. Head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine Andriy Yermak (2nd L) and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba (R) also attended the meeting.

If Regime Change In Russia Is The Goal, Shouldn’t We Think About What Comes Next?

If Regime Change In Russia Is The Goal, Shouldn't We Think About What Comes Next?

Lindsey Graham

Vladimir Putin

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine</a> intends to press the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/united-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United States</a> for fourth-generation fighter jets after President Joe Biden agreed to send dozens of top U.S. battle tanks to aid Kyiv’s war against <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/russia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russia</a>.
The White House announced on Wednesday that it will send 31 M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine, a major reversal after officials said the tanks were too complicated and high-maintenance for the inexperienced Ukraine military to effectively use. Biden said the tanks symbolized “unflagging commitment” to Ukraine’s cause.
“These tanks are further evidence of our enduring, unflagging commitment to Ukraine and our confidence in the skill of the Ukrainian forces,” Biden <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/01/25/remarks-by-president-biden-on-continued-support-for-ukraine/">said</a>. “As I told President Zelensky when he was here — and today is his birthday, by the way — in December: We’re with you for as long as it takes, Mr. President.”
The tanks will be paid for through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a fund approved by Congress to aid Ukraine. Using the fund will delay Ukraine’s reception of the tanks by months, according to <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/25/u-s-to-send-31-abrams-tanks-to-ukraine-in-major-reversal-00079437" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POLITICO</a>.
The Pentagon will procure the tanks as well as support vehicles and supplies to give to the Ukrainians to maintain the battle machines. While the aid is being prepared and shipped, the U.S. will train the Ukrainian military on how to use and maintain the tanks.
“The Abrams tanks are the most capable tanks in the world. They are also extremely complex to operate and maintain,” Biden said. “So we’re also giving Ukraine the parts and equipment necessary to effectively sustain these tanks on the battlefield. We’ll begin to train Ukrainian troops on these issues of sustainment, logistics and maintenance as soon as possible.”
Biden’s announcement seems to have encouraged Ukraine to put in larger requests to the White House. Ukraine’s military leaders now have their eyes on fourth-generation fighter jets from the United States, such as F-16s. The United States has previously denied such requests over the potential for escalating the conflict between Kyiv and Moscow.
“The next big hurdle will now be the fighter jets,” Yuriy Sak, an adviser of Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-sets-sights-fighter-jets-after-securing-tank-supplies-2023-01-25/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a> Wednesday.
“If we get them, the advantages on the battlefield will be just immense,” Sak said. “It’s not just F-16s: fourth generation aircraft, this is what we want.”
The Biden administration agreed to send Kyiv Abrams tanks after Germany pressured the United States, insisting it would withhold its own Leopard 2 tanks. The U.S. favored sending Leopard 2s to Ukraine instead of Abrams because the Leopard 2s would be easier for the Ukrainians to operate and maintain.
The Biden administration has also asked Israel to supply Ukraine with Hawk anti-aircraft missiles that Israel purchased from the United States in the 1960s. Israel denied the request, according to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/25/israel-ukraine-hawk-missile-biden-administration-request" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Axios</a>.

F-16

After Ukraine Scores U.S. Tanks, Kyiv Plans Push For Modern Fighter Jets

Joe Biden

United States

A former top <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fbi">FBI</a> agent who was involved in the Trump-Russia probe was arrested over the weekend for alleged activities with a Russian oligarch.
The Southern District of New York unsealed the five-count indictment against Charles McGonigal, former Special Agent In Charge Of The New York FBI Counterintelligence Division, and Sergey Shestakov on Monday.
The two men were charged with allegedly violating and conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) and with conspiring to commit money laundering and money laundering. Shestakov was also charged for allegedly lying to the FBI.
The DOJ said that McGonigal, who retired in 2018, &#8220;supervised and participated in investigations of Russian oligarchs, including Deripaska,&#8221; during his time at the FBI. Shestakov is a former Soviet and Russian diplomat who later moved to the U.S. and became a government interpreter.
The DOJ&#8217;s <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-special-agent-charge-new-york-fbi-counterintelligence-division-charged-violating">statement</a> alleged:
<blockquote>In 2021, MCGONIGAL and SHESTAKOV conspired to provide services to Deripaska, in violation of U.S. sanctions imposed on Deripaska in 2018.  Specifically, following their negotiations with an agent of Deripaska, MCGONIGAL and SHESTAKOV agreed to and did investigate a rival Russian oligarch in return for concealed payments from Deripaska.  As part of their negotiations with Deripaska’s agent, MCGONIGAL, SHESTAKOV, and the agent attempted to conceal Deripaska’s involvement by, among other means, not directly naming Deripaska in electronic communications, using shell companies as counterparties in the contract that outlined the services to be performed, using a forged signature on that contract, and using the same shell companies to send and receive payments from Deripaska.
MCGONIGAL and SHESTAKOV were aware that their actions violated U.S. sanctions because, among other reasons, while serving as SAC, MCGONIGAL received then-classified information that Deripaska would be added to a list of oligarchs considered for sanctions as part of the process that led to the imposition of sanctions against Deripaska.  In addition, in 2019, MCGONIGAL and SHESTAKOV worked on behalf of Deripaska in an unsuccessful effort to have the sanctions against Deripaska lifted.  In November 2021, when FBI agents questioned SHESTAKOV about the nature of his and MCGONIGAL’s relationship with Deripaska’s agent, SHESTAKOV made false statements in a recorded interview.</blockquote>
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said that both men &#8220;should have known better&#8221; and that the Southern District of New York would &#8220;continue to prosecute those who violate U.S. sanctions enacted in response to Russian belligerence in Ukraine in order to line their own pockets.”
The Washington Free Beacon <a href="https://freebeacon.com/latest-news/plot-twist-ex-fbi-agent-involved-in-trump-russia-probe-indicted-over-ties-to-russian-oligarch/">reported</a> that McGonigal was involved with the FBI’s investigation into the Trump campaign’s links to Russia.
He was &#8220;one of the first&#8221; FBI officials to hear the story alleging that George Papadopoulos discussed Hillary Clinton&#8217;s emails with an Australian diplomat, the report said. The FBI opened their investigation based on that alleged conversation.
McGonigal was involved in the FBI&#8217;s investigation of Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, the report added.

Oleg Deripaska

Top FBI Agent Involved In Trump-Russia Probe Arrested For Allegedly Conspiring With Russian Oligarch

Donald Trump

This article is a companion piece to today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Russia And China To Conduct Indian Ocean Naval Drills
Russia and China will <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-china-to-hold-naval-drills-off-south-africa/2023/01/19/667c4d4e-97fa-11ed-a173-61e055ec24ef_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conduct naval drills</a> in the Indian Ocean off the coast of South Africa next month. The naval exercises — which will take place on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — highlight the push by Russia and China to gain more global influence. South Africa, which will also take part in the drills, has been vocal in its refusal to side with the West in condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine, claiming neutrality.
James Clyburn Warns 2024 Challengers To Stay Out Of Race
Influential senior Democrat James Clyburn of South Carolina <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11654473/James-Clyburn-Democrats-considering-challenging-Biden-2024-BOW-OUT.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> this week that he believes President Biden will run in 2024 and warned would-be-challengers to stay out of the race.
Texas And Oklahoma Sue Biden Administration
The states of Texas and Oklahoma have <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2023/01/18/biden-administration-stephen-miller-world-health/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sued</a> the Biden administration, saying they have illegally given authority to the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency in the U.S. The states claim this infringes on U.S. sovereignty.
Boeing Executives To Appear In Court
Executives of Boeing will <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/19/business/boeing-court-appearance/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">appear</a> in court next week to be arraigned on felony charges related to the deadly crashes of two 737 Boeing jets. The executives had been given immunity as part of a plea deal, but the families of the crash victims urged a judge to bring the criminal charges.
 New Study Shows Impact Virtual Interaction Has On Children
A new study that compared children’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/virtual-communication-could-impair-childhood-brain-development-study-suggests" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brain activity</a> between in-person and virtual interaction between 62 mother and children pairings found that electrical activity in the brain is significantly reduced during virtual social interaction, suggesting that in-person interactions are physiologically different for children than online interactions.
San Francisco Art Gallery Owner Arrested For Hosing Down Homeless Person
A man who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/san-francisco-art-gallery-owner-arrested-after-hosing-down-homeless-woman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">owns</a> an art gallery in San Francisco was arrested and charged with battery after using a water hose on a homeless woman, who he said was “screaming belligerent things, spitting, [and] yelling” at him.
Boy Meets Congress?
And, actor Ben Savage, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/boy-meets-world-star-files-paperwork-to-run-for-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best known for starring</a> on the hit ABC sitcom “Boy Meets World,” is set to make a bid for Congress. According to paperwork filed with the Federal Election Commission Wednesday, Savage’s run as a Democrat will be in California’s 30th District seat, currently held by Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff. Schiff is rumored to throw his hat in the ring for U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein’s seat. Feinstein has not yet said whether she will seek re-election.
To listen to the audio version of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

Friday

Friday Afternoon Update: Childhood TV Star Running For Congress, Russia And China Naval Drills, Top Dem Has Message For Biden’s 2024 Primary Challengers

Friday Afternoon Update: Childhood TV Star Running For Congress, Russia And China Naval Drills, Top Dem Has Message For Biden's 2024 Primary Challengers

Communist China

General

Morning Wire

Podcast

U.S.

The former president of Russia and current deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, warned on Thursday that if Russia loses its war with Ukraine, it might resort to using nuclear weapons.
Medvedev made his remarks on the eve of a meeting of Western allies with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday. The meeting is expected to discuss whether Germany will send Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine for its defense.
“Tomorrow, at NATO&#8217;s Ramstein base, the great military leaders will discuss new tactics and strategies, as well as the supply of new heavy weapons and strike systems to Ukraine,” Medvedev wrote in a <a href="https://t.me/s/medvedev_telegram" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telegram post.</a> “And this was right after the forum in Davos, where underdeveloped political party-goers repeated like a mantra: ‘To achieve peace, Russia must lose.’”
“And it never occurs to any of the wretches to draw the following elementary conclusion from this: the loss of a nuclear power in a conventional war can provoke the outbreak of a nuclear war,” he continued. “That nuclear powers have not lost major conflicts on which their fate depends. But this should be obvious to anyone. Even a Western politician who has retained any trace of intelligence.”
Medvedev may be shooting to replace Putin if he dies or is forced from office; in late October, he visited Russia’s main tank plant in Nizhny Tagil, then <a href="https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/russias-medvedev-threatens-defense-industry-arrests-during-tank-plant-visit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asserted,</a> “The production of weapons and special equipment of all types is increasing manyfold: from tanks and guns to high-precision missiles and drones. Brace yourself!”
He then threatened arms manufacturers who did not deliver missiles and tanks promptly for the war in Ukraine, snapping, “The goal has been set for a scrupulous execution of the government’s defense contracts in all of its key parameters, [and] prevention of disruptions in the supply of equipment. Attention has been drawn to the fact that all contractors could be held to account, including on criminal charges&#8230; Supervision over the execution will continue.”
On Thursday, Ukraine pushed for Western allies to quickly send tanks and air defenses to Kyiv; “We have no time, the world does not have this time,” Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, stated. “The question of tanks for Ukraine must be closed as soon as possible. Just like the questions of additional air defense systems. We are paying for the slowness with the lives of our Ukrainian people. &#8230; It shouldn&#8217;t be like that.”
Great Britain, France, and Poland have already pledged to send tanks to Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the Sirius Ice Hockey World Cup Sochi 2019

Former Russian President, Putin Ally: If Russia Loses, Nuclear War Could Result

Dmitry Medvedev

Nuclear war

As Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly mentioned the possibility of nuclear war in recent months, some scientists conducted a study to determine the safest place to shelter in a “moderate damage zone” – the area where concrete buildings don’t collapse – in case of a nuclear attack.
“As for the idea that Russia wouldn’t use such weapons first under any circumstances, then it means we wouldn’t be able to be the second to use them either – because the possibility to do so in case of an attack on our territory would be very limited,” Putin<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/07/europe/putin-ukraine-russia-nuclear-intl-hnk/index.html"> stated</a> in December. “Nevertheless, we have a strategy… namely, as a defense, we consider weapons of mass destruction, nuclear weapons – it is all based around the so-called retaliatory strike. That is, when we are struck, we strike in response.”
In mid-September, Putin issued a frightening <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/putin-russia-ukraine-war/card/what-did-putin-say-today--5rIxBBdt5oRNjCDoWzvS" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, saying, “Russia will use all the instruments at its disposal to counter a threat against its territorial integrity—this is not a bluff.”
 Researchers at the University of Nicosia in Cyprus, who used computer modeling to simulate a nuclear blast explosion of a 750 kT atomic warhead, stated in their <a href="https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0132565" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a>, “Obviously, near the nuclear bomb detonation, the devastation would be widespread, and the fatality rate would be practically 100%. However, outside of the severe damage zone (SDZ), the effect of the blast reduces and survivability increases.”
“The force hitting a standing person indoors is equivalent to several g-forces of body mass acceleration and could lift a person off the ground and throw them to the walls,” the study states.
In case of a nuclear attack, people should stay inside a concrete building, and if in a corridor, hide in a corner rather than the middle of the corridor, the researchers advise, writing, “The supersonic shock waves arising from the blast undergo expansion as they enter a room through an opening leading to channeling effects. The results show that most of the air is directed toward the corridor rather than through the opposite room&#8217;s door, leading to high airspeed developed in rooms further down the aisle,” the researchers <a href="https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0132565" target="_blank" rel="noopener">note</a>.
“If people see the explosion from far away they have to take shelter ASAP,” author Dimitris Drikakis told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11643911/How-survive-nuclear-explosion-Scientists-reveal-safest-places-shelter.html">The Daily Mail</a>. He also stated, “Before our study, the danger to people inside a concrete-reinforced building that withstands the blast wave was unclear.”

U.S. Navy nuclear test, Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands

Researchers Advise Safest Shelter In Case Of Nuclear Attack

Study Advises Safest Shelter In Case Of Nuclear Attack

Nuclear Weapons

WNBA player Brittney Griner made an appearance at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Phoenix, Arizona, a month after being <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> from a Russian jail in a prisoner swap.
Griner appeared in the parade on Monday with her wife, Cherelle, reportedly telling fans she was glad to be home.
Local reporter Jonathan McCall shared an image and video with Griner at the parade on Twitter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
HAPPY TO BE HOME: <a href="https://twitter.com/PhoenixMercury?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PhoenixMercury</a> star <a href="https://twitter.com/brittneygriner?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@brittneygriner</a> makes appearance at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AZMLK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AZMLK</a> Festival in Phoenix. 
BG posed for pictures with fans. 
Talked about being Houstonians.
Says she’s happy to be home after time in Russian prison.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/News?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#News</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BG42?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BG42</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hoops?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hoops</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBA</a> <a href="https://t.co/G2ocB8fEqO">pic.twitter.com/G2ocB8fEqO</a>
&mdash; Jonathan McCall (@JonathanMcCall) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonathanMcCall/status/1615095676404404226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Griner was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-wnba-star-detained-in-russia-on-drug-charges-could-face-up-to-10-years-in-prison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> in February in a Moscow airport after vaping cartridges containing hashish oil were found in her luggage. She was later <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-sentenced-to-9-years-in-russian-prison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced</a> to more than nine years in a decision many argued was politically motivated.
The Mercury Phoenix center&#8217;s arrest occurred shortly before Russia <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-russia-begins-full-scale-invasion-into-ukraine-putin-confirms-military-operation-underway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invaded</a> Ukraine in February. President Joe Biden spoke out against Russia&#8217;s invasion, with the U.S. providing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-advances-massive-40-billion-ukraine-spending-package-11-republicans-oppose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">billions of dollars</a> in support to Ukraine.
Griner was released in December in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/video-emerges-of-brittney-griner-being-swapped-for-russian-terrorist-critics-instantly-notice-problem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prisoner swap</a> for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as the “Merchant of Death.”
The two-time Olympic gold medalist wrote a post on Instagram to celebrate her freedom last month.
&#8220;It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help,&#8221; Griner <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmPAWB5O8F1/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> in December.
Griner also commented on her return to the basketball court next season.
&#8220;I also want to make one thing very clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon,&#8221; she added in the Instagram post.
Bout was serving a 25-year prison sentence in the U.S. for conspiring to kill Americans, delivery of anti-aircraft missiles, and aiding a terrorist organization.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was among those who spoke out against the Biden administration&#8217;s strategy in the prisoner swap.
“We weren’t going to trade bad guys for celebrities because it creates the wrong incentives for the bad guys. As we go forward, it’s not good for American national security. It’s not good for people who are traveling across the world,” he <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSunday/status/1601983971520569345" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Others have also expressed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pompeo-blasts-griner-prisoner-swap-bad-guys-for-celebrities-sends-wrong-message" target="_blank" rel="noopener">frustration</a> that former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan remains imprisoned in Russia and was not freed during the negotiations to secure Griner&#8217;s release.
“I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. I was arrested for a crime that never occurred,” Whelan <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/08/politics/paul-whelan-cnn-interview-brittney-griner/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”

Brittney Griner

WNBA’s Brittney Griner Makes MLK Day Appearance In Arizona

Arizona

WNBA

Governor <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/greg-abbott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Greg Abbott</a> (R-TX) vowed to back legislation prohibiting <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chinese</a>, Russian, Iranian, and North Korean citizens and entities from purchasing land in <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Texas</a>.
The <a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&amp;Bill=SB147" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a>, submitted two months ago by Republican state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, states that citizens, corporations, and government agencies of the four nations “may not purchase or otherwise acquire title to real property” in the state. Abbott <a href="https://twitter.com/gregabbott_tx/status/1614686215676084226?s=46&amp;t=5pnr5c_q-1wYl27TgiOaWw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> on Sunday that he would endorse the legislation, which has not yet been voted upon by lawmakers.
“The past several years have seen more Texans alarmed by the increased acquisition of land by primarily Chinese interests,” Kolkhorst remarked in a <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/texas/new-bill-would-ban-certain-foreign-entities-from-purchasing-land-in-texas/article_d1604e42-94eb-11ed-a16d-57b52d89086c.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> provided to the Center Square. “The growing ownership of Texas land by some foreign entities is highly disturbing and raises red flags for many Texans. By comparison, as an American, go try to buy land near a Chinese military base and see how it works out for you. It would never happen there and it shouldn&#8217;t happen here. Passing this law delivers some basic safeguards to ensure Texans remain in control of Texas land.&#8221;
The potential ban on certain overseas entities from owning land in Texas follows legislation <a href="https://legiscan.com/TX/text/SB2116/id/2408342/Texas-2021-SB2116-Enrolled.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> two years ago which barred contracts with foreign companies related to critical infrastructure such as cybersecurity systems and electric grids.
Texas currently has the largest amount of foreign-held agricultural land of any other state, according to a <a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/EPAS/PDF/2020_afida_annual_report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Department of Agriculture. The more than 4.7 million acres of agricultural land held by foreigners constituted 3.1% of the total land area in the Lone Star State. Between 2019 and 2020, the amount of land controlled by foreigners increased by 6%.
Chinese entities own slightly less than 1% of foreign-held acres in the United States. Canadian investors own roughly 32% of agricultural and non-agricultural land, while citizens of other allies, such as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, represent 31% of land holdings by foreigners.
Officials have frequently cited national security risks arising from the Chinese purchase of agricultural land. Lawmakers in South Dakota, who also recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/south-dakota-to-restrict-purchases-of-farmland-by-china-and-other-nations-who-hate-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">moved</a> to prevent Chinese entities from purchasing land in the state, are particularly concerned about the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pompeo-warns-communist-chinese-entities-buying-farmland-near-u-s-military-bases" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquisition</a> of farmland near Ellsworth Air Force Base. The purchase of 300 acres near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, where some of the nation’s secure drone technology is located, last year by Chinese food company Fufeng Group raised concerns of espionage among authorities.
Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/desantis-vows-to-bar-chinese-communist-party-operatives-from-buying-up-florida-property" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promised</a> to prevent Chinese entities from purchasing land in the Sunshine State.
The Biden administration opened an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-quietly-probes-chinese-tech-firm-for-possibly-harvesting-data-from-military-bases-missile-silos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">investigation</a> into Chinese telecommunications conglomerate Huawei last year over concerns that cell towers utilizing the company’s devices are transmitting data on military bases and missile silos to the communist nation. A final rule <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-makes-historic-move-to-block-certain-chinese-tech-after-national-security-concerns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> two months ago by the Federal Communications Commission will block Huawei, ZTE, Hikvision, and Dahua from importing certain technology considered a threat to national security.
Beyond commercial and agricultural property, Chinese entities composed 6% of foreign residential real estate purchases between April 2021 and March 2022, according to an <a href="https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2022-international-transactions-in-us-residential-real-estate-07-18-2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">analysis</a> from the National Association of Realtors. As much as 8% of residential properties acquired by foreigners were in Texas.

Texas Governor Abbott Holds Fentanyl Crisis Roundtable And Press Conference

Bill Banning Texas Land Purchases By Certain Adversarial Nations Gains Support Of Abbott

Agriculture

China

Greg Abbott

Iran

North Korea

Texas

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine to observe Orthodox Christmas on January 6-7.
The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on the later date to mark the birth of Jesus Christ based on the Julian calendar, which predates the Gregorian calendar used in Catholic and Protestant traditions. About 100 million people are considered members of the Russian Orthodox Church, which has clashed with broader Eastern Orthodox authorities in recent days.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, top of the Russian Orthodox Church, called for Russians and Ukrainians to observe a Christmas truce prior to the Kremlin&#8217;s announcement.
&#8220;Given the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, I instruct the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation to introduce a ceasefire regime along the entire line of contact between the parties in Ukraine from 12:00 on January 6 to 24:00 on January 7,&#8221; a <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/putin-orders-temporary-ceasefire-ukraine-observation-orthodox-christmas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> from Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu read, according to Russian media outlet RIA.
The announcement follows calls from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for a unilateral ceasefire in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Erdogan reportedly held separate phone calls on Thursday with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky mentioned the call with Erdogan on Twitter, calling for &#8220;no invaders&#8221; in Ukraine.
&#8220;Spoke with [Turkish] President @RTErdogan. Discussed security cooperation, in particular ZNPP, there should be no invaders there, the exchange of prisoners of war, the grain agreement development. Glad to hear that [Turkey] is ready to participate in the implementation of our #PeaceFormula,&#8221; he tweeted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Spoke with 🇹🇷 President <a href="https://twitter.com/RTErdogan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RTErdogan</a>. Discussed security cooperation, in particular ZNPP, there should be no invaders there, the exchange of prisoners of war, the grain agreement development. Glad to hear that 🇹🇷 is ready to participate in the implementation of our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PeaceFormula?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PeaceFormula</a>.
&mdash; Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1611016084898910209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Russia also acknowledged a Thursday phone call between Erdogan and Putin. The Kremlin stated that Putin &#8220;acknowledged the destructive role of the West, pumping weapons into Kyiv, providing information and guidance.&#8221; Russia&#8217;s president claimed he is ready for dialogue but argued that Ukraine must acknowledge &#8220;new territorial realities,&#8221; <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230105-live-russia-s-patriarch-kirill-calls-for-orthodox-christmas-ceasefire-in-ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> France 24.
The temporary Christmas ceasefire comes after more than 10 months since Putin&#8217;s military forces invaded Ukraine on February 24. More than 7.9 million refugees have since been displaced across Europe, <a href="https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> data from the United Nations.
The number includes 2.8 million Ukrainians displaced within Russia. Poland is the nation that has received the second-largest number of refugees, with more than 1.5 million recorded as of January 3.
No verified numbers exist of the number of deaths in Ukraine and Russia since the start of Putin&#8217;s invasion. In November, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley estimated that 240,000 people had died in the conflict.
The unverified total included an estimated 100,000 Russian soldiers, 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers, and 40,000 civilians, the BBC <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63580372" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.

Putin

Putin Calls For Temporary Christmas Ceasefire In Ukraine

Christmas

Internal <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-twitter-files-twitter-and-the-fbi-belly-button" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> materials released by Elon Musk and a bombshell lawsuit brought against the U.S. government by Louisiana and Missouri have revealed the key role an FBI agent named <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/five-takeaways-from-twitter-fbi-agents-deposition-in-censorship-lawsuit-brought-by-conservative-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elvis Chan</a> played in pushing the platform to censor the speech of conservatives.
But Chan, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Francisco Division cyber branch, also made some remarkable statements on the topic out in the open, as part of a 149-page academic thesis he wrote on &#8220;social media companies and U.S. government efforts to combat Russian influence campaigns during the 2020 U.S. elections.&#8221;
Chan&#8217;s thesis, submitted to The Naval Postgraduate School, in Monterey, California, in September, 2021, reveals an animus toward former President Trump, a disregard for the First Amendment, and a blindness toward the bureau&#8217;s well-chronicled transgressions in investigating the 45th president. Here are some takeaways from that <a href="https://www.hsdl.org/c/abstract/?docid=861226" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thesis</a>:
1) Chan&#8217;s best evidence that the Russians made a difference in the 2016 presidential election is that the black voting rate declined from 2012—which is more readily explained by the fact that in 2012, the nation’s first black president was on the ballot.
Chan repeatedly came back to the fact that more blacks sat out the 2016 election compared to the 2012 election as evidence that the Russians had manipulated them. He only once mentions in passing that in 2012, Barack Obama, the nation’s first black president, was on the ballot; in 2016, he was not.
&#8220;Analysis of voter turnout revealed a relatively high overall high voter turnout but low Black voter turnout in the 2016 elections. This combination of factors may have led to Vladimir Putin achieving his desired goals of eroding American faith in its democratic process and the election of Donald Trump,&#8221; he wrote.
This logic becomes tortured as he tries to explain why the 2020 election favoring Joe Biden was cleaner than the 2016 election favoring Trump. In 2016, non-black voters had high turnout, which he suggests was a response to Russian propaganda. In 2020, he says that high turnout among all groups shows that propaganda did not work.
&#8220;The ultimate proof was the record turnout of voters across all demographic groups, including Black voters&#8230; Ultimately, the American actions appeared effective in mitigating the Russian online tactics because voters were undeterred and turned out in record numbers.&#8221; By Chan’s logic, the FBI&#8217;s proof of whether Russia interfered in an election or not was seemingly whether blacks, a reliably Democrat voting bloc, came out to the polls.
2) Chan&#8217;s thesis laid out why the FBI needs to work with social media companies: As an end-run around the First Amendment.
&#8220;Due to First Amendment constraints, federal agencies have little involvement in Americans’ usage of social media,&#8221; he wrote. However, the FBI could “communicate” with social media companies, and share information—the goal of which was having the social media companies take down posts that did not necessarily violate the law.
Chan recommended that the U.S. government establish a “National Counter Information Operations Center as an interagency fusion center and focal point for countering disinformation campaigns&#8230; This center could be modeled after the National Counterterrorism Center, which also operates under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence,” he wrote. “An effective strategy would involve providing counter-narratives using factual information across various mediums to ensure the public received it, such as through news media and social media outlets.”
3) Suppressed information included criticism of the FBI that was accurate.
Chan celebrated that in 2019, Twitter removed 422 accounts allegedly controlled by Russia’s Internet Research Agency that “focused on promoting Trump, a right-wing meme that accused the FBI of misusing the Steele dossier to obtain a surveillance order on Trump associate, Carter Page, and Islamophobic rhetoric. The themes promoted by the IRA on Twitter showed its continued acuity in determining the hot-button issues that would agitate right-wing voters.”
The reason the topics “agitated right wing voters” is because the FBI did, in fact, rely on the discredited and Democrat-funded Steele dossier to obtain a surveillance warrant against Page as part of its ill-fated quest to link Trump to Russia, and former FBI lawyer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-ex-fbi-lawyer-to-plead-guilty-in-durham-criminal-investigation-for-allegedly-falsifying-evidence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin Clinesmith</a> pleaded guilty to falsifying materials related to the warrant application.
4) Some of the examples of misinformation campaigns that Chan touted had miniscule engagement.
In his dissertation, he cited an outside researcher to say that 59% of Facebook users were exposed to Russian misinformation. But when it came to actual examples, some he found worthy of highlighting seemed to have no significant impact.
An example he highlighted to exemplify &#8220;Facebook Political Ads Targeting Black Voters&#8221; had only 223 views. He complained that Twitter and other social media companies did not act aggressively enough, but that is often because the social media companies were pointing out that the activity was insignificant.
He singled out “PeaceData” as a notable Russia-linked campaign, but acknowledged that &#8220;Twitter noted that the PeaceData-associated Twitter accounts were ‘low quality and spammy,’ and assessed they did not garner much attention from other Twitter users.&#8221;
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-484220 size-full" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/ss2.png" alt="" width="331" height="371" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/ss2.png 331w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/ss2-268x300.png 268w" sizes="(max-width: 331px) 100vw, 331px" /><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-484221 " src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/ss1.png" alt="" width="354" height="366" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/ss1.png 595w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/ss1-290x300.png 290w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/ss1-557x576.png 557w" sizes="(max-width: 354px) 100vw, 354px" /></div>
5) America’s woke sensibilities allowed Russia to exploit it.
Social media companies allow ad buyers to target viewers based on “race, ethnicity, and self-identity,” which “allowed [Russia] to use Facebook and Instagram to target specific demographic groups,&#8221; Chain wrote in his thesis.
Further, the &#8220;misinformation&#8221; pushed to blacks—which was expected to create cynicism and anger—faithfully mirrored authentic contemporary rhetoric from the American left: &#8220;The EBLA employees focused primarily on racial issues such as police brutality, displays of anger towards white people, and black empowerment.&#8221;
6) Chan wanted American schools to &#8220;indoctrinate&#8221; so they are more like Soviet ones.
How could the 2016 election resulting in a Trump victory be invalid because of Russian misinformation, when similar influence campaigns are routinely run in other countries? Chan suggests that other countries’ residents are simply more astute, and that American schools could play a role in making sure that elections aren’t impacted by “disinformation.”
&#8220;The democracies in former Soviet Bloc countries appear to have relatively informed and resilient electorates because media literacy and critical thinking are indoctrinated into their entire education and news media ecosystem,&#8221; he wrote.
7) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/five-takeaways-from-twitter-fbi-agents-deposition-in-censorship-lawsuit-brought-by-conservative-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chan</a> does not seem to like Donald Trump.
His thesis said that &#8220;anti-immigrant rhetoric&#8221; was &#8220;a hallmark of the Trump campaign&#8221; (Trump is married to an immigrant) and that &#8220;Putin may have sensed that Donald Trump’s rise as a legitimate candidate offered an avenue to advance his anti-American agenda. &#8221;
He complains that not enough Americans listened when the government told the public that Russia was working against Democrats. The suggestion that Americans didn’t hear about the idea that Russia was backing Trump is dubious to begin with, but Chan’s explanation for why they didn’t hear it is especially amusing: Because the American media was too busy already telling voters not to vote for Trump for other reasons.
The Department of Homeland Security and Office of the Director of National Intelligence put out a statement to “inform the American electorate of malign actions being taken by Russia,” he wrote, but the “effect was probably diminished because on the same day, the media was focused on the breaking news that Donald Trump had made lewd comments about women to Entertainment Tonight reporter Billy Bush in 2005 when the Washington Post released a video of their conversation.”

elvis-chan

Twitter FBI Agent Thinks Fewer Blacks Voted After 2012 Because Of Russians–Not Obama’s Departure

Twitter FBI Agent Thinks Fewer Blacks Voted After 2012 Because Of Russians--Not Obama’s Departure

Social Media Censorship

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