From the Guardian re Tucker Carlson with this headline:
“Kremlin memos urged Russian media to
use Tucker Carlson clips – report”
Sub-headline: “Russian government document instructed
outlets to show the Fox News host as much as possible.”
The Fox News primetime host Tucker Carlson has been widely accused of echoing Russian propaganda about the invasion of Ukraine. According to a report, earlier this month, the Putin regime sent out an instruction to friendly media outlets: “Use more clips of Carlson.”
Mother Jones reported that it had obtained memos produced by the Russian
department of information and telecommunications support.
Extract from Mother Jones:
One document was
entitled: “For Media and Commentators (recommendations for coverage of
events as of 03.03)”, or 3 March. It included
published pictures of the memo, which it said it was given by “a
contributor to a national Russian media outlet who asked not to be identified.”
The memo included this instruction: “It is essential to use as much as
possible fragments of broadcasts of the popular Fox News host Tucker Carlson,
who sharply criticizes the actions of the United States [and] NATO, their
negative role in unleashing the conflict in Ukraine, [and] the defiantly
provocative behavior from the leadership of the eastern countries and NATO
towards the Russian Federation and towards President Putin, personally.”
Mother Jones said the document summed up Carlson’s position on the Ukraine war as: “Russia is only protecting its interests and security.”
It also included a quote: “And how
would the U.S. behave if such a situation developed in neighboring Mexico or
Canada?”
Carlson and Fox News did
not comment to Mother Jones, and
Fox News did not respond to a Guardian request for comment.
On the air, Wednesday, March 9, Carlson said: “Testimony by Victoria
Nuland, Under Secretary of State, about Ukrainian biological research
facilities had shown Russian claims of U.S. involvement were totally and
completely true.”
The Washington Post reported
that the Russian claim about U.S. participation in biological laboratories in
Ukraine was Russian state TV featured Carlson’s take the next day as: “Straight out of the old Soviet
playbook. But, doesn’t mean prominent commentators like Carlson should be so
quick to fall for it.”
Mother Jones citing
another Russian memo, dated March 10, said the text advised Russian hosts to
relay the message that: “Activities of military biological laboratories
with American participation on the territory of Ukraine carried
global threats to Russia and Europe.”
President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan,
told NBC that Russian claims about biological warfare facilities in Ukraine
could indicate Russian willingness to use such weapons adding: “When Russia
starts accusing other countries of potentially doing something, it’s a good
tell that they may be on the cusp of doing it themselves.”
Mother Jones said no
other western journalist was named in the memos it obtained, which it said also
included advice on how to cite Carlson about: “How Biden’s sanctions policy
was actually an economic punishment for the American middle class.”
That memo also cited the New York Post and they, like Fox
News, is owned by Rupert Murdoch.
Julia Davis, analyst of Russian media, tweeted a still from Russia’s state TV that showed: “Tucker Carlson on a screen above a discussion panel. They always follow the Kremlin’s directives namely to use “Tuckyo Rose” clips as often as possible.”
FYI: That Carlson
nickname mirrors Tokyo Rose
(her story here) whose nickname was given by Americans to several women who
broadcast Japanese propaganda during the Second World War.
My 2 cents: The case is strong
for Fox News Corp to fire Tucker Carlson – not because of what he says is “protected
free speech” because in essence it is, but because of the dangerous influence
he, via Fox, has in spreading disinformation – what is information they both
know is designed just the way Putin (an old USSR KGB Colonel) wants it reported
– that is to favor him and Russia over the public airwaves no matter how bad
that news is – it comes across as legit coming from Fox and Carlson.
All we have seen and still hear is best summed up this way: Fox and Carlson are a clear and present danger and must be stopped for the damage they peddle on the behalf of Putin and Russia in his desire to return the “good old days of the now defunct USSR” the main goal for Putin.
In essence it is very
hard to measure the damage by Carlson via Fox but, that is unless we follow
MAGA supporters enlightened by Trump and see the damage they have inflicted
(e.g., January 6 attempted coup to keep Trump in power).
Meanwhile these two recent and related (or not) stories from Putin:
From Newsweek: Vladimir Putin said that 99.9
percent of Russians would be willing to sacrifice their lives for the good of
the country amid Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
From Business Insider: Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed he's ready
for talks that could end the war in Ukraine but blamed the other side for
refusing to come to the table (from The AP report).
Thanks for stopping by.
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