Analytical Report; Russia Presents Marginal Views in America as 'Mainstream'

Russian state media selectively curates news content related to America, from cherry-picked headlines to presenting fringe figures as representatives of popular views in the U.S., in a manner that supports Kremlin narratives. The Russian section of Voice of America discusses how news related to America is broadcast in Russian state media. The article states that they constantly direct Kremlin-crafted narratives to the top five positions in Russian search engines, which have the potential for millions of visitors, using misleading headlines and news. Among the Americans frequently referenced by Russian media is Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News analyst. Nina Yankovich, Deputy Director of the 'Information Resilience' Center and former head of the disinformation management section in the Biden administration, stated that Kremlin efforts to spread lies and legitimize anti-Western and anti-Ukrainian narratives are presented under the guise of opinions from both extreme ends of the Biden administration's political spectrum. Yankovich told Voice of America, 'We see that Russia identifies individuals on the left or right of the American political spectrum who may also be critics of NATO and critics of Ukraine.' This strategy has been employed by Vladimir Solovyov, a Russian television host whose Telegram channel has over a million subscribers. Solovyov has gained notoriety for actively supporting the attack on Ukraine, backing Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, and promoting the idea of nuclear war against the West. To bolster these views, he frequently references Tucker Carlson. Voice of America's search for Carlson in Solovyov's Telegram account showed over 230 results between June 2020 and the current month, with a significant increase following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Key narratives from Carlson selected by Solovyov and Russian propaganda channels include false claims by this conservative commentator that Christians in Ukraine are being persecuted and that the white population in America is being suppressed. Tucker calls some American media coverage of Ukraine 'lies.' Other Russian media focus on the opinions of some fringe analysts that most Americans are unlikely to have heard of, presenting them as having broader influence in American society. These analysts are often used to reinforce Russia's narrative of a West in 'decline,' with state media utilizing figures like Jackson Hinkle and Jack Posobiec, who are largely unknown in America but have followings among far-right and conspiracy theory circles. For example, 'RIA Novosti,' the Russian state news agency, highlighted Posobiec's mocking remarks about Kyiv's interest in Abrams tanks, presenting it as the view of a seasoned and credible analyst, combining his comments with a quote from Putin emphasizing Moscow's alleged goal of ending the conflict, not escalating it. The Russian news network 'Lenta.ru' also used a headline referencing Hinkle's suggestion, labeling the 'counteroffensive of Ukrainian armed forces' as a 'suicidal mission.' Solovyov has repeatedly mentioned these two American analysts in his Telegram channel, presenting them as influential bloggers, talk show hosts, or famous American journalists. This approach helps Russia feed opinions that analysts speaking with Voice of America described as marginal views, presenting them as 'mainstream' opinions to viewers and readers in Russia. Yankovich stated, 'This could lead ordinary Russians to believe that these views represent the mindset of most Americans.' She noted that Russian state media utilize far-right American political media like Fox News and Breitbart, as well as far-left media including 'The Grayzone,' and that stories are flowing between Russian and American organizations. Yankovich mentioned that while she was on the disinformation management board in the U.S., right-wing American media falsely described the board's role as censoring Americans. Yankovich said, 'This was absolutely not true, and a few days later, we saw the same report on Channel One Russia with the same quotes, the same images, and the same overarching narratives.' The disinformation management board, established by the Department of Homeland Security to counter misinformation, was dissolved after only a few weeks. Yankovich stated, 'The expression of statements by American figures and media creates a sense of credibility among viewers, and on the other hand, showcasing these extremist views generates ideas about Ukraine or U.S. foreign policy that the Kremlin wants its audiences to believe.' Dominic Stacola, an assistant professor of political science at Colorado State University, who focuses on political polarization, has observed similar trends. He stated that Carlson has repeated Russian propaganda narratives on his television program. Stacola noted that another aspect uniting some far-left and far-right political actors is populism. They have echoed Russian propaganda regarding Ukraine and Ukrainian politicians like Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine.