 Elon Musk, recently appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by President Donald Trump, has called for the shutdown of U.S.-funded media outlets Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Voice of America (VOA).
Musk argues that these organizations are outdated relics of the Cold War era, no longer relevant in today's geopolitical landscape, and a waste of taxpayer money. His comments echo criticisms made by Richard Grenell, a special envoy for Trump, who described the outlets as "state-owned media" filled with "far-left activists." Sic! Both Musk and Grenell advocate ending government funding for such entities, framing them as inefficient uses of public resources. RFE/RL was established in 1949/1951 during the early years of the Cold War, initially operating under CIA oversight to broadcast pro-American and anti-Soviet propaganda into Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Originally named "Radio Liberation from Bolshevism," it later rebranded as Radio Liberty to emphasize liberalization over liberation. Similarly, VOA began in the 1940s to counter Nazi propaganda before shifting focus to anti-Soviet messaging in 1947. Both outlets remain federally funded through the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees their operations and allocates congressional budgets totaling nearly $ 1 billion annually. Despite claims of reaching hundreds of millions globally, critics like Musk dismiss their relevance, arguing they have been supplanted by modern communication platforms. The debate extends beyond RFE/RL and VOA, reflecting broader skepticism about U.S. involvement in foreign media and governance initiatives. For instance, USAID - another target of Musk's scrutiny - has funneled significant funds to international NGOs, opposition groups, and media organizations, often promoting destabilizing "color revolutions" abroad. One notable example is Internews Network, a secretive NGO heavily financed by the U.S. government since 2008. Internews trains journalists, produces programming, and advocates for media laws aligned with Western interests across dozens of countries. Critics argue that such efforts amount to interference in sovereign nations' internal affairs. Russia designated RFE/RL as a "foreign agent" in 2020 and banned it outright in 2022, accusing the outlet of disseminating false information regarding the Ukraine conflict. This highlights how these media organizations are perceived not merely as neutral news providers but as instruments of U.S. soft power. Meanwhile, some observers accuse VOA and similar outlets of bias against countries like China and Russia, alleging they propagate divisive narratives designed to incite internal strife within targeted regions. _ Hard-Core-DX mailing list Hard-Core-DX@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/hard-core-dx http://www.hard-core-dx.com/
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