The latest in a series of moves which seems destined to worsen US-Russian relations, the Justice Department has ordered Russia’s RT television news network to register itself as a “foreign agent,” forcing it to make broad disclosures on contacts within the United States.
This registration is an idea that had long been pushed by Congressional Democrats who accuse RT of being a “propaganda” network. The Foreign Agent Registration Act was meant to target foreign lobbyists and politicians.
It’s virtually unheard of to force a journalistic outlet to register, and the move was quickly condemned by RT as “overreaching.” That the Justice Department made such a move at all is a surprise, and indicative of continued hostility toward Russia.
The big question then is, with diplomats in both the US and Russia looking to stop the worsening tensions, what fallout this will lead to. America’s own Voice of America outlet is structured identically to RT, and it would not be surprising at all to see Russia retaliate against them over the Justice Department’s move on RT.
The ice is getting thin under the 1st Amendment. Surely the BBC and AFP must follow the same guidelines.
Yet another sign that the US govt. itself has become dominated by dishonesty and totalitarian bullshit.
’bout time AIPAC and other Israel First outfits were forced to register. Who do you think exercises more influence on behalf of a foreign country, RT or AIPAC?
I think the mainstream media has more influence for the NWO , globalism , a one world government than any foreign country has for any single counties private government . This statement even includes our own established government from both political parties . This is what we should be worried about . Not that Israel or Russia may get ahead of us . But that are we being replaced by a world wide all powerful global institution that we as free U.S citizens will have little or no control of . That is why many voter took a chance on Trump already the United Nation selects our refugees for us .While our representatives fight over abortions should be allowed in the 50th week and forbidden in the 60th week .
Israel takes your tax dollars and turns around and uses it to corrupt your government. Would a friend do that? I think not..
I was going to say the same, but you beat me to it .. However, I agree with you 100%. AIPAC and other Israel First organizations must also be registered as foreign (Israeli) agents.
The answer to your question is definitely AIPAC. RT’s only a news organization, so it shouldn’t even have to register as a foreign agent. No other foreign news services that have anchors here weren’t ordered to register .. The DOJ’s just as Russophobic and bigoted as the rest of the USG. RT does NOT have to register as a foreign agent, since it’s only a news organization, not a lobby.
“RT’s only a news organization”
RT is a state propaganda organ, just like National Public Radio or Radio Free Europe/Radio Free Liberty.
You forgot BBC. Are they going to register?
If Russia today is forced to register as foreign agent ? Will the U.S. mainstream media be forced to register as a enemy combatant .. A lot of us Trump supporters think it is long past time to either pull their license or register them .
Every western news organ being required to register in Moscow as a “foreign agent” is probably already under discussion in the Kremlin. That just leaves Sputnik News for any revenge move.
Fake news outlets like CNN get a lot of US taxpayer money. I don’t watch CNN these days, but I’d imagine you see a lot of US government ‘ads’ that have been bought. Military recruitment and other such ads. And of course, there is a lot of US taxpayer money that flows through a second party and then on to CNN. Ever watch one of those fake Sunday morning talk shows and notice that someone is paying a lot of money to try to sell you very expensive jet fighters? Of course such ads are not to boost retail sales. And where else do such ‘defense’ contractors get their money except from the US taxpayers?
Russia should require not only Voice of America and the BBC to register as foreign agents in Russia, but should also be very aggressive towards CNN, the NYT, the CIA owned Washington Post and others with the same request. Look closely, and all will be found to get US government money.
Websites and news outlets being shut down. Where is freedom.