Playing on Kansas City Radio: Russian Propaganda

[Collegeguy]

At least Russia knows where Kansas City is, and it's not in Kansas. Kansas City predates the state of Kansas.

[PosPosPos]

So, you don't mind that they are openly lying to you? And openly dividing the country with the crap they are spewing? Yeah, no thanks.

Is there honestly a difference in the end? Even if you were to try to divest conservatives from the ability to listen to Russian radio in their own states, they would just push back.

And even without the existence of Russian radio, the nation is already divided into conservatives who want to sell out the nation and everyone else who has real patriotism towards the US.

So again, what difference does your opposition make? What difference will banning foreign propaganda make? Zero.

[Stelio Kontos]

Considering the US has been doing this for decades in other countries, I'm surprised it took so long for someone to do the same within the US.

[Gaidax]

Divided States of America... hah, that's pretty legit.

[Mihalik]

The First Amendment is kind of important. They are our principles and why we afford them to those not citizens when within the United States. We've never lived up to them, but they are there. Me pointing out that yes, even a foreign government should be listened too. Like the time Saddam said he had no Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Uhm. This is a bit more complicated than you make it out to be.

First and foremost, the airwaves are actually public property, as with all public property the government has the right and obligation to manage it.

While the First Amendment protects your rights to say whatever you want, I am fairly certain that a reasonable argument can be made that these protections do not extend to hostile foreign powers, as in the government could withhold licenses from domestic broadcasters retransmitting foreign propaganda on US public airwaves.

Of course this could have wider implications that could even extend to other mediums, so I believe stronger legislation that forces such broadcasters to disclose the source of the retransmission would be preferable.

For example having the broadcaster repeat once every 30minutes that this transmission is coming from a media organization wholly owned by the Russian government.

[Sunseeker]

For example having the broadcaster repeat once every 30minutes that this transmission is coming from a media organization wholly owned by the Russian government.

Right. In the same way we make cigarettes have warning labels and we make political ads have "this ad approved by XYZ candidate". If something is dangerous or highly suspect in origin, the origins and content should be made clear to the end-user. If something is too dangerous then even speech can be limited, and there's no reason to preach about the "free speech" of the Russian government (or any other for that matter, even our own) and it's mouthpieces.

I don't really give two shits what Russia and it's mouthpieces think or have to say. Nothing coming out of their government is going to add to the discussion America needs to be having in a meaningful, helpful, or insightful way.

American citizens have a right to free speech, and last I checked, the Russian state was not an American citizen, and apologies, but I don't much care about the rights of people Russia has bought and paid for either. They are, as far as I am concerned, working for foreign powers against the interests of the USA. If your loyalty to America has a dollar value, you ain't an American.

[js3915]

Bad news for the "Great State of Kansas".

Think you need to go back to school. Kansas City is in Missouri and liberal as all hell. There is sliver of Kansas City on the Kansas side but more or less a speed bump in comparison

[Themius]

Freedom on Speech is a thing, and if a Russian agency wants to put up their own spin on news I don't see the problem.

What's the Alternative?

Let government agencies tell us what is and isn't acceptable to put over the air waves? NO thank you.

This McCarthysm is just sad and pathetic and not rooted in reality. People on here were all upset Russia spent a million dollars on Facebook ads, my response *that' it*.

Are you seriously saying "look, if Russia wants to start a misinformation campaign to influence the American political landscape that is their right!"

IT IS LITERALLY THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT WHAT THE FUCK are you on about? Are you okay with FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS spreading misinformation to influence America?

"I mean what's the problem with having a foreign dictatorship influence our politics I mean free speech and all! I mean sure if they actually had power they'd just fuck us over and take away any speech and randomly people who being disappearing but free speech!"

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A world where free speech still matters?

Foreign government propaganda arms don't have free speech.

The CIA has sown dissent that has purposefully ruined governments, you're saying that the CIA had free speech rights to do so and if the targeted government knew that they should have been like "well hey free speech, just let them spread misinformation, overthrow our democratically elected leader, and replace them with a dictator who begins killing people he doesn't like, because free speech, we must extend it to HOSTILE GOVERNMENT INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES SOWING DISSENT TO DAMAGE OUR COUNTRY You must be on another planet to think this is good.

[draynay]

Think you need to go back to school.

Somebody does, but it isn't me.

[Themius]

The First Amendment is kind of important. They are our principles and why we afford them to those not citizens when within the United States. We've never lived up to them, but they are there. Me pointing out that yes, even a foreign government should be listened too. Like the time Saddam said he had no Weapons of Mass Destruction.

They are literally a hostile foreign government misinformation machine and part of Russia's intelligence.

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That's a really interesting spin, the first amendment is there to protect foreign governments to spread misinformation.

Oh no, not just spread.

The first amendment is there to protect hostile foreign governments to conduct intelligence operations and SOCIAL ENGINEERING of their target to SOW DISSENT and damage stability of target country

That's the spin these people are giving

[Shalcker]

Are you seriously saying "look, if Russia wants to start a misinformation campaign to influence the American political landscape that is their right!"

IT IS LITERALLY THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT WHAT THE FUCK are you on about? Are you okay with FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS spreading misinformation to influence America?

Is it okay for Russian government-funded American anchors to repeat Fox News?

...why exactly not?

"I mean what's the problem with having a foreign dictatorship influence our politics I mean free speech and all! I mean sure if they actually had power they'd just fuck us over and take away any speech and randomly people who being disappearing but free speech!"

Are you suggesting to give Trump's executive branch power to decide who should or shouldn't broadcast on American airwaves based on current political considerations?

I guess you're sure they'll use this power responsibly, only against Russians! /s

[Themius]

Is it okay for Russian government-funded American anchors to repeat Fox News?

...why exactly not?

Are you suggesting to give Trump's executive branch power to decide who should or shouldn't broadcast on American airwaves based on current political considerations?

I guess you're sure they'll use this power responsibly, only against Russians! /s

We have an entire agency outside of Trump that can take care of it. We don't need to defect to a single person like Putin. We aren't Russia just yet, people Arne't going to mysteriously die when they disagree with Trump.

"Hey so this station is functioning as a Russian intelligence operation, spreading misinformation to destabilize our country, oh and here's all the proof." investigate and shut down.

This argument over whether or not foreign hostile powers should be free to conduct misinformation campaigns to damage the USA is fucking bogus.

[Shalcker]

We have an entire agency outside of Trump that can take care of it. We don't need to defect to a single person like Putin. We aren't Russia just yet, people Arne't going to mysteriously die when they disagree with Trump.

You're saying it like Putin isn't operating agency that actually bought that radio slot in accord with local American laws and regulations...

"Hey so this station is functioning as a Russian intelligence operation, spreading misinformation to destabilize our country, oh and here's all the proof." investigate and shut down.

Investigate and shut down on what grounds exactly?

This argument over whether or not foreign hostile powers should be free to conduct misinformation campaigns to damage the USA is fucking bogus.

The argument is wherever you should give government power to decide what US citizens should or should not be listening to.

[Themius]

You're saying it like Putin isn't operating agency that actually bought that radio slot in accord with local American laws and regulations...

Investigate and shut down on what grounds exactly?

The argument is wherever you should give government power to decide what US citizens should or should not be listening to.

I'm sure you would enjoy a Russian campaign on America.

[Sodia]

I have spent 15 min reading tru all this posts and my IQ drop 5 points... the amount of astounding stupidity that comes from some" intelligent" posts is very troubling. How the f muricans go through life with sutch paranoia??
[Infraction]

[PosPosPos]

I have spent 15 min reading tru all this posts and my IQ drop 5 points... the amount of astounding stupidity that comes from some" intelligent" posts is very troubling. How the f muricans go through life with sutch paranoia??

Hilarious bit of projection from Trump supporters as usual.

[Shalcker]

I'm sure you would enjoy a Russian campaign on America.

Russians are paying Americans to repeat Fox News talking points on radio... oh, the horror!

Such deadly threat to American democracy! /s

...and then people immediately advocate for things that actually might be a threat to supposedly curb it.

[Kokolums]

Why are you shocked putin works with the us right wing? Have you listend to putins speeches? He ridicules liberals and the left all the time. He makes no bones about the fact that he aligns with the right.

[Milchshake]

Watching tankies agree with Putin's meddling is a clear reveal of their intentions. They're more interested in PWNing the US or European institutions than in any social equity.

• Putin is among the the world's worst plutocrats.
• He's stolen billions from his own people.
• He's using that stolen loot to fund and support the reactionaries that are trying to undermine the socialist safety nets in the West.

[Shalcker]

Watching tankies agree with Putin's meddling is a clear reveal of their intentions. They're more interested in PWNing the US or European institutions than in any social equity.

• Putin is among the the world's worst plutocrats.
• He's stolen billions from his own people.
• He's using that stolen loot to fund and support the reactionaries that are trying to undermine the socialist safety nets in the West.

No, he is using Russian budget for that, not "stolen loot".

Paying out of his own pocket isn't a thing in Russia - that's your projection from American oligarchy where this actually happens right now with Bloomberg.