'Autocrats rejoicing': Outrage after Trump's 'toxic' move to shut down 'beacons of hope'

[bannork]

David Enrich of the New York Times reported on Saturday that, "Journalists at Voice of America were just informed that they’ve been put on administrative leave."

Journalist Josh Marshall responded, "Congressional created, funded part of the US government. All of this stuff is illegal. Just because it's happening doesn't make it less illegal," Marshall then added, "emails placing Voice of America employees on indefinite leave" along with other actions by the Trump administration are a "devastating blow to democracy and a major gift to anti-American authoritarian regimes worldwide."

Toxic ignorance

Christian Christensen, Professor at Stockholm University remarked,'' VOA has been pumping out anti-leftist, pro-Capitalism propaganda for decades. These people literally have no idea what they are shutting down or why. The ignorance is utterly toxic."

I can hear the clinking of glasses in Moscow and China from here.

'Autocrats rejoicing': Outrage after Trump's 'toxic' move to shut down 'beacons of hope'

[Walker88]

I heard VoA is going to be replaced by a radio station playing daughter-in-law Laura's music CD 24/7.

 

Or maybe Zamfir on his pan flute playing YMCA.

 

Or sweet voice RFK, Jr reading "The Art of the Deal".

 

None would be sillier than anything else this Admin full of carnival people is doing.

 

 

[Hanaguma]

In the days of the Infobahn, is it reallly necessary to have a government funded radio station? 

[Middle Aged Grouch]

Western media is completly soaked in the feminist woke social environmental dogma.

 

Anybody in a normal mental state of mind, does not any longer give a hoot to all the current propanda,  the biaised western medias are trying to impose.

 

Consequently, no need to continue funding such people not doing their jobs.

[blaze master]

  On 3/16/2025 at 9:56 AM, Walker88 said:

I heard VoA is going to be replaced by a radio station playing daughter-in-law Laura's music CD 24/7.

 

Or maybe Zamfir on his pan flute playing YMCA.

 

Or sweet voice RFK, Jr reading "The Art of the Deal".

 

None would be sillier than anything else this Admin full of carnival people is doing.

 

 

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Typical leftist maga comment.

[Sigmund]

Finally a politician brave enough to do what he promised and keep his word. This can surprise all the other leftists in Europe or the US.

[Jingthing]

  On 3/16/2025 at 12:00 PM, Sigmund said:

Finally a politician brave enough to do what he promised and keep his word. This can surprise all the other leftists in Europe or the US.

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Trump promised he had no connection to fascist project 2025 but once elected his agenda actions have been dominated by the fascist project 2025 blueprint. Is that brave?

[Autocan]

First, USAID and NED, the regime change operations of the US Govt, now VOA, the propaganda wing. Looks like the US has come to Jesus. But for how long? The Zionists running the country aren't going anywhere.

[anchadian]

Also Radio Free Asia

Saksith Saiyasombut 

 

This is heartbreaking and infuriating - and incredibly shortsighted and narrow-minded.

 

(1/3) The federal grants that fund Radio Free Asia and partner networks were terminated Saturday morning, according to a grant termination notice received by RFA.

 

Jonathan Head

Agree wholeheartedly. A terrible move which damages the flow of information in this region, damages US standing, and hands the floor for media influence to China - surely not something @SecRubio

wants to see?

 

https://x.com/RadioFreeAsia/status/1901052767080157640

 

[Bannoi]

Where's the invisible hand when its needed.

[connda]

I really do find it amazing that posters here are actually crying that US state media propaganda outlets are being closed. 
Propaganda sorta IS the tool of autocracies.  A free and open press is antithetical to autocracies.  VOA was anything BUT a free and open press.  It was state funded propaganda.

[connda]

  On 3/16/2025 at 12:09 PM, Autocan said:

First, USAID and NED, the regime change operations of the US Govt, now VOA, the propaganda wing. Looks like the US has come to Jesus. But for how long? The Zionists running the country aren't going anywhere.

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So the US isn't in the regime change business any longer.  Well, probably still is, but now it will just be privatized.

[NoDisplayName]

Next up:  NPR and PBS, and CPB.

 

Good Doggie!

[placeholder]

  On 3/16/2025 at 1:26 PM, connda said:

I really do find it amazing that posters here are actually crying that US state media propaganda outlets are being closed. 
Propaganda sorta IS the tool of autocracies.  A free and open press is antithetical to autocracies.  VOA was anything BUT a free and open press.  It was state funded propaganda.

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Actually, Trump's beef with V.O.A. was that it wasn't a propaganda outlet. He tried to turn it into one and failed.

Defined By Scandal At Voice of America, CEO Resigns At Biden's Request

Michael Pack resigned Wednesday as the CEO of the federal agency over the Voice of America and other federally funded international broadcasters after a turbulent seven-month tenure. He leaves the U.S. Agency for Global Media with a Trumpian legacy of ideological strife, lawsuits and scandal, his departure effective just two hours after the swearing-in of President Biden, who requested him to leave...

Pack came to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media with the support of former President Donald Trump; his appointment was delayed more than two years in the U.S. Senate by lawmakers who feared he was too ideological and also who questioned his finances.

https://www.npr.org/sections/inauguration-day-live-updates/2021/01/20/958875488/voice-of-america-ceo-pack-defined-by-scandal-resigns-at-bidens-request

 

[placeholder]

  On 3/16/2025 at 11:24 AM, Hanaguma said:

In the days of the Infobahn, is it reallly necessary to have a government funded radio station? 

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When that government funded stations shows no reluctance to report news unfavorable to the United States, it performs an essential service: showing that the US takes free speech seriously. Of course, that should now be put in the past tense.

[Tug]

Jeesssse trump lay off putins junk he’s getting sore from all the winning you are giving to the enemy .all their partying and those epic hangovers are just killing them…..us Americans not so much……another sad day for America.thats our trump the great betrayer.full retreat full betrayal of everything my America stands for.

[Walker88]

I guess the US should modernize and try social media like TikTok to influence, as China does. Or maybe be like the GRU's Internet Research Agency and target morons, like they did after getting internal polling data from Campaign Manager Paul Manafort in his Spain meeting with Konstantin Kilimnik.

[frank83628]

Trump derangement is a real

[Purdey]

Not as important as closing down pro American radio is what will rise from the ashes? 

Will it be just pro Trump radio? 

Or pro Putin radio?

[Yagoda]

  On 3/16/2025 at 11:24 AM, Hanaguma said:

In the days of the Infobahn, is it reallly necessary to have a government funded radio station? 

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Is it necessary to have one that opposes the values its supposed to project.

[Yagoda]

  On 3/16/2025 at 1:26 PM, connda said:

I really do find it amazing that posters here are actually crying that US state media propaganda outlets are being closed. 
Propaganda sorta IS the tool of autocracies.  A free and open press is antithetical to autocracies.  VOA was anything BUT a free and open press.  It was state funded propaganda.

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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-orders-dismantling-government-funded-left-wing-media-outlet-voa

"I have monitored the agency’s bureaucracy along with many of its reporters and concluded that it has essentially become a hubris-filled rogue operation often reflecting a leftist bias aligned with partisan national media," a former VOA employee wrote in an op-ed last year calling for the outlet's dismantling. "It has sought to avoid accountability for violations of journalistic standards and mismanagement." (Emphasis added)

 

The posters crying here love leftist propaganda, not journalism.

[Tug]

  On 3/16/2025 at 6:07 PM, frank83628 said:

Trump derangement is a real

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The THREAT trump represents is REAL!

[TedG]

  On 3/16/2025 at 8:06 PM, Tug said:

The THREAT trump represents is REAL!

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Are you hiding in your bunker? 

[Yagoda]

  On 3/16/2025 at 8:06 PM, Tug said:

The THREAT trump represents is REAL!

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Threat to what?

[Tug]

  On 3/16/2025 at 8:09 PM, TedG said:

Are you hiding in your bunker? 

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Oh heavens no today I’ve been busy ringing out all the systems on my (new to me) rv in preparation for road-trips this spring and summer be that as it may trump is indeed a threat to our democracy and an asset to our enemies.

[TedG]

  On 3/17/2025 at 12:13 AM, Tug said:

Oh heavens no today I’ve been busy ringing out all the systems on my (new to me) rv in preparation for road-trips this spring and summer be that as it may trump is indeed a threat to our democracy and an asset to our enemies.

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You sound like dooms day prepper.

[JAG]

  On 3/16/2025 at 11:24 AM, Hanaguma said:

In the days of the Infobahn, is it reallly necessary to have a government funded radio station? 

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  On 3/16/2025 at 11:24 AM, Hanaguma said:

In the days of the Infobahn, is it reallly necessary to have a government funded radio station? 

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The "infobahn"does not reach, for example, into Myanmar/Burma, and is heavily controlled in countries such as China.

 

Intenet access is not readily available in many parts of the developing world.

Transistor radios are a readily available means of receiving broadcasts.

[tai4de2]

  On 3/16/2025 at 6:09 PM, Purdey said:

Or pro Putin radio?

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I was wondering how long it would take before "Russia Russia Russia!" showed up in this topic.