Topic: Voice Of America

A viral video incorrectly claimed the Smith-Mundt Act was intended to hold news corporations accountable for lying. In reality, the 1948 act and its 2013 modernization were designed to prevent the U.S. government from propagandizing domestic audiences through outlets like Voice of America. The discussion clarifies that while intelligence agents have historically influenced news via Operation Mockingbird, the act itself does not regulate private news accuracy.

The Trump administration has reportedly issued termination notices to over 500 journalists at Voice of America. The hosts discuss the changing landscape of the White House press corps, which now includes more "influencers" and podcasters. They reminisce about past political predictions involving Marco Rubio and Bernie Sanders, and the lack of an invitation to the 2016 inauguration.

A House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing investigates allegations of a Chinese spy ring within the Voice of America (VOA). Senior advisor Carrie Lake testifies that over 500 personnel have disappeared since audits began and that the agency has been pressured by the Chinese Communist Party to censor content. The agency, which has a nearly $1 billion budget, is described as a significant national security risk.

A new policy announced by Carrie Lake will see One America News (OAN) provide a free news feed to Voice of America's foreign audiences, replacing the domestic workforce of RFA. The hosts review OAN's current headlines, including praise for Karoline Leavitt and reports on a "Gold Rush 2.0" and Bitcoin boom.

Senior Advisor Carrie Lake has placed over a thousand Voice of America (VOA) staff on paid administrative leave as part of a major restructuring of the US Agency for Global Media. The administration aims to eliminate "radical propaganda" and waste within the agency, which also funds Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia. The move follows the 2012 modernization of the Smith-Mundt Act that allowed domestic dissemination of government-produced materials.

Journalists at Voice of America were locked out of their offices following an executive order to eliminate non-essential activities. VOA was originally established during the Cold War to spread American values to societies lacking accurate news. Carrie Lake stated the agency is being streamlined to meet legal requirements and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.

President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Kari Lake will serve as the Director of Voice of America (VOA), working under the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Trump stated that Lake's role will be to ensure that "American values of freedom and liberty" are broadcast accurately to counter "fake news." Lake, a former television news anchor and Arizona gubernatorial candidate, will transition into this federal broadcasting role as part of the incoming administration's media strategy.

The hosts share personal stories about their paths to communication, including a paperboy mishap and early experiments with reel-to-reel tape recorders. A donor from Vilnius, Lithuania, compares the No Agenda show to the "Voice of America" broadcasts that Lithuanians secretly used to escape Soviet propaganda during the occupation.

The hosts address viral videos claiming President Joe Biden used a green screen during a press interaction. While one host argues it was a lens distortion anomaly confirmed by a Voice of America boom operator, the other suggests the public's desire to believe it is fake stems from Biden's perceived frailty. They discuss the use of "chroma key" and "single-shot" editing techniques similar to those used in the film 1917.

A political advertisement targeting Muslim voters briefly aired on Voice of America, sparking a scandal as the taxpayer-funded outlet is prohibited from broadcasting domestic political ads. The ad featured Joe Biden quoting the Hadith and included images of Representative Ilhan Omar. VOA officials removed the segment and are investigating how the partisan content was approved for broadcast.

President Donald Trump threatened to use constitutional authority to adjourn both houses of Congress to push through stalled nominations, including Michael Pack for the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Trump criticized the Voice of America for its reporting on China, while legal experts noted that the Supreme Court previously limited President Barack Obama's ability to make similar recess appointments.

The White House issued a statement accusing Voice of America (VOA) of amplifying Chinese propaganda regarding the Wuhan lockdown. VOA, which receives $200 million in taxpayer funding, is overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media, whose board includes various political appointees.

The artwork for Episode 1172, titled "Vape Goat," was created by Nick the Rat and featured a parody of the NPR logo. The art referenced the show's reporting on the new NPR CEO, John Lansing, and his previous ties to government-funded media outlets like the Voice of America. The hosts encouraged listeners to visit the No Agenda Art Generator to view and submit community-created graphics.

John Lansing has been named the new CEO of NPR, succeeding Jarl Mohn. Lansing previously headed the U.S. Agency for Global Media, overseeing state-funded broadcasters like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe. His transition from government-funded international broadcasting to domestic public radio has raised concerns about the potential for state-aligned propaganda.

The Broadcast Board of Governors and Voice of America (VOA) are accused of violating the Smith-Mundt Act by targeting propaganda at American citizens via Facebook advertisements. Although the act was partially repealed in 2013, the government is still prohibited from intentionally propagandizing domestic audiences. The matter has reportedly been referred to the Attorney General.

Voice of America's reporting on the French protests is analyzed as state-sponsored propaganda. While President Trump tweeted that protesters were chanting his name and opposing the Paris Climate Agreement, reporters on the ground in Paris claim the demonstrations are actually about economic dignity and respect.

Greta Van Susteren interviewed Vice President Mike Pence for Voice of America, focusing on the U.S. message to Iranian protesters. The interview highlighted a disconnect regarding communication, as Pence emphasized the President's tweets while Van Susteren noted that the Iranian government had blocked social media access.

The discussion explores the idea that domestic public relations agencies and government-funded entities like Voice of America engage in their own forms of information warfare. Allegations are made that political figures, including Hillary Clinton, have utilized "troll schools" and NGOs to influence foreign elections, such as the 2012 Russian election. The existence of professional "troll houses" within major PR firms is presented as a standard industry practice.

Vladimir Putin turned the tables on Megyn Kelly by accusing the U.S. media and diplomatic embassies of systematically interfering in Russian domestic policy for years. He cited the Voice of America and various NGOs as tools used by the U.S. to influence foreign elections. Putin characterized Kelly's line of questioning as a "terrible interview" lacking professional follow-up on his counter-claims.

Max Keiser claims he was approached by Voice of America representatives to perform a staged on-air resignation from RT in exchange for money. The hosts suggest that Voice of America acts as a front for the CIA to undermine foreign media outlets. They speculate on the financial incentives offered to journalists to defect from Russian-funded networks.