RT's Transformation

A file photo from June 8, 2018 shows a control room at RT's Moscow studios. The state media organization has been accused by the Justice Department of covertly paying pro-Trump influencers in the U.S. The allegations, which have been met with a mixture of denial and mockery from RT officials, have raised concerns about the extent of Russian interference in American politics and the potential for further destabilization of democracies worldwide.

While RT originally launched in 2005 as Russia Today, a round-the-clock English language news channel, it has faced increasing scrutiny over the years as its coverage has become more provocative and its mission has shifted from simply reporting news to promoting a specific Russian narrative. The channel's "just asking questions" approach, which often presented itself as an alternative to Western media, was particularly effective in targeting younger, left-leaning Americans. However, this approach also included sensationalism, conspiracism, and a clear bias in favor of the Russian government.

The revelations that the Kremlin sought to influence the 2016 presidential election in favor of Donald Trump further escalated scrutiny of RT. U.S. intelligence officials accused the network of election meddling, and RT America was forced to register with the Justice Department as a foreign agent. In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many US cable companies dropped RT America, and the U.S. channel shut down. RT was also banned across much of Europe and blocked globally on YouTube.

Despite these setbacks, RT has continued to operate, albeit in a more covert manner. The network has reportedly turned to "guerilla operations" in places where it has lost access, including the U.S. The recent indictments of two RT employees for funneling nearly $10 million to pro-Trump American influencers are just the latest example of this shift towards covert influence activities.

While RT's reach in the U.S. and Europe has been curtailed, the network still has a significant footprint across Latin America and Africa, where it continues to broadcast anti-Ukraine, anti-imperialist, and anti-Western content. The State Department has warned that RT's covert operations pose a serious threat to democracies around the world, and that the network's influence should not be underestimated.