Good summary. I think they fulfil what Lenin's definition of 'useful idiots' was - people who are already geared towards helping the goals of the autocrat (in this case the Kremlin) for whatever stupid personal reasons they have and only need the tiniest nudge and handful of cash to make them that much more committed.
Russian propaganda appeals both to the far-left and far-right. The far-left thinks that Russia is "anti-imperialist", the far-right thinks that Russia defends "traditional values". Both extremes end up falling for Russian propaganda.
I don't dispute that the right worships the 'volk' --e.g. sidestepping or refusing to engage or openly denying the swastika tattoos, fascist declarations, etc... of mass shooters.
But I'd argue that supply & demand economics plays a role, too. The Mercers, Peter Thiel (funds Rumble & much more), David Sacks (tried to make 'Callin' into Rumble for far-right & tankie-left podcasters), Musk pays far-right X posters for engagement, the Bradley Impact Fund (pays Stephen Miller, James O'Keefe & Turning Point USA millions)...
Any sociopath with good communication skills would be a fool not to jump on the far-right gravy train.
Yes, I agree. But in this case, the money was coming from a foreign adversary, which should have given pause to the influencers in question had they actually suspected it (since, if they did know, they'd be complicit in a crime). I think they just didn't realize.
Tankies are incredibly credulous when it comes to the claims of their "anti-imperialist" heroes.
https://gnet-research.org/2023/10/02/tankies-a-data-driven-understanding-of-left-wing-extremists-on-social-media/
Good summary. I think they fulfil what Lenin's definition of 'useful idiots' was - people who are already geared towards helping the goals of the autocrat (in this case the Kremlin) for whatever stupid personal reasons they have and only need the tiniest nudge and handful of cash to make them that much more committed.
Russian propaganda appeals both to the far-left and far-right. The far-left thinks that Russia is "anti-imperialist", the far-right thinks that Russia defends "traditional values". Both extremes end up falling for Russian propaganda.
I don't dispute that the right worships the 'volk' --e.g. sidestepping or refusing to engage or openly denying the swastika tattoos, fascist declarations, etc... of mass shooters.
But I'd argue that supply & demand economics plays a role, too. The Mercers, Peter Thiel (funds Rumble & much more), David Sacks (tried to make 'Callin' into Rumble for far-right & tankie-left podcasters), Musk pays far-right X posters for engagement, the Bradley Impact Fund (pays Stephen Miller, James O'Keefe & Turning Point USA millions)...
Any sociopath with good communication skills would be a fool not to jump on the far-right gravy train.
Yes, I agree. But in this case, the money was coming from a foreign adversary, which should have given pause to the influencers in question had they actually suspected it (since, if they did know, they'd be complicit in a crime). I think they just didn't realize.