The US DOJ seizes 32 domains used in Russian influence campaigns, as part of efforts to tackle Russian efforts to influence the 2024 US presidential election

The Biden administration announced a sweeping set of actions to tackle a major Russian government-backed effort to influence …

CNN 2024-09-05

Context & Ripple Effects

This action extends a 2024 enforcement sequence in which the DOJ and partners had already disrupted a Russian operation through the seizure of two domains and 968 X accounts tied to an AI-enhanced bot farm. The focus has moved beyond individual accounts toward the web infrastructure used to make influence operations appear persistent and independent.

It also fits a broader federal precedent: the U.S. previously seized 92 sites allegedly used for Iranian disinformation, including domains presented as U.S.-based news outlets. The common thread is using domain-control actions to interrupt the distribution layer of foreign influence campaigns.

First-order effects

The 32 seized domains are removed from the alleged Russian operators’ control, immediately interrupting their use as campaign-facing publishing or distribution infrastructure.
The DOJ gains a visible enforcement mechanism against the operation without needing to rely solely on social platforms to remove individual posts or accounts.

Second-order effects

Operators whose domains are taken down must rebuild audiences, branding and technical infrastructure elsewhere, while platforms, registrars and hosting providers face renewed pressure to detect replacement sites and coordinated amplification.
The action reinforces domain seizure as a complement to account takedowns, rather than a substitute for them, because influence networks can span both websites and social channels.

Third-order effects

Repeated infrastructure seizures could make foreign influence operations more costly to maintain and less durable, but their effectiveness will depend on whether enforcement can keep pace with rapid domain replacement and cross-platform distribution.
The pattern points toward election-security enforcement that treats domains, social accounts and AI-enabled content as connected operational infrastructure; later sanctions targeting Russian and Iranian election-interference entities show the toolkit can extend beyond seizures.

The trend: Foreign-influence enforcement is increasingly targeting the technical infrastructure that gives coordinated campaigns reach, continuity and apparent legitimacy.

Discussion

@joeabodnar Joe Bodnar on threads
Tenet Media's YouTube is putting up numbers. Not even a year old and it has over 16 million views.
@yair_rosenberg1 Yair Rosenberg on threads
This far-right influencer who liked to talk about how everyone else was controlled by Jewish money was named in a Justice Department indictment for taking millions of dollars to run a Russian influence operation on YouTube.
@therickysilver Ricky Bridger on threads
Because of course Elon Musk was helping spread the Russian propaganda 🙄
@davidleavitt David Leavitt on threads
Is it really “free speech” if it's paid for by Russia? 🤔
@griffinkyle Kyle Griffin on threads
New: The Justice Department just confirmed a Russian election interference campaign “operating under the direction and control of the Russian Presidential Administration.” DOJ announced the ongoing seizure of 32 internet domains used in Russian government-directed foreign malign…
@crispinburke Crispin Burke on threads
The Tennessee-based [COMPANY-1] received nearly all of its $9.7 million in revenue from RT via shell companies. [COMPANY-1] did not disclose to its viewers that it was operating on behalf of RT. Meanwhile...
@joeabodnar Joe Bodnar on threads
Aric Toler connected this covert Russian funding to a company called Tenet Media. People working with Tenet: Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson. Woah. Woah. $10 million can do this I guess.
@griffinkyle Kyle Griffin on threads
As alleged in an unsealed affidavit, the Russian companies Social Design Agency (SDA), Structura National Technology (Structura), and ANO Dialog, operating under the direction and control of the Russian Presidential Administration, used these domains, among others …
@renee.diresta Renee DiResta on threads
Buying authentic influencers is a far better use of funds than creating fake personas, because they bring their own trusting audiences and are actually, you know, real. — Funding front media outlets is a classic state propaganda strategy. …
@renee.diresta Renee DiResta on threads
On a plane reading the fascinating DOJ indictment of two Russian nationals who ran a front media property, Tenet Media. My 1st reaction is that this reminds me of shell games Russia played w/left-leaning outlets via Maffick Media, which at one point sued FB for slapping a Russia…
@renee.diresta Renee DiResta on threads
Long-running effort known as “Doppleganger” that began in ~2022 or so — RE: https://www.threads.net/...
@protecttruth@mastodon.online Eric Blair on mastodon
Story from Josh Kovensky. — The hosts aren't innocent “victims.” They regularly take money from toxic US billionaires, so it's a short leap to fake Russian billionaires. — https://talkingpointsmemo.com/ ...
@tommyg.bsky.social Tommy on bluesky
“Hey the nice Russian man gave us lots of money and his friends did all our media homework. How we were to know that something was fishy?”
@markbarrington.bsky.social Mark Barrington on bluesky
Victims? Or willing dupes? Opinions differ.
@franklinjay.bsky.social Jay on bluesky
💀💀💀 — imagine spending millions and the best you can do is the dumb fuck in a beanie? [embedded post]
@thejusticedept @thejusticedept on x
Two RT Employees Indicted for Covertly Funding and Directing U.S. Company that Published Thousands of Videos in Furtherance of Russian Interests 🔗: https://www.justice.gov/... [image]
@bennyjohnson Benny Johnson on x
A statement on the leaked DOJ indictment today: A year ago, a media startup pitched my company to provide content as an independent contractor. Our lawyers negotiated a standard, arms length deal, which was later terminated. We are disturbed by the allegations in today's indict…
@arictoler Aric Toler on x
A new DoJ indictment alleges that RT employees “covertly fund[ed] and direct[ed]” a US company with $10m in order to push pro-Russia content. The company is based in Tennessee. There is one media company based in Tennessee with the same phrase listed in the indictment... [image]
@muellershewrote @muellershewrote on x
Finally finished reading the Doppelgänger affidavit. Read it. It's only 69 pages. The rest are attachment and exhibits. Learn how the Russians cyber squatted on 60 domains made to look like legit media corporations to trick Americans into supporting Trump. https://www.justice.gov…
@thejusticedept @thejusticedept on x
Justice Department Disrupts Covert Russian Government-Sponsored Foreign Malign Influence Operation Targeting Audiences in the United States and Elsewhere 🔗: https://www.justice.gov/... [image]
@timcast Tim Pool on x
My statement regarding allegations and the DOJ Indictment Should these allegations prove true, I as well as the other personalities and commentators were deceived and are victims. I cannot speak for anyone else at the company as to what they do or to what they are instructed
@eelarson Erik Larson on x
The alleged scheme also included using artificial intelligence tools to create pictures and videos to use in “negative advertisements about US politicians” and to register social media accounts that appeared to be news outlets such as CNN and the BBC
@lrozen Laura Rozen on x
@sewingdilEmma @willsommer company founders were not unwitting, per the indictment. the commentators may have been
@taylorlorenz Taylor Lorenz on x
Nothing exposes these far right grifters cosplaying as “independent media” more than exposing where they're actually getting all their money from
@capitolhunters @capitolhunters on x
Today's DOJ announcement. The press release has a a link to the indictment. The “founders” of Tenet Media are BlazeTV host Lauren Chen and her husband Liam Donovan. They knew the money came from Russia. 5/ https://x.com/...
@gldivittorio @gldivittorio on x
Say what you will about the DOJ, but keeping the U.S. company and six commentators anonymous in the indictment for protocol then adding the network's self-description verbatim from Tenet Media's about page that features a photo of their six commentators is objectively very funny …
@muellershewrote @muellershewrote on x
Here is the indictment. Two counts: FARA and money laundering.
@itsmelissabrown Melissa Brown on x
Russian propagandists funnelled $10 million to a Tennessee company to push disinformation, the DOJ alleges. Though DOJ doesn't name the company, details match Tenet Media, a company registered in Nashville https://www.tennessean.com/...
@thejusticedept @thejusticedept on x
Today, the Justice Department announced the ongoing seizure of 32 internet domains used in Russian government-directed foreign malign influence campaigns colloquially referred to as “Doppelganger,” in violation of U.S. money laundering & criminal trademark laws. [image]
@ericgeller Eric Geller on x
DOJ has seized 32 domain names that Russia used in covert influence campaigns related to Ukraine and the 2024 election: https://www.justice.gov/... State & Treasury announced visa restrictions & sanctions against Russian media outlets: https://www.state.gov/... https://home.trea…
@willsommer Will Sommer on x
This indictment alleges that right-wing commentators like Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, and Lauren Southern — as part of the “Tenet Media” YouTube channel — have been unwittingly working for a Russian influence operation. https://x.com/...
@bradmossesq Bradley P. Moss on x
Weird way to say “sorry I allegedly got unwittingly suckered into a Russian influence operation for money”
@rolandsmartin @rolandsmartin on x
I bet @charliekirk11 and @TPUSA are shredding documents and deleting emails!
@willsommer Will Sommer on x
Two people described in the Tenet indictment as unnamed “founders” were very aware their operation was funded by Russians. Tenn. biz records list Tenet's founders as BlazeTV host and TPUSA contributor Lauren Chen aka “Roaming Millennial,” and her husband.
@mtaibbi Matt Taibbi on x
Gosh what a shock that @KenDilanianNBC is the delivery boy for this Langley-created horseshit! Never would have thought
@emptywheel @emptywheel on x
If Commentator 1 and 2 ARE Benny and Pool, they demand $5M to spew the shite they do about Donald Trump. https://www.justice.gov/... [image]
@lopezmotorscars @lopezmotorscars on x
Tenet media got tasked with posting Tucker Carlsons grocery store propaganda. [image]
@semaforben Ben Smith on x
Not a lot of deals this good in digital media. [image]
@willsommer Will Sommer on x
A sign of how things are going after the Tenet indictment: prominent GOP attorney Harmeet Dhillon reminds everyone don't talk to the cops without a lawyer.
@igorsushko Igor Sushko on x
🚨 BREAKING: Kremlin agents in the US with millions of Twitter followers were paid $10 million by Russia to spread disinformation and rally support for convicted felon Trump on social media per indictment unsealed by the Department of Justice. TENET Media, based in Tennessee. [ima…
@yashar Yashar Ali on x
NEWS The US Department of Justice alleges that Tenet Media, which has Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, and Dave Rubin on its roster, received $10 million from the Russian government to publish content as part of a Russian influence operation. Tenet is owned and controlled by Lauren [imag…
@ronnieadkins_ Ronnie Adkins on x
This is interesting. Russia Today (RT) paid $318,000 for an ‘iPhone 15’ from “US Company-1”. That company is a media company. Wild read: https://www.justice.gov/... [image]
@andycat3 Andy B on x
Sure bud. [video]
@arictoler Aric Toler on x
The indictment specifies that two of the people who work for this Tennessee company (Tenet) were “deceived” — meaning they didn't know that the Russian government was running an influence op. Dave Rubin has 2.4 million subscribers and Tim Pool has 1.37 million. [image]
@jaredlholt Jared Holt on x
Is there any other media job that pays $400,000 per month for recording four videos a week, or is it just doing “anti-woke” conservative clickbait (From DOJ indictment involving Russian state media funneling millions to right-wing video mill Tenet Media) https://www.justice.gov/.…
@arictoler Aric Toler on x
And the Canadian entity that owns Tenet Media https://x.com/... [image]
@willsommer Will Sommer on x
The Tenet Media indictment's revelation that Tim Pool was getting paid $100K an episode certainly puts his real estate purchases in a West Virginia in a new light. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
@wiczipedia Nina Jankowicz on x
There is a *second* document unsealed by the DOJ today, seizing 32 domains in the ongoing Russian “Doppelganger” operation. Here's the most interesting bit to me: Russia recognizes the fissure that baseless allegations of “censorship” represent, and is amplifying it. [image]
@ariehkovler Arieh Kovler on x
This means a Russian intel agent was part of the internal conversations with Lauren Chen and Liam Donovan about how much to pay Benny Johnson and Tim Pool [image]
@kylegriffin1 Kyle Griffin on x
New: The Justice Department just confirmed a Russian election interference campaign “operating under the direction and control of the Russian Presidential Administration.” DOJ announced the ongoing seizure of 32 internet domains used in Russian government-directed foreign malign
@justinbaragona Justin Baragona on x
“leaked”
@itsmelissabrown Melissa Brown on x
The company is registered to an office suite in Green Hills. https://www.tennessean.com/...
@eelarson Erik Larson on x
A wide-ranging Russian plot to influence the 2024 US election included internal planning documents from a Russia-backed entity saying it was in Russia's interest to ensure that Donald Trump or another Republican wins the White House https://www.bloomberg.com/... via @bpolitics
@willsommer Will Sommer on x
Funny moment in the Tenet indictment: a Tenet founder, who have told Youtubers their funding is coming from a Western European businessman, emails the investor for more money. When no one responds, Tenet's founder drops the pretense and googles “time in Moscow” [image]
@shanlonwu Shanlon Wu on x
“Officials say that fighting election interference has been more difficult this year. Some Americans, particularly Mr. Trump's supporters, see accusations that Russia is spreading disinformation as efforts to undermine their views and policy positions” https://www.nytimes.com/...
@capitolhunters @capitolhunters on x
Today DOJ revealed a $10M op to use US podcasters to push Russian propaganda, since 2023. Let's remember that Lauren Southern, “Commentator-5”, went to Moscow in 2018 to make a film to “correct ” “America's irrational fear of Russia”. This stuff has been going on for years. 1/ [i…
@lrozen Laura Rozen on x
@willsommer am perplexed why they weren't indicted
@stevanzetti Steven Monacelli on x
You're telling me that Tenet Media — the Blaze Media / TPUSA adjacent outlet that features Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, and Texas' own Taylor Hansen — has been secretly funded and directed by Russia Today employees?
@christogrozev Christo Grozev on x
DOJ indicted today RT's employee Konstantin Kalashnikov for organizing illicit dissemination of fake news aiming to poison the domestic US election debate. Aptly, his Facebook profile is named “Novichok” [image]
@emptywheel @emptywheel on x
Imagine if all of Donald Trump's popularity is based on grift-boys getting paid $5M by Russia? 🤔
@eelarson Erik Larson on x
Since at least 2022, according to the FBI, Russian-controlled entities “cybersquatted” internet domains that led to fake websites that impersonated real media outlets, including Fox News and the Washington Post.
@fbi @fbi on x
“Knock it off.” - Says FBI Director Christopher Wray to foreign adversaries meddling in American democracy. https://www.justice.gov/... https://www.justice.gov/... [image]
@alecluhn Alec Luhn on x
The funniest part is these far-right YouTubers initially worried their funder was too “woke” because his resume mentioned “social justice”—not that he was an obviously fake person, invented by Russia Today employees https://www.dailydot.com/...
@sewingdilemma EmMao on x
@lrozen @willsommer Says “unwittingly” right in the tweet
@oneunderscore__ Tim Onion on x
I keep posting and deleting stuff about Tim Pool because I can't actually put to words this feeling of almost religious vindication that is considerably better than what I imagine it'd be like to win the lottery.
@joeperticone Joe Perticone on x
One anecdote I'll share that tells you a lot about Benny Johnson as a person is that at IJR, he cried the day two CBS-Roanoke reporters were murdered. Not because of the actual shooting, but because we told him he wasn't allowed to post the video of the murder on the website.
@jayinkyiv @jayinkyiv on x
The Russian government has been funneling 10's of millions of dollars to social media influencers to push propaganda. As I've been trying to tell the world for 10 years. Finally the US is taking notice. https://www.justice.gov/...
@thetnholler @thetnholler on x
The @Tennessean notes the DOJ indictment about a Tennessee-based Kremlin misinformation op mentions a content company that describes itself the same way as Tenet Media, which puts out videos by some well-known far right- personalities. https://www.tennessean.com/... [image]
@donie Donie O'Sullivan on x
NEW: CNN has independently confirmed the Russia funded US media company that paid American right-wing social media stars is Tenet Media, based in Tennessee. Some very big names tied up in all of this. Reporting w/ @ZcohenCNN @evanperez @snlyngaas https://www.cnn.com/...
@itsmelissabrown Melissa Brown on x
@EvanMealins reports the indictments mentions a slogan of the unnamed company ("a network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues") that directly matches Tenet's slogan/description on multiple social media accounts.
@emptywheel @emptywheel on x
Note, Benny and Pool have the same number of YouTUbe subscribers as named in ¶4 of the indictment.
@alanfeuer Alan Feuer on x
[image]
@alanfeuer Alan Feuer on x
The U.S. company at the center of this Russian plot uses the same slogan, the indictment notes, as Tenet Media—the home of Lauren Southern, Tim Pool and Benny Johnson among others.
@aaronblake Aaron Blake on x
Tucker Carlson's video in a Russian grocery store was apparently deemed not subtle enough for a Russian influence operation. [image]
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