> 3) The idea that foreign powers were influencing America was certainly a lot bigger in the past. The “red scare” was a thing. People were mistrusting of thier neighbours and accusations of being communist abounded.

You're conflating two entirely different things. Actual foreign powers using information warfare to influence American politics has very little to do with the Red Scare.

The Red Scare is a political tactic of accusing political enemies and disfavored classes of secretly aiding foreign powers. It was happening then and it is still happening now. The modern Red Scare isn't "Russian disinformation on the internet", it's "the communists and the queers and and and are trying to overthrow the government and indoctrinate our children and destroy the economy and and and". It hasn't changed much from the 50s. It's not terribly uncommon to see people literally advocate for a new House Un-American Activities Commission.