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Comment by delichon | Hacker News Reader

According to Mike Benz on the Rogan interview released today, USAID systematically and internationally managed the flow of advertising dollars to major platforms via soft power, and the funding behind that power suddenly dried up a few days ago. He shows the receipts at @MikeBenzCyber on X.

If you can direct me to debunks of this I'd appreciate it, because it's pretty disturbing.

  Jan 20: USAID funding freeze
  ~Jan 30: Amazon ramps up ad spending on X
  ~Feb 12: Apple is once again advertising on X

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Amazon has billions of dollars of business with the US government, which Musk has just demonstrated the ability and willingness to cancel without following any legal process ... it's just a simple bribe

I don't understand what you are trying to say.

> USAID systematically and internationally managed the flow of advertising dollars to major platforms via soft power

USAID money went to advertising? For whom? Or, are you saying USAID paid companies to advertise via certain channels? "Via soft power?" [0]

Am I just being thick? Can anyone explain to me what this means?

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_power

You're not being thick. It's Rothchilds run USAID who control Apple/Amazon crazy.

I know this is asking a lot, but can you share sources that aren’t on X (I don’t have an account) or listening to Rogan’s podcast (I don’t listen to him; not even for political reasons, I just think Spotify is paying him too much money)?

I don't see any connection with USAID

I think Apple/Amazon advertising on X is just "kissing the ring" since it's pretty clear who has the power right now (Elon)

Best not to rely on Rogan to get quality information.

Please share a link? I’m trying to understand how this scheme works

Mike Benz doesn't look particularly educated on the subject of USAID. It's not simply a front for US imperialism. It's the US mechanism to accomplish foreign policy funding objectives. That includes things that fall under the umbrella as well as activities like HIV research/treatment/prevention and international food security.

As anyone who's worked with NGOs knows, public health campaigns in third world countries naturally involves public information campaigns. During COVID, USAID put together an informational primer on social media disinformation to educate partners about how disinformation works, linked here [0]. This is what Benz is referring to and I recommend reading it yourself. It's pretty innocuous and it doesn't actually call for USAID (or other government agencies) to redirect funding to different social media platforms. Rather, it recommends that platforms implement fact checking and that governments should support free and open journalism.

[0] https://www.scribd.com/document/713373775/USAID-Disinformati...

more likely Apple is just putting in their bribe for the shadow president

That is interesting.

Is this the same Mike Benz? https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/michael-benz-rising-vo...

He seems to, um, have some opinions.

Why would anyone use words spewed on the Joe Rogan show as some source of evidence where the host spouts wild conspiracy theories and inane ideas while cosplaying as an open minded average Joe?

This is all pretty crazy cause Americans don't buy Ads on American platforms to influence Americans or anyone else. It's really deep stuff as always on Rogan.

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