Did Trump and republicans ensure VOA serves as a shill for his authoritarian regime?

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Michael Calderone ‏@mlcalderone 22m22 minutes ago
Trump dispatched two political operatives to Voice of America studios, heightening staff anxiety about its future: http://politi.co/2iZv31c

[uhnope]

1. it didn't "ensure" anything yet

it's OTP to say that this suddenly means VOA will suddenly start to "shill"

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2. I have my own opinions of this Trump move, and the VOA, overall

...but I'm just relaying the fears expressed in this report:

The concern among some staffers is especially acute because Trump’s administration is getting control over the broadcasting agency just weeks after Congress moved to eliminate the board of directors that had served as an integrity check on the organization, instead consolidating power with a CEO position appointed by the president.

As POLITICO reported last month, that change – along with a prior shift that allows the network to legally reach a U.S. audience -- had stoked fears among some agency officials that Voice of America could serve as an unfettered propaganda arm for the former reality TV star.


...but, we'll just wait and see. Maybe give them a chance.

[uhnope]

3. I get you. But it will take more than fears to suddenly turn VOA bad

We will be watching this very closely. We won't let VOA become RT

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4. it's a good article

...it has a host of valid concerns with an eye on the history of the broadcast.

My earliest memories were of the Reagan administration - the same bunch who promulgated that global gag order Trump just reinstated.

I'm going to try a modification of the title of the post.

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5. thanks for keeping attention on this. nt

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6. thanks for giving me an opportunity to focus the post

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