Part 4/7:
To illustrate this colossal web of influence, Benz points out that USAID funds a network of over 4,000 media outlets, training nearly 9,000 journalists globally while reaching approximately 778 million people. This staggering reach raises alarms regarding the flow of information that Americans are consuming.
As significant funding also flows into organizations like Politico and Reuters—reportedly with targets aimed at “large scale social deception”—the depth of USAID's manipulation becomes more pronounced. This funding is indicative of an overarching strategy to shape public discourse and normatively control how citizens understand and engage with political realities.