USAID - American agency has been funding trans propaganda projects around the globe

Do you really think that those independent media funded by the US would be free to take an anti-American stance in their programming and reporting?

America is paying for its line to be taken up, just as much as Russia and China. You are either being naive or disingenuous. You might feel you agree with the American line more and thing it is ‘better’ and ‘good for that country’ but foreign ‘aid’ it is still all about influence and control.

Provide evidence. Do you work in the aid sector? Have you ever worked with any of these organisations? Have you ever administered the funds? Where is your smoking gun? Where is your dossier of proof? Do you even know the name of any of these media? Have you ever read an article by any of them?

I’ll wait.

That’s actually a very good question and one that’s easy to answer (having received and administered grants from the UK, US and EU in the past.

Basically it’s this - Russia and China pay for their lines to be taken up, I.e for people to push their agenda through agreed narratives and methods.

US/UK/EU don’t (or if they do I imagine it’s the security services). The public grants, like those from USAID, are usually for things that ‘strengthening independent media in XXX’. The focus is on the independence of the media, not the line it takes.

i appreciate for those not in that world it might look like all governments seek to influence in the same way, but it’s not the case. The US is by no means perfect and has done a lot of exploitation in different places at different times, but it’s not compatible to what Russia and China are trying to do right now.

of course it is not independent, it is pushing US propaganda.

Whose comments on BBC Media Action?

Is this the disinformation department whose head lied on her CV? Or is that a different disinformation department?

giving Russia and China massive openings to push their agendas

whilst I a, not keen on Russia and China pushing their agendas, as a non-American I am not clear why I should be happy with America pushing its agendas instead.

Your comments on BBC Media Action are really depressing. And ironic, since it exists to counter disinformation.

Of course Trump, wanting to close the US’s doors to any international responsibilities, has cherry picked every DEI project he can find and has said that is what USAID is doing. I’m sure there’s the odd howler. But there’s also a lot of lifesaving medical work.

I am gender critical. But I’m not homophobic, and I’m also practical. If there is a prima facie case that HIV is spreading faster in male relationships where one partner IDs as a transwoman, then get the data and start the targeted info campaign. That’s fine. You can do that and have single sex loos / rape crises centres and keep mediocre male athletes off female sporting podiums.

There is a vested interest from Trump etc in making us less proud of what makes our country special. It makes it easier to persuade us to, for example, break up and sell off the NHS. US insurance companies are desperate to break the brake on prices that NHS purchasing power entails.

Yes, independent media. It’s great that you live in the wealthy bubble that is the UK, and have absolutely no notion of how dangerous it is to be a journalist in many countries around the world (particularly if working on corruption, organised crime, state threats etc) without the support of major donors.

I imagine we’ll start seeing retribution against anyone whose ever received international funding at all (including from the UK or EU), now that the tap is open.

How do you think journalism is funded around the world, particularly poorer countries? Subscriptions? Magic?

There's going to be a rush of air quotes in this thread. As none of it stacks up.

Aye I used to think taking the taxes of the richer countries and handing it out to those who need it was a good idea, until I found out that many 'aid' workers were raping the women and girls they were being paid to 'help'.

It’s also led to a catastrophic defunding of independent media in Africa, Latin America and parts of Europe

’independent media’

The idea that US intervention overseas is this benign presence that focuses on saves lives of women and girls is just not reality. Sure, a few might benefit from programs but only if they also sign up to or are subject to political interference as well. And you just need to look to Iran and Afghanistan to see where American interference has lead to in terms of lives women and girls.

An absolutely tiny drop in the ocean of its funding projects and you know it. You’re a propagandist yourself, and a sucker for the alt-right’s co-option of anti-trans views for their own frankly evil purposes.

The ‘pause’ on USAID’s funding is leading to people dying of starvation, preventable disease, and childbirth. But I guess that’s all worth it for you as long as it also doesn’t give small amounts of money to LGBT+ orgs (note, most of those cater to wider communities than just the T you focus on there, but you’re happy to shutter those).

It’s also led to a catastrophic defunding of independent media in Africa, Latin America and parts of Europe, giving Russia and China massive openings to push their agendas.

You know nothing.

Should we, the richest nations who have profited from colonialism and slavery,

USAID IS colonialism.

Aid isn’t about being a saviour (white or otherwise) but about the equitable distribution of power and resources.

😂😂😂😂😂

I didn't mention trans and yes, the economy and immigration are all part of where the USA puts its money and ensures fairness to its citizens.

That is what won him the election.

Mr. Musk used the same tactic during his 2022 takeover of Twitter, in which he depicted the company’s previous management as malicious and many of its workers as inept and oppositional to his goals.

Well that was quite clearly true. There was masses of evidence of that at the time.

Trump wasn’t elected on an anti trans mandate as much as you would like to believe that is the case. It was all about his bullshit on the economy and immigration - that’s what won him the election.

I think you are missing the point.

Trump wouldn't have been elected if the Democrats had been more mindful of many things, including where it puts funding. So he wouldn't have been able to shut this all down.

If you think that if there had been no trans projects Trump would have left this alone then you are staggeringly naive. He doesn’t give a fuck about women or trans ideology or anything else, he cares about money and power and that is it.

I suggest you research localization, people-centered justice, and decolonisation of aid

Yes let’s decolonize aid. I support this by wanting to shut down USAID. Amazing we’re on the same page 👏

You stated you had benefited from colonialism and slavery. That is where the 'assumption' came from. If you have already benefited from colonialism and slavery then shouldn't you be paying it back without the financial compensation that comes with it?

Your assumption that I am white tells me all I need to know about your knowledge of foreign assistance. I suggest you research localization, people-centered justice, and decolonisation of aid - all efforts that were being funded by USAID and State, among others.

Aid isn’t about being a saviour (white or otherwise) but about the equitable distribution of power and resources. This is now being dismantled by literally the richest man on the planet.

Its federal shutdown in action, the US funding of government federal departments /organisations is odd. The budget sign off process is right up to the beginning of their financial year.

If its not agreed amd crosses over all federal employees get put on unpaid leave. Remember the state level governmemt provide "local' services like police, army that can be deployed within the USA and fund the social welfare programs etc.
The process of which state and which political rep's area gets money is an in-party fight.

The UK system is done well in advance and a roll over provision voted on even before the new budget is announced.

This was always going to happen be a thing because voters also voted for "small government".

No charity paymemts outside the US is ok when no healthcare killing US women and US children on US soil is ok was always a thing too.