RT Ceases Broadcasting in Washington After Being ‘Thrown Out,’ Chief Editor Says

The Kremlin-run RT news network will go off the air in the U.S. capital because of its “foreign agent” status in the country, its chief editor has claimed.

RT’s American branch was ordered to register as a “foreign agent” in the U.S. last fall following allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The channel will be taken off air after two Virginia-based digital stations that carry RT alongside other international broadcasters disappear from screens this Sunday, a year after they were auctioned off by their parent organization.

“We were thrown out of the broadcast network in Washington. This is dedicated to everyone who ardently and sincerely reassured us that the foreign agent label will in no way affect RT’s work in the States,” RT Russia cited its editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan as saying Thursday.

Simonyan tweeted on Thursday that the network was going off air because of its "foreign agent status.”

[Edit for brevity. --DJW001]

Simonyan later added that RT would continue broadcasts in other U.S. cities on platforms that continue carrying the channel.

The Moscow Times

If this story is true it is scandalous. Just because a channel broadcasts on behalf of a foreign government, it is no reason to suppress it. The BBC, France24 and other news organizations are supported by their respective governments and are clearly "foreign agents of influence." Much as I dislike the blatant nature of RT's propaganda, they have a right to disseminate it. It is up to us as "consumers of news" to judge it on its own merits.

Of course, it is RT that is claiming that the digital providers are dropping it because of its "foreign agent" status. Perhaps it was dropped because of low ratings.

RT has a very large footprint on the internet. Most of its broadcast material is available on YouTube, so if this story is true, the action would be entirely symbolic.

a reply to: DJW001

"Much as I dislike the blatant nature of RT's propaganda, they have a right to disseminate it. It is up to us as "consumers of news" to judge it on its own merits."

Now replace RT with CNN, do you still agree?

originally posted by: MiddleInsite
a reply to: DJW001

"Much as I dislike the blatant nature of RT's propaganda, they have a right to disseminate it. It is up to us as "consumers of news" to judge it on its own merits."

Now replace RT with CNN, do you still agree?

I would quibble about the expression "blatant propaganda," but yes, of course. There is a difference between "spin" and broadcasting opinion as fact. CNN does sometimes stray into that area, but not nearly as often as Fox.

a reply to: DJW001

What a curious silence. No outrage?

a reply to: DJW001

I too agree that people can say as they wish, and it's up to the individual to do due diligence is seeing if the info is correct and factual.

Much more difficult with all the disinformation out there, but not impossible.

a reply to: DJW001

Most of the people I know have today off from work. Good Friday. Maybe everyone is still sleeping in. LOL!

a reply to: DJW001

By the way, happy Easter Weekend!

a reply to: DJW001

A few things spring to mind off this news. In 12 hours very few media outlets have covered the story which is interesting. I agree with you that expelling foreign media outlets is a bad road to follow. It has implications of state censorship which is why I find the silence of other outlets interesting.

Of course, it is RT that is claiming that the digital providers are dropping it because of its "foreign agent" status. Perhaps it was dropped because of low ratings.

An interview with their British correspondent last week claimed that RT has one of the largest media footprints on Earth right now so the closure is, again, more about symbolism than anything. Last I looked, RT tends to employ Western journalists in their Western outlets so it isn't like they've got secret-squirrel Russians roaming around with Press credentials. Obviously they'll be held to Editorial policy and that's inevitably invested with a degree of anti-West and twice that for pro-Putin and pro-Russia propaganda.

Another tidbit from last week's interview was how RT's UK platform made the claim that BBC journalists lie and scheme for the UK government. Such BS and their correspondent ducked and dodged because he knew it was BS. BBC journalists eviscerate Ministers and cross-party politicians almost every single day on BBC R4. Despite all the allegations of 'bias,' Right-wing folk say the BBC is a left-wing cesspit and the Left-wing call it a Tory govt puppet. In contrast to RT, FOX, CNN etc the BBC has strongly criticised every govt and PM since I started paying attention.

a reply to: DJW001

It just isn't surprising and par for the course with the sh1t show we're being presented with.

I genuinely believe this whole Nerve agent crap has been set up by Western intelligence agencies to derail and hinder President Trump's ambitions to create a warm political environment with Russia.

a reply to: DJW001

I kind of like RT . I was wondering though if it would be possible for you to pick out RT latest most propagandized piece they have running at the moment . Lets see what most are scared about . eta maybe this RT piece is Russian propaganda ...

I say good riddance. RT exists purely to push Putin's agenda and it's pathetic that there are American journalists that are willing to take part in that. Broadcasts are regulated by the government so there are rules. Bye-bye RT.

a reply to: LogicalGraphitti
You seem do be a little scared of RT. You have reason to be but they provide news that western agencies won’t cover. If you want to be truly informed then you have to look at all spectrums. And just because the broadcast has shut down doesn’t mean the internet did.

I won't miss it. There are better sources for your news than blatant pro-Russia and America = bad propaganda outlets. The gullible people who enjoy that news will go to the internet anyways.

originally posted by: Allaroundyou
a reply to: LogicalGraphitti
You seem do be a little scared of RT. You have reason to be but they provide news that western agencies won’t cover. If you want to be truly informed then you have to look at all spectrums. And just because the broadcast has shut down doesn’t mean the internet did.

Scared? Hardly. For that I come to ATS where naturally born citizens trash the country regularly. I have to admit I haven't watched RT in many years but back when I did, I noticed a distinct fixation on negative US news. By the way, it was always overseas when I watched RT. At home, the TV isn't on that much.

Let RT exist on the Internet. Right next to InfoWars.

originally posted by: the2ofusr1
a reply to: DJW001

I kind of like RT . I was wondering though if it would be possible for you to pick out RT latest most propagandized piece they have running at the moment . Lets see what most are scared about .

Go on YouTube and watch any video from RT and YouTube has a warning stating "RT is funded in whole or part by the Russian government" roflmao

Ain't a damn thing we watch news wise anymore that isn't promoting an agenda. Pick your poison?

a reply to: seeker1963

Go on YouTube and watch any video from RT and YouTube has a warning stating "RT is funded in whole or part by the Russian government" roflmao Ain't a damn thing we watch news wise anymore that isn't promoting an agenda. Pick your poison?

I just did and posted RT latest Russian propaganda piece . I will need other members to point out to me just what the propaganda parts are though .

Well, the other night I was surfing the news channels and RT was showing an in-depth story of what is going on in Syria. Meanwhile, CNN was devoting all it's time to a porn star. I know which channel is real news and which is tabloid trash. That said, I am not surprised to see RT banned in a country that is now known for state control of media and suppression/censorship.

Those companies have the right to choose what networks they air. So I don't really see this as a big deal. Now if the government had pulled their broadcasting licence that would be a story.

They weren't banned, just asked to register as a foreign agent. I see no problem here.

a reply to: UKTruth

It's not banned. Two cables companies in Virginia just decided they would no longer air RT. Which is well within their right to do.