• vccx [they/them]
    ·
    3 years ago

    It's not up for debate that he's being paid by the CIA since Bellingcat signs his paychecks with CIA funding. If the CIA cut funds, Bellingcat would go under and Evans would lose his job.

    The argument about whether he's an asset though I think is a distinction without a difference since his mortgage and bills are paid with CIA money.

    • cybernetsoc [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      Yeah, and with Evans, people will point out that a lot of his current foreign policy takes are hawkish and shitty. You are right, It doesn't matter if he is self-consciously taking orders from a CIA handler, this is a known tactic for pushing progressive libs and leftists, promote a guy that has good takes on domestic policy but will then use that credibility to push desired talking points on official enemies.

      • Nakoichi [they/them]
        hexagon
        M
        ·
        3 years ago

        idc when he's not cringe he's funny and I will go out in a blaze of glory defending him against the FDA

          • Nakoichi [they/them]
            hexagon
            M
            ·
            3 years ago

            I dont't actually believe this. In spite of his numerous bad takes i think he actually has his heart in the right place

            • Wildgrapes [she/her]
              ·
              3 years ago

              I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks he's probably not a fed. Still has plenty of bad lib takes that embarrass me as an anarchist... But I can't hate him.

              Maybe he's just that effective at being a fed but I doubt it.

              • FRIENDLY_BUTTMUNCHER [she/her]
                ·
                3 years ago

                I mean, here's a tweet where he talks about how Bellingcat receives funding from the NED. NED is funded almost entirely by government alphabet soup agencies. When pressed, he tends to throw up his arms and say 'I can't help who donates money to us, we're a non-profit!'

                https://twitter.com/IwriteOK/status/1200626205013291008

                I'm undecided, but it's funnier to call him a fed, so I will.

      • ChairmanSpongebob [he/him]
        ·
        3 years ago

        yeah but what I don't get about theories like "his purpose is to push leftists/liberals to support awful US imperialist policies" is why would the security state give a shit if leftists supported or opposed anything? Its kinda like whenever I hear stuff like that I think leftists really have an over-inflated idea of how influential we all are. We don't move policy anywhere in the US, especially foreign policy. Why would anyone waste time purposely going out of their way to change what we think? I think it's just more likely he has shit takes because he has a lib-brain, ultimately.