The Dark Shining Moment Countercast

The US Department of Justice reveals an influence campaign run through Russia’s international propaganda arm, RT. The US also seizes 32 internet domains used in the "Doppelganger" disinfo campaign: https://coldwardaily.com/2024/09/23/us-doj-doppelganger-indictment-all-277-pages/

ANU professor Matt Sussex discusses the larger impacts.

Host: Chris Zappone

Executive Producers: Rob Ranieri (Ranieri & Co.) & Caroline Winter (PodTalk)

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Space Ambient Sci-Fi” by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.

Guest: Matt Sussex

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The US accuses RT, Russia's propaganda outlet, of conducting influence operations, cyber activities, and even fund-raising. Peter Tesch, Australia's former ambassador to Russia, discusses the impact RT has on democracies.

Host: Chris Zappone

Executive Producers: Rob Ranieri (Ranieri & Co.) & Caroline Winter (PodTalk)

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Space Ambient Sci-Fi” by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.

Guest: Peter Tesch

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After the election, society is altered with many people left angry and distrustful of each other. Russian subversion is aimed against both left and right. Hints about Trump’s collusion with Russia abound, terrifying one half of the country and infuriating the other.

Story written and narrated by: Chris Zappone

Executive Producer: Greg Muller

Consulting Producer: Richard Baker

Production Manager: Nick Randall

Sound Design: Marty Peralta

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records.

Special thanks to Taisiya Payne, Jeff Megahan, Slava Grigoriev 

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With a shared understanding of the presidential campaign shattered, information chaos reigns. Into the narrative vacuum, fantasies replace realities and Donald Trump is elected president.

Story written and narrated by: Chris Zappone

Executive Producer: Greg Muller

Consulting Producer: Richard Baker

Production Manager: Nick Randall

Sound Design: Marty Peralta

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records.

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An enormous noise is generated online, turning Malcolm Nance’s attention from terrorism to bots, trolling, Russian hacks and leaks. The chaos targets Democrats, Republican candidates in the primaries, and journalists, disrupting the media’s ability to report on Trump.

Story written and narrated by: Chris Zappone

Executive Producer: Greg Muller

Consulting Producer: Richard Baker

Production Manager: Nick Randall

Sound Design: Marty Peralta

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records.

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In Arkansas, Andy Rosebrook notices how Russian state media insinuates itself into America’s news flow, sowing the seeds of distrust and polarisation. From a distance, Russians figure out how to mobilize a Texas community around a conspiracy fear.

Story written and narrated by: Chris Zappone

Executive Producer: Greg Muller

Consulting Producer: Richard Baker

Production Manager: Nick Randall

Sound Design: Marty Peralta

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records.

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In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, Andrew Weisburd tracks jihadist terror websites, which put him on the trail of Iranian and then Russian social media troll networks. The road to 2016 passes first through Syria, then Ukraine, and finally to the US election.

Story written and narrated by: Chris Zappone

Executive Producer: Greg Muller

Consulting Producer: Richard Baker

Production Manager: Nick Randall

Sound Design: Marty Peralta

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records.

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An office in St Petersburg works to divide society for the glory of the Kremlin. Just one aspect of a larger information war that is revealed when a contractor in Afghanistan stumbles upon a vast, mysterious network of anti-Western conspiracy websites.

Story written and narrated by: Chris Zappone

Executive Producer: Greg Muller

Consulting Producer: Richard Baker

Production Manager: Nick Randall

Sound Design: Martin Peralta

Credits/Contributors: The opening theme is “Rainbow Death Revisited” by Votaries courtesy of Wharf Cat Records.

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It was the moment the 21st Century began in earnest: In 2016, Russia reached out across the internet and interfered with America’s democracy, setting the conditions that helped propel Donald Trump into the White House.

A 'Dark Shining Moment' tells the story of the first people to detect Russia’s interference - before that pivotal election. It’s a narrative about how information has been used to create a new reality for the public, for democracies and for the world - kicking off the crisis we’re in today.

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