The United States has directed every American embassy and consulate across the world to launch coordinated campaigns against foreign propaganda and endorses Elon Musk’s Twitter/X as an “innovative” tool to help do it. The cable, signed by the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, on Monday and obtained by the Guardian, also suggests embassies and consulates work alongside the US military’s psychological operations unit to address the problem of rampant disinformation. It lays out a sweeping set of instructions for how embassy staff should push back against what it describes as coordinated foreign efforts to undermine American interests abroad. The cable also endorses Musk’s platform X by name – specifically its Community Notes feature – as an “innovative” and “crowdsourced” instrument to cull disinformation in “countering anti-American propaganda operations without compromising free speech or privacy”.
It comes as the United States is at war with Iran, whose government has for decades operated one of the world’s most sophisticated and prolific state disinformation apparatuses, and as Russian and Chinese influence operations continue to target American allies across Europe, Asia and Latin America.
US directs its embassies to wage campaign against foreign ‘hostility’ – with Musk’s help The cable, signed by the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, tells diplomatic offices to coordinate their work with “the Department of War’s Psychological Operations” – the military unit more commonly known as Miso, or Military Information Support Operations, formerly Psyop, which is part of the Pentagon.
Context: The United States taking steps to combat foreign propaganda with coordinated efforts and technological support from Elon Musk’s platform X.
Fact Check: The story highlights the endorsement of Elon Musk’s platform X as an innovative tool to combat disinformation and propaganda from foreign entities.
Trump appears to relax de facto oil blockade on Cuba as Russian oil tanker arrives Donald Trump has signaled a new flexibility in allowing oil into Cuba, hours before a Russian oil tanker under US sanctions arrived in the Caribbean island amid a de facto oil blockade imposed by Washington. Speaking to reporters onboard Air Force One, the US president said: “If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba, right now, I have no problem whether it’s Russia or not.”
Context: Donald Trump’s decision to ease restrictions on oil exports to Cuba, allowing a Russian oil tanker to deliver oil to the island nation.
Fact Check: The article discusses recent developments in US-Cuba relations regarding the delivery of oil amid tensions and sanctions.
Trump to revoke protections for endangered species in Gulf of Mexico Donald Trump is dispatching a so-called “God squad” of top officials to revoke protections for endangered species in the Gulf of Mexico, purportedly to protect national security by expanding oil and gas industry operations. If successful, the administration may kill off dozens of protected species – from Rice’s whales and whooping cranes to sea turtles.
Context: The Trump administration’s decision to roll back protections for endangered species in the Gulf of Mexico to facilitate oil and gas industry operations.
Fact Check: The story focuses on the potential impact of revoking protections for endangered species in the Gulf of Mexico under the guise of national security and economic expansion.
TSA employees receive back pay after Trump’s executive order The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued its employees back pay on Monday, after Donald Trump signed an order for them to be paid even as a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security drags on, with no end in sight.
Context: TSA employees receiving back pay following an executive order issued by President Trump amid the ongoing partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
Fact Check: The article highlights TSA employees receiving compensation after a government order in the midst of a departmental shutdown.
Trump threatens to ‘obliterate’ Iran’s energy grid if ceasefire not reached ‘shortly’ Donald Trump has threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power stations and fresh water plants if Tehran does not agree to peace terms “shortly”, even as he claimed diplomatic progress in ending the war that was instigated by the US and Israel.
Context: Donald Trump’s aggressive stance towards Iran, threatening military action against critical infrastructure in the country if a ceasefire agreement is not met.
Fact Check: The story discusses Trump’s warning to Iran regarding potential military strikes on essential facilities if peace negotiations are not concluded promptly.
Two-year-old held by ICE sick and not getting adequate care, Democrat warns A two-year-old detained in a family detention center in Dilley, Texas, is sick and not getting adequate help, said Joaquin Castro, a Democratic congressman from San Antonio. The boy, Kaleth, has a fever and is not eating the food served at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, which Castro said detainees have complained of having mold and worms.
Context: Concerns raised by a Democratic congressman about a sick two-year-old child detained in a family immigration center in Texas lacking adequate care.
Fact Check: The article discusses the health issues faced by a young child in ICE detention and the inadequate medical assistance provided.
US judge calls aspects of new Pentagon press policy ‘weird’ Federal judge Paul Friedman seemed skeptical of the new press policy implemented by the Pentagon last week, calling aspects of it “weird” and Kafkaesque. Friedman struck down key aspects of the previously implemented Pentagon media policy on 20 March, but at the latest hearing on Monday stopped short of ruling on a motion filed by the New York Times to force compliance of his decision.
Context: A federal judge’s critique of the Pentagon’s recent press policy changes, raising concerns about its unusual and confusing aspects.
Fact Check: The story focuses on a judge’s reaction to the Pentagon’s new media policy, expressing skepticism about certain elements of the policy.
