Senior presidential adviser Kari Lake introduced late Tuesday that she’s struck a take care of One America Information to beam its pro-Trump propaganda by way of Voice of America—making clear her intent to rework the government-funded broadcaster right into a mouthpiece for the far-right.
Voice of America is at present off the air, gutted below President Donald Trump. However it might quickly return as a vessel for one among his most loyal media allies. Lake mentioned OAN will now present “newsfeed services” not simply to VOA but in addition to different networks below the U.S. Company for World Media, together with the Workplace of Cuba Broadcasting and Radio Martí, a Miami-based station that broadcasts in Cuba.
“USAGM is excited to announce a partnership with One America News Network,” Lake posted on social media, noting OAN was providing its newsfeed “free of charge.”
Whereas Lake admitted she doesn’t have direct editorial management over VOA, she made it clear she intends to funnel MAGA-aligned content material into its protection. To that finish, Lake mentioned she plans to “ensure our outlets have reliable and credible options as they work to craft their reporting and news programs.”
Nonetheless, OAN is something however credible. The community, based in 2013, has been dropped by practically each main cable and satellite tv for pc supplier and was a main promoter of Trump’s false claims concerning the 2020 election—lies that led to a number of defamation lawsuits, together with one from the voting know-how firm Smartmatic, which OAN quietly settled in 2024. And one of many community’s present hosts is former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who resigned in shame after allegations of drug use and intercourse with minors.
Whereas Trump’s allies enhance hyperpartisan shops, they’re additionally punishing fact-based media shops. His administration is working to dam the Related Press from masking presidential occasions, all whereas reserving briefing room seats for far-right, fringe-friendly allies.
It’s additionally unclear how this OAN deal squares with Trump’s ongoing authorized battles. He’s combating to uphold a March government order dismantling USAGM, issued after he accused VOA of bias. That order led to over 1,000 VOA staffers being positioned on depart, the termination of 600 contractors, and the suspension of broadcasting for the first time within the company’s 83-year historical past.
U.S. District Choose Royce Lamberth blocked the order on April 22, which might have allowed extra workers to return. However a federal appeals courtroom—stacked with two Trump appointees—partially stayed the ruling, halting the return of workers whereas nonetheless requiring VOA to satisfy its authorized mandate. Lake seems prepared to make use of OAN’s content material to satisfy that mandate, with out rebuilding the community because it was. Trump hasn’t commented publicly on Lake’s plan.
Fears of a right-wing reboot of VOA are widespread.
“VOA is not to be the voice of left America nor the voice of right America,” Steve Herman, chief nationwide correspondent for VOA, advised The Washington Publish. “USAGM cannot dictate [that] VOA run OAN content. It would be a violation of our fire wall and our charter, which are laws.”
Grant Turner, former USAGM chief monetary officer, was extra blunt, telling NPR, “Kari Lake providing One America News Network to our global audiences makes a mockery of the agency’s history of independent nonpartisan journalism.”
Lake, a twice-failed MAGA candidate for workplace in Arizona, is a former TV anchor who’s spent years echoing Trump’s lies about election fraud—claims she’s made about her personal losses too.
What’s unfolding at Voice of America isn’t only a bureaucratic shakeup—it’s a warning shot. A community initially created to battle propaganda overseas is now vulnerable to changing into a government-run amplifier of it at residence.
