Escalating Divide in American Society and the Imperative for Unity

Introduction

Acceleration in the recent years, the United States has witnessed a profound intensification of social and political divisions. These rifts, often along racial, ideological, and socioeconomic lines, have been exacerbated by both internal dynamics and external adversaries seeking to destabilize the nation. I will delve into the multifaceted factors contributing to this fragmentation, the historical context of civil unrest, and the pressing need for collective defense strategies to safeguard the fabric of American society.

External Forces Exploiting Domestic Divisions

Foreign adversaries, notably Russia, have systematically sought to exploit and widen America's internal divisions. Through sophisticated disinformation campaigns, these actors aim to sow discord and erode trust in democratic institutions. The U.S. Department of Justice's recent indictment of Russian entities underscores the severity of this threat:

"The Justice Department today announced the ongoing seizure of 32 internet domains used in Russian government-directed foreign malign influence campaigns."

These operations often target specific demographics to amplify societal fractures. For instance, during the 2016 election, Russian operatives focused on African American communities to suppress voter turnout and deepen racial tensions:

"The Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA) focused on the culture of Muslims, Christians, Texas, and LGBTQ people, to engage those communities as part of a broader strategy to deepen social and political divisions within the U.S., but no other group received as much attention as Black Americans."

Chinese state-backed hackers infiltrated the U.S. Treasury Department's networks, accessing unclassified documents and compromising several workstations. The intrusion was facilitated through a third-party cloud service provided by BeyondTrust. Upon discovery on December 8, 2024. U.S. Department of Justice charged 12 Chinese nationals, including two public security officials, for orchestrating a decade-long hacking campaign targeting American government agencies

??? Title: “Under Digital Siege: How Chinese and Russian Hackers Are Targeting and Tearing at America from Within”

?? The Reality They Don’t Want You to See

While Americans argue over politics, race, and ideology, foreign adversaries are exploiting every crack to weaken us—digitally, socially, and structurally. Their goal? Divide. Distract. Dominate.

???? Chinese Hackers Are Not Just Stealing Data—They’re Harming You Directly

• They broke into the U.S. Treasury in Dec 2024, via trusted software, compromising sensitive government systems (Wikipedia).
• They infected over 4,200 personal and business devices in the U.S. with malware via USBs. You didn’t even have to click a link (Reuters).
• They hijacked telecom systems to spy on Americans—including senior officials (AP News).
• Twelve Chinese nationals, including state security agents, were indicted for hacking American agencies and critics of the CCP over 10+ years (FT).

Russia Is Orchestrating Chaos by Division

• Russian operatives ran fake social media accounts to deepen racial, religious, and political tensions.
• They targeted Black Americans more than any other group, creating mistrust and suppressing votes (Wikipedia).
• The DOJ is seizing domains and disabling operations trying to divide Americans before the 2024 and 2025 elections (Justice.gov).

What makes thing more divisive is the use of public media as a way to infiltrate mentality of political parties.

• Background: In September 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted two Russian nationals, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, employees of the Russian state-controlled media company RT. They were charged with covertly funding and directing Tenet Media, a U.S.-based company, to distribute content aligning with Russian government interests.
• Details: The indictment revealed that approximately $10 million was funneled into Tenet Media to produce and disseminate videos promoting pro-Russian narratives. These videos targeted U.S. audiences and were disseminated through platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok, aiming to exploit and deepen existing societal divisions within the United States.
• Concealment Tactics: To obscure the Russian government’s involvement, the operatives created a fictitious persona, "Eduard Grigoriann," presented as a wealthy European sponsor. This facade was used to mask the true source of the funding and the strategic intent behind the media operations.
• Impact on Influencers: Several prominent right-wing influencers, including Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, and Dave Rubin, were associated with Tenet Media. According to the indictment, these individuals were unaware of the Russian backing and expressed that they were unwitting participants in the influence operation.

Domestically, concerns have been raised about the funding sources of left-leaning media organizations:

• Courier Newsroom: This network of digital news outlets has been criticized for blending journalism with political advocacy. Funders include prominent figures like George Soros and Reid Hoffman. In 2022, Courier Newsroom received $715,000 from a dark money group linked to the Democratic Attorneys General Association for content creation and promotion. Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1
• New Venture Fund: Managed by Arabella Advisors, the New Venture Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as a fiscal sponsor for various left-leaning projects. It has been described as part of a politically liberal "dark money" network in the United States, with annual revenue nearing $1 billion. Wikipedia

4. Government Subscriptions to Media Outlets

There have been claims suggesting that government subscriptions to certain media outlets equate to funding. For instance, it was reported that Politico received over $9.5 million in federal funding over the last year and a half through subscriptions from various federal agencies. This led to debates about the nature of such financial relationships and potential biases. FactCheck.orgStraight Arrow News

This case underscores the sophisticated methods employed by foreign adversaries to infiltrate and manipulate U.S. media landscapes, aiming to sway public opinion and exacerbate internal divisions. It highlights the critical need for vigilance and transparency in media funding sources to safeguard the integrity of information consumed by the public.

Creating an ever more confusing and mingled sense of real division is when following the money in media. When the funding comes from certain enemies of the State and Nation we as citizens must be very aware of their influence on the media source and potential attempt to influence upon us, here are a few media outlets that have received money from foreign adversaries according to the attached citations.

The Wall Street Journal

• Total Payments: Nearly $6 million between November 2016 and April 2020. VOA news, OpIndia, The Times of India
• Purpose: Primarily for the placement of the "China Watch" advertising supplement.
• Details: These supplements are designed to resemble news articles but often present content favorable to Beijing's policies.

2. The Washington Post

• Total Payments: Approximately $4.6 million during the same period.The Epoch Times, OpIndia, Voice of America
• Purpose: Similar to The Wall Street Journal, funds were used for the "China Watch" supplement.
• Details: The inserts were included in the newspaper, providing pro-Beijing narratives on various topics.

3. The New York Times

• Total Payments: $50,000 in 2018.The Epoch Times, 1Voice of America, OpIndia
• Purpose: For advertising services.
• Details: The exact nature of the advertisements was not specified, but they aligned with China Daily's promotional content.

4. Los Angeles Times

• Total Payments: $657,523 for printing services.The Times of India, OpIndia,
• Purpose: To print copies of China Daily for distribution.
• Details: This arrangement facilitated the dissemination of China Daily's content within the U.S.

5. Other Newspapers

6. Twitter

• Total Payments: Over $260,000 from November 2016 to April 2020.The Times of India, Voice of America, OpIndia ,FARA E-Filing
• Purpose: For advertising campaigns.
• Details: These advertisements aimed to promote content aligning with Chinese government perspectives.

These financial relationships highlight China's efforts to influence public opinion abroad by leveraging established U.S. media outlets to disseminate content favorable to its interests.

Sources:

• The Ins and Outs of the China Daily USA
• US Spending Report Sheds Light on China's Global Propaganda Campaign
• CCP Buys Media Influence by Paying Millions to US Dailies
• China's Propaganda Arm China Daily Admits to Paying Millions to US Newspapers
• Foreign Agents Registration Act

Note: The figures and details provided are based on FARA filings and reports up to April 2020.

?? The Fallout: A Fractured America

• Riots and civil unrest have caused billions in damage, with 2020 seeing more than 25 protest-related deaths (Axios, Guardian).
• COVID-19 broke our social contract—compliance with law is down, trust in institutions is eroding, and neighbors are enemies in the comment section.
• People are divided into artificial camps: “marginalized,” “privileged,” “supremacist,” “patriot,” “domestic threat.” These labels are weapons, not solutions and when the vast majority people fall under the "US Citizen" category attempting to make US identity just another divisive group.

?? Why This Matters More Than Ever

Foreign actors aren’t just hacking servers—they’re hacking our social cohesion. They want an America that can’t fight back, that turns inward while they expand outward.

??? What You Can Do (Today)

1. Audit your digital footprint. If you don’t know what your devices are sharing, someone else does.
2. Invest in local networks. Community-level surveillance, encrypted communications, and secure access control aren’t luxuries—they’re necessities.
3. Reject artificial labels. People need food, water, shelter, defense, and purpose—regardless of race, politics, or creed.
4. Prepare your household like you would for a hurricane—only this storm is ideological, digital, and real.

Historical and Recent Civil Unrest

The United States has a long history of civil unrest, often rooted in racial and economic disparities. The 1960s, for example, were marked by numerous race-related riots. In recent years, incidents such as the protests following George Floyd's death have reignited discussions about systemic inequality and police brutality. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) reported that:

"At least 25 Americans have been killed during protests and political unrest in 2020."

Furthermore, the financial toll of these events has been substantial:

"The arson, vandalism and looting... will result in at least $1 billion to $2 billion of paid insurance claims — eclipsing the record set in Los Angeles in 1992 after the acquittal of the police officers who brutalized Rodney King."

Erosion of Social Cohesion and Rule of Law

The COVID-19 pandemic has further strained social cohesion. Public health measures, such as mask mandates and lockdowns, have been met with both compliance and significant resistance, reflecting deeper ideological divides. This polarization has, at times, manifested in challenges to the rule of law, with certain groups defying governmental directives, thereby highlighting the fragility of societal norms.

Comparative Analysis: Foreign Populations in Conflict vs. U.S. Social Dynamics

In conflict zones abroad, civilian populations often exhibit a unifying resilience, banding together to face external threats. In contrast, the U.S. is experiencing internal fragmentation, with citizens divided over issues of identity, governance, and societal values. This internal discord undermines the nation's ability to present a cohesive front against both internal challenges and external adversaries.

Conclusion: The Imperative for Unity and Preparedness

Granted all the above is my opinion about the escalating divisions within American society pose a significant threat to national stability. To counteract both internal fragmentation and external exploitation, it is imperative to foster unity through:

• Community Engagement: Encouraging dialogue across ideological and racial lines to build mutual understanding.
• Media Literacy: Educating the public on identifying and critically assessing disinformation to mitigate the impact of foreign influence campaigns.
• Policy Reforms: Addressing systemic inequalities that serve as flashpoints for unrest, thereby strengthening social cohesion.

By proactively addressing these challenges, the United States can reinforce its social fabric and resilience against those who seek to undermine its democratic foundations.

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