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1/ THREAD ASD's newest blog post from Bradley Hanlon and Thomas Morley (and the subject of a recent @CNN investigative report cnn.com/2019/02/15/tec…) dives into the Kremlin’s seemingly independent network of production companies targeting millennials: securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/russias-networ…
2/ In the NOW, the most prominent program in the network, racks up hundreds of thousands of views with trendy, short videos. Though it was once formally associated with RT, the program recently rebranded and launched a new YouTube channel to feign independence. 
3/ In the NOW - along with several other social media pages targeting digitally-oriented consumers with takes on environmental issues, politics, and history - are all associated with Maffick Media, a Berlin-based company created in March 2018.
4/ While none of Maffick Media’s accounts admit connection to the Russian government, the company’s financial filings reveal that the majority shareholder of the company is Ruptly TV, an openly acknowledged subsidiary of Russian government funded outlet RT.
5/ Maffick Media isn’t the first “independent” media company controlled by RT. As highlighted by the Daily Beast, Redfish, another Berlin-based company that specializes in short documentary-esque videos, also maintains close connections to RT. thedailybeast.com/grassroots-med…
6/ As revealed by T-Mobile, Redfish’s headquarters in Berlin is co-located with two other companies: Ruptly and Maffick Media. Redfish’s registration documents also reveal that Ruptly TV is the sole shareholder. t-online.de/nachrichten/de…
7/ In sum, Russia’s state-controlled propaganda network is using seemingly “independent” journalism to target young, often left-leaning Western consumers with slickly packaged content on sensitive political and social issues.
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