Thread by @BGrueskin

The firewall that protected the Voice of America from political interference is gone, swept away by the new agency chief who has made clear he'll use the agency to push the Trump administration's views and objectives.

Via @davidfolkenflik

npr.org/2020/10/27/928…

Here's the view from @abennett, former VOA director:

This action "removes the one thing that makes Voice of America distinct from broadcasters of repressive regimes."

And the excuses given by the new CEO of the agency, Michael Pack, are just not grounded in experience.

Has the VOA been regularly publishing stories that "endanger US soldiers"? Of course not

usagm.gov/2020/10/26/bac…

Pack is an acolyte of Steve Bannon.

Trump nominated Pack in 2018, but the nomination stalled for years. He was finally confirmed by Senate Republicans after Trump complained that Voice of America had become the “Voice of the Soviet Union.”

nytimes.com/2020/06/04/us/…

Pack hasn't gotten around to removing this page from the VOA's site. It explains the purpose of the firewall. ...

insidevoa.com/a/4533487.html

That VOA page links to a 2018 Q&A about the firewall, in which Steven Springer, then editor for standards and practices at VOA, cogently explains how to handle a dicey situation with a congressman's office.

(Also: On his first day in his new job, Pack fired Springer.)

Here's the entire, remarkable Q&A (posted here before Pack removes it)

docs.google.com/document/d/1Ft…