| In a stunning declassified report last January, the American intelligence community accused President Vladimir Putin of Russia of ordering ‘‘an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election,’’ reflecting ‘‘a clear preference for President-elect Trump’’ and attempting ‘‘to undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process.’’ The campaign, intelligence officials claimed, had involved hacking and other cloak-and-dagger activities. But much of it, they said, was conducted in broad daylight through RT, Russia’s state-backed international TV network, and Sputnik, its online news outlet — both of which operate freely in the United States and many other countries. |
| In this week’s cover story, Jim Rutenberg explores the question of how Russia built the most effective propaganda network of the 21st century so far, one that uses the echo chambers of social media to magnify the most discordant and paranoid strains in the domestic politics of the United States and Western European nations — and one that, thanks to those countries’ free-speech protections, may be nearly impossible to dislodge. ‘‘The new reality,’’ Dmitri Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, tells Rutenberg, ‘‘creates a perfect opportunity for mass disturbances.’’ |
| Elsewhere in this week’s issue, Chris Jones profiles Justin Jirschele, who at 27 is the youngest manager in professional baseball. Jon Gertner considers an aging fleet of federal research satellites in a time of official climate-change denial and calls to shrink research budgets, and the question of what happens when they go dark. Tejal Rao reveals the secret to an amazing mango kulfi, Amanda Hess unpacks the ‘‘anti-aging’’ mania and Kim Tingley sings the praises of the humble zip tie. |
| Happy reading, |
Jake Silverstein
Editor in Chief |
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Digues l,orangutanada que et vingui de gust, i no em parteixo en set mil milions pero arribaré a dir algo, no pateixis!