A Polish government official focused on information security, Stanisław Żaryn, states that former Fox News journalist Tucker Carlson is once again aligning with narratives that serve Russia. He described this dynamic in a post on InfoAlert, asserting that Carlson may be consciously or unconsciously promoting Russian propaganda and spreading claims that fit Moscow’s interests. Żaryn noted that in Carlson’s first episode of his new program, the Ukrainian crisis and the destruction of the Nowa Kakhovka dam were central topics.
According to Żaryn, Carlson repeated accusations about Ukrainian involvement in dam destruction without presenting evidence. He quoted Carlson as saying that while blowing up the Nowa Kakhovka dam might have been detrimental to Ukraine, it hurt Russia more, and he suggested that perhaps the Ukrainian government took action to destroy it. Such statements are presented as part of a broader pattern of misinformation observed by the Polish security official. (Source attribution: wPolityce)
— The official also pointed out that Carlson seemed to ignore the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine. He claimed the dam belonged to Russians, was constructed by the Russian state, and now sits on territory that is effectively under Russian control, a description Żaryn labels as a de facto occupation. (Source attribution: wPolityce)
Żaryn added that Carlson’s remarks reportedly found resonance in Russian media, which argued that the American journalist blamed Ukrainian authorities for the disaster on the Dnieper. In Żaryn’s view, Carlson became a tool of Russian disinformation, presenting a narrative about the dam attack that aligns with Kremlin interests. He described this as an illustration of how “useful idiots” can be employed in information campaigns designed to mislead audiences abroad and to support disinformation operations. (Source attribution: wPolityce)
From Żaryn’s perspective, the concept of “useful idiots” reflects a tactic in which influential commentators are leveraged to spread misleading information, aiding active measures meant to deceive and influence perception. He argues that recognizing this pattern is essential to understanding how disinformation can be manufactured and amplified across international media ecosystems. (Source attribution: wPolityce)