There are claims of fraud made but not backed up by the evidence presented. On the contrary, audit results that detailed leave few places for fraud to hide.
There’s much to debate around the investment choices cherry-picked for the camera, but they’re cherry picked! You can be certain 6-7 different examples exist that would make USAID look like saints.
All that said, it’s good to see them on camera justifying the decision.
Your concern about propaganda rings hollow given that you are trusting a government source talking about a government source.
https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-trumps-team-targets-usaid-w...
The recommended left-wing, progressive approach to such things is to be kind, patient, informative, and reasonable. Personally, I believe this is the reason we regularly get destroyed in elections, and if there's ever a way to get back, it's to respond to hatred with hatred. Reasonableness bores people; hate is exciting.
Attributing it to a purely right-left battle misses the larger picture. There are entrenched bureaucrats which have successfully moderated and turned away reforms. Some of these creatures of "the swamp" receive self-perpetuating funds from USAID.
The culture war stuff is largely a distraction. When USAID funds a trans musical, it isn't about the musical. There may be elements promoting the trans ideology, but this is tertiary. The real meat is building influence coalitions, protest groups and outright payment of graft. These favors can be called in later to advance the policy of the "swamp creatures". This could be trade deals or any agreement in which this opaque coalition has an interest.
I agree with this commentary
So, speaking from the HN leftist crowd: yeah, I'd say this video qualifies as totalitarian propaganda. It's kinda weaksauce, but that's the direction it's pushing, at any rate.
Its like spending 10 bucks on a camgirl site and your wife divorcing you after 10 years.
Anyway, I'm reminded of this joke:
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A KGB spy and a CIA agent meet up in a bar for a friendly drink
"I have to admit, I'm always so impressed by Soviet propaganda. You really know how to get people worked up," the CIA agent says.
"Thank you," the KGB says. "We do our best but truly, it's nothing compared to American propaganda. Your people believe everything your state media tells them."
The CIA agent drops his drink in shock and disgust. "Thank you friend, but you must be confused... There's no propaganda in America."
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I guess to some, since Musk and Trump dismantled USAID, there's no more propaganda in America.
