I do not look to RT nor Sputnik for the dirt on Russia. I would watch BBC for that. But there is a tab on RT for Russian politics [rt.com] . To be honest I am not that interested in internal politics of Russia. They do not pretend to be lenient on their criminals but they stopped the death penalty. Maybe being a member of the Council of Europe helped.

From time to time Al Jazeera has some good articles or news about Russia.

Who have you watched on those channels? Can you be a little more specific about who is brain washing whom to vote in a particular way? The allegations are about more than one country.

@Treasurehunter Chris Hedges is on there now, Ed Schultz, Thom Hartmann, Abby Martin. Although all the Abby Martin shows are retakes of her work I've usually have already seen from following her on facebook or teleSUR. Jesse Ventura is quite interesting. They have a new series now I've been recording called Shadows of Democracy that's interesting. I've caught one so far and have another to watch yet. Going to be 3 documentary type shows.

I'm part of the conspiracy, so I'm often labeled, field that believes that establishment politicians, main stream media, are managing a perception over the population to control what we see and hear, thee illusion. To benefit the deep state that controls these 2 entities. I will argue if you seek information from the likes of some of the people I mentioned above, one will begin to see and understand why people like me fall into this line of theory as you learn truths going on around the world our MSM and politicians will not talk about. Especially 2 like Abby Martin and Chris Hedges. Both of them interviewed Ralph Nader during the election cycle in which they pretty much called how the democratic primary would go down. I believe Chris interviewed him in April before. It was quite chilling how they predicted Sanders would sell out his grassroots base and then watch it happen. Even with all the evidence of the shenanigans throughout the primary cycle and people still vote for Clinton. And then him to turn his back on all of it and support her also. I say that with a heavy heart being I was one of his supporters having been following him for over a decade.

I don't reserve the establishment, deep state, and their cohorts the MSM to only one country! We place this on a global group of elite bankers, large corporations, and market controlling of all the westernized countries. What is going on today has been in the works by the 3 largest bankers on the planet since at least WWI. As 14 westernized countries interfered with the Russian Revolution, out of fear of a socialized nation that could upset their ability to control resources and the industrialization of the planet to their benefit that was about to change everything we knew then. Today we here in the US just have the displeasure of being labeled Thee Empire while all these global entities reap the rewards of colonization and warring going on around us. What has become our strength, in all aspects, is being used to destabilize the world around us and pillage resources abroad. Which are now being turned on us as we are systematically being taken from a strong middle class to slowly resembling those places we have destabilized. We are indeed becoming the next Roman Empire down fall in modern day terms. The only thing protecting us are the 2 large bodies of water on each side of us. That will not last forever. Especially with our biggest enemy working from within out own country.

@William_Mary So the Russian angle is a smokescreen to keep attention away from the real powers that be and their actions.

Interesting that you see parallels between the fall of Rome and western civilisation. I think there are dangers of the "tyranny of democracy" and "bread and circus for the masses".

@Treasurehunter Don't get me wrong on Russia, but yes. I see Russia as just as bad as the rest. I may even be convinced they may be a party of the collusion today also. For all meaningful thought, Putin has a shady list and body count behind him as large as the Clinton and Bush families. And they're just as involved as any entity for gain of resources.

Agreed.

I also try to find a balanced view of what's going on by watching news feeds from multiple sources - including Al Jazeera, RT, France today, BBC and CNN amongst others. Regional news is more difficult.

@Uncorrugated I like to do the same.

From my visits to Libya, Bulgaria I think it was true. The communist countries economies were in dire mismanagement. Was funding provided to prevent catastrophic collapse and prevent a nuclear power from descending into chaos that we saw in Tunisia, Libya, Iraq, Syria?

E.g. A quick search for the word "Russia" in Redacted Tonight's video list will produce no result. I.e. he has no video with the word "Russia" in the title.

However, Lee Camp still attacks Trump's policies. For example Trump's move to allow more oil explorations in U.S. coastal waters.

IF RT is a Russian propaganda channel and IF Russia is in league with the Trump administration, how is RT allowed to release articles that challenge the Trump administration?

A possible answer: Russia is undergoing a "soft war" against other states by sowing mistrust of the media. This is similar to the UK's use of "soft power" to extend their influence through the BBC. Of course, the BBC doesn't sow mistrust in the media. But he two methods are similar - IF all this is true and real that is.

Abby Martin works mainly under teleSUR now. You can find her work also at [theempirefiles.tv] And you can follow her on facebook.

I like Thom Hartmann also, but you have to be careful with him at times. His actions as far as voting don't quite match what he tells you. He's really great on his rants with constitutional issues and knowledge on the libertarian party though. I get him on FSTV. Free Speech.

@William_Mary Thanks for pointer towards an outlet with a South American flavour.

I have seen some programs on RT about that. There have been interviews with the Russian woman that was at the centre of the "meetings".

To me, prime quality of fake news is news that Pres. Trump does not like or agree with. I thought rumours were what some people call fake news. Don't different news organisations have a political slant? Fox is said to be pro-Republican.

@Treasurehunter Fox News pro-Republican?

You don't say? "Do we have a sarcasm tag?"

@marmot84 At least you know where to go to get what you want.

@Treasurehunter FYI I'm more anti-Republican than I am anti-religion and I'm fairly anti - God. Do you watch Faux News?

@marmot84 Seldom do. the style of presentation grates on me.

@Treasurehunter Well at least something you do right. Sorry, we may have gotten off on the wrong foot. You should understand, I'm radically left. I hate Republicans just so that you know.

@marmot84 Thanks for the insight into your political position. According to some political analysis of my attitudes, I am moderately libertarian and left.

@Treasurehunter Well as I age I suppose my views have moved somewhat. If the political spectrum is a 2 Dimensional grid (it isn't) I used to be "Libertarian-Socialist" which is the politically acceptable way to describe the truth which is anarcho-communist. The term anarcho-syndicalist seems to fit me pretty well. I perhaps have moderated just a touch at I turn 60... mostly out seeking realistic solutions in my lifetime.

@marmot84 I think it has been observed that people's political views drift a little towards the right with age. I like observing politics or current events but I have yet to join any demonstrations or sit-ins etc.

Unfortunately, Thom Hartmann left his show, The Big Picture, early last December. His daily show has been converted into a weekly show with Holland Cooke. I'm not American, so I don't know who your political commentators are apart from the popular in TV and YouTube. I only know of Hartmann from a YouTube video that he released many years ago and in which he advocated "shop local" to energise the local community.

I stopped watching The Big Picture since Hartmann left.

FORTUNATELY, I just found out now, Hartmann has his own YouTube channel. Search "thommhartmann" in YouTube.

Thank you for bringing my attention to FSTV. Isn't it far more focussed on US rather than international issues?

They cover a wide range of free speech issues. My favorite program is Democracy Now. It is online as well.

@jeffy I do not blame you if you focus on US issues, if they are what you feel relevant to you.