How Self-Interest is Undermining Democracy
When media figures prioritize profit and notoriety over truth, they become unwitting pawns in the global disinformation war, threatening the very fabric of democracy.
In the complex web of modern geopolitics, the integrity of democracy faces an increasingly insidious threat: the corrosive influence of American greed. This greed manifests not just in the pursuit of wealth, but in the lust for power, influence, and notoriety. A stark example of how this greed disrupts democracy can be seen in the case of Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News presenter who, whether knowingly or not, became an asset to Russian state media during the Ukraine invasion.
Carlson, a household name in American media, has a knack for tapping into the deep-seated divisions within U.S. society. His ability to provoke and polarize, combined with his substantial platform, made him a powerful voice during the contentious early months of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In March 2022, Carlson used his show to promote a conspiracy theory suggesting that the U.S. was developing bioweapons in Ukraine — a narrative that had been brewing in fringe online communities, largely rooted in decades-old Russian disinformation.
The impact was immediate and profound. What began as a baseless conspiracy theory in the dark corners of the internet was catapulted into mainstream discourse, with nearly a third of American respondents in a YouGov poll indicating that they believed or were unsure about the existence of U.S. bioweapons in Ukraine. Russian state media, which had been struggling to justify its unprovoked invasion, seized upon Carlson’s statements, amplifying them to bolster Moscow’s narrative of self-defense against Western aggression.
Carlson’s influence became a strategic asset for Russian propaganda. His critiques of NATO and Western support for Ukraine, often framed as defenses of “American interests,” resonated not just with his domestic audience but also with Russian state actors who saw in him a valuable tool to further their disinformation campaigns. This alignment of Carlson’s rhetoric with Russian propaganda highlights a disturbing trend: the exploitation of American media figures for foreign agendas.
At the heart of this issue is a profound greed — one that values ratings, influence, and personal brand above the sanctity of truth and the well-being of the democratic process. Carlson, driven by the desire to captivate and expand his audience, often prioritizes sensationalism over factual reporting. In doing so, he inadvertently aligns himself with foreign actors whose goals are antithetical to American democratic values.
This is not to suggest that Carlson is a willing collaborator with Russian state media. However, his actions reveal a broader problem in American society: when individuals prioritize personal gain over collective good, democracy suffers. The pursuit of ratings, fame, or influence at the expense of truth creates fertile ground for disinformation to take root and spread.
Russian state media’s use of Carlson’s content underscores a troubling reality: America’s own media landscape, driven by profit and sensationalism, can be weaponized by foreign powers to undermine democracy from within. This is a potent reminder that the true threat to democracy is not just external, but also internal — rooted in the very structures and incentives that drive modern media.
In a time when the fabric of democracy is increasingly frayed by disinformation and division, it is crucial to recognize the role that greed plays in this process. Figures like Carlson, who may see themselves as defenders of free speech or American values, can inadvertently become tools of those who seek to dismantle the very freedoms they claim to protect.
To safeguard democracy, it is imperative that Americans, particularly those in positions of influence, prioritize truth over profit, and the collective good over personal gain. Only by addressing the corrosive effects of greed can we hope to build a media landscape that strengthens rather than undermines the democratic process.
