Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Latest Breaking News
In reply to the discussion: Trump picks hardline Republican Kari Lake to lead Voice of America [View all]LetMyPeopleVote
(158,174 posts)29. Kari Lake latest losing candidate set to join Trump's second term team
As Trump chooses Kari Lake to lead the Voice of America, a larger pattern is coming into focus: The president-elect is picking a lot of failed candidates.
https://bsky.app/profile/stevebenen.com/post/3ld4g33nlnc2m
Link to tweet
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/kari-lake-latest-losing-candidate-set-join-trumps-second-term-team-rcna183937
Exactly eight years ago this week, there were reports of concerns among Voice of America officials that Donald Trump in his first go-around as president-elect might try to politicize the networks coverage. Several years later, federal investigators determined that Michael Pack, a Trump-appointed official who helped oversee the VOA, did abuse the powers of his office.
Pack, its also worth noting, faced complaints from more than 30 whistleblowers during his tenure.
Its against this backdrop that Trump is president-elect again, and he has someone new in mind for the network. NBC News reported:
As NBC News report added, The VOAs stated mission is not to promote Americas achievements; rather, its website says it is committed to providing comprehensive coverage of the news and telling audiences the truth......
As for Trumps motivations, The New York Times published a related analysis that noted, Its a surprising development for a political figure who has long deployed the word loser as an insult, and who tried to overturn the 2020 election rather than admit he lost it. But some of these Republicans lost their races in part because of their support for Trump which means losing can make for winning politics in Washington when loyalty to Trump is the coin of the realm.
All of which suggests the so-called Team of Losers list might yet grow longer.
Pack, its also worth noting, faced complaints from more than 30 whistleblowers during his tenure.
Its against this backdrop that Trump is president-elect again, and he has someone new in mind for the network. NBC News reported:
President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he wants ally Kari Lake to be the next director of the Voice of America, a federal network thats part of the U.S. Agency for Global Media. ... Lake said on X she was honored by Trumps announcement. Under my leadership, the VOA will excel in its mission: chronicling Americas achievements worldwide, she said.
As NBC News report added, The VOAs stated mission is not to promote Americas achievements; rather, its website says it is committed to providing comprehensive coverage of the news and telling audiences the truth......
As for Trumps motivations, The New York Times published a related analysis that noted, Its a surprising development for a political figure who has long deployed the word loser as an insult, and who tried to overturn the 2020 election rather than admit he lost it. But some of these Republicans lost their races in part because of their support for Trump which means losing can make for winning politics in Washington when loyalty to Trump is the coin of the realm.
All of which suggests the so-called Team of Losers list might yet grow longer.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
32 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations

Trump picks hardline Republican Kari Lake to lead Voice of America [View all]
highplainsdem
Dec 11
OP
No. Trump picked Ron Johnson (NOT the senator - a former ambassador to El Salvador) for that yesterday.
highplainsdem
Dec 11
#4
That was my immediate thought too. Which would all but ruin VoA as a Strategic tool. nt
SomewhereInTheMiddle
Dec 12
#16
VOA was a voice of democracy back in the day when shortwave radio was the worlds media choice
yaesu
Dec 12
#18
The next verse is the same as the first, but a little bit louder and a little bit worse - from 2020:
muriel_volestrangler
Dec 12
#19