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Russia’s influence operation arrives ahead of the US midterms With weeks remaining before America's November midterm elections, a familiar type of content has begun appearing online. Videos resembling reports from CNN, the BBC and The New York Times accuse candidates of corruption, antisemitism and misconduct. Hollywood actors appear to denounce Democrats. Other clips claim that warnings about Russian interference are themselves a Democratic disinformation campaign. The reports are fabricated. Graphika, which tracks online influence operations, says it has identified a coordinated campaign targeting candidates in competitive US Senate races. It assesses with high confidence that the material was produced by Operation Overload, also known as Matryoshka – a long-running Russia-aligned influence operation previously active against elections and political debates in Europe and the United States. The activity coincides with a broader warning from American intelligence officials. Classified assessments reported by The New York Times conclude that the Kremlin has authorised another digital influence campaign ahead of the 2026 midterms, aimed primarily at exploiting existing divisions and undermining confidence in American democracy. There is an important distinction. US officials have not reported evidence that Russia is attempting to manipulate voting machines or alter the counting of votes. The operation is about influencing the information environment surrounding the election. Fake scandals for competitive Senate races Graphika traced a concentrated wave of activity between 10 and 14 September. Likely inauthentic or repurposed accounts distributed videos accusing Democratic politicians of corruption, antisemitism and other misconduct. The targets included Senator Jon Ossoff in Georgia, Representative Chris Pappas in New Hampshire and Texas state representative James Talarico, as well as Senate candidates Sherrod Brown in Ohio, Roy Cooper in North Carolina, Mary Peltola in Alaska, Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, Joshua Turek in Iowa and Troy Jackson in Maine. The selection was not random. These were politicians involved in Senate contests where the result could matter to control of the chamber. The campaign did not rely on a single political narrative. Instead, it attached different accusations to different candidates – corruption, social issues, antisemitism or personal misconduct – while maintaining a consistent production and distribution model. That model is characteristic of Matryoshka: create apparently independent pieces of evidence, disguise them as journalism and distribute them through networks of disposable accounts. Hollywood celebrities who never said what the videos claimed One of the campaign's more distinctive techniques involved genuine footage of American actors. Videos featuring celebrities including Sarah Jessica Parker and Julia Roberts were altered with captions and other material to suggest they were promoting the slogan #AllDemocratsAreCriminals. The technique continued in subsequent material. Fact-checkers identified fabricated New York Times-branded videos using footage of Alyssa Milano, Sean Astin, Rachael Harris, Leonardo DiCaprio, Eric Braeden, Annie Potts and Patrick Fabian. Some of the original footage came from Cameo, where actors record personalised video messages. Their authentic images were retained while fabricated audio, captions or surrounding material changed the meaning entirely. Lead Stories compared several of the clips with the originals and found that the supposed political statements did not appear in the genuine recordings. Eric Braeden's representative separately confirmed that the claim he had joined the anti-Democratic campaign was false. The advantage of the technique is straightforward. Generative AI does not need to create a convincing celebrity from nothing. The operator can begin with authentic footage of a recognisable person and manipulate only the elements necessary to manufacture a political statement. Stealing the authority of real newsrooms Celebrity impersonation was only one layer. The operation repeatedly borrowed the visual identity of established media organisations. Graphika identified material impersonating or falsely citing the BBC, CNN and Politico, alongside references to France's VIGINUM foreign-interference agency and journalist Brandy Zadrozny. Other material reproduced New York Times-style branding. Some fabricated reports made an unusual claim: that Democrats themselves were organising disinformation or “false-flag operations” and then blaming Russia. This creates a defensive layer around the influence operation. Instead of merely distributing false political allegations, the campaign also attempts to discredit future reporting about the manipulation itself. If successful, evidence exposing foreign interference can be reframed as part of the conspiracy. Graphika says it assesses with high confidence that Operation Overload produced these videos. The technique is well established. Earlier investigations by CheckFirst and Reset Tech documented hundreds of falsified pieces of content produced by Operation Overload, often impersonating journalists, institutions and major media brands. AI-generated or manipulated material has increasingly become part of that production system. What US intelligence says Russia is trying to achieve The broader strategic picture comes from American intelligence assessments reported on 18 September. According to US officials familiar with classified findings, the Kremlin has authorised a covert digital influence campaign aimed at Americans during the 2026 election season. Its apparent objective is to seed or amplify domestic divisions and weaken confidence in the political process. Some officials described the principal aim as creating disorder rather than helping a single political party. The publicly identified Matryoshka material examined so far, however, has targeted Democratic candidates. Those two findings should not be treated as contradictory. An operation can exploit partisan divisions while serving the broader objective of making the electoral system appear corrupt, chaotic or illegitimate. US officials also reportedly assess the current Russian campaign as less extensive or coordinated than some previous election operations. Moscow is considered less focused on congressional elections than presidential contests and remains heavily occupied by its war against Ukraine. Russia has denied previous US accusations of election interference. An operation with limited reach – so far There is another reason for caution: producing large quantities of disinformation is not the same as successfully influencing voters. Matryoshka has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to manufacture content at industrial speed, but much of its material receives little genuine engagement. Researchers monitoring the network have previously warned against confusing automated distribution and platform view counts with authentic audience penetration. There are exceptions. A fabricated New York Times-style video featuring Jamie Lee Curtis had accumulated nearly 200,000 views on X by the end of 17 September, according to reporting by The New York Times. Other pieces attracted considerably less attention. There is currently no public evidence demonstrating that the campaign has changed voting intentions or will affect election results. What the September activity demonstrates is something narrower but important: a Russia-aligned influence infrastructure previously used against European elections has now turned significant attention towards the American midterms. The basic method has changed little – impersonate trusted media, manufacture scandals and use networks of inauthentic accounts to distribute them. What has changed is the production technology. Authentic celebrity footage, synthetic voices, manipulated video and rapidly generated fake journalism allow the same operation to produce more tailored material for more candidates at lower cost. The objective does not require Americans to believe every fabrication. Creating uncertainty over which videos, news reports and public statements are authentic can itself degrade trust in the information environment surrounding an election. Sources - Graphika — Russia-Aligned Influence Operation Targets US Midterm Candidates, German State Elections https://www.graphika.com/insights/russia-aligned-influence-operation-targets-us-midterm-candidates-german-state-elections - The New York Times — Russia Aims to Inject Chaos Into Elections, U.S. Intelligence Finds https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/us/politics/russia-election-disinformation-us-intelligence.html - Kathimerini / The New York Times — Russia Aims to Inject Chaos Into Elections https://www.ekathimerini.com/nytimes/1315792/russia-aims-to-inject-chaos-into-elections-us-intelligence-finds/ - CheckFirst — Operation Overload: An AI-fuelled escalation of the Kremlin-linked propaganda effort https://checkfirst.network/operation-overload-an-ai-fuelled-escalation-of-the-kremlin-linked-propaganda-effort/ - CheckFirst — Operation Overload targeting the US election https://checkfirst.network/operation-overload-a-growing-disinformation-threat-now-targeting-the-u-s-presidential-election/ - Lead Stories — Fake NYT videos: Alyssa Milano, Rachael Harris and Sean Astin https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2026/09/fact-check-fake-new-york-times-videos-of-alyssa-milano-rachael-harris-sean-astin-falsely-claim-they-support-all-democrats-are-criminals.html - Lead Stories — Fake NYT videos: Leonardo DiCaprio, Eric Braeden and other celebrities https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2026/09/fact-check-fake-new-york-times-videos-of-leonardo-dicaprio-eric-braeden-other-celebs-falsely-claim-they-support-all-democrats-are-criminals.html - Brennan Center for Justice — AI Is Changing Foreign Election Influence https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/ai-changing-foreign-election-influence - ODNI — previous US intelligence assessment of foreign election information operations https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/NICM-Declassified-Foreign-Threats-to-US-Elections-After-Voting-Ends-in-2024.pdf - FBI / ODNI / CISA — previous joint assessment of Russian election influence operations https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/joint-odni-fbi-and-cisa-statement-110424 #DISINFORMED #Episode9 #Russia #UnitedStates #USMidterms #Midterms2026 #USElections #ElectionInterference #ForeignInterference #RussianInfluence #RussianDisinformation #OperationOverload #Matryoshka #Disinformation #InformationWarfare #InfluenceOperations #FIMI #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #AIPropaganda #Deepfakes #SyntheticMedia #MediaImpersonation #FakeMedia #FakeNews #PoliticalDisinformation #CelebrityDeepfakes #SocialMediaManipulation #DigitalInfluence #ElectionSecurity #CognitiveWarfare #Graphika #OSINT #Democracy #WRLD

Gun are a Scottish hard rock band formed by guitarist Giuliano Gizzi. The band's music has charted across Europe. In the UK, the band has had 4 UK top-20 albums and 8 UK top-40 singles, including a cover of Cameo's "Word Up" that reached the UK top 10. Gun has toured extensively, most notably with the Rolling Stones on their Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour of 1989–1990. The band's latest album, Hombres, reached the UK top 10 and Number 1 in their homeland, Scotland. https://hvdommelen.nl/g/Gun.html

Spider-Man: Brand New Day le entrega al personaje su batalla más oscura y personal desde que Raimi dejó la franquicia, y el resultado es de lo más satisfactorio que hemos tenido dentro del MCU en años. Tras una trilogía de Jon Watts que se fue a la segura de principio a fin, dependiendo por completo de las conexiones con el universo construido por Kevin Feige y de versiones del personaje desarrolladas por otros directores, Sony y Marvel por fin cambian de rumbo. A Destin Daniel Cretton le dan la libertad de entregarnos una historia coming-of-age sobre un Peter Parker confrontado por la adultez que se siente como lo más fresco y ambicioso que se ha hecho con el personaje desde Spider-Man 2 (2004). Y aunque las conexiones con el MCU no están ausentes, la presencia de Hulk, Punisher y otros personajes de este universo expandido nunca se siente como fan service barato ni como cameos glorificados. Cada uno cumple un propósito narrativo y temático dentro de la aventura de Peter. En ese aspecto, por momentos se siente como un gran cómic saltando directamente a la pantalla grande. Y hablando de cómics, ese sentimiento no solo está presente en lo narrativo. Cretton también nos entrega la película live-action de Spider-Man más visualmente ambiciosa en décadas. Tal vez Feige finalmente comprendió las constantes críticas hacia el apartado visual de su franquicia y está permitiendo que sus directores experimenten, porque el MCU no se ha visto así de bien desde su primera fase. Aplausos también para Tom Holland, quien nunca había estado mejor como el personaje y logra retratar a la perfección su batalla psicológica. Es un Spider-Man perfecto. No, no está libre de fallas. Como varias películas de Spider-Man, por momentos sufre por tener demasiados personajes y, como resultado, termina perdiendo de vista a varios de ellos conforme avanza. También pienso que el final es débil considerando lo buena que es la película antes de llegar a él. Dicho esto, Brand New Day por fin nos entrega una película a la altura de la gran interpretación de Holland como el personaje y posiblemente promete una nueva trilogía que podría regresar a Spider-Man al nivel de calidad que no alcanzaba desde la era de Raimi. Y eso no me podría alegrar más 4/5 #SpiderMan #MCU #Cine

Lo de que fue un panel flojo lo dicen los que no han estado por que ha sido una locura para los asistentes. -Trailer de Doomsday -Ghost Rider -Nuevo Black Panther -Hemos visto a más de 30 actores pasar y la performance ha sido 🤯. -Cameo de Deadpool -Clip de Spidey -Regalos https://t.co/LWPIqsRLF2 #Doomsday #BlackPanther #Cameo

A ver María José. Se robaron la UNGRD, no llevaron agua a la Guajira, usaron $10.000 millones para pagar abogados para sacar a Petro y su familia de la lista OFAC, gastaron $8.000 millones en la Película Padilla para que Petro hiciera el cameo, usaron $1.200 millones para publicar el periódico “vida” y para rematar acaban de pagar más de $300 millones de pesos en los discursos de Petro. Ah y los viajes de Petro por el mundo nos costaron más de 2 millones de dólares. #Colombia #Corrupción #Petro

Resumo da Coletiva: 🥰🥰 #เสน่หาวาโยตอนจบ #FreenBecky Sucesso e Audiência Sentimento de Dever Cumprido: Tik expressou enorme gratidão pelo apoio massivo que levou a série a alcançar o topo das paradas e atingir excelentes índices de audiência na TV. O Grande Final: As meninas comentaram sobre a rapidez com que as 8 semanas de exibição passaram e o quanto estavam ansiosas para ver se a Princesa Blew e a Tenente Lom conseguiriam finalmente ficar juntos no último episódio. Bastidores e Convivência no Set Freen agradeceu imensamente a Tik pelo carinho diário nos sets de gravação. A produtora sempre levava sacolas cheias de doces personalizados para cada atriz do elenco. Tik entregou que a Freen come de pouco em pouco (mas adora coisas bem temperadas e picantes) enquanto a Becky prefere balinhas de gelatina mais azedinhas para ajudar a se manter acordada durante as intensas rotinas de gravação. Gravações Intensas: Elas brincaram sobre como o visual de suas personagens passou grande parte da série "desleixada" ou suja (pelas gravações em florestas e mares), mas que finalmente teriam momentos com visuais mais arrumados no encerramento. Aparição Especial: Ambas indicaram que farão pequenas aparições (cameos) na série seguinte da grade, em The Fire. Show Solo da Freen: Freen demonstrou muita empolgação e um pouco de nervosismo ao falar sobre o seu próximo grande concerto organizado por sua própria empresa O evento acontecerá em agosto e os ingressos começarão a ser vendidos em poucos dias Ela destacou que será um presente tanto para ela quanto para os fãs no mês de seu aniversário. Mensagem da Becky: Em inglês, Becky deixou um recado carinhoso para os interfans, agradecendo profundamente a todos que viajaram até a Tailândia ou que estavam acompanhando simultaneamente através das transmissões globais por livestream 🥰🥰 #FreenBecky #GrandeFinal #Sucesso

Paola Cortellesi, sei una maschera di ipocrisia unica! Ma d'altronde mica hai bisogno di recitare, sei proprio così di tuo, ti basta mostrare la tua vera faccia.Sul palco del Quirinale si è messa a fare il solito elenco di nomi che, secondo lei, "nessuno nomina mai". Ha tirato in ballo Tina Anselmi, Nilde Iotti, Irma Bandiera, Teresa Mattei e Teresa Vergalli. FALSO! Smettila di dire balle! Io stesso sono testimone: a La Spezia, durante la manifestazione ufficiale "Donne d'Italia", la Iotti e la Anselmi sono state nominate e celebrate eccome. La memoria non è proprietà privata della sinistra e del vostro cinema radical chic!La verità è che la Cortellesi fa la selettiva e omette quello che le fa comodo. Davanti alle massime cariche dello Stato ha fatto finta di niente e ha volutamente evitato di nominare Giorgia Meloni, la prima donna in assoluto a diventare Presidente del Consiglio in Italia, che tra l'altro era seduta proprio lì davanti a lei. Questa è discriminazione politica pura: per voi le donne valgono solo se hanno la tessera di partito corretta?E guarda caso si è "dimenticata" pure di tutto il sangue delle donne e delle ragazzine violentate, torturate ed epurate dai partigiani dopo il 25 aprile con la scusa del collaborazionismo. Perché non hai fatto i loro nomi, Paola?Ti rinfresco la memoria io:Giuseppina Ghersi, una studentessa di soli 13 anni brutalmente violentata e uccisa a Savona a guerra finita.Marilena Grill, ausiliaria assassinata a Torino nel maggio '45.Luciana Minardi, massacrata nel ravennate.Rosa Amodio, uccisa nel luglio del '47.Norma Cossetto, la studentessa istriana violentata e buttata in una foiba dai partigiani titini.Decine di ausiliarie e civili trucidate post 25 aprile che per te non esistono. Io con te e con tutto il tuo cerchio magico ho chiuso. Mai più un soldo a nessun film, nessuna visione e nessun canale dove compare anche solo un tuo cameo o la tua firma. Questa finta superiorità morale ha stancato! #Politica #Donne #Memoria

¡¡EXCESO DE CINE!! El día de hoy, Nike lanzó su COMERCIAL MUNDIALISTA. Un cortometraje que llamaron RIP THE SCRIPT. La marca estadounidense reunió a leyendas, cracks actuales, cantantes y figuras del mundo del entretenimiento. La lista de apariciones fue TREMENDA. Y sí, muchos recordaron aquella época de anuncios icónicos. Participantes en el nuevo comercial de Nike: ➤ Cristiano Ronaldo. ➤ LeBron James ➤ Kylian Mbappé. ➤ Vinicius Júnior. ➤ Erling Haaland. ➤ Virgil van Dijk ➤ Fede Valverde. ➤ Bruno Fernandes. ➤ Nico Williams. ➤ Cole Palmer. ➤ Jamal Musiala. ➤ Raúl Jiménez. ➤ Alphonso Davies. ➤ Estevao. ➤ Tyler Adams. ➤ Zlatan Ibrahimovic. ➤ Ronaldinho. ➤ Jorge Campos. ➤ Didier Drogba. ➤ Eric Cantona. ➤ Alexia Putellas. ➤ Kerolin. ➤ Ted Lasso. ➤ Travis Scott. ➤ Lisa. ➤ Young Miko. ➤ Clint 419. ➤ Central Cee. ➤ Channing Tatum. ➤ Kim Kardashian. ➤ Kate Scott. Reuniones y cameos que nadie esperaba. LO QUE GENERA EL DEPORTE MÁS HERMOSO DEL MUNDO. #Nike #RIPTHESCRIPT #Deporte

🚨 INCROYABLE ! La star de TikTok Khaby Lame apparaîtra dans le prochain jeu vidéo "007 First Light" avec un caméo surprise 🤯 James Bond s’approchera de lui pour lui demander où se trouve une grotte et il répondra silencieusement avec sa main 💀 https://t.co/9tuFohANus #KhabyLame #JamesBond #Gaming

Filmmakaren och konstnären Niki Lindroth von Bahr representerar Sverige på filmfestivalen i Cannes med sin kortfilm The end, som utforskar flygresors glamor och hotfullhet genom en humoristisk och existentiell berättelse om djurkaraktärer i en flygplatsmiljö, där hon även gör en cameo som en fluga under en kontroll. #NikiLindrothvonBahr #CannesFilmFestival #TheEnd

The Retirement Of Stan Lee <p>After many attempts to get Marvel into Hollywood, Stan Lee retired from the executive activities as President of the company and opted for some retirement money and a cut of film/TV productions. </p> <p>As soon as he was gone, Marvel’s movie business lit up with X-Men (2000) and the Marvel Rocket Ship went into the galaxy with Iron Man (2008) kicking off the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). The back-to-back blockbusters had Stan Lee’s cameo appearances, much to the delight of Marvel fans.</p>