The Active Measures Newsletter Podcast

In the realm of disinformation and political warfare, few operations stand out as prominently as Operation Cornflakes. This unique campaign, launched during World War II, aimed to exploit the German postal system to disseminate black propaganda. In this special edition of the podcast, Mark Jacobson unravels the intricacies of Operation Cornflakes, examining how it worked, its historical context, and the lessons it offers for understanding modern information warfare.
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The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, was more than a formal announcement of separation from Britain, it was a masterful piece of propaganda. By articulating grievances and affirming universal rights, it sought to unify the colonies and garner international support. The document framed the revolution not just as a political struggle, but as a moral imperative--and the legacy of that framing resonates to this day.
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We started noticing it in 2024: an inside-outside game in which American political actors seed divisive issues that are then exploited from abroad. But there are also internationally fueled narratives that often spur domestic voices. We've described it as a “dialogue” between actors foreign and domestic. But the phenomenon is not just happening in the United States, and Sopo Gelava argues persuasively in an assessment of Russian efforts in Bulgaria’s recent election, that the pattern underscores the futility of international and national frameworks for fighting disinformation based on a now-outdated distinction between disinformation with either domestic or international origins. In addition, hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson discuss reporting on Russia stoking anti-EU sentiments and the Kremlin’s efforts to distort Western chatbots and wiki-pages.
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Some look at the U.S. elections in 2016 and 2020 and see issues of partisan contention. Sean M. Wiswesser--a national security professional with 30 years of experience in intelligence, foreign service, and defense--sees an outright attack on American democracy by Russia, using an old playbook called 'active measures.' On this week's podcast, Wiswesser recounts Russia's tactics and the continuing danger to Western democracies. Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also highlight recent Russian sabotage targeting UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer and former DNI Tulsi Gabbard's parting shot: American 'biolabs,' a favorite topic of Soviet- and, now, Russian propaganda.
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During the Cold War, President Eisenhower used to caution people that in confronting the Soviets, the United States needed to be careful that we didn’t destroy the very thing we sought to preserve. GW Law Visiting Associate Professor Katie Kedian makes a similar point about countering disinformation in American public life today. She emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of the legal frameworks surrounding disinformation, the potential role of social media regulation, and the impact of emerging technologies like AI, all set against the core-American desire to maintain First Amendment rights. Hosts Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson also discuss reporting from France on Chinese efforts to target populations in the West and Africa as well as an Israeli firm offering influence-for-hire.
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