Kari Lake would disseminate the ‘news’ from Trump’s point of view as director of the Voice of America. Let that sink in.
Kari Lake assures voters and the media she will accept results
On Election Day, Kari Lake expressed her concern about election fraud while assuring listeners that she will accept the results of the 2024 election.
Congratulations are in order to Kari Lake, who just snagged the Donald Trump seal of approval to serve as director of the Voice of America.
OK, so she didn’t land the high-profile press secretary job or the ambassador to Mexico, but the Voice of America is still, apparently, a thing here in the 21st century.
Now she just has to convince a group of experts from the fields of international relations, law and, yes, journalism, to hire her.
Despite Trump’s Wednesday evening “appointment” of Lake, presidents don’t actually get the final word on this job.
Trump can’t unilaterally appoint Kari Lake
Lake’s appointment would be a genius move for an incoming president who wants to move away from fact-based reporting to “news” delivered from a certain point of view. (Read: His.)
Who better than Kari Lake to tell the world the many ways in which Trump will save us all?
Lake, Trump says, will “ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World FAIRLY and ACCURATELY, unlike the lies spread by the Fake News Media.”
First, however, the news anchor-turned MAGA media basher will have to convince the media agency to hire her.
Contrary to what Trump may think, presidents don’t actually appoint directors to run the Voice of America, which prides itself on award-winning journalism, free from political interference.
Lake could offer ‘news’ worldwide
Trump’s efforts to pack the agency with Trump loyalists and control the “news” during his first term led to reforms intended to give the VOA some measure of independence from presidential interference.
Thus came a series of congressionally instituted reforms, including creation of the International Broadcasting Advisory Board.
By law, the VOA director now can only be hired — or fired — by a seven-member board comprised of experts representing the media, mass communications and international affairs.
The board “ensures the editorial independence and enhances the impact of the work carried out by the U.S. Agency for Global Media.”
Still, Trump’s word carries considerable weight.
If appointed and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Lake would become the federally funded voice to offer her version of “news” to audiences around the world.
“I think it’s a good, solid post for her, and most folks would agree,” Ed Morabito, a former Lake campaign adviser, told me. “It’s a director’s level position in a multifaceted, professional agency. Her management skills will be put to the test.”
A Voice of America gig is a gift to Arizona
It’s also a relief here in Arizona, where we have for years been subjected to the unrelenting voice of Lake railing about stolen elections — never mind any actual evidence to back up her claims.
The D.C.-based Voice of America gig — should its $267 million budget survive Elon Musk and his DOGE plans to cut government spending — is right in the former news anchor’s wheelhouse, putting her at the head of one of five broadcasting arms that answers to the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
It is also a gift to Arizona, and more specifically, the Arizona Republican Party, which would dearly like to begin nominating candidates who can actually win statewide offices in 2026.
With Lake out of the way, that now becomes a possibility.
“Arizona has probably heard of the last of Kari Lake,” Republican consultant Barrett Marson told me. “But now we get to share her with the world.”
Kari Lake, the Voice of America.
Just think about that.
(This column has been updated to add new information.)
Reach Roberts at [email protected]. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @laurieroberts.bsky.social.
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Publish date : 2024-12-12 00:24:00
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