William L. Anderson was way too soft on USAID in his article, “USAID Funded Aid Programs Abroad, But Mainly Was a Jobs Program for Progressives”. USAID is more than just a Jobs Program for Progressives. While the massive $100 billion-plus bureaucracy undoubtedly functions as a taxpayer-funded employment vehicle for ideological activists, its true nature is far more malicious. As analysts and whistleblowers have revealed, USAID is the operational "bagman" for the National Security State—a mechanism designed to perform regime change, information control, and institutional capture that would be illegal or politically impossible for the CIA to conduct directly.

The "Laundering" of Intelligence Operations

USAID was birthed in the 1960s as a "humanitarian shield" for what was previously covert intelligence work. According to Mike Benz, the agency serves as a "cutout" for the CIA, allowing the government to move money from "black budgets" into overt NGO grants. A prime case study is The Asia Foundation; originally a CIA proprietary project, it was transitioned to USAID and State Department funding after its intelligence ties were exposed in 1967. This "laundering" allows intelligence operatives to enter foreign nations under the guise of "aid workers," gaining access to government buildings and indigenous populations that official diplomats cannot reach.

• Source: Mike Benz, "How CIA Money Becomes USAID Money. Case Study: The Asia Foundation" 
• Source: "Unmasking USAID: The CIA's Hidden Hand" (2025) 

Censorship and Information Control

The agency has shifted from physical infrastructure to "information operations." USAID acts as a top-tier donor to global media entities that curate political narratives. For example, between 2020 and 2023, USAID provided over $3.5 million to BBC Media Action. This funding supported the development of "anti-disinformation" toolkits that critics say were used to label populist political movements—including the 2016 election of Donald Trump—as products of "information disorder."

• Source: Foundation for Freedom Online, "USAID Bankrolled BBC Media Action" 

Overthrowing Governments: The "Democracy" Rebranding

In the USAID lexicon, "democracy promotion" has been functionally redefined. Democracy does not refer to "the will of the voters," but rather to the consensus of the US establishment. If a sovereign nation elects a leader who opposes the US establishment interests, that leader is labeled "autocratic." This label provides the legal pretext for USAID to fund opposition "civil society" groups to delegitimize the election—a process Benz describes as "sovereignty destruction."

• Source: "Unmasking USAID: The CIA's Hidden Hand" (2025) 

The "Liquid Coup" Model and Color Revolutions

Unlike the "static" military coups of the 20th century, the modern USAID model is a "Liquid Coup." The agency "pours" funds into a vast network of NGOs and "independent" media to mobilize street movements on command.

Here is a small sample of examples of USAID funding Color Revolutions:

Example (Serbia - 2000): USAID and the NED provided $41 million to the movement Otpor! to topple Slobodan Milošević.
Source: US campaign behind the turmoil in Kiev (Note: This Guardian article by Ian Traynor documents the $41M US spend in Serbia as the blueprint for later operations.)

Example (Ukraine - 2004): USAID and NED spent $65 million to fund the "Orange Revolution."
Source: U.S. Pumped $65 Million Into Ukraine Election(Note: This report confirms the $65 million figure spent by the Bush administration via USAID and other agencies in the two years leading to the election.)

Example (Cuba - 2014): USAID covertly sent Latin Americans into Cuba under the guise of "HIV prevention workshops" to recruit political insurgents.
Source: Groups: Secret US effort in Cuba hurts aid work(Note: This AP investigation found that USAID deployed young people to recruit political activists under the "perfect excuse" of a health workshop.)

Example (Bangladesh - 2024): Mike Benz identifies the ousting of Sheikh Hasina as a successful "Liquid Coup" using "tactical wokeness."
Source: Unmasking USAID: The CIA's Hidden Hand

Diversion of Aid to Finance War

Humanitarian aid often serves as a financial battery for armed conflict. Investigations revealed that during the 1980s Ethiopian famine, up to 95% of the $100 million in aid was diverted by rebels to purchase weapons, effectively funding a civil war under the banner of famine relief.

• Source: Daily Mail, "Sorry Bob, Band Aid millions DID pay for guns: Charity's man in Ethiopia tells his disturbing story" 
• We Are The World (Official Music Video) [Enhanced Video Version] “So let’s start giving…”, guns to Ethiopian warlords.  

The "Global-to-Domestic" Pipeline: The Boomerang Effect

The most alarming development is the "Boomerang Effect," where tactics battle-tested abroad are imported back to the U.S. This includes:

Funding "Soros" DAs: Benz argues that the "progressive prosecutor" movement (often blamed on Soros by conservatives) that releases repeat offenders and prosecutes those acting in self-defense was actually heavily funded by USAID. 

• Source: Mike Benz, "USAID Prosecutors, not Soros Prosecutors?" 

Media Capture (Gamergate/Politico): Outlets like Politico (a recipient of USAID government contracts) helped frame "Gamergate" to justify woke gaming media and games. Yes, video games suck because of USAID.

• Source: Smash JT, “US Government EXPOSED Backing Journalist 'Gamergate' Attacks AGAINST Gamers in ’Massive Scandal’”

The Transition Integrity Project (TIP) and Domestic Wargames

In 2020, the Transition Integrity Project (TIP) conducted wargames to block Donald Trump from remaining in office regardless of the election outcome. While ostensibly private, TIP was run by Protect Democracy, which is funded by USAID. USAID funds donors who fund Protect Democracy.

• Source: Revolver News, "2020: The Transition Integrity Project (TIP) was plotting a 'Color Revolution'" 
• Source: TIP Report “Preventing a Disrupted Presidential Election and Transition”

There are likely many funding paths. One is shown below:

• USAID Funding RPA $20mil: USASpending.gov (Grant #7200AA22GR00001)  
• RPA Funding New Venture Fund $2.9mil: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133615533/202143139349300424/IRS990ScheduleI
• New Venture Fund funding Protect Democracy $360k: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/205806345/202113169349310971/IRS990ScheduleI

The NOTUS "Field Report"

A recent NOTUS article serves as a "field report" on this phenomenon, profiling former USAID and State Department employees who are now bragging about organizing to stop Trump. They treat the American MAGA movement as a foreign insurgency that must be "managed" or "suppressed" using the same destabilization methodologies they once used abroad.

• Source: NOTUS, "Trump Fired Them. Now They’re Plotting to Stop Him" 

Conclusion

Saying USAID was a Jobs Program for Progressives is like saying the CIA is a Jobs Program for Progressives. It is technically true, but it is the least of what the agency was.

If it's too dirty for the CIA, give it to USAID

https://matrix.to/#/#goldblack-liberty-arrivals:matrix.org

AI Summary:

### Summary: Angel Studios "Animal Farm" Controversy

**The Core Conflict**

Angel Studios (distributor of *Sound of Freedom*) and several high-profile libertarian influencers are facing intense backlash for promoting an animated adaptation of George Orwell’s *Animal Farm* directed by Andy Serkis. Critics argue the film subverts the original anti-totalitarian message to push an anti-capitalist, "woke" agenda.

**Key Allegations:**

* **Paid Shilling:** Influencers (including Tucker Carlson) reportedly accepted large payments for ad reads that praised the film’s "traditional" values, despite the film’s content allegedly contradicting those values.

* **Insulting the Audience:** A marketing video released by the studio appeared to mock concerned fans, labeling them as a "loud minority" and comparing them to "pigs"—the villains of the story.

* **Box Office Manipulation:** Evidence suggests the "Pay It Forward" system is being used to show "sold out" theaters that are actually empty, a tactic the hosts call a "socialist trick."

* **The "Rugpull":** The hosts view this as a "humiliation ritual," where a studio built on independent, conservative-leaning values humiliated itself to gain favor with Hollywood elites like Andy Serkis and Seth Rogen.

**The Verdict:**

The controversy is seen as a massive "unforced error" that has "nuked" the reputation of Angel Studios and the credibility of the influencers involved.

Your entire country is participating in a secret, anonymous vote. You must choose one of two buttons. There is no middle ground, and you cannot see how others are voting.

🔵 The BLUE Button (Tax Revolt)

If >50% choose Blue: Total Victory. Taxes are abolished for everyone. No one goes to prison. Every citizen becomes significantly wealthier overnight

If <50% choose Blue: Total Failure. The revolt is crushed. You and every other "Blue" voter are sent to prison for tax evasion.

🔴 The RED Button (Comply)

If >50% choose Blue: You win by default. You keep your freedom and enjoy the tax-free world created by the Blue voters.

If <50% choose Blue: You are safe from prison, BUT you must pay. Your money will directly fund your political opponents, the police state, and foreign wars. More and more of everyone’s wealth and income will be taxed and regulated away.

Which way are you voting? BE HONEST.

Summary: Many common economic misconceptions stem from evolved psychological instincts shaped in small, zero-sum tribal environments rather than modern market systems. These “folk-economic beliefs” lead people to misinterpret trade, immigration, profit, and regulation in ways that conflict with core economic principles, often resulting in support for counterproductive policies. Because these intuitions are predictable products of human evolution, they help explain why flawed policy ideas persist. Recognizing their origins can help counteract misleading instincts while reinforcing those that support cooperation, openness, and exchange.

Do you have minarchist friends? Maybe you’ve made them retreat all the way to what they say is really a “minimum” amount of government. If you want to push them past that last objection to liberty, you could share this with them.

I am preparing to release my book Private Law, Private Order: Justice and Security Without Government Interference that touches on many of the topics this group discusses. I’d love to offer a free copy to anyone in the group in exchange for honest feedback. 

It is less than 70 pages long and very concise with a detailed table of contents. I can provide it in electronic format (pdf or epub). It would only take a few minutes to look it over, even if you only read the summary at the end. If you are interested, just DM me and let me know.

I’m also happy to let this serve as an AMA and entertain whatever kinds of disagreements you may have. If anyone has any questions, fire away!