FARA filing reveals Israeli government's $6M push to shape conservative media narratives
By bellecarter // 2025-11-19
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  • A FARA filing reveals a $6 million contract between Salem Media (a major conservative network) and the Israeli government, involving former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale as a registered foreign agent to push pro-Israel messaging across Salem's platforms.
  • The deal tasks Parscale with embedding Israeli-approved narratives into Salem's radio stations, websites (Townhall, RedState) and podcasts—reaching millions monthly—without clear disclosure to audiences, blurring journalism and foreign propaganda.
  • Salem hosts prominent pro-Israel voices like Dinesh D'Souza and Josh Hammer, who dismiss critics as "anti-Israel" and even call for their "neutralization," while Israel pays $1.5M/month to shape coverage.
  • The deal fuels tensions between the pro-Israel GOP establishment and "America First" factions. Watchdogs (Quincy Institute, Public Citizen) filed DOJ complaints over undisclosed Israeli payments to U.S. influencers, citing Netanyahu's push to bolster U.S. support.
  • Critics warn such foreign-funded campaigns erode trust in media and political discourse, with Salem itself admitting the Gaza war risks its revenue—even as it promotes narratives that may prolong the conflict. The filing exposes Israel's covert efforts to sway U.S. conservatives.
A newly disclosed Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filing has exposed a $6 million contract between Salem Media—one of America's largest conservative media networks—and the Israeli government, raising concerns about foreign influence in U.S. political discourse. The deal, formalized in September, involves Salem's Chief Strategy Officer Brad Parscale, a former Trump campaign manager, working as a registered foreign agent to integrate pro-Israel messaging across Salem's platforms, which include radio stations, podcasts and high-traffic websites like Townhall and RedState. The arrangement comes amid growing divisions within conservative circles over U.S. support for Israel, particularly as younger Republicans express skepticism about unconditional backing for Israeli policies. Critics argue the deal blurs the line between independent journalism and foreign propaganda, while defenders insist it merely amplifies shared ideological priorities.

Salem Media's pro-Israel influence campaign

Salem Media operates 82 radio stations and hosts influential conservative voices, including Dinesh D'Souza and Josh Hammer, both known for staunch pro-Israel stances. According to the FARA filing, the Israeli government is paying Parscale's firm $1.5 million per month to ensure favorable coverage of Israel across Salem's platforms. The contract explicitly tasks Parscale with "integration of narrative messaging into Salem Media Network properties and aligned distribution channels." According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the media giant's reach is vast: 80 million monthly website page views, 37 million app visits and four million newsletter subscribers. The network also hosts podcasts featuring prominent figures like Lara Trump. While foreign governments have long sought to influence U.S. media—often through clearly labeled sponsored content—critics argue this arrangement lacks transparency, potentially misleading audiences about the origins of pro-Israel messaging.

Growing conservative backlash against Israeli influence

The revelation has intensified an ongoing debate within the GOP between the pro-Israel establishment and the "America First" faction, which views unconditional support for Israel as detrimental to U.S. interests. D'Souza recently dismissed "anti-Israel pundits" on social media, arguing they are not representative of the MAGA base. Hammer went further, suggesting Israel-critical commentators should be "neutralized" to preserve GOP unity. Meanwhile, watchdog groups like the Quincy Institute and Public Citizen have filed complaints with the Department of Justice over similar Israeli-funded influencer campaigns, demanding full disclosure of payments to U.S. content creators. Their complaint highlights a September 2025 meeting where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the need to bolster American public support for Israel. Ironically, Salem Media has warned shareholders that the Gaza conflict poses financial risks, citing potential disruptions to advertising revenue. Yet the company continues to promote pro-Israel narratives that may prolong the very war it acknowledges as a threat to its business. The FARA filing underscores broader concerns about foreign interference in U.S. media, particularly as Israel seeks to counter declining public support. While Salem has not commented on the arrangement, the deal raises ethical questions about the role of foreign-funded messaging in shaping domestic political discourse. The Salem Media contract marks a significant escalation in Israel's efforts to sway U.S. conservative media—a strategy that risks eroding trust in independent journalism. As debates over America's relationship with Israel intensify, transparency will be key in ensuring audiences can distinguish between genuine editorial perspectives and foreign-funded narratives. For now, the full extent of Israel's influence on Salem's programming remains unclear. Still, the FARA filing offers a rare glimpse into how foreign governments attempt to influence American public opinion. Watch the video below that talks about how Israel controls the media. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheAmericanConservative.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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