Global Pushback Against Populism
On Tuesday, former State Department official Mike Benz discussed the increasing international resistance to the populist movement, mentioning that the CIA considers these developments to be “global threats.”
House Republicans are advocating for the allocation of significant taxpayer funds towards organizations that were previously supported during the Trump administration. Meanwhile, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has suggested cutting federal funding for the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), citing a pattern of partisan defense against the Republic and ongoing hostility over various interventions. In a discussion on “Bannon’s War Room,” Benz pointed out that post-Cold War, U.S. diplomatic entities aimed at combating communism shifted their focus to countering populist movements worldwide.
Benz remarked, “The war has identified a new global threat: the rise of populist parties. This includes movements from Trump in the U.S. to Brexit and the Reform Party in the U.K., along with figures like Marine Le Pen in France, Matteo Salvini in Italy, and Bolsonaro in Brazil. They are experiencing what feels like a new, unacknowledged war in the form of populism.”
The NED asserts that it is directly targeting these movements, viewing them as challenges to the liberal international framework that has shaped U.S. foreign policy since the Cold War.
Benz added, “The NED swoops in like vultures, eager to take down any populist movement they see as a threat.” Many House Republicans, he noted, still align with traditional Republican foreign policy perspectives that date back to the Cold War.
According to Benz, a considerable part of the right-wing faction is heavily reliant on U.S. foreign policy tools, including the Pentagon, USAID funding, and CIA operations, to expand markets and influence foreign regulations for beneficial outcomes.
“Numerous right-wing entities and businesses lean on Pentagon resources, USAID funds, and clandestine NGO services,” Benz stated. “They view the NED, which has been active for the last 25 years, as a vital tool that continues to serve their interests.”
In 2020, the NED played a role in supporting the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), which classified conservative outlets like Newsmax and The New York Post as primary sources of disinformation. This classification was shared with advertisers to decrease ad revenue for these platforms, leading to accusations that the NED promotes censorship of right-wing media.
Critics argue that the NED has strayed from its original mission, channeling taxpayer money into international political influence and construction initiatives. The Center for Renewing America, led by Russell, has criticized the NED for its involvement in U.S. actions in Ukraine, claiming it escalated tensions with Russia.
