Do some foreign intelligence services like to use journalism as a cover profession for their officers and agents? Yes. Does that threat deserve attention? Yes. Is this a legitimate excuse for the current visa shutdown at Voice of America? No.

I note this in light of Michael Pack’s interview last week with the Federalist’s Christopher Bedford. In that interview, Bedford grilled the head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media on his plan to reshape government-funded news agencies such as Voice of America. Since entering office earlier this summer, Pack has attracted criticism for his restructuring. Some of this criticism has been unfair, such as reactions to Pack’s justified crackdown on ridiculously biased pro-Democratic Party reporting. But other criticism, especially pertaining to Pack’s refusal to renew the visas of dozens of Voice of America journalists based in Washington, has more merit.