Congress revives Cold War tool to counter Russian propaganda

The House on Friday passed a defense policy bill that would revive a Cold War tool that the federal government could start using once again to counteract Russian propaganda through U.S.-sponsored broadcasting.

House lawmakers tucked language in the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes defense programs for the next fiscal year, aimed at restoring Voice of America and other government media to fight Russian messages. The provision is one of the first legislative acts by Congress to combat the spread of Russian propaganda that has alarmed policymakers in the United States and Europe.