After publishing a book on Russian interference, David Corn says a Russian-linked operation called Matryoshka circulated fake videos and fabricated quotes attributed to him and Mother Jones to damage Democratic candidates and influence the midterm elections.
A Russian-linked network named Matryoshka posted multiple fake videos purporting to be CNN or Mother Jones segments that targeted Democrats and referenced fabricated material attributed to David Corn.
Examples of fabricated claims included absurd allegations about candidates (Talarico, Sherrod Brown, Jon Ossoff) and a counterfeit video saying Corn had written a book called Enemies of Democracy for Dummies.
# What happened
Matryoshka circulated multiple fake clips and posts alleging damaging things about Democratic candidates and attributing false material to Corn and Mother Jones. Some posts used long-established bot accounts to boost apparent reach.
# Who is involved
# Examples of the fabrications
# How the operation worked
Matryoshka produced at least nine sham Mother Jones videos and other fake network-style segments. The campaign used old bot accounts—some created up to 12 years ago—to amplify posts. The disinformation relied on realistic-looking graphics, fabricated quotes, and the appearance of bona fide network branding to make the clips look authentic.
# Response and impact
# Why this matters for readers
The episode illustrates how a disinformation operation can weaponize realistic video and false attribution to smear journalists and political figures during an election cycle. It also shows the tactics used: recycled bot infrastructure, fabricated quotes, and the mimicry of trusted news brands to lend false credibility.
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