Today we’re covering:

• 😷 The COVID panic returns,

• 🎬 The CIA’s propaganda machine,

• And everything else you need to know.

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U.S HISTORY

The history of Hollywood's collaboration with the CIA

Here is what’s going on: The CIA has collaborated with Hollywood to rebrand itself since its founding in 1947. It provides advice and assistance to showrunners and filmmakers in exchange for control over how the agency is depicted in productions.

The beginning: The government collaborated with Hollywood to produce pro-Soviet movies during World War II when America was aligned with the USSR. President Franklin D. Roosevelt occasionally gave specific orders for certain films to be made. Following the wave of communist ideology that swept over America in the 1930s, movies from that era often had communist overtones.

Then: During the Cold War, the CIA made its initial forays into the entertainment sector by supporting films like the animated classic Animal Farm from 1954. Producing anti-communist propaganda was intended to offset those in earlier decades. After the Cold War ended, however, the agency continued to interfere with Hollywood.

Now: In order to encourage motion pictures and television shows that portrayed the CIA favorably, the agency employed an entertainment industry liaison in 1996. Negative depictions would result in rewrites or the cancellation of scripts. Those who followed the rules were allowed to go to and communicate with the CIA for their movies.

• Example: Filmmakers for Zero Dark Thirty were granted access to the CIA's Langley headquarters. The movie, which was influenced by the CIA, portrayed torture as being essential to finding and executing Osama bin Laden. That story actually went against intelligence that said torture didn't produce any useful information for interrogators. In the end, the film presented a defense of the American fight against terrorism.

Why it is important: For decades, the government has collaborated in the creation of cinematic propaganda in an effort to win popular support for both its domestic and international policies. Numerous movies and television series have drawn inspiration from the government-entertainment complex, which is likely to have affected popular opinion and vote results.

• Not only the CIA: Hollywood is still heavily influenced by the Pentagon, which provides military equipment in exchange for favorable treatment.

TRENDING IN AMERICA

The media prepares for COVID restrictions in round two.

Here is what is going on: As new COVID-19 variations spread, mainstream media outlets are citing a "surge," "spike," or "jump" in COVID-19 cases. According to "some experts," CNN reports that "it may be time to break out the masks," while Time magazine cautions that "pandemics don't really end."

Why it is important: According to government statistics, less than 2% of deaths in the U.S. occurred as a result of COVID-19 last week, making it hardly a threat at all. Though it's possible that a return to limitations like mandatory mask and vaccine use or lockdowns is already in the works, this scare narrative might be used as a cover for such measures as those.

The current signs: New requirements for masks or vaccinations have been implemented by certain hospitals, businesses, and at least one college. In "high-risk" zones, the Department of Veterans Affairs now demands personnel to wear masks, while other government agencies are puzzlingly purchasing COVID testing apparatus.

• Still: Claims that lockdowns might soon reappear were refuted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as being "utterly false." The Transportation Security Administration also refuted claims that it would once more require personnel and travelers to wear masks.

However, there is no regret: The extent to which these restrictions impacted businesses, children's education and development, and people's livelihoods has not been acknowledged by anybody in government. Even Anthony Fauci, a former health official, stated this month that some lockdowns were "absolutely justified."

• Pushback: The surgeon general of Florida advised Americans not to comply with "terrible policies" like lockdowns, mask and vaccine requirements if they were to resurface.