Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, has raised concerns that the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent probe into alleged Russian influence on right-leaning media may be a calculated distraction. 

Kassam argues that the investigation, led by the Biden-Harris administration, is an attempt to divert attention from more significant Chinese influence in left-wing politics and corporate media. He shared these views while speaking on the Charlie Kirk Show.

The DOJ’s investigation reportedly focuses on a Canadian influencer, Laren Chen, who Kassam claims has been vocally critical of President Donald Trump. Despite the Russian angle being pursued by the DOJ, Kassam emphasized that key figures such as Tim Pool and Benny Johnson appear to be unwitting participants, according to the government’s own statements. “It smacks of 2016,” Kassam remarked, hinting at echoes of the previous election cycle’s Russia allegations.

Kassam points out that the timing of the DOJ’s announcement — just ahead of the November election — feels suspicious. He views the narrative as a cover-up for scandals on the left, such as recent accusations against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who has been accused of accepting bribes from foreign governments.

China, Kassam argues, is the real player in the influence game. Citing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) programs like Confucius Institutes in American schools, Kassam emphasized the far-reaching impact of China’s influence operations. He questioned why Russia and Iran are often given more focus while China’s activities go largely unexamined.

Corporate media also came under fire, with Kassam stating that many media companies have foreign financial interests. He cited News Corp, CNN, and Bloomberg as examples of outlets influenced by foreign money, calling their operations “pay-for-play”