The State Dept. Global Engagement Center was the epicenter of the Dept of State operation to control speech on social media platforms. Following revelations from within the Twitter Files, and facing increasing scrutiny, the GEC operation was shut down – but the remnants of the operation remained active within the State Dept.
The terms “disinformation, misinformation and malinformation” were weaponized by the State Dept to define speech against their interests and block, deplatform and remove any voices, including in the U.S., they determined were against the interests of the U.S. government. The COVID-19 and vaccine narrative were both examples of speech targeted by the GEC and later the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference office (R-FIMI).
Today, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Acting Undersecretary of Public Diplomacy, Darren Beattie, delivered notice to congress the speech and platform control operation has been shut down. Secretary Rubio sat down with Mike Benz to discuss [Transcript Here].
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Secretary Rubio continues to surprise many, me included. It started when Rubio publicly said, the Ukraine conflict was a U.S. proxy war against Russia. “It’s been very clear from the beginning that President Trump views this as a protracted, stalemated conflict,” Rubio said. “And frankly, it’s a proxy war between nuclear powers, the United States helping Ukraine, and Russia.” [link]
Considering that Rubio previously called for NATO intervention in Ukraine, and considering that Rubio voted to limit the ability of the President to withdraw from NATO policy, the recent remarks by Secretary of State Rubio were shockingly the opposite of his prior stances.
Saying the USA is in a proxy war with Russia, via Ukraine, is not something Marco Rubio can retreat from.
Two days ago, specifically because of my granular research, I was asked this question about Rubio. “What are the odds this is really Rubio?”
Look, I don’t know what happened and would love to ask him some details to get answers; but Rubio’s statements are so far out there against the Deepest part of the Deep State, there is no retreat for the former Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
Rubio said publicly the Ukraine conflict was a USA proxy war against Russia. For obvious reasons the MSM essentially buried that statement fast; but it’s not something he can ever retreat from, nor does it look like he would want to.
Either Rubio has some pre-approved ability to criticize the darkest elements of the DC Deep State, and this is some rather intense operation to position himself as a stealth agent of the CIA for future benefit, or Rubio really believes what he is saying now and is a changed person.
I’m still undecided, because there are some IC facets at play (even today) that I am still not comfortable writing about, yet.
That said, where do these statements put Rubio in the dynamic of MAGA foreign policy? Right at the tippy top of the spear against the deadliest elements of the U.S. Intelligence Apparatus.
The United States Secretary of State told the world, the biggest conflict zone in the past 20 years is the result of Ukraine being a USA proxy war against Russia.
Put everything else aside for the moment and realize, with that statement the guy just wiped out every Deep State affiliation he ever carried. He cannot enter that camp ever again. Rubio “burned the boat” and carried his weapon into battle for Trump.
The question is, did Rubio burn his boat knowing there is another one beyond the horizon waiting to come in and pick him up later? He really is playing the role of a dragon slayer for President Trump right now.
♦ Suspicious Cat says, if Benz, who can play the piano like a Red Sparrow, is an affiliate of a domestic CIA team, then this whole thing is an op. However, if Benz is a genuine independent voice against the interests of the control system, then Rubio -who touched the flame of the SSCI- might have reversed his worldview.
If legit, this Rubio shift is akin to a leopard changing to zebra stripes; crazy, super rare. He was a 99-0 Senate confirmation vote.
We need to keep watching, closely.
Bingo!! Benz ain’t straight… so there you go…
Old age creepeth… Wasn’t Rubio the one who gave the soft-answer off-ramp to Nuland once when the topic of labs in Ukraine came up?
This is the advice John Bolton gave Marco Rubio:
John Bolton Calls on Marco Rubio To Resign After Zelensky White House Spat
Speaking to MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace on Friday about Trump’s comments, Bolton said, “This is the point, when somebody does 180 degrees from understanding American allies to backing America’s adversaries, that you resign.”
He then called on Rubio and Mike Waltz, the national security adviser, to resign, adding: “This is really the time to do it. If they don’t get out now, I think their reputations will suffer for a long, long time, and that would be sad because their record in believing in a strong American national security policy is very good up until now.”
https://www.newsweek.com/john-bolton-calls-marco-rubio-resign-zelensky-white-house-spat-2038638
So, Rubio is definitely taking a chance…
However, if you remember Rubio’s history he said he hated the Senate and wanted out, numerous times:
9 times Senate candidate Marco Rubio told us he didn’t like the Senate
“I can’t think of a single real high point,” Rubio said in an interview with the Sun-Sentinel.
“It seems like the entire year has just been one big staged event, trying to get political advantage in the next election,” he added. “You look at the major issues facing this country, and few, if any of them, have been confronted.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/22/politics/marco-rubio-running-again-does-not-like-senate/index.html
It might be that Rubio just wants out and doesn’t really want a political future ???
Very interesting reading.
I don’t believe anything John Bolton says: he’s a deranged anti-Trump fanatic. Every time he has a chance, he shows uncommon hostility towards the Trump Administration. He appears to think highly of his own opinions. In addition, I would never consider Newsweek a place to find the truth about anything.
“Secretary Rubio continues to surprise many, me included.”
Many if not most of these Washington DC political operators imo simply do what they donors/sponsors want, irrespective of civilizational consequence. So either Marco Rubio has changed, by virtue of his ‘contract being bought out’ (new donors/sponsors) or he is simply playing for the same faction he always has been, and it his donor faction of the oligarchy who has had the change of heart.
I hope it is the latter, because it would be helpful if the people who have power begin to understand that what they are doing is not just wrecking our civilization, but turning the formerly respected United States into something broken which is loathed by most of the rest of humanity. Civilization builders who can think past the next quarterly profit statement should be not merely concerned, but panicking.
The latter is unicorn thinking.
Ah, but miracles do happen.
Especially in July in Pennsylvania.
If I’m not mistaken, Mike Benz is a guy that put out a video exposing USAID. If Rubio is granting him interviews then it would seem Rubio has changed.
Another thing: I don’t necessarily buy into the theory that the deep state is allowing Rubio to publicly make these statements because they plan on using him at a later date. You never allow an “asset” that prominent to say those things. He has the ability to influence and change people’s minds. Makes deep state’s job harder.
Mike Benz is a guy who has been on video many times over the last six months exposing USAID, this censorship board, and several other key anti-Constitutional molecules within the Blob.
His long-form video interviews with most of the top MAGA-aligned podcasters are well worth watching.
I don’t think he’s been on Hannity yet.
They would need to fit Sean with a remote-operated muzzle.
Maybe we can chalk it up to simple self-preservation–he wants to keep his job. Trumpers are much more vigilant against neocons and deep-staters compared to the first term, and the top level of folks realize that. That’s why we haven’t heard much from Waltz lately.
Back when Trump was running for his first term (early days of course), the establishment was all in on Rubio. Myself and a few other wild cards were at a gathering of the oldest of the trough eating, old guard Rino’s. This one political couple spend 3 hours of a libation period, trying to convince everyone he was the only way to the WH. To the posse’s credit, everyone shook their heads up and down and played along like troopers.
When we all got in the car, we laughed all the way home. Sorry, the suspicious cat in our house is a suspicious dog. He is not convinced. Love to be proved wrong though, have Sundance’s name in all the papers as a bone fied fortune teller.
A “3 hour libation period”-I’m going to sleep on that one!
@sundance I don’t trust little Marco and never will. Suspicious cat is forever suspicious.
I for one have begun to embrace the new Rubio as the real deal and a great asset to Trump and USA. In short I believe in redemption and miracles-like the conversion of St. Paul. Like the conversion of the great saint -saint Augustine.
Rubio is doing superb job for trump and I am crazy enough to believe it is because he embraces the truth and he sees the vision of the Trump team. I will keep him in my prayers -as I pray for entire Trump team.
i can’t wait to see in 20yrs what Oil pipelines from Russia were running through Ukraine to EU. It’s always the same thing.
Even among my very leftist friends, I have noticed a change. I believe Marco is real, Russia is needed in the next cold war with China. The war party is changing, it is just changing its primary ememy. With EU, Russia, and “latin america” on our side, China only has Africa, which it hates. Soon we will hate Africa too. Game over, Pax America for at least 4 years.
About time, sane people were in charge.
Trump has always been so far ahead of everyone, we are just catching up to his vision of the future.
When I see him testify against Mark Warner then I’ll know he’s a changed man. That will be the tell. He’s doing good work for the President, no doubt. Impressive work. Bondi and Patel could take a cue from him. However, he did sit on the SSCI as chairman during PDJT’s first term and said nothing when Warner was leaking. He ran cover for that crooked sumbitch.
Hello magadonian03 I have not tuned in to your frequency in the treehouse.
Good to read you.
Thanks for addressing this. Been wondering about it too.
I have even wondered if two opposing factions of the Intel Comm or split factions of the CIA are facing off with each other and Rubio’s world view reflects the “good one” –if there be such a thing.–as opposed to the “bad one” of a guy like Brennan.
Actions speak louder than words. So far Rubio’s actions are loud vs Patel and Blondie who have shown us no action, only words. Those are the two we need to not trust and they are going to be the demise of Trump if he doesn’t replace them. MAGA supporters want to see justice served and heads on a platter. The midterms better not come without some arrests and some RICO charges of corrupt politicians and judges.
Yes totally agree. If you read the comments on conservative sites, the overwhelming majority want arrests for treason and accountability for weaponized lawfare. But the gorilla in the room is DC venue. Most political criminals are in DC and the grand jury pool is overwhelmingly Democrat. The DC circuit, led by Judge Boasberg, is far worse. It’s hard for the Trump DOJ to get a judge to sign off on arrest warrants.
Only two ways out.
1) Congress defunds the DC Circuit as it’s compromised and caseload gets reassigned to other judges to sign arrest warrants.
2) Trump declares a clear and present danger for our country, declares martial law and suspends habeas corpus, then convenes a RICO grand jury and indicts EVERY Tom, Dick and Harry involved with the coup d’etat against Trump and team, arrests them all and creates a special, Nuremburg-style National Court with based judges, and has speedy en masse trials, and immediate hangings after sentence is pronounced. Maybe then can our country be saved!
Exactamundo!
“ That said, where do these statements put Rubio in the dynamic of MAGA foreign policy?”
Do not trust him.
Never liked Marco Rubio. Always thought he sounded like he was pontificating for someone’s approval.
Something has changed. Perhaps he has shaken off the chains of the Republican Establishment. All I know is, Rubio now sounds like he’s speaking truth from his soul.
One can hope. I agree that it seems like something has changed. Unfortunately I have a cynical streak in my nature and will wait and see if it’s real.
Looks like ‘strings cut’.
Cool.
What about Blondi, Pastel, Bonghead, Tulsi Gabsalot, and Harmeet Dhillon?
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As for the “What about Blondi, Pastel, Bonghead, Tulsi Gabsalot, and Harmeet Dhillon? ……
Rubio does not ever explain his prior stances.
One reliable signal is how does the fake news media treat Marco Rubio? If they treat him with kid gloves then you can pretty much rest assured they consider him an asset to the deep state apparatchiks. However, if the mockingbird media -to include FAUX SNOOZ- rail against Rubio that would indicate he is the real deal.
He looks like Rubio.
His voice sounds like Rubio.
Those words coming out of his mouth are not what I ever thought I would hear from this man.
I like this new and improved version.
Hope he’s for real.
There is a 3rd possibility with two branches – PDJT gave a thicker manila folder to Rubio than the IC did, which either freed Rubio from their control and allowing him to be his true self – or putting him under PDJT’s control.
Big Marco was redeemed.
I just care about results. Rubio can be playing a facade for all I care but as long as we get results, that’s what I want.
There seems to be a pattern taking shape.
These GEC type of centers/intuitions/think tanks within the DoS DC silio economy. All seem to have similar sounding nomenclature.
They all seem to be thought-headed up by and in one way or another owe patronage to a certain someone that lost in 2016.
So I think what we are seeing is a Marco that has a good understanding of where some of the rot is located.
Yes, that is right. Don’t think for one moment that big ol swamp plant is a lush thriving plant. The hacking back and up rooting attempts have exposed some of the rot.
Be of good cheer.
You seem to be right about Hillary’s role. At least she was a major participant. Jonathan Turley mentions it in an article on free speech and those who hate it…. https://jonathanturley.org/2025/02/24/the-american-ronin-how-displaced-disinformation-experts-are-seeking-new-opportunities-in-europe-and-academia/
its simple
he wants to be president in 2028
and btw, a leopard does not change its spots
If Rubio is genuine, then he will completely shut down USAID.
Have to verify if it is true, are his Senate buddies calling him to renege on shutting down USAID and instead swoop in to keep certain of their pet grifters cash pipeline open?
He needs to adhere to our November mandate and say no to his buddies who approved his appointment.
Benz has almost been as enlightening as Sundance. Benz has truly exposed the USAID, CIA, State Department cabal. Benz just does not have quite the depth and ability that Sundance brings to the table to complete the total analysis.
Or, perhaps – the willingness?
Benz likes to say his only mission is to restore free speech.
However, he was just basically handed a large victory on that front by the defeat of this corrupt gummint enity.
The next thing to do is to get the people out of power who made free speech need restoring in the first place.
And it must be done – or they will just get back to work destroying it again.
Marco also thinks it can be defended by pointing out the media lies.
No. We’ve done that forever and they keep lying.
The big three alphabets are happily lying because of their granted licenses of the public airwaves for which they don’t even pay.
They ignore the requirement to act in the public interest – that is, not to lie.
Take those licenses away!
seems to me that S. Rubio is an excellent foot soldier for PT’s administration.
he’s doing a remarkably good job.
i’m willing to leave it at that.
any ulterior motives are for another day, and will be visible as they surface.
if he is currently part of a extensive IC op, that too will become apparent in time.
but at this point, i’m not going to throw the baby out with the bath water.
Greetings Sundance & everyone! 🙂
I’ve been thinking that maybe Mitch McConnell had something on Rubio (or threatened him with exposing imperfect things from his past–and also being stripped of all committees and anything else that McConnell could have done to his Senate career), but now that McConnell is out of power and Rubio is no longer in the upper chamber, the old strings are GONE!!!
In addition, Rubio has a wife and four children; at some point, he’ll likely have grandchildren. People want a good, safe, healthy, happy, and prosperous future for their families and loved ones and Biden’s tenure was way past a BRIDGE TOO FAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The damage to our country has been IMMENSE over the years and obviously not just during Biden’s term, though it was STARK!!! As people get older, they focus on the younger generations and wanting to make things better for them.
I’m thankful for anything good we can get out of the Rube, but I don’t trust him. He wasted no time before betraying his promises to the TEA Party base years ago.
But what if Benz is a double agent working inside the CIA to expose it?
You know, the double reverse whammy.
I am sure others have likely beat me to this conclusion, but my instincts tell me someone showed Rubio his “file” and said if you play along with the Trump team we will burn the file. He agreed and they burned his file.
Occam’s razor. Until Rubio’s previous handlers try to destroy him with whatever blackmail/dirt they have, or concoct Lawfare operations against him, or __________, I’m not convinced. As much as I hope I’m wrong, most of the stuff I’ve seen from Rubio has felt like controlled admittances/release similar to what Sundance said about Musk and USAID. These topics are on the cusp of hitting critical mass, so he’s being positioned right before they do.
He’s still on the PLANT list in my book… sadly.
I think the answer is simple. Rubio recognizes that his job is to support the decisions of the President and to implement his policies.
He’s doing a good and honest job.
Rubio: To Protect Free Speech, The Censorship-Industrial Complex Must Be Dismantled
https://thefederalist.com/2025/04/16/rubio-to-protect-free-speech-the-censorship-industrial-complex-must-be-dismantled
I don’t care if Rubio does everything right for the next 4 years under Trump. He will always need to be on a short leash and watched closely. He can never be completely trusted in my opinion.