Funding:
• $2 million in grants from USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
• Partnered with the U.S. State Department’s “democracy promotion” initiatives.
• Funded by Open Society Foundations (Soros) and Omidyar Network.
• Worked with the U.S. Embassy in Manila on “media training” programs for Philippine journalists.

What they do:
Rappler brands itself as the Philippines’ leading “independent” investigative news outlet, but in reality, it is a U.S.-funded disinformation operation designed to undermine sovereign governments that resist Washington’s influence.

Major Exposures:

1. USAID & NED’s Role
• USAID and NED poured millions into Rappler, labeling it a “democracy-building” effort.
• In 2016, as Rodrigo Duterte moved closer to China and rejected U.S. military influence, Rappler dramatically escalated anti-Duterte narratives.
• U.S. State Department officials confirmed that funding pro-Western media in the Philippines was a strategic priority.

2. Promoting U.S. Narratives on China & the South China Sea
• Rappler aggressively pushes U.S. foreign policy objectives in the South China Sea dispute, framing the Philippines as needing U.S. “protection.”
• Published dozens of pieces portraying China’s economic ties with Manila as a “national security threat.”
• Repeatedly downplays U.S. military expansion in the Philippines, despite widespread local opposition.

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ZGoldenReport @ZGoldenReport

Feb 7

3. Coordinating With U.S. Agencies to Influence Philippine Elections
• USAID-backed Rappler was a key player in the 2022 Philippine presidential elections.
• Actively promoted U.S.-favored candidate Leni Robredo while demonizing Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
• U.S. Embassy & NED officials held closed-door meetings with Rappler editors during the campaign.

4. Rappler’s Role in “Fact-Checking” Dissent
• Works with Facebook and Google’s “fact-checking” initiatives—which have been caught selectively suppressing anti-Western perspectives.
• Rappler used its influence to censor pro-Duterte content, labeling it “disinformation” while allowing anti-Duterte falsehoods to spread freely.
• Fact-checks that challenge Western narratives are systematically removed from Rappler’s platforms.

5. Legal Trouble Over Foreign Interference
• In 2018, Rappler was banned from receiving foreign funds after violating Philippine media ownership laws.
• The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ruled that Rappler was acting as a foreign-funded entity, not an independent domestic news outlet.
• Rappler falsely claimed this was an “attack on press freedom,” while ignoring clear evidence of its U.S. funding ties.

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