From Mother Jones · David Corn · · 2m
Russia's fake Mother Jones deepfake hits midterms
A Russian disinformation network called Matryoshka is flooding social media with deepfakes impersonating major news outlets to influence the 2026 midterm elections.
In brief
A Russian disinformation network called Matryoshka is flooding social media with deepfakes impersonating major news outlets to influence the 2026 midterm elections. Russian disinformation operations are actively targeting US elections with deepfakes and fake news reports, and the Trump administration has dismantled…
Fake Mother Jones video goes viral
A deepfake video falsely branded with Mother Jones's logo claimed the DNC paid CNN $259 million to promote gender transition. It racked up 205,000 views across X before being removed.
The video featured fake editor quotes
The deepfake included Clara Jeffery, Mother Jones's real editor-in-chief, appearing to praise Anonymous for exposing Democratic corruption. She never said this.
“"great gift from Anonymous, which exposes the moral decay of the Democrats"”
Meet Matryoshka, Russia's disinformation network
Storm-1679, also called Matryoshka after Russian nesting dolls, is a Russian operation flooding US social media with election-related deepfakes designed to help Trump and Republicans.
Celebrity deepfakes spread false messages
Matryoshka created fake videos of Sarah Jessica Parker, Christopher Lloyd, Ed Begley Jr., and Julia Roberts appearing to attack Democrats and urge Republican votes.
“"When I hear about Democrats, I immediately think of corrupt Nazi whores"”
Fake news from major outlets
The network created dozens of false reports impersonating CNN, The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Politico, PBS, and ABC News to spread disinformation about Democratic candidates.
Matryoshka's 2024 campaign against Harris
In 2024, Matryoshka spread false claims that Kamala Harris had an abortion at seventeen, had early-onset Alzheimer's, and that her family was connected to Pfizer.
Elon Musk amplified a Matryoshka fake
Musk shared a Matryoshka deepfake claiming USAID paid celebrities millions to travel to Ukraine, including Angelina Jolie for $20 million. It got 11 million views.
A viral false claim about Tim Walz
In 2024, a Matryoshka lie that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz inappropriately touched a student went viral after being amplified by Jack Posobiec and Candace Owens.
Putin's been doing this since 2016
Russia has mounted disinformation operations in every US national election since 2016 to sow discord and help Trump. Matryoshka's current midterm operation signals Putin is at it again.
Trump shut down the defense units
The Trump administration has shuttered FBI, intelligence, and State Department units that tracked Russian disinformation and foreign interference, leaving the US vulnerable to midterm attacks.
Matryoshka has a clear shot at 2026
With no government units to counter Russian disinformation and Trump leaving the door open, Matryoshka and other Russian operations can freely influence the midterms to help Republicans.
The big picture
Russian disinformation operations are actively targeting US elections with deepfakes and fake news reports, and the Trump administration has dismantled the government units that tracked and countered these threats.
