United States of America

Report: India-Based Accounts Allegedly Promoted Michigan Senate Candidate

Was this a pro-Israel push to buy a Senate seat or proof that U.S. politics now runs on rented fake hype?

4 hours ago·Updated 1 hour ago

Report: India-Based Accounts Allegedly Promoted Michigan Senate Candidate

Story

Above: Early results are broadcast at a primary night watch party for U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens in Detroit on Aug. 4. Image credit: Finn Gomez/Getty Images

The Facts

At least three dozen street-interview videos supporting Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens before Michigan's Aug. 4 Senate primary were allegedly spread by social media accounts based mostly in India, The New York Times reported Monday. Abdul El-Sayed won that race.
The New York Times
TRT World
Account holders were allegedly paid $1 to $5 for every 1,000 views of the clips, which ran on X, Facebook, Instagram and Threads and drew millions of views. None of the posts disclosed that anyone had paid for them, according to the reporting.
The Siasat Daily
The New York Times
Ayush Jain, who runs the Mumbai-based Instagram page Energetic Humor, said he earned about $15 for each of 40 posts published across accounts he controls. His contract required the videos to stay up at least 30 days, and they have since been removed.
The New York Times
The Siasat Daily
Jain was hired by Lumina Clippers, a firm registered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, that uses a United Arab Emirates phone number and is run by Rhys McKay. McKay confirmed the company's role but declined to name the client, citing confidentiality.
The New York Times
TRT World
Antibot4navalny, a volunteer group that tracks Russian trolling, flagged the pro-Stevens push on the Aug. 4 primary day and traced 28 X accounts with more than 7 million views. Clemson University researchers tied some accounts to Chinese bot networks.
Antibot4navalny on X
The New York Times
MS NOW reported in July that coordinated posts from purported Michigan residents backed Stevens without revealing funders, and a campaign spokesman denied involvement. Outside groups put about $60 million behind Stevens, according to AdImpact.
MS Now
The Siasat Daily

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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The Spin

Narrative A

Tens of millions of dollars in dark money from overseas groups, in this case Israel, paired with overseas click farms pushing hits over tax returns, suggest an attempt to buy a Senate seat. Powerful interests wanted El-Sayed's politics kept out of Washington, seemingly willing to launder that goal through anonymous accounts. Michigan Democrats deserved an honest primary, not a manufactured chorus of praise bought offshore.

Brian Tashman on X

Abdul for US Senate

Narrative B

Pinning this on one race or one cause misses how rotted the whole system has become. Paid bot networks now hustle for candidates in both parties, from mayoral primaries to governor's races, using the same hired accounts Russia and China rely on. As long as campaigns can rent fake enthusiasm for pennies per view with no disclosure, no voter can trust what lands in a feed.

Antibot4navalny on X

The New York Times

Editor's Note

This story currently has limited reporting from right-leaning sources. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our coverage as additional perspectives become available.