CIA’s Operation Mockingbird: How the Intelligence Agency Manipulated the Press to Spread Propaganda | World News

The Cold War Shadow: CIA’s Operation Mockingbird Returns to Political Spotlight

Former congresswoman and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has ignited fresh controversy by claiming that Operation Mockingbird—a once-secret CIA program designed to influence media—continues to operate in today’s political landscape. Gabbard alleges the program is being weaponized against political figures, including former President Donald Trump.

Her assertions have revived public interest in this Cold War-era intelligence operation that transformed respected newsrooms into vehicles for government messaging and propaganda. Initially dismissed by many as conspiracy theory, Operation Mockingbird’s existence was later confirmed through declassified documents and congressional testimony, revealing a troubling reality: American media outlets were systematically co-opted to influence public opinion.

Operation Mockingbird emerged in the late 1940s during the early Cold War, when the United States found itself engaged in an ideological battle with the Soviet Union. The CIA, established in 1947, recognized that controlling information was as crucial as traditional espionage operations. Under CIA Director Allen Dulles, the agency developed a sophisticated network of media connections to shape domestic and international narratives favorable to U.S. interests.

Frank Wisner, who led the CIA’s Office of Policy Coordination, reportedly referred to the program as his “Mighty Wurlitzer”—a metaphor for the agency’s ability to manipulate public opinion like a well-orchestrated instrument. The operation recruited prominent journalists from major newspapers, magazines, and broadcasting networks, sometimes with their knowledge, other times without.

By embedding operatives in influential media organizations, the CIA gained the power to plant stories, shape coverage, and distribute classified information as strategic “leaks.” The program reportedly extended to prestigious institutions including The New York Times, Time Magazine, and CBS News.

Notable figures implicated in the operation included Joseph Alsop, a widely read syndicated columnist allegedly on the CIA’s payroll, and CBS founder William Paley, who reportedly allowed intelligence operatives access to the network’s journalists and overseas newsrooms.

The program’s existence remained largely concealed until the 1970s, when a series of journalistic investigations and congressional inquiries brought it to light. Carl Bernstein’s 1977 exposé in Rolling Stone revealed that more than 400 American journalists had secretly carried out assignments for the CIA over a 25-year period.

The most significant official confirmation came from the Church Committee hearings in 1975, chaired by Senator Frank Church. The committee substantiated allegations that the CIA had systematically infiltrated major news organizations and that some editors had knowingly permitted intelligence agents to use their platforms for disinformation campaigns.

While the CIA claimed to have discontinued these practices in the late 1970s, critics note that no verifiable external oversight mechanism was established to ensure the program truly ended.

Gabbard’s recent statements suggest that Operation Mockingbird never actually ceased but merely evolved with the times. “There are people in the intelligence community who believe their will is more important than the will of the American people,” she stated in a recent interview. “They weaponize intelligence by leaking it to their friends in the media with the intent of undermining President Trump’s agenda.”

While these claims remain contested, they tap into broader public concerns about media integrity in the digital era, particularly when anonymous sources and selective intelligence leaks play such influential roles in shaping political narratives.

The legacy of Operation Mockingbird extends beyond historical interest. It has permanently affected public trust in media institutions. In today’s environment of misinformation and partisan media, critics argue that propaganda techniques have simply adapted to new platforms rather than disappeared.

The damage caused by such programs goes beyond specific false narratives. It undermines the foundational credibility of the press, fosters public skepticism toward journalism, and blurs distinctions between independent reporting and state messaging. Media institutions intended to hold power accountable instead became instruments of that power.

While skeptics maintain that references to Operation Mockingbird today are often exaggerated for political purposes, whistleblower testimonies and investigative reporting continue to suggest ongoing relationships between intelligence agencies and media organizations. The evolving landscape of digital media, with its complex network of influencers and information channels, provides fertile ground for modern information operations.

As political polarization intensifies and information warfare becomes more sophisticated, the lessons of Operation Mockingbird remain relevant. The program serves as a reminder that the struggle for truth often occurs behind closed doors, leaving citizens to question who shapes the stories they consume and for what purpose.

Whether Gabbard’s claims reflect current reality or historical concerns, they raise a critical question: In our digital information ecosystem, have we truly exorcised the ghosts of Mockingbird, or have they simply adapted to nest in new platforms?