Exclusive: In response to protests in Iran and a significant U.S. operation in Venezuela, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) swiftly redirected information into some of the world’s most restricted media environments, according to agency director Kari Lake in a recent interview.
Early on January 3, reports started emerging about a military operation aimed at removing Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, prompting USAGM, which oversees broadcasting in regions with limited press freedom, to act without delay.
“Once I learned about the situation in Venezuela, particularly the bravery of the soldiers who helped oust Maduro, I reached out to the Miami team handling the Cuban station,” Lake recalled.
She noted that the station quickly expanded its operations—boosting broadcasts, increasing language services, and hiring more staff within hours to reach audiences through Radio Martí, broadcasting not just to Cuba but also Venezuela and throughout Latin America.
“Immediately, they were deployed to the newsroom to report and provide insight into the unfolding events,” Lake stated. “They began broadcasting in Spanish, reaching out to listeners in Cuba and across the Caribbean. We’re pushing our broadcasts further to connect with more Cubans.”
“When Cubans learn that Maduro has been overthrown, it sparks hope for their own freedom. We want to encourage people to stand up for better conditions—because enough is enough. That’s why we’re doing relentless reporting,” she added.
USAGM’s Voice of America provided live updates during President Trump’s significant speeches concerning Venezuela, capturing millions of viewer impressions globally.
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A week before the upheaval in Venezuela, protests erupted in Iran against Khomeini’s regime, prompting a USAGM response to yet another global crisis.
“Consider the situation in Iran,” Lake expressed. “The Iranian populace has endured harsh living conditions for 47 years under an oppressive regime without access to reliable news. We aimed to provide them with truthful reporting.”
“We’re committed to increasing our coverage and hiring more contractors to enhance our hours of reporting. The scenes on Iranian streets are historic. People are declaring their desire for freedom, and we’re there to document it,” she continued.
In the wake of protests in Iran, USAGM expanded its services through Voice of America’s Persian-language branch, significantly increasing satellite TV programming. In just 12 days of unrest, the service added seven hours of live broadcasts, including prime-time coverage on January 3 and 4, and extended evening newscasts as protests intensified.
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As the unrest persisted, VOA’s Farsi service elevated its online presence, releasing 52 articles focused on the protests by January 7. They also shared over 1,700 pieces of content on various social media platforms, including more than 170 user-generated videos from within Iran capturing the demonstrations and government repression.
This increase in coverage led to a record audience for VOA’s Persian-language site, reaching 1.69 million daily visitors on December 28 and an overall increase of approximately 15% during the protests.
Lake highlighted the connection between the Iran and Cuba coverage, noting that they are keeping both nations informed about developments in each other’s situations.
”The concerns of the Iranian people regarding the events in Venezuela are tangible. We’re actively collaborating between the Cuban broadcasts and the Farsi service to ensure everyone living under these regimes knows they are not alone in their struggles,” she stated.
This historic scenario allows connected awareness between those in Cuba and Iran regarding current affairs in each other’s countries. I truly believe we are nearing a time where people can find the freedom they’ve been lacking for so long.
Lake’s comments about improving agency structure stem from a desire to avoid wasteful government practices, which she believes hinder the propagation of U.S. interests abroad.
”We entered government during a challenging time, aiming to streamline operations,” Lake explained, indicating that previous USAGM inefficiencies often contradicted U.S. foreign policy priorities.
“The agency was bloated. The President issued an executive order to reduce it to essential functions. We stripped away unnecessary layers and focused on our core duties, despite facing legal challenges claiming we couldn’t report the news. But when significant events happen, coverage inevitably ramps up,” she emphasized.
“With my 30 years in media, I know that when big news breaks, interest surges—which is precisely what we’ve achieved,” Lake concluded.
