How does the U.S. government use media organizations and foreign aid agencies to influence regime changes in other countries?

The U.S. government employs a sophisticated system of state-sponsored media manipulation through organizations like USAID and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). According to foreign policy expert Mike Benz, these entities create strategic media hit pieces that serve as tools for political warfare, directly contributing to the toppling of five or six different governments. The process involves investigative journalism that targets foreign leaders with corruption allegations, which prosecutors then use to arrest presidents and prime ministers. This creates a pathway for regime change, allowing the installation of more pro-U.S. political figures in targeted regions. USAID proudly lists 456 arrests and indictments as achievements, though the specific crimes of these individuals remain unclear. This reveals how foreign aid agencies have evolved beyond traditional humanitarian work into instruments of geopolitical influence, blending journalism, legal action, and diplomatic pressure to advance U.S. foreign policy interests.