- RFERL Watch
- Mar 23
- 12 min read
Fiat lux, or Latin for "let there be light," is a Latin quote from the Bible, from the Book of Genesis , which describes the creation of the world, which begins with light.
And God said, “Let there be light!” And there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. And He called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night; and there was evening and there was morning, one day.
I admire the simple wisdom of these sentences, which can give the careful observer the magic of knowing their other hidden meanings. There are truly "innumerable" of them in the world, and every "spiritually enlightened" reader can find many of them in any of our previous posts. How about the ones that occur most often here - truth and lies, good and evil, wisdom and stupidity, knowledge and incompetence, trust and betrayal, or unlimited power and helplessness?
We will not read out more sentences from the book of books. We have borrowed only this single quote from the Bible to better introduce you to the events that Radio ГA / ГA has been experiencing together with its employees in the last few weeks. And you will see that there will be both darkness and light.
Sometime around the time when Radio ГA / ГA underwent a painful upgrade to version 2.0, i.e. at a time when, as a dozen non-profit organisations trying to save a lot of American taxpayer money, the management of BBG (the predecessor of today's USAGM) decided not to waste its efforts on spreading the only correct opinion, and so the spheres of influence in the world were redistributed among other mouthpieces of the same group. The sphere of influence was defined and, depending on the people and the occupation of the "oval office", a period of (almost) poverty or abundance occurred.
When the Democrats were there, there was more gunfire and more "splashing," while when the Republicans were there, there was usually more tightening of screws and belts.
It is logical that the local powerhouse Radio ГA / ГA had a “wardrobe wind” every 4 years. On the other hand, with a bit of luck, it managed not to change its coat for even a good 8 years!
But in 2021, things were different. The presidential election campaign had successfully finished the other day, and when it was almost clear who would be the imaginary winner in this game of thrones, "someone" suddenly turned off the lights for a moment. There was darkness, "trma-vrma", some kind of democratic slap was taken, and when the lights came back on after a while, the world and the locals unexpectedly saw a different "Light Bearer".
That was the first time (and hopefully the last time) that a company-wide gathering of employees of the famous Radio ГA / ГA witnessed an online open grilling of the recently appointed new president by the (probably well-informed) vice president of his old-new predecessor.
When this ended prematurely, without the opportunity to fully express himself within the framework of several weeks of "pausing", he subsequently continued as editor-in-chief and owner of the "watchdog" portal "USAGM Watch" (successor to the "BBG Watch" portal).
And what about the old-new president? Here at Radio ГA / ГA, after such a forced short break, he continued ideologically strengthened and spreading the only correctly "aligned" narratives until 2024.
A time of global darkness has arrived. Covid has taken away the health and freedoms of ordinary people, and liberal progressivism, promoted by the long-forgotten empty phrases of modern-day unionists from non-profits, bribed by benefactors from somewhere beyond the great puddle, has begun to stick out its "(un)democratic" claws.
A war broke out behind our barns that no one wanted. Did they really want it? The Orwellian-style idea that "war is peace", "freedom is slavery", "the unconscious is power" and in some countries "that we are at war" began to be slowly hammered into the heads of ordinary people. People's vocabulary was enriched with the words disinformation, narrative, (un)democratic, pro-Russian, pro-Kremlin, people began to be divided not into good and bad, but into those who were right, value-oriented, conscious, and those who were hopelessly lost, desolate, Russian cockroaches, pigs or monkeys.
In addition to the exemplary browning of our noses, we also began to brown our hair all over Europe for the sake of "ear-scratching". Shoemakers, hairdressers, thieves and title sellers, owners of paper money, theorists and later theoretically and practically - (all)capable people rose to power.
In the democratic and free countries of Europe, meanwhile, "defective" websites are being blocked, people are starting to be fired from their jobs for having an opinion, are being quietly closed down, and sometimes even die secretly there. The cancellation of free democratic elections comes as just another level of this "democracy" , as Karel Kryl described it before his death.
And what did Radio ГA / ГA say about it then? It was basically silent and remains silent about it to this day.
More than 75 years ago, when it was still in "version 0.0", ordinary people secretly searched its airwaves for something that would put them on their feet and, like a Lightbearer, show them the light at the end of the tunnel in the totalitarian darkness of that time. Alongside all those media of the "National Front", it fulfilled the true function of an alternative media at that time and fulfilled it until the beginning of the millennium. Priceless!
After a gentle breeze at the end of 2024, a real "Wind of change" suddenly arrives.
Suddenly it's February 2025 and President Trump is canceling USAID without replacement . Confusion and consternation ensue.
Essentially all employees have been sent to employer-side obstacles since February 23, 2025, and approximately 1,600 local employees have subsequently been laid off. There is not much talk about employees outside the US yet. And there is also no talk about ending the money pipelines from American taxpayers that have been feeding the greedy accounts of other unnamed nonprofits for years.
Some considerations suggest that the organisation could return to the days when its predecessor, the "BBG" ("Broadcasting Bureau of Governors"), existed instead of "USAGM". And most importantly, radically slim down this whole bunch. In the terminology of Radio ГA / ГA upgrades, we would see this as a "rollback" to version 1.0, including the need to no longer practice the muzzle law here.
And what about the world? In the meantime, it was enjoying Elon Musk's memorable statement from those days:
„Europe is now free (apart from the stifling bureaucracy) ... No one listens anymore ... It's just radical left-wing fools talking to themselves and burning $1 billion a year of American politicians' money.“Panic is rising all over the world – especially among organisations that were dependent on this money and were funded by this aid through grants through USAGM (“US Global Media”).
To make matters worse, on March 15, 2025 , the following email was sent to "USAGM" employees by their highest in their food chain:
From: Crystal Thomas @ usagm.gov
Date: March 15, 2025 at 9:57:37 AM EDT
Subject: Important Information: Administrative Leave Placement
This email provides important information regarding your employment.
In accordance with the President's Executive Order to Continue Reducing Federal Bureaucracy - White House and Office of Personnel Management guidance regarding probationary periods, administrative leave, and details, and other authorities, including, but not limited to, 5 CFR § 630.1403, effective immediately, the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is placing you on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until further notice. This administrative leave is not being granted for any disciplinary purpose.
Please note the following:
Access to premises and systems:
During the period of administrative leave, you may not enter USAGM premises, access USAGM systems, or in any way attempt to exercise your position or authority at USAGM without my prior permission or the prior permission of a superior at your level of management.
· Government property:
Since you will not be engaged in any official activity during this time, upon request, you will be expected to immediately surrender your official USAGM identification badge and press pass, as well as any keys or other official government property, including documents, records, electronic and telephone devices, and other equipment.
While on paid administrative leave, you must be available on your personal phone and personal email during normal business hours as agency staff may need to contact you. To do so, send an email from your personal email to @ usagm.gov and include your personal contact information, including your phone number, email address, and mailing address, by Monday, March 17, 2025.
You must also remain available to report for work if called upon to do so, and you will be required to do so within one (1) business day after an Agency representative contacts you, either by telephone or electronically. If a situation arises that would prevent you from reporting for work if contacted (e.g., out-of-area travel, medical circumstances, jury duty, etc.), you must contact Crystal Thomas @ usagm.gov and provide information about your unavailability so that your administrative leave can be converted to the appropriate leave category.
During administrative leave, you remain an employee of the Agency. You are required to follow the instructions of your superiors, all laws and regulations, and Agency policies, including the Broadcasting Administrative Manual (BAM).
We will provide you with updates as they become available.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
If you have any concerns or questions, please contact us.
Crystal Thomas @ usagm.gov .
Crystal G. Thomas
Director
Human Resources Office
AMERICAN GLOBAL MEDIA AGENCY
According to our information, in a similar vein, but with a delay of several hours, the employees of Radio ГA / ГA were also informed by their superiors. They had been preparing for this bolt from the blue since Friday. They were told to wait for further information and for now the only thing they are sure of is that they have a guaranteed salary until the end of the month.
Contracts and contracted services are currently being terminated.
As time goes by, the sound of rusty, more than seventy-year-old keys jingling echoes through the house, accompanied by the uncompromising voice of the master of the house - "WE'RE CLOSING!"
And in the meantime, another job scam about essentially the same thing is spreading through the local media.
How to remain unbiased and indifferent to these events?
We know many of them who, after several decades of hard work, will have to compete again in the job market. They want to not hesitate and throw themselves into work somewhere else as soon as possible. A few hundred people "in a labor vacuum", supporting themselves and their families, could be quite a "scum" even for the Prague labor pond.
We wish all of them success and happiness.
Day after day, Saturday, March 15, 2025, was here with news that didn't leave a single "Sunny" eye dry.
Since it cannot be expected that this radical decision by the American administration would be met with understanding from the management of Radio ГA / ГA, let's speculate in the style of "what if".
A stone and a flock of sparrows
This effect could be compared to the impact of a stone among a flock of sparrows. The sparrows scatter into the surrounding area and watch from a distance what will happen next. It is the same among people. Those who have the power to influence their further survival here make quick, short-term conditional agreements.
They know that at first it will be necessary to reduce the numbers by about 20%, and that is why they are looking around to see who could be the first to leave. We would see it this way, in the spirit of their deep moral traditions, the oldest will go first. Then those who have proven themselves over the years as those who cannot defend themselves will follow them. Or perhaps the complainers! The system will gradually purge itself of its weaker pieces, leaving only the most predatory pieces, who will meet in the final battle on the eve of the institution's closure in the definitive battle of over-motivated crows.
It is not ruled out that several lawsuits will be filed, as is tradition and custom in similar situations.
Safety first
The first casualty of freezing money is always security. The number of people responsible for protecting the facilities is reduced. There is no need to have so many doormen. It is enough to guard only one entrance, right?
Computer security will follow.
Is it necessary to have so many people at computer support staff? Is it necessary for them to work shifts and use up overtime compensation? And what about the employees? They will be sent home to work from home. This will save on energy, cleaning and food. That work productivity will fall and the number of data leaks via unsecured home Wifi will increase? No problem - they have to survive.
You don't (have to) eat.
The ostentatious restaurant with the black "dress code" staff must go. The number of courses will be reduced and the waitress will be fired. Food will be brought on a tray like in the former "Koruna" canteen. And the canteen? It is not necessary. It will be replaced by self-service machines.
They are considering firing the first manager in this money-cutting mess. They will make him a "Food Manager", aka head taster, and use the money saved to buy a cold counter.
No unnecessary things
Employees will be encouraged to bring their own hygiene products or work from home. Rooms will be additionally equipped with motion sensors to prevent unnecessary lighting. Computers will be automatically turned off when employees leave their desks.
There will be no printing, and if there is, only double-sided printing. Shared battery-powered flashlights will be used in the toilets, the distribution of which will be the responsibility of the materials department.
To avoid complaints and unforeseen reactions to subsequent measures, a toilet roll and standardised apple-scented soap will be distributed on payday.
No more spilling
All long-term contracts will be terminated with immediate effect, without any penalty. When paying for contracts that have already been concluded, it is recommended to switch to the "dead bug" mode. It is recommended to redirect assigned phone numbers or use appropriate voice modulators with a Chinese accent.
In exceptional cases, but only after ensuring the necessary replacement, it is possible to return mobile phones to the property department.
What to add at the end?
Again, a little bit of that story about the fates of those whose names we have encountered regularly on the pages of this blog for the past few years. It would be a great shame not to remember some of the names on this important event...
Both #RC ("Remotely controlled") and #JC ("Joints Smoker") are long gone and are still waiting for their karma.
The first one is being remotely controlled in some insignificant non-profit organisation and it is not at all out of the question that he will suffer a similar fate here. People with a vacuum cleaner hose instead of a spine are invaluable in such organisations.
The latter was seen in a smaller marketing firm in France and, with a steady supply of suitable "stuff", could remain insignificant in this country for a long time.
#MS ("Mr. Sushi")
For #MS ("Mr.Sushi"), the real harvest could now come.
As a downsizing specialist with extensive experience in this area of human resources, he is a truly invaluable gift to any company in a similar situation. The sad thing is that after 15 years of a stellar career at the local institute, he will probably suffer the fate of those he helped to ruthlessly "fire" while building it.
#MV ("Mgr.Prasátko")
An external lawyer from the renowned law firm #MV ("Mgr.Prasátko"), who boasts in his written statements of several awards in the field of labor law, ends up with an empty trough and no regular watering due to dry cash flows.
This will definitively become the only textbook example of the success of the new American administration's measures in saving taxpayers' money.
However, we are a little worried about its future fate, because in our country the saying still applies - "many snails, but few cabbages".
#LA ("Leklá Andělka")
One of the last members of the star team of the righteous, #LA ("Leklá Andělka"), who has been moving between the floors of the "Hagibor Fortress" (recently downwards) for 11 years, will definitely end up outside its inner circle.
Without the authority to sign invoices for #MV ("Mgr.Prasátko") for his office's legal services, it will become, in the spirit of the proverb "where there is nothing, even death does not take", definitively unnecessary for Radio ГA / ГA.
However, it is not ruled out that someone unsubmissive will appear here, for whom she will be forced to brush up on the established manual in the style of "How do we do it? According to the template!" , which will again call her into action.
Vox populi, vox Dei (anonymous contribution, presented without linguistic correction)
"That project of political manipulation that emerged after World War II under the guise of humanity and democracy, which many nations foolishly jumped on... was clever in the name of world domination, but crazy in light of the collapse of basic social and national values... Thank God that this lying cesspool is ending... it was about time... That building is a memento of the wasted resources of ordinary Americans... and hope for the still stupid American vassals..."
We end up with those who can guide us through the darkness and selflessly light our way.
"Light-bearers are messengers of light and goodness. They are supposedly sent to our world to help and balance the forces between good and evil. They are not angels, but they are very similar to them. Some of the higher Light-bearers are more powerful. They are more like an intermediate stage between our world and heaven. They always come to earth for a purpose, and their presence is never accidental. Everything they do has its purpose and a pre-thought-out procedure."
So let light guide our lives!
