It's also important to note that Cass Sunstein was hired into the US government after that work, after which both the Smith-Mundt Act was eviscerated and the Ai

It's also important to note that Cass Sunstein was hired into the US government after that work, after which both the Smith-Mundt Act was eviscerated and the Air Force as well as other branches of the government developed workflows for 'engaging public opinion'. The undertone of all of this is that there is a propaganda war going on across the internet and through foreign media companies (and sometimes through NGOs and CSOs) between nations - one component of what is now referred to as hybrid war. The US feels that it needs to respond to the activities of other nations and in particular Russia - though Russia and other nations feel they needs to respond to the US (which propagandizes overseas liberally).