Here's one for free speech absolutists to chew on: What should the French government do when the former head of Russian state television's French-language channel is offered a place of rank on an all-news station with a free-to-air broadcast license and she touts Kremlin propaganda lines with little or no pushback or fact-checking? Introducing Xenia Fedorova, who's just had her 10-year residency permit approved and who's become the darling of far-right shipping magnate-turned-media mogul Vincent Bolloré, the same Bolloré who’s swooped for French TV, radio, print and publishing outlets.
Read moreFormer RT France chief Xenia Fedorova fuels concerns over pro-Kremlin influence in French media
How much of what Fedorova says is opinion and how much is disinformation? How much can one billionaire's personal views shape French public opinion ahead of a presidential poll next year where the pro-Putin, pro-Trump far right holds the early lead?
Contrast that with current state policy. On Sunday, France seized another sanctioned Russian tanker with UK support. In the face of repeated Russia-linked aggressions big and small, Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer have doubled down in their support for Ukraine. How much can and should Europeans push back?
Read moreFrance backed by Britain intercepts sanctioned oil tanker sailing from Russia
Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip, Charles Wente.
