A chilling trend is unfolding across the United States as state legislatures pass a slew of anti-China bills that critics warn could stifle free speech, create administrative burdens for ordinary citizens, and invite politically motivated civil penalties.
At the heart of this movement are two dark-money organizations, State Shield and State Armor, which have been quietly fueling the legislative frenzy. Funded by opaque sources, these groups have been testifying in favor of state-level foreign agent registries that go far beyond the existing Federal Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
The Nebraska bill, dubbed the Foreign Adversary and Terrorist Agent Registration Act, creates a state registry for agents working on behalf of entities deemed "adversary" countries. While framed as an effort to curb Chinese influence, civil liberties advocates contend that the bill bears the hallmarks of modern-day McCarthyism – a movement characterized by fear-mongering, blacklisting, and intimidation.
The bill's expansive requirements would force businesses, universities, and humanitarian organizations to register as foreign agents if they engage in activities that advocate on behalf of a foreign principal. This could include seemingly innocuous actions like selling crops to companies with Chinese ownership or hosting public talks with dissident groups.
The stakes are high: failure to comply with the bill's requirements could result in a $50,000 penalty and, for noncitizens, deportation. The law's broad language has raised concerns that it would have a chilling effect on citizens across states that have passed similar legislation.
Critics point to the involvement of dark-money organizations as evidence of a broader pattern of influence peddling and intimidation. "This is like if George W. Bush had said Code Pink was Al Qaeda," says Miles Taylor, a former chief of staff for the Department of Homeland Security. "It's not about China; it's about using fear to control people."
As lawmakers continue to push anti-China legislation, experts warn that the trend could spread beyond Nebraska and other states. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a nonprofit with ties to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, has published a draft model policy bill that mirrors the Nebraska bill.
"This is not hyperbole," says Spike Eickholt, a government liaison at the ACLU of Nebraska. "Court orders are being ignored. MAGA loyalists have been put in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency has stripped Congress of its power of the purse."
The Intercept stands committed to covering authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world – including this alarming trend in the United States. We invite you to join us in supporting independent journalism and press freedom.
At the heart of this movement are two dark-money organizations, State Shield and State Armor, which have been quietly fueling the legislative frenzy. Funded by opaque sources, these groups have been testifying in favor of state-level foreign agent registries that go far beyond the existing Federal Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
The Nebraska bill, dubbed the Foreign Adversary and Terrorist Agent Registration Act, creates a state registry for agents working on behalf of entities deemed "adversary" countries. While framed as an effort to curb Chinese influence, civil liberties advocates contend that the bill bears the hallmarks of modern-day McCarthyism – a movement characterized by fear-mongering, blacklisting, and intimidation.
The bill's expansive requirements would force businesses, universities, and humanitarian organizations to register as foreign agents if they engage in activities that advocate on behalf of a foreign principal. This could include seemingly innocuous actions like selling crops to companies with Chinese ownership or hosting public talks with dissident groups.
The stakes are high: failure to comply with the bill's requirements could result in a $50,000 penalty and, for noncitizens, deportation. The law's broad language has raised concerns that it would have a chilling effect on citizens across states that have passed similar legislation.
Critics point to the involvement of dark-money organizations as evidence of a broader pattern of influence peddling and intimidation. "This is like if George W. Bush had said Code Pink was Al Qaeda," says Miles Taylor, a former chief of staff for the Department of Homeland Security. "It's not about China; it's about using fear to control people."
As lawmakers continue to push anti-China legislation, experts warn that the trend could spread beyond Nebraska and other states. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a nonprofit with ties to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, has published a draft model policy bill that mirrors the Nebraska bill.
"This is not hyperbole," says Spike Eickholt, a government liaison at the ACLU of Nebraska. "Court orders are being ignored. MAGA loyalists have been put in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency has stripped Congress of its power of the purse."
The Intercept stands committed to covering authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world – including this alarming trend in the United States. We invite you to join us in supporting independent journalism and press freedom.
. It's like they're creating a whole new system of fear-mongering, where anyone who talks to dissident groups or does business with Chinese-owned companies is basically going to get slapped with penalties 
. And the dark-money orgs behind it? Not cool at all 
. We need to be careful not to let this kind of intimidation start chipping away at our civil liberties 
.
. It's like, what's next? Are we gonna start putting people in re-education camps just for having Chinese friends 
?
. They're basically bribing lawmakers to pass these bills that restrict free speech and stifle dissent 
. It's like, they want to create a climate of fear where people are too scared to speak out against the government 
.
. We've got ALEC pushing for model bills that mirror these Nebraska laws 
. It's like, we're sliding down a slippery slope where authoritarianism and censorship become the norm 
.
, not just the interests of big donors and special interests 
.
.
. Let's focus on protecting free speech, not stifling it. And what's with the $50,000 penalty for noncompliance? That's just a clear attempt to silence dissenting voices 
.
. And what's with the ALEC tie-in? That just screams "astroturfing" 
. We need more transparency and less fear-mongering in our politics 
.
! Like, who decides that Chinese companies or dissident groups are 'adversaries' anyway? And the idea of just because you sell crops to a company with Chinese ownership, you gotta register as a foreign agent?! That sounds like some super aggressive and fear-mongering stuff 
.
. And the stakes being so high with potential $50,000 penalties and deportation? 
That's some serious chill-out-the-free-speech vibes 
its all about the fear mongerin and intimidation, not about China at all 
.
. It's all about using fear to control people, and that's not okay 
The fact that dark-money orgs are secretly funding this stuff is just the icing on the cake – it's proof that these politicians are more interested in lining their own pockets than serving the people 
. We need to stand up against this kind of authoritarianism and protect our civil liberties 
. It's not about China; it's about silencing dissenting voices and limiting free speech 
.
. It feels like we're heading towards a super restrictive environment where ppl are gonna be hella cautious about expressing themselves, especially if they're interacting with anyone from China 
. I mean, what's next? Registering as a foreign agent for liking a certain social media post? 
. The ACLU is doing some awesome work, and I'm all for supporting them 
. And it's not even about China itself, it's about using fear to control people, that's the real issue here 
. The whole thing reeks of McCarthyism and I don't think our country needs that kind of hysteria again