In an era of false reporting discovered in "commercial" media outlets, black ops with no accountability and and budgets that are not public nor scrutinized, is it feasible that it could be abused to program a population?
Question is based upon a false premise. Black ops (what is that anyway?) do have scrutiny and accountability, it is just not in the customary, public way. Not sure what 'control the media' means. Except in the era of Allen Dulles when his colleagues and friends ran major media outlets (newspapers) and pushed pro-Am, anti-Communism propaganda. But those days are over. Even journalists do not govern/control journalism
I'm not so sure. Some broadcast cable networks resemble an efficient communications platform to agents in multiple geographies, such as the 5 eyes. Consistency of narrative across "competing" media coincidence? Perhaps, perhaps not. Black ops is understood to exist and its importance to industrialized complex is more significant than to society when abused. Illegal spying, operation PRISN, and mockingbird project are not fallacies or imaginations... neither are covert wars that undermine society and human rights for intentions that are not dictated by elected officials and the public's will... I disagree with much of the denial of the premise and am cautiously cynical that we are in an era being controlled by black ops, dark pool funding and powers that circumvent the interests of society but benefit those who divert the funds and resources for their interpretation of what is needed, against the awareness or will of the people and against the interests of humanity
Plausible deniability is a legalistic ideology that also can be abused to circumvent democracy, constitutional laws, and the basis for the United States of America. Lipstick on a pig is not the same as integrity. The nation is lacking integrity politically and potentially in areas that extend beyond the political arena. Integrity can be restored, and the willingness to challenge conventional acceptance of established norms is healthy and useful if true democracy and and a democratic republic is the goal. If on the other hand, it is desired to control the narrative, deceive the public, and create elitist power structures that, by nature, is disingenuous, the Rome II would be an expected outcome.
Ultimately, in the United States of America, if full faith and credit in the ideals and practices are not believable, then the United States becomes an exported global failed experiment, destined to the common history that has been witnessed in Egypt, Germany, Spain, Italy, England, Japan, and other stagnated nations where power over the people took place rather than embracing the power of the people.
That is not to suggest that organization and structure are irrelevant, but it is to seek to question if we have lost that foundational view and if we are now in an era of siloed power structures that compete directly with the principles that founded this great nation.