One thing literally no one on this thread thusfar has mentioned is that the Department of Justice has compelled RT and Sputnik to fill out the paperwork[1] for FARA[2] registration. The DOJ isn't going to just target journalists for FARA registration without some sort of (probably classified under a FISA order) information letting them know that indeed, this org is working as an agent for a foreign government. Thus far, RT has not complied.

[1] http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/3...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Agents_Registration_Ac...