I don't think there's anyone with a significant public image who you couldn't make a case for being controlled op if they talk about these things.
The main thing I ask is - do his actions match his words wrt his beliefs?
Like Elon is blatant, handing Twitter to the fuckin WEF.
Is there anything Russell is doing that runs counter to his stated beliefs?
I think his approach of presenting the facts and citing sources, encouraging people to do their own independent research and come to their own conclusions, is the opposite of what a controlled op would do.
He's literally telling people think for themselves and distrust authority, be sceptical. Controlled op just throws out soundbites that sound good but doesn't go any deeper (again, Elon is a good example) as a general rule.
I don't especially like his whole clown persona he puts on either but I don't see anything malicious.