>That must be it then, I wasn't aware. Thanks for correcting me.

You weren't wrong. Try to get RT to show up without specifying "RT"/"Russia today"/etc. I can search RT article titles with quotes but the original RT link will be on the second page if at all.

Now repeat this experiment with the NYTimes and compare the outcome.

DDG may not delist RT but you would not be a fool to suspect DDG throttles the visibility.