Donald Trump's QAnon cult rally: If you thought the fever was breaking, think again
2 years, 3 months ago

Donald Trump's QAnon cult rally: If you thought the fever was breaking, think again

Salon  

Donald Trump continues to be the most dangerous man in America. Last month, the left-leaning watchdog group Media Matters for America identified that rising melody — hinting of a coming storm — that appeared again Saturday in Youngstown as either a) "Wwg1wga," with its title an abbreviation of the main QAnon slogan "Where we go one, we go all," that was posted to Spotify in 2020 and often appears with online posts about the conspiracy theory, or b) an exactly identical number called "Mirrors," as claimed by Team Trump. In a new op-ed for MSNBC, Zeeshan Aleem discusses the already infamous moment when many of Trump's supporters saluted him with the "QAnon linked-hand signal." As Wajahat Ali writes at the Daily Beast, the language of "hate-fueled violence" favored by leading Democrats and the mainstream media only serves to cloud the issue, since the threat of violence "is primarily coming from a single source": n incestuous network of MAGA actors, promoted by the GOP and right-wing media, who have increasingly threatened law enforcement, Democrats, educators, poll watchers, doctors, Republicans who don't support Trump, and anyone and every institution that stands in the way of their white Christian nationalist utopia. New research by the Washington Post on how the Big Lie spreads through social media identifies "a powerful generation of online influencers" that emerged as a direct result of Trump's claims of election fraud.

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History of this topic

Trump shares social media posts with QAnon phrases and calls for jailing lawmakers, special counsel
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Trump shares social media posts with QAnon phrases and calls for jailing lawmakers, special counsel

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Donald Trump shared more than a dozen posts on his social media network Wednesday that call for the trial or jailing of House lawmakers who investigated the attack on the U.S. Capitol, special counsel Jack Smith and others, along with images that reference the QAnon conspiracy theory. James Singer, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, said the …

Opinion: QAnon has gone local, with strange repercussions in California’s Shasta County and beyond
1 year, 9 months ago

Opinion: QAnon has gone local, with strange repercussions in California’s Shasta County and beyond

LA Times  

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors has “ upended the county’s election process,” the Los Angeles Times reported last week, “canceling its contract with Dominion Voting Systems.” The county could opt to hand-count ballots instead, which would likely delay results and promote more suspicion of elections. From Michigan to California, dozens of elected local officials have promoted QAnon conspiracy theories …

Why Trump went full QAnon: He's desperate — and "those are the only people he's got left"
2 years, 2 months ago

Why Trump went full QAnon: He's desperate — and "those are the only people he's got left"

Salon  

During Donald Trump's Sept. 17 rally in Youngstown, Ohio, members of the audience began to sway in time with the music playing over the loudspeakers and pointed their index fingers in the air as the former president talked about the supposed disintegration of the United States. On Friday, at another rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, he seemed to invoke QAnon's …

Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump and QAnon: Will appeals to extremism backfire in the midterms?
2 years, 3 months ago

Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump and QAnon: Will appeals to extremism backfire in the midterms?

Salon  

It's telling how normalized events like this have become; they barely make ripples now in the national news. It's hard to follow for those who aren't already well-versed in the right's mythology accusing LGBTQ people and their allies of "grooming" children to be victims of sexual abuse. Carlson doesn't say the word "QAnon," because he's clever enough to build plausible …

Donald Trump has gone full QAnon in recent weeks
2 years, 3 months ago

Donald Trump has gone full QAnon in recent weeks

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I haven’t heard that, but is that supposed …

Trump openly embraces, amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories
2 years, 3 months ago

Trump openly embraces, amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories

Associated Press  

After winking at QAnon for years, Donald Trump is overtly embracing the baseless conspiracy theory, even as the number of frightening real-world events linked to it grows. On Tuesday, using his Truth Social platform, the Republican former president reposted an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words “The Storm is Coming.” In QAnon lore, the …

Trump openly embraces, amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories
2 years, 3 months ago

Trump openly embraces, amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories

Associated Press  

After winking at QAnon for years, Donald Trump is overtly embracing the baseless conspiracy theory, even as the number of frightening real-world events linked to it grows. On Tuesday, using his Truth Social platform, the Republican former president reposted an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words “The Storm is Coming.” In QAnon lore, the …

Trump fully embraces QAnon on Truth Social — hours after obsessed supporter allegedly killed wife
2 years, 3 months ago

Trump fully embraces QAnon on Truth Social — hours after obsessed supporter allegedly killed wife

Salon  

In his one-term presidency, Donald Trump pushed out a number of notorious conspiracy theories tied to voter fraud, climate change and vaccines, but it wasn't until recently that Trump expressed his explicit support for QAnon – which promotes the idea that Trump is the savior of the American people. Despite the dangers of endorsing a movement the FBI has labeled …

'How much more obvious can it get?' QAnon believers ecstatic over Trump's endorsement in latest meme
2 years, 3 months ago

'How much more obvious can it get?' QAnon believers ecstatic over Trump's endorsement in latest meme

Raw Story  

On Tuesday, VICE reported that QAnon adherents are rejoicing over former President Donald Trump's increasingly open embrace of their movement, symbols, and slogans. " Trump shared a picture of himself wearing a Q lapel pin, overlaid with the QAnon phrases 'The Storm is Coming' and 'WWG1WGA,' on his Truth Social account on Monday evening. QAnon adherents never explain why Trump …

‘He’s spreading QAnon conspiracies!’ Morning Joe says Trump instantly proved Biden correct on GOP extremism
2 years, 3 months ago

‘He’s spreading QAnon conspiracies!’ Morning Joe says Trump instantly proved Biden correct on GOP extremism

Raw Story  

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough said Donald Trump proved President Joe Biden correct on Republican extremism. The current president has in recent days called out Republican extremism, which he described as "semi-fascism," and the "Morning Joe" host pointed out that the former president was spreading violent conspiracy theories the same day that Biden condemned GOP attacks on law enforcement. "Joe Biden is …

Dozens of QAnon accounts are being white-listed on Trump's Truth Social
2 years, 3 months ago

Dozens of QAnon accounts are being white-listed on Trump's Truth Social

Raw Story  

There is a concern that Donald Trump's social media site could go dark as a hosting bill of over $1 million has gone unpaid. When asked whether he agreed their conspiracy theories were "cray" or "untrue," he replied, “I don’t know about QAnon.” Months later, speaking with the U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other aides, and saying that …

QAnon's 'Q' delivers first new messages since 2020
2 years, 6 months ago

QAnon's 'Q' delivers first new messages since 2020

Salon  

On Friday, amidst the chaos of the news of the Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, QAnon's 'Q' left the first new series of messages since 2020. — was left using 'Q's credentials on what Daily Beast refers to as an "anarchic internet community" called 8kun, and was later followed up with "Are you ready to serve your …

Alex Jones explodes at caller over 'damn' QAnon: 'I have to put up with the Q people all over the place!'
2 years, 7 months ago

Alex Jones explodes at caller over 'damn' QAnon: 'I have to put up with the Q people all over the place!'

Raw Story  

Notorious conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Monday said that the QAnon movement had helped Democrats "steal the election." "Q is such a horrible thing that I hate even talking about it," Jones said, comparing the movement to a "cult." "And the damn Q people were the ones that manipulated some people to go into the damn Capitol and work with …

QAnon leader attending Arizona rally scrambles to convince followers Trump isn't a 'body double'
2 years, 11 months ago

QAnon leader attending Arizona rally scrambles to convince followers Trump isn't a 'body double'

Raw Story  

Ron Watkins, a leader of the QAnon movement, scrambled to convince his followers that the man who spoke at former President Donald Trump's rally on Saturday was not a "body double." While attending Saturday's Trump rally in Arizona, Rolling Stone correspondent Steven Monacelli observed that some of the VIP guests were "too extreme" for the QAnon movement. Monacelli also reported …

QAnon believers left baffled and frustrated by Trump's pivot
3 years ago

QAnon believers left baffled and frustrated by Trump's pivot

Raw Story  

QAnon believers, also known for their adamant disapproval of COVID vaccinations, have been left befuddled by former President Donald Trump admitting that he'd taken the COVID vaccine booster shot. Following Trump's appearance on Bill O'Reilly's "No Spin News," Trump confirmed his third jab. According to Newsweek, disgruntled QAnon believers have criticized and "turned on" Trump due to his latest announcement. …

U.S. intelligence report warns of more violence by QAnon followers
3 years, 6 months ago

U.S. intelligence report warns of more violence by QAnon followers

LA Times  

A new federal intelligence report warns that adherents of QAnon, the conspiracy theory embraced by some in the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol, could target Democrats and other political opponents for more violence as the movement’s false prophecies increasingly fail to come true. Many QAnon followers believe former President Trump was fighting enemies within the so-called deep state to …

QAnon adherents may resort to violence under Biden: Report
3 years, 6 months ago

QAnon adherents may resort to violence under Biden: Report

Al Jazeera  

QAnon adherents may turn to violence as they struggle to face the reality of a Joe Biden presidency, US intelligence report finds. The report was compiled by the FBI and the US Department of Homeland Security and released on Monday by Senator Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat, who said he had requested a “public assessment of the threat posed …

March 4 was a dud — but QAnon will persist because it is fueled by white entitlement
3 years, 9 months ago

March 4 was a dud — but QAnon will persist because it is fueled by white entitlement

Salon  

The day of "The Storm" keeps moving for QAnon, the loosely-affiliated cult that sprang up online with Donald Trump as its god-like savior figure. But while some got disillusioned and dropped off, many more just did what cultists do and moved the day of the prophecy down the calendar, to March 4 as the new day for Trump would ride …

Op-Ed: Why QAnon’s similarity to other cults makes it a significant national security threat
3 years, 10 months ago

Op-Ed: Why QAnon’s similarity to other cults makes it a significant national security threat

LA Times  

Followers of the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, some carrying posters of the guru, protest in Portland, Ore., in 1985 against his arrest. Instead of admitting defeat, some QAnon followers are promoting a new convoluted conspiracy theory with the outcome they desire: Trump will once again be sworn in as president of the United States on March 4. Despite repeated predictions associated …

Without Their 'Messiah,' QAnon Believers Confront A Post-Trump World
3 years, 10 months ago

Without Their 'Messiah,' QAnon Believers Confront A Post-Trump World

NPR  

Without Their 'Messiah,' QAnon Believers Confront A Post-Trump World Enlarge this image toggle caption Spencer Platt/Getty Images Spencer Platt/Getty Images Now that former President Donald Trump has left office, the community of believers in the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory are left wondering what will happen next. Sponsor Message After the mob stormed the Capitol, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube on Jan. …

QAnon merges with white extremists and spreads new conspiracy Trump will be president again on March 4
3 years, 10 months ago

QAnon merges with white extremists and spreads new conspiracy Trump will be president again on March 4

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. According to reports, the sovereign citizen …

QAnon in disarray as reality of Biden presidency settles
3 years, 11 months ago

QAnon in disarray as reality of Biden presidency settles

Al Jazeera  

Followers of the far-right conspiracy theory will likely migrate to other groups and their offshoots, experts say. Coming to terms As Biden – part of the liberal cabal, according to Q beliefs – took office, some on platforms like the encrypted messaging app Telegram and far-right social media site Gab pushed for adherents to “trust the plan”, a common phrase …

What’s Happening to QAnon Now That Trump Is Out of Chances to Arrest the Satanic Elites
54 years, 11 months ago

What’s Happening to QAnon Now That Trump Is Out of Chances to Arrest the Satanic Elites

Slate  

As Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States at noon on Wednesday, holdouts of the ever-evolving QAnon conspiracy theory were forced to reckon with the reality that Donald Trump was not going to pull this one out. Followers of QAnon hold that satanic pedophiles control the world’s major institutions, which is why many thought that Trump would …

The QAnon 'Storm' Never Struck. Some Supporters Are Wavering, Others Steadfast
3 years, 11 months ago

The QAnon 'Storm' Never Struck. Some Supporters Are Wavering, Others Steadfast

NPR  

The QAnon 'Storm' Never Struck. Some Supporters Are Wavering, Others Steadfast Enlarge this image toggle caption Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images Former President Donald Trump did not declare martial law in his final minutes in office; nor did he reveal a secret plan to remain in power forever. New York Times tech columnist Kevin Roose …

The Hindu Explains | How QAnon went from a bizarre conspiracy theory to an election talking point
4 years, 2 months ago

The Hindu Explains | How QAnon went from a bizarre conspiracy theory to an election talking point

The Hindu  

In a recent televised townhall, U.S. President Donald Trump was asked if he denounced the right-wing conspiracy theory QAnon, which claims that Democrats are part of a satan-worshipping pedophile ring, and that Mr. Trump is the “savior” from this. QAnon is an elaborate right-wing conspiracy theory that believes a wide range of people – Democratic party leaders, Hollywood elites, U.S. …

AP Explains: What’s behind Trump’s town hall answer on QAnon
4 years, 2 months ago

AP Explains: What’s behind Trump’s town hall answer on QAnon

Associated Press  

“Ask the Q” has been a rallying cry for QAnon believers since the conspiracy theory’s online birth three years ago. Many QAnon followers believe thousands of deep state operatives and top Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, will be rounded up and sent to Guantanamo Bay during an event called “The Storm.” In May 2019, an FBI bulletin mentioning QAnon warned that …

What’s really behind Trump’s ‘I know nothing’ defense (opinion)
4 years, 2 months ago

What’s really behind Trump’s ‘I know nothing’ defense (opinion)

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Michael D’Antonio is the author of the book “Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success” and co-author, with Peter Eisner, of the upcoming book “High Crimes: The Corruption, Impunity, and Impeachment of Donald Trump.” The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. At his televised town hall on Thursday, Trump replied to a question about …

Opinion: Donald Trump’s horrifying QAnon dodge
4 years, 2 months ago

Opinion: Donald Trump’s horrifying QAnon dodge

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Frida Ghitis, a former CNN producer and correspondent, is a world affairs columnist. NBC Town Hall moderator Savannah Guthrie asked Trump if he would “disavow QAnon in its entirety.” Instead, Trump falsely said “I know nothing about QAnon,” adding, “I do know they are very much against pedophilia.” Fanatically devoted to President Donald Trump, the QAnon faithful believe …

What is QAnon, the conspiracy theory spreading throughout the US
4 years, 2 months ago

What is QAnon, the conspiracy theory spreading throughout the US

Al Jazeera  

At least 24 US political candidates have supported a conspiracy that claims liberals are harvesting children’s blood. The far-right QAnon conspiracy theory has made waves in this election after US President Donald Trump’s acknowledgement of its adherents in August and an increase in Republican and independent congressional candidates embracing the movement, which many consider a mad hoax or even a …

QAnon Supporters Aren’t Quite Who You Think They Are
4 years, 2 months ago

QAnon Supporters Aren’t Quite Who You Think They Are

Wired  

Q fever, we’re told, is sweeping the nation. The highest-polling statement was “Democratic politicians and Hollywood stars are part of a global network that tortures and sexually abuses children in Satanic rituals”—62 percent of QAnon supporters rated it as definitely or probably true. The other three QAnon theories polled—Trump is preparing mass arrests, Mueller was secretly ordered by Trump to …

Op-Ed: Facebook drove QAnon’s mad growth and enhanced its power to poison elections
4 years, 2 months ago

Op-Ed: Facebook drove QAnon’s mad growth and enhanced its power to poison elections

LA Times  

A supporter of QAnon conspiracy theory at a rally for President Trump in 2018. Internet platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube and Twitter have provided the algorithmic amplification to drive QAnon from the fringes into the mainstream. When Trump posts a message on Twitter and Facebook that implies support for QAnon, algorithms give it maximum reach because it grabs …

QAnon: Everything we know about the identity of Q.
54 years, 11 months ago

QAnon: Everything we know about the identity of Q.

Slate  

Whether you call it a conspiracy theory or a collective delusion, QAnon now takes up a shocking amount of breathing room in national politics. According to Brennan’s telling, Watkins’ son Ron was able to wrestle control of the Q account away from Furber at the beginning of 2018 using his login privileges as the site’s administrator. However, Jim Watkins has …

We Need to Talk About Talking About QAnon
4 years, 3 months ago

We Need to Talk About Talking About QAnon

Wired  

We need to talk about talking about QAnon. QAnon dovetails with the more secular “deep state” narrative, which claims that holdovers from the Obama administration are secretly conspiring to destroy Trump’s presidency from within. Beliefs in QAnon and the deep state are unified by one basic factor: their reliance on deep memetic frames. The most immediate benefit of reflecting on …

AP Exclusive: Pence to attend event hosted by QAnon backers
4 years, 3 months ago

AP Exclusive: Pence to attend event hosted by QAnon backers

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence and top officials from President Donald Trump’s campaign are slated to attend a Montana fundraiser next week hosted by a couple who have expressed support for the QAnon conspiracy theory, according to an event invitation obtained by The Associated Press and a review of social media postings. Beyond Pence, the Sept. 14 fundraiser in …

Column: President Trump is playing a dangerous game embracing QAnon
4 years, 3 months ago

Column: President Trump is playing a dangerous game embracing QAnon

LA Times  

As I’ve watched the Republican National Convention these last two nights, all I could think was: Where is Q? Q, for those who don’t follow the political fringe, is the man, woman or perhaps group of people whose cryptic internet messages helped create the shadowy, cultish conspiracy theory known as QAnon, which in any reasonable country in any sane era …

Trump praises QAnon conspiracists, who ‘like me very much’
4 years, 4 months ago

Trump praises QAnon conspiracists, who ‘like me very much’

LA Times  

President Trump on Wednesday praised the supporters of QAnon, a convoluted, pro-Trump conspiracy theory, and suggested that he appreciates their support for his reelection. Speaking during a news conference at the White House, Trump courted the support of those who put stock in the conspiracy theory, saying, “I heard that these are people that love our country.” It was Trump’s …

Trump embraces support from QAnon: They "like me very much" and "love America"
4 years, 4 months ago

Trump embraces support from QAnon: They "like me very much" and "love America"

Salon  

President Trump crossed a new line Wednesday — one that until recently no one knew existed — when he offered praise from the White House briefing room for the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory, which the FBI has labeled a potential domestic terrorism threat. QAnon followers "like me very much" and "love America," the president told reporters, before affirming the group's …

Donald Trump says QAnon followers 'like me very much and I appreciate it'
4 years, 4 months ago

Donald Trump says QAnon followers 'like me very much and I appreciate it'

Daily Mail  

President Donald Trump delivered his most extensive remarks on the QAnon conspiracy theory Wednesday, defending followers as 'people that love our country' and going out of his way not to condemn some of the most bizarre claims associated with the movement. #Save Our Children is a national advocacy group that believes child trafficking has reached pandemic proportions and that politicians, …

Trump praises QAnon conspiracists, appreciates support
4 years, 4 months ago

Trump praises QAnon conspiracists, appreciates support

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday praised the supporters of QAnon, a convoluted, pro-Trump conspiracy theory, and suggested he appreciates their support of his candidacy. Speaking during a press conference at the White House, Trump courted the support of those who put stock in the conspiracy theory, saying, “I heard that these are people that love our country.” It …

Trump, Addressing Far-Right QAnon Conspiracy, Offers Praise For Its Followers
4 years, 4 months ago

Trump, Addressing Far-Right QAnon Conspiracy, Offers Praise For Its Followers

NPR  

Trump, Addressing Far-Right QAnon Conspiracy, Offers Praise For Its Followers Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images President Trump addressed the baseless, far-right QAnon conspiracy theory directly for the first time on Wednesday, saying he didn't know much about the online community and its followers other than "they like me very much." In the nearly three …

Twitter says it’s cracking down on QAnon conspiracy theory
4 years, 5 months ago

Twitter says it’s cracking down on QAnon conspiracy theory

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — Twitter says it is cracking down on accounts and content related to QAnon, the far-right U.S. conspiracy theory popular among supporters of President Donald Trump. Accounts that are “engaged in violations of our multi-account policy, coordinating abuse around individual victims, or are attempting to evade a previous suspension” will be suspended permanently, Twitter said. The QAnon conspiracy …

QAnon: Twitter tries to catch the horse that bolted
4 years, 5 months ago

QAnon: Twitter tries to catch the horse that bolted

CNN  

New York CNN Business — Almost three years after a conspiracy theory known as QAnon began spreading on dark corners of the internet, pushing unfounded claims about a so-called “deep state” and prompting concerns about targeted harassment, social media platforms are finally looking to do something about it. Twitter announced late Tuesday that it had removed thousands of accounts linked …

Satanism and sex rings: How the QAnon conspiracy theory has taken political root
4 years, 5 months ago

Satanism and sex rings: How the QAnon conspiracy theory has taken political root

LA Times  

David Reinert holds a Q sign as he waits to get into a Trump campaign rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in August 2018. Trump is “a genuine Washington outsider, and what’s central to the QAnon community is the belief that the whole political system is corrupt,” said Travis View, a conspiracy theory researcher who co-hosts the QAnon Anonymous podcast, which breaks …

QAnon: Is pro-Trump conspiracy movement going mainstream?
4 years, 5 months ago

QAnon: Is pro-Trump conspiracy movement going mainstream?

Al Jazeera  

From obscure message boards to national coverage, we discuss its growing influence. Many believe that a US military installation known as ‘Area 51’ is sheltering spacecraft and aliens. Its growing network of true believers are centred around an anonymous figure known only as “Q” who claims to have inside knowledge that US President Donald Trump is waging an undercover war …

What is QAnon?
4 years, 5 months ago

What is QAnon?

CNN  

CNN — Since its origin three years ago, QAnon has festered in the darker corners of the internet. ​ While the Russian campaign had an apparent objective – influence voters to elect Trump – QAnon is decentralized, having no clear objective aside from its popular slogan, “Question everything.” Anyone can create a conspiracy, offer evidence to support it and tag …

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