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Seen, Heard, Read...
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Stay informed with our curated collection of noteworthy updates and insights from the world of conspiracy theories. Uncover the latest trends, explore intriguing perspectives, and broaden your understanding. Delve into our recommended content that keeps you in the know.
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POSOBIEC. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth invited far-right podcaster Posobiec—who has collaborated with neo-Nazis and amassed 3 million followers on X—to accompany him on his first official trip abroad to Europe. According to The Washington Post, Posobiec’s presence caused alarm among military officials. Posobiec first gained notoriety as a key promoter of the baseless "Pizzagate" and QAnon conspiracy theories, which accused prominent Democrats of running a satanic pedophile ring. His track record includes harassing Jewish journalists, mocking Holocaust memorials at Auschwitz, and openly praising the violent extremists who attempted to overturn Biden’s 2020 election victory during the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
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"We’re here to end democracy," Posobiec declared at last year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). "We are here to overthrow it completely. "We didn’t get all the way there on Jan. 6, but we will endeavor to get rid of it." Reports of his involvement in Hegseth’s trip—spanning Germany, Belgium, and Poland—sparked concern in Washington and among U.S. officials in Europe. Posobiec has mingled with white nationalists and was a key figure in popularizing the phrase "White Boy Summer," a slogan later adopted by white supremacists. Vice President JD Vance—then a senator—praised Posobiec’s 2024 book, in which liberals were described as "unhumans" (Sources: The Washington Post, February 13, 2025; MSNBC, February 15, 2025).
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TATE. The Trump administration has reportedly pressured Romania to lift travel restrictions on Andrew and Tristan Tate, who face charges including human trafficking, sexual relations with a minor, and money laundering. According to The Financial Times, U.S. officials raised the case in a recent call with Romania’s government, and Trump’s envoy Richard Grenell later lobbied for the brothers’ passports to be returned. Grenell, a vocal supporter of the Tates, posted on X that Romania was the “latest example” of how “USAid programs were weaponised against people and politicians who weren’t woke”.
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On Monday Andrew Tate claimed on X that their prosecution was part of a “USAID-sponsored attack”—echoing unfounded conspiracy theories that U.S. foreign aid is used to target right-wing figures. The Tate brothers, who have 14 million X followers, push misogynistic and anti-feminist narratives. In November, Tristan Tate boasted that their influence had helped shape a “healthy right-wing approach” among young men in Europe and the U.S. Meanwhile, Andrew Tate insists the charges against him were “never real.” After their Romanian trial, the brothers are set to be extradited to the UK, where they face separate allegations of rape and human trafficking. A Florida woman has also filed a civil lawsuit accusing them of coercing her into sex work (Sources: Financial Times, February 17, 2025; MSN, February 17, 2025).
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RFK JR. After being sworn in by Donald Trump as U.S. Secretary of Health, unrepentant anti-vaccine conspiracist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted a photo alongside two like-minded figures—Russell Brand and Dr. Mehmet Oz. Brand is a British former comedian and actor turned influencer who faces multiple allegations of rape and sexual abuse of women from his time in the British media. With over 12 million followers across social media, he has built his audience by amplifying conspiracy theories about COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, and climate change. His content frequently features interviews with far-right personalities and figures pushing misinformation. He has garnered support from X owner Elon Musk and masculinist charged human and sex trafficker Andrew Tate.
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Dr. Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and former TV host, gained notoriety for endorsing dubious health treatments, including hydroxychloroquine as a COVID cure—an unproven remedy also pushed by Trump. A longtime Fox News contributor, Oz provided a platform for vaccine skeptics, including Kennedy. His history of promoting pseudoscience led to a 2014 Senate hearing on false advertising and a 2015 letter from doctors urging Columbia University to fire him for giving medical advice that was unscientific. Oz has been named by Trump to serve under RFK Jr, with responsibility for Medicare and Medicaid health insurance programs for more than 160 million Americans (Sources: Sky News, November 20, 2024; The Guardian, September 20, 2023).
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GERMANY. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz issued a sharp rebuke to US Vice President JD Vance on Saturday, following Vance’s call for European leaders to embrace far-right parties in a speech broadly seen as a campaign address for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Scholz referenced Vance’s recent visit to Dachau, reminding him that “never again” applies not just to past atrocities but also to modern extremist movements like AfD. Scholz warned against foreign interference in German elections, saying, “That is not done, certainly not among friends and allies.” His remarks came just over a week before a major German vote, where the AfD—endorsed by Trump ally Elon Musk—is polling in second place.
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Vance delivered a conspiratorial address scolded Europe for what he alleged, without evidence, was censorship of conservative and right-wing views. He downplayed interference from Russia in democratic elections and was critical of actions requiring social media companies to limit disinformation and hateful speech. "To many of us on the other side of the Atlantic, it looks more and more like old, entrenched interests hiding behind ugly Soviet-era words like 'misinformation' and 'disinformation,' who simply don't like the idea that somebody with an alternative viewpoint might express a different opinion, or — God forbid — vote a different way. Or even worse, win an election." While Vance did not mention the AfD by name, he urged Germany to end its political “firewall” against the far right. “Europeans, the people, have a voice,” he said. “You can embrace what your people tell you, even when it's surprising, even when you don't agree.” Vance also met privately with AfD leader Alice Weidel, who has claimed Hitler was a "communist, socialist guy" and an "antisemitic socialist". Her claim sparked outrage, given that Nazi ideology was explicitly anti-communist (Sources: NPR, February 14, 2025; The Washington Post, February 16, 2025).
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