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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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DONALD TRUMP. In the early hours of Wednesday in West Palm Beach, Florida, Donald Trump stood before supporters, family, and his campaign team, declaring victory in the U.S. presidential race. Missing from his list of thanks, however, was the media, whom he dismissed as the "enemy camp." Introducing his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, Trump quipped, "I told JD to go into the enemy camp. He just goes: OK. Which one? CNN? MSDNC? He’s the only guy who actually looks forward to going on, then totally destroys them." (Trump apparently meant to say MSNBC). Trump’s tense relationship with the press is no secret; he frequently labels them the "crooked media" and "enemy of the people." Recently, as his rhetoric against perceived foes has escalated, so too have his pointed jabs at journalists. Less than a week ago at a campaign rally, Trump even joked that he wouldn’t be bothered if reporters were caught in the crossfire of an assassination attempt against him. Reports suggest Trump secured victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, thanks in part to his adept use of new media. Rather than relying on traditional outlets like “60 Minutes” on CBS, Trump focused on connecting with the influential online personalities and podcasts that have gained massive followings, especially among younger men. The figures Trump tapped into — Adin Ross, Theo Von, and the Nelk Boys — may be unfamiliar to many Americans who watch mainstream news hosted by anchors like Anderson Cooper. Yet each was given a nod during Trump’s televised victory celebration. The president-elect also took time to recognize his friend Bryson DeChambeau, the two-time U.S. Open golf champion and YouTube sensation. A recent 56-minute video featuring Trump and DeChambeau exchanging putting tips and calling each other “partner” reached nearly 13 million views (Sources: The New York Times, November 7, 2024; Columbia Journalism Review, November 6, 2024).
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ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. With President-elect Donald Trump's recent victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. health policy may soon see the influence of one of the nation's most prominent conspiracy theorists and vaccine skeptics: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Widely known for spreading discredited views on vaccines and health science, Kennedy is set to have a significant impact on Trump’s health agenda. Although the exact direction of vaccine and health policies under Trump's second term remains unclear, Kennedy’s potential influence has stirred concerns. At a New York City campaign rally in October, Trump expressed his confidence in Kennedy, saying, “I’m going to let him go wild on health, food, and medicines.” While it remains uncertain if Kennedy will take on an official role, he is reportedly part of key discussions on appointing heads for federal health agencies like the CDC and FDA. Among the candidates is Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who advised against COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children during the pandemic, intensifying fears about a potential anti-vaccine shift in U.S. health policy under Trump (Sources: Time, November 7, 2024; NBC News, November 6, 2024; MSNBC, November 6, 2024).
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ELON MUSK. Elon Musk spent Election Day on X praising men, amplifying anti-immigrant conspiracies, and accusing Democrats of voter fraud. It was all pretty on-brand for the billionaire, who has become one of Donald Trump’s biggest supporters and a one-man misinformation machine. When it was clear early Wednesday morning that Trump would win the presidency, Musk told his followers: “You are the media now.”As Trump's re-election was projected, Musk shared a pro-Trump video laced with QAnon references. The video, a dramatic montage of Trump’s campaign, military visuals, and scenes evoking a return to the past, included QAnon phrases, with “PATRIQTS” flashing as only the “Q” remains, pointing to QAnon’s conspiracy-driven worldview. QAnon, a movement centered on extreme pro-Trump conspiracy theories, promotes the idea that a cabal of politicians and Hollywood elites are involved in sinister plots, which Trump is supposedly fighting to expose. According to the ADL, “If there is a single thread that links QAnon’s origins, its current state, and where the conspiracy theory is likely to go in the short- to medium-term, it’s antisemitism. QAnon’s antisemitism has been most visible at two points: its beginnings – when it emerged from the swastika-studded fever swamp that is 4chan – and the present, when the most popular QAnon influencer, GhostEzra, is an open Nazi who praises Hitler, admires the Third Reich, and decries the supposedly treacherous nature of Jews.” Musk, who could gain significantly in a Trump administration given his ties to China, potential government contracts, and reported private communications with Vladimir Putin, is also being urged by influencers to use AI to probe government agencies for “Deep State” secrets. Prominent tech figure “Balaji” proposed Musk lead a team to declassify data and apply AI to expose alleged corruption, starting with agencies seen as hostile to Trump (Sources: Daily Dot, November 7, 2024; Vox, November 7, 2024).
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JOE ROGAN. Donald Trump’s election triumph was won partly thanks to his willingness to undergo freewheeling interviews with podcasters like Joe Rogan, the US president-elect’s most influential backer, Elon Musk claimed. Rogan is America’s most-listened-to podcaster and an influential promoter of conspiracy theories about the ‘Deep State’ who has claimed the January 6, 2021 attacks on the Capitol were a ‘false flag’ provoked by the government. Speaking to Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host, Vladimir Putin and Trump fan, Musk said Trump’s three-hour conversational encounter last month with Rogan – – and other podcast appearances allowed listeners to decide whether he was a “good person” and was a major point of distinction from Kamala Harris. “I think it made a big difference that President Trump and soon to be vice-president Vance went on lengthy podcasts,” Musk told Carlson, who expressed agreement (Sources: The Guardian, November 7, 2024; Poynter.org, August, 2023).
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