What is QAnon, the baseless conspiracy spilling into US politics?
politifact.com/article/2020/aug/27/what-qanon-baseless-conspiracy-spilling-us-politic
In this Aug. 2, 2018, file photo, David Reinert holding a Q sign waits in line with others to enter a campaign rally with President Donald Trump in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (AP)
By Daniel Funke August 27, 2020
If Your Time is short
Q is an anonymous internet persona who claims to be a government insider with information on a “deep state” plot to work against Donald Trump. Q’s posts on a fringe internet forum are the basis for the QAnon conspiracy theory.
But it has moved into the mainstream, promoted by congressional candidates, celebrities and influencers and thriving on social networks like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
The FBI has described QAnon as a potential domestic terrorism threat. The conspiracy theory has been linked to several criminal acts over the past couple of years.
In mid August, Marjorie Taylor Greene won the primary election in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, which is likely to vote red in November. Two weeks later, she was invited to attend President Donald Trump’s speech at the Republican National Convention. Jo Rae Perkins of Oregon and Lauren Boebert of Colorado also won Republican primary elections this summer.
What do these candidates have in common? They are among several aspiring lawmakers who have promoted QAnon.
The conspiracy theory claims public figures like Hillary Clinton, Tom Hanks and Oprah Winfrey are Satan-worshipping, cannibalistic pedophiles. QAnon is based on posts from Q, an anonymous internet persona who claims to be a government insider with information on a "deep state" plot to work against Trump.
Those claims are not grounded in facts, and lawmakers have introduced bipartisan legislation condemning the conspiracy theory. But QAnon has gained steam since its 2017 emergence, and Trump has, at times, tacitly encouraged its supporters.
Trump has amplified QAnon accounts on Twitter and supported political candidates who subscribe to it. When asked about QAnon in several recent press briefings, the president demurred.
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