The Daily

A Conspiracy Theory Is Proved Wrong

Episode Summary

This episode contains strong language. Inauguration Day was supposed to bring vindication for adherents of the pro-Trump conspiracy theory QAnon. Instead, they watched as Joe Biden took the oath as the 46th president of the United States. What happens to a conspiracy theory and its followers when they are proved wrong?

Episode Notes

This episode contains strong language. 

Inauguration Day was supposed to bring vindication for adherents of the pro-Trump conspiracy theory QAnon.

Instead, they watched as Joe Biden took the oath as the 46th president of the United States.

What happens to a conspiracy theory and its followers when they are proved wrong?

Guest: Kevin Roose, a technology columnist for The New York Times. 

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Background reading: 

• As Mr. Biden took office and Mr. Trump landed in Florida, with no mass arrests in sight, some QAnon believers struggled to harmonize the falsehoods with the inauguration on their TVs.
• Valerie Gilbert posts dozens of times a day in support of QAnon. Her story hints at how hard it will be to bring people like her back to reality.
• What is QAnon? Here is an explainer on the “big tent conspiracy theory.”

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily