Informed Paranoia

Matt, Randall and Lach discuss the conspiracy-theorist NBA star's recent Twitter post to the antisemitic film "Hebrews to Negroes" and the subsequent fallout. Recorded before Kyrie's apology and suspension, we take a look at Kyrie's history of conspiracy beliefs from flat-earth to anti-vax, culminating in a Ye-style identification with the Black Hebrew Israelite movement via a holocaust-denying documentary that claims to have decoded ancient scripture.

The uncomfortable truth about the Nazis and the Olympics | The Spectator Australia

https://www.nba.com/news/kyrie-irving-regrets-flat-earth-comments

https://www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/33746282/brooklyn-nets-kyrie-irving-reiterates-made-right-decision-not-getting-covid-19-vaccine

https://nypost.com/2022/10/30/kyrie-irving-doubles-down-on-controversial-book-tweet/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56bwE_Lfw_I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj85yKNAVco

Lach, Matt and Randall discuss the belief that exotic big cats are thriving in the Australian outback and show how this belief differs from conspiracy thinking. Branches of the rabbit-hole include pseudo-science, problems with bias and perception, conservatism in science and shock allegations linking Nessie to the deaths of prominent members of the British Royal Family.

Links:

The Missing Panther podcast

Oumua Mua

‘The Bloop’

The International Cryptozoology Museum

2020 Big cat video

The Sydney Morning Herald articles:

Big cats not a tall tale (smh.com.au)

Hunt for the black panther (smh.com.au)

Matt, Lach and Randall shamefully ogle the world of Trump erotica, before Matt shares his own questionable contribution to the genre. Branches of the rabbit-hole include Alex Jones, sham oenology and POTUS’s pubes.

Links

Can Donald Trump be elected president if charged with a crime? PolitiFact | Ask PolitiFact: Can Donald Trump run for president if indicted or convicted of a crime?

A brief introduction to the genre of Trump erotica Trump's legacy: dinosaur porn - UnHerd

The literary editor for The Spectator examines the genre. Includes short, hilarious excerpts Trump's legacy: dinosaur porn - UnHerd

VICE Interview with the author of Trump temptations: The billionaire and the bellboy, comedian Elijah Daniel Meet the Comedian Who Wrote a Hit Erotic Novella Starring Donald Trump (vice.com)

Nailed it Roue Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

After a first season of dark and twisted QAnon-esque material, we desperately needed a palate cleanser and so had originally intended on releasing this light light and airy "Popcornspiracy" as a bonus wrap-up episode. But life got in the way and so instead, after a 6-month hiatus, it's now a prelude to season 2! With special guest Randall Banks in tow, we're going back to the spiritual Mecca of modern conspiracy theory - The Matrix. 

Matt and Lach explain their five-month absence and recap conspiracy news, focusing on the freedom convoy to Canberra. They look back on “what they’ve learned” over the course of the podcast and decide that the true meaning of informed paranoia was the trust they lost along the way. Branches of the rabbit-hole include Scott Morrison’s cooking ability and Alex Jones’ lack of survival instincts.

Matt and Lach continue their examination of Qanon, this week asking whether it is just an online movement and answering “kind of.” Branches of the rabbit-hole include Cicada 3301 and Trumpist conspiracies.

Links:

What Happened to the KGB When the Soviet Union Folded? | HowStuffWorks

Cicada 3301: I tried the hardest puzzle on the internet and failed spectacularly | Internet | The Guardian

A Skeptic Infiltrates a Cruise for Conspiracy Theorists | WIRED

Podcast – You Are Not So Smart

PolitiFact | In Context: What Donald Trump said about disinfectant, sun and coronavirus

Matt and Lach continue to examine Qanon, asking whether it qualifies as far-right and focusing on authoritarianism, totalitarianism and racism in the movement. Metaphors consume the podcast and branches of the rabbit-hole include the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Links:

Nasa is a civilian agency (inextricably linked to the military since its founding):

Would a Space Force mean the end of NASA? (theconversation.com)

An even worse experience of “We’re not gonna take it”:

Trump - We're not going to take it - Tribute (ugetube.com)

The Oprah Winfrey arrest conspiracy theory:

Fact Check-False QAnon claims that Oprah is wearing an ankle monitor during interview | Reuters

In their own words, The Proud Boys espouse anti-racism as a key belief but also state that they are “Western chauvinists.” Racist and hateful comments from members are collected in the link below:

Proud Boys | Southern Poverty Law Center (splcenter.org)

Talia Lavin’s Culture Warlords:

Culture Warlords: My Journey Into the Dark Web of White Supremacy by Talia Lavin | Goodreads

Natalie Wynn describes techniques employed by white-supremacists to conceal their agenda:

Decrypting the Alt-Right: How to Recognize a F@scist | ContraPoints - YouTube

Lach and Matt explore "how to" handle conspiracy theorists and cover some current events in Australia on the conspiracy spectrum such as antivax, climate change heating up, and Youtube vs Sky News.

Episode 6 links:

Police access QR code check-in data

Correction- Tim Stewart is Scott Morrison’s Q-promoting friend. Tim Fischer was the former leader of the National Party and despite apparently entertaining some conspiracy theories, has no connection to Qanon.

Youtube issues a strike against Sky news

Climate change report

Climate change coal Nature article

Lach and Matt explore a “theory of conspiracy theories” in an attempt to characterise the effect a pandemic of misinformation is having on the collective psyche.

Did astronomers find an alien craft? 

A Possible Link between ‘Oumuamua and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena

Dr Colin Klein's (ANU) research on r/conspiracy  

Study shows there’s nothing wacky about conspiracy theorists

BBC reporting on a case of "folie a deux" 

Tromp family: The mystery of a tech-free road trip gone wrong