If you ever encountered someone who told you to "do the research" after that person posted something beyond delusional then you're likely communicating with someone in the Qanon conspiracy. Strange Country co-hosts Beth and Kelly break down the plan, the storm, the crumbs, the delusions, and lament the future of our country where so many live in a different reality. As Voltaire said: "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."

Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

Cite your sources: 

Aisch, Gregor, et al. “Dissecting the #PizzaGate Conspiracy Theories.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 10 Dec. 2016, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/10/business/media/pizzagate.html.

Beer, Tommy. “Bipartisan Lawmakers Introduce House Resolution Condemning QAnon 'Cult'.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 25 Aug. 2020, www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/08/25/bipartisan-lawmakers-introduce-house-resolution-condemning-qanon-cult/?sh=395a78f37f84. Bergengruen, Vera. “How Ashli Babbitt Is Being Used As a Far-Right Recruiting Tool.” Time, Time, 10 Jan. 2021, time.com/5928249/ashli-babbitt-capitol-extremism/.

Butler, Kiera. "THE MOTHER OF CONSPIRACIES: How QAnon found a home in parenting groups." Mother Jones, vol. 46, no. 1, Jan.-Feb. 2021, p. 55+. Gale OneFile: Popular Magazines, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A646877733/PPPM?u=nysl_sc_flls&sid=PPPM&xid=8154972f. Accessed 12 Jan. 2021.

“‘Calm Before The Storm’: Donald Trump Makes Cryptic Remark At Military Dinner .” NBC Nightly News, 6 Oct. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrF7alkwdHw&list=LLinu4UEZX7AKcFtNfRtv1RQ&index=234.

Collins, Ben. “QAnon Falsehoods Move to Text Message Chains.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 12 Jan. 2021, www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/qanon-falsehoods-move-text-message-chains-n1253962.

Fieldstadt, Elisha. “Satanic Statue Erected in Illinois State Capitol with Other Holiday Decorations.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 6 Dec. 2018, www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/satanic-statue-erected-illinois-state-capitol-other-holiday-decorations-n944706.

Francescani, Chris. “The Men Behind Qanon.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 22 Sept. 2020, abcnews.go.com/Politics/men-qanon/story?id=73046374.

Freedman, David H. "As QAnon Conspiracy Theories Draw New Believers, Scientists Take Aim at Misinformation Pandemic; Donald Trump may be QAnon's most influential 'node,' but scientists are developing 'infodemiology': mapping the disruption like a disease and experimenting with ways to counter the addiction." Newsweek, vol. 175, no. 11, 23 Oct. 2020. Gale OneFile: Popular Magazines, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A639068245/PPPM?u=nysl_sc_flls&sid=PPPM&xid=1015af70. Accessed 12 Jan. 2021.

Grzegorek, Vince. “CMSD Occupational Therapist Resigns After Photographs Suggest She Participated in Storming of Capitol, Says She's Moving On to Fighting Pedophilia in Government.” Cleveland Scene, Cleveland Scene, 19 Jan. 2021, www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2021/01/08/cmsd-teacher-resigns-after-photographs-suggest-she-participated-in-storming-of-capital-says-shes-moving-on-to-fighting-pedophilia-in-governm.

Kramer, Jillian. “Why People Latch on to Conspiracy Theories, According to Science.” Science, 15 Jan. 2021, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2021/01/why-people-latch-on-to-conspiracy-theories-according-to-science/.

Levine, Barry, et al. “Trump the Predator.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 19 Oct. 2019, www.theguardian.com/books/2019/oct/19/trump-predator-new-book-fresh-allegations.

Mansell, William. “Man Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Charge After Blocking Hoover Dam Bridge with Armored Truck.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 13 Feb. 2020, abcnews.go.com/US/man-pleads-guilty-terrorism-charge-blocking-bridge-armored/story?id=68955385.

Miller, Austin L. “More Details Emerge in Marion Oaks Fatal Shooting.” Ocala, Ocala Star-Banner, 17 Nov. 2020, www.ocala.com/story/news/2020/11/17/more-details-emerge-marion-oaks-fatal-shooting/6330403002/.

Pierre, Joseph M. “4 Keys to Help Someone Climb Out of the QAnon Rabbit Hole.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 1 Sept. 2020, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psych-unseen/202009/4-keys-help-someone-climb-out-the-qanon-rabbit-hole.

“QAnon: a Timeline of Violence Linked to the Conspiracy Theory.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 16 Oct. 2020, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/15/qanon-violence-crimes-timeline.

Spring, Marianna. “Wayfair: The False Conspiracy about a Furniture Firm and Child Trafficking.” BBC News, BBC, 15 July 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-53416247.

Voytko, Lisette. “How To Talk With-And Maybe Help-Someone Who Believes In QAnon And Other Conspiracy Theories.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 26 Aug. 2020, www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/08/26/how-to-talk-with-and-maybe-help-someone-who-believes-in-qanon-and-other-conspiracy-theories/?sh=e475883412df.

Wong, Julia Carrie. “QAnon Explained: the Antisemitic Conspiracy Theory Gaining Traction around the World.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 25 Aug. 2020, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/25/qanon-conspiracy-theory-explained-trump-what-is.

Zadrozny, Brandy, and Ben Collins. “How Three Conspiracy Theorists Took 'Q' and Sparked Qanon.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 20 Aug. 2018, www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/how-three-conspiracy-theorists-took-q-sparked-qanon-n900531.

Zitelmann, Rainer. “How Many Americans Believe In Conspiracy Theories?” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 28 June 2020, www.forbes.com/sites/rainerzitelmann/2020/06/29/how-many-americans-believe-in-conspiracy-theories/#17d7dc515e94.