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Jude Joffe-Block

Monday

A QAnon sign at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Many of the rioters who attacked the Capitol later told investigators they were motivated in part by the online conspiracy theory.

A QAnon sign at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Many of the rioters who attacked the Capitol later told investigators they were motivated in part by the online conspiracy theory. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

Four years after the Capitol riot, why QAnon hasn't gone away

Some of the people who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 believed in the QAnon conspiracy theory. In the aftermath, social media platforms ramped up efforts to push QAnon content off their sites. Four years later, the QAnon movement has morphed into something else.

4 years later, where does the QAnon conspiracy theory stand?

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Monday

Kash Patel during the 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference in Fort Washington, Md. on Feb. 23, 2024. President-elect Trump has nominated Patel to lead the FBI even though the agency's current director, Christopher Wray, has more than two years left on his term.

Kash Patel during the 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference in Fort Washington, Md. on Feb. 23, 2024. President-elect Trump has nominated Patel to lead the FBI even though the agency's current director, Christopher Wray, has more than two years left on his term. Dominic Gwinn/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Dominic Gwinn/AFP via Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

How Kash Patel has used children's books and podcasts to promote conspiracy theories

Trump's pick to head the FBI has parlayed his time serving in various national security roles in the first Trump administration to building a brand promoting pro-Trump conspiracy theories.

Kash Patel

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Thursday

In this photo taken outdoors, Stephen Ghiglieri stands on the left and Katrina Vaillancourt stands next to him on the right at their San Francisco Bay Area home on September 17. Green trees and foliage are in the background.

Stephen Ghiglieri and Katrina Vaillancourt at their San Francisco Bay Area home on Sept. 17. Jude Joffe-Block/NPR hide caption

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Jude Joffe-Block/NPR

Seeking Common Ground

What happens when your partner has an overnight political conversion?

A California couple's relationship was upended when one partner found a whole new set of beliefs after an overnight video binge. Four years later, they're still navigating how to talk about politics.

How this couple managed to stay together when one embraced QAnon conspiracy theories

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Friday

People wait in line to vote outside a polling station on Election Day in Nazareth, Pa., on Nov. 5.

People wait in line to vote outside a polling station on Election Day in Nazareth, Pa., on Nov. 5. Samuel Corum/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Samuel Corum/AFP via Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

Claims that millions of noncitizens would illegally vote evaporated after Trump's win

Before Election Day, right-wing social media was awash with claims about noncitizens voting. Once it was clear President-elect Trump would win, those claims dried up.

Noncitizen voters legacy

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Tuesday

Wednesday

Politics

What we know about the voter roll purge in Virginia

Wednesday, just six days before the election, the Supreme Court made a ruling allowing Virginia to continue purging individuals from state voter rolls.

SCOTUS VA Decision

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Tuesday

Voters work on their ballots at a polling station in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 20.

Voters work on their ballots at a polling station in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 20. AFP via Getty Images/AFP hide caption

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AFP via Getty Images/AFP

Untangling Disinformation

U.S. citizens are among the voters removed in Virginia's controversial purge

Nadra Wilson and other Virginians got letters saying her U.S. citizenship was in question, along with her voter registration. "I was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. — I'm a citizen," Wilson told NPR.

VIRGINIA US CITIZENS

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Saturday

A person leaves an early voting site after casting a ballot on Oct. 21 in Deland, Fla. Florida is one of three states that recently sued the Biden administration over citizenship checks of voters.

A person leaves an early voting site after casting a ballot on Oct. 21 in Deland, Fla. Florida is one of three states that recently sued the Biden administration over citizenship checks of voters. Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP via Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

GOP lawsuits about an obscure immigration database may set up election challenges

Florida, Texas and Ohio have filed last-minute lawsuits against the Biden administration demanding data about the citizenship of voters on their state rolls. One expert calls these "zombie" lawsuits.

Lawsuit Over Citizenship Data

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Wednesday

An early voting site is seen in Tucson, Arizona, on Wednesday. Ahead of this year's general election, Donald Trump and Republican allies have zeroed in on the baseless claim that Democrats are encouraging newly arrived migrants to vote for them.

An early voting site is seen in Tucson, Arizona, on Wednesday. Ahead of this year's general election, Donald Trump and Republican allies have zeroed in on the baseless claim that Democrats are encouraging newly arrived migrants to vote for them. Olivier Touron/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Olivier Touron/AFP via Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

How Republicans mainstreamed the baseless idea of noncitizen voting in 2024

Donald Trump and his allies have zeroed in on the baseless claim that Democrats are encouraging newly arrived migrants to vote for them in the 2024 election. There is no evidence of a plot like this.

A way to challenge the election? With no evidence, Trump says noncitizens are voting

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Saturday

Voters fill out their ballots on the second day of early voting in the 2024 presidential election at the Board of Elections Loop Super Site in Chicago, Illinois, on Oct. 4, 2024.

Voters fill out their ballots on the second day of early voting in the 2024 presidential election at the Board of Elections Loop Super Site in Chicago on Oct. 4. Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

6 facts about false noncitizen voting claims and the election

All the available evidence suggests that a miniscule number of noncitizens vote illegally in federal elections and not in numbers that would sway the outcome of any race.

Friday

A mural is displayed in an alley downtown on Sept. 16, 2024 in Springfield, Ohio. Springfield, home to a large Haitian community, was thrust into the national spotlight after former President Donald Trump made claims during the presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing members of the immigrant community of eating the pets of local residents. The claims, which have since been called into question, have been circulating online and in the news media, and in the days following the debate local institutions have faced multiple bomb threats.

A mural in an alley in downtown Springfield, Ohio. The city is home to a large Haitian community and was thrust into the spotlight after former President Donald Trump falsely claimed that members of the immigrant community of eating the pets of local residents. Online influencers have continued to keep their attention on the city. Luke Sharrett/Getty Images hide caption

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Luke Sharrett/Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

How influencers flocked to Springfield chasing debunked rumors and attention

Sensationalized and out-of-context videos from influencers are helping to elevate the false and racist rumors that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating pets.

Lack of facts doesn't deter influencers from looking into debunked Springfield claims

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Friday

This photo shows former President Donald Trump from the shoulders up on Sept. 10 in Philadelphia. He's wearing a dark blue suit jacket, white shirt and red tie.

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, speaks to reporters after the presidential debate with Vice President Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, on Sept. 10 in Philadelphia. Matt Slocum/AP hide caption

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Matt Slocum/AP

Untangling Disinformation

How Trump is relying on a racist conspiracy theory to question election results

Donald Trump has echoed a new iteration of a conspiracy theory that has taken root in the GOP that falsely claims there is a plan to bring nonwhite immigrants to the U.S. to replace white voters.

Why a racist conspiracy theory may play a key role if Trump questions the vote

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Thursday

What's behind Republicans' false claims of noncitizens voting?

Vote buttons are displayed during a presidential debate between Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump. Darron Cummings/AP hide caption

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Darron Cummings/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

What's behind Republicans' false claims of noncitizens voting?

It's an allegation that's centuries old, but is increasingly becoming prominent in political discourse — that noncitizens are voting en masse to influence American elections. Even though it isn't true, it is influencing policy discussions, and having an impact on registered voters.

What's behind Republicans' false claims of noncitizens voting?

Listen · 13:38
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Tuesday

Far-right activist Laura Loomer speaks to the media prior to the beginning of former President Donald Trump's Trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 15 in New York City.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer speaks to the media prior to the beginning of former President Donald Trump's Trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 15 in New York City. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images hide caption

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David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

Elections

Laura Loomer has been a topic of conversation in Trump's campaign. Here's what to know

Loomer is a right-wing social media influencer, known for promoting conspiracy theories as well as anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim views. Some Republicans want Trump to distance himself from her.

Thursday

This photo shows political commentator and YouTuber Benny Johnson on the left side of the photo while he speaks with Eric Trump, a son of former President Donald Trump, during the 2024 Republican National Convention. Johnson is wearing a black T-shirt and is holding a microphone. Eric Trump, standing on the right side of the photo, is also holding a microphone and is wearing a white shirt and gray suit jacket.

Political commentator and YouTuber Benny Johnson (left) speaks with Eric Trump, a son of former President Donald Trump, during the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Johnson made videos for Tenet Media. The Justice Department accused a company matching Tenet's description of working closely with employees of Russian state broadcaster RT to covertly spread pro-Russian narratives in the United States. Johnson says he was not aware of Tenet's ties to Russia. Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

How Russian operatives covertly hired U.S. influencers to create viral videos

Details in an indictment match Nashville-based Tenet Media, which offered lucrative paychecks to prominent right-wing influencers. The influencers say they were deceived.

Russia RT Interference

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