S9 Ep60: QAnon and the Mainstreaming of Extremism with Mike Rothschild

Author and conspiracy researcher Mike Rothschild joins Chris to
unpack the rise, evolution, and enduring influence of QAnon. They
explore its blend of old and new conspiracies, its gamified
social appeal, and the algorithmic fuel behind its viral spread.
Mike explains how QAnon adapted across borders, embedded itself
into mainstream politics, and fostered real-world
violence—culminating in the January 6 Capitol attack. They also
examine QAnon’s psychological grip, its creative and
authoritarian appeal, and how families and societies can respond.
Plus, COVID’s role in supercharging conspiracies, why Russia’s
role may be overstated, and the challenges of countering
disinformation in the age of social media.

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Order The Storm Is Upon Us from Penguin and Hachette:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676746/the-storm-is-upon-us-by-mike-rothschild/

https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/mike-rothschild/the-storm-is-upon-us/9781800960459/


Learn more about Mike and his work:
https://themikerothschild.com

Follow Mike on Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/rothschildmd.bsky.social
Follow Mike on Twitter/X: https://x.com/rothschildmd

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YouTube: https://youtu.be/xnrXBtzdpWc

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Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD.
Music by Andrew R. Bird
Photos by Win McNamee, Brent Stirton & Stephanie Keith/Getty
& Terica Adkins

Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence,
covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a
way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris
Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very
topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a
daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics,
featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and
journalists.