In the 1990s, rumors about the Clintons in Arkansas led to conspiracy theories of corruption and murder, shaping public opinion.
The rise of conspiracy theories online parallels historical events like the witch craze, influencing modern-day events like the Capitol storming.
Deep dives
The Witch Craze and Its Connection to Modern Conspiracy Theories
The podcast explores a historical event called the witch craze that occurred during the 15th and 16th centuries in Europe, and draws a parallel to modern conspiracy theories. The witch craze was fueled by a book called the Malleus Maleficarum, written by Heinrich Kramer, which spread misinformation about witches and led to widespread violence and persecution. The podcast highlights how the printing press played a significant role in the dissemination of this twisted narrative. The episode suggests that this historical event is comparable to the rise of conspiracy theories in the age of the internet, leading to the storming of the Capitol on January 6th, 2021 by supporters of Donald Trump.
The Spread of Conspiracy Theories in Arkansas
The podcast delves into the proliferation of conspiracy theories about the Clintons in Arkansas. It explores how, during Bill Clinton's presidency, rumors and allegations of corruption and scandals gained traction. The episode highlights the role of the internet and alternative media in spreading these narratives and examines the impact of these conspiracy theories on public opinion. The podcast suggests that these narratives paved the way for the formation of the QAnon conspiracy theory, which played a significant role in the events of January 6th, 2021.
The Influence of a Book and the Future Impact of Conspiracy Theories
The podcast discusses a book called 'The Sovereign Individual,' written by William Rees-Mogg and James Dale Davidson, which predicts the societal impact of the internet and the downfall of democracy. The book accurately predicts several developments, such as the rise of cryptocurrencies and the gig economy. The podcast suggests that the book's analysis of the internet's effects on society may have contributed to the fracturing of reality and the emergence of conspiracy theories that we witness today.
When a mob storms the Capitol in Washington DC, reporter and presenter Gabriel Gatehouse sees someone he recognises: a man draped in furs with horns on his head. He is known as the Q Shaman.
Gabriel had met him at a Trump rally in Arizona, ranting about a conspiracy theory involving Hillary Clinton and a cabal of satanic paedophiles plotting to steal the 2020 presidential election.
The search for the origins of this strange and twisted tale begins in 1993, when the suicide of a White House aide during Bill Clinton’s presidency reveals the first signs of a new information ecosystem that is starting to spill over into the mainstream. Myths about his murder proliferate on the early internet. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. In Arkansas a parallel reality is forming, in which the Clintons are a corrupt and murderous couple who will stop at nothing in their quest for power.
Producer: Lucy Proctor
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