It Could Happen Here Nut Country Revisited feat. Steven Monacelli & Dr. Michael Phillips
Jan 28, 2025
This discussion features Dr. Michael Phillips, a historian specializing in racism and eugenics in Texas, and Steven Monacelli, an investigative reporter focused on political extremism. They explore Texas's rich history of conspiracy theories, from the Alamo to QAnon, revealing how such beliefs provide emotional comfort to adherents. The conversation highlights the dark financial roots of McCarthyism in Texas and the historical context of extremist ideologies, framing these elements as pivotal to understanding contemporary far-right politics.
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Jade Helm Conspiracy
- Alex Jones, a conspiracy theorist, sparked panic in Texas with the "Jade Helm" theory.
- This theory falsely claimed that a military exercise was a plot to impose martial law and seize guns.
Texas and Conspiracies
- Texas has a history of outlandish conspiracy theories.
- Distrust of liberal elites is a profitable business, as seen with Alex Jones's $270 million fortune.
Post-Revolution Paranoia
- After the Texas Revolution, white Texans feared Mexico and enslaved African Americans.
- This fear fueled conspiracy theories, including suspicions of planned slave rebellions and arson.
