Conspirituality

247: The Deeper State

Mar 6, 2025

Explore how followers of QAnon have morphed into a threatening force, now embodying a 'Deeper State' that promotes repression. The discussion connects this modern conspiracy to historical figures like Henry Ford and Elon Musk, revealing unsettling parallels in the manipulation of public sentiment. Health crises like the Texas measles outbreak highlight the dangers of vaccine skepticism fueled by misinformation. The podcast also delves into the cyclical nature of conspiracism in America, tracing its roots back to events like McCarthyism and the Red Scare.

01:06:00

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Quick takeaways

The podcast explores how the rise of conspiratorial narratives, particularly around figures like QAnon, reflects a deeper cultural trend toward repression and control in America.

It highlights the interplay between public health initiatives and anti-vaccine movements, showcasing how misinformation exacerbates societal divisions and public health crises.

By examining historical precedents of conspiratorial thinking in the US, the discussion reveals the cyclical nature of paranoia in politics and its implications for democracy.

Deep dives

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Intro

2min

Unraveling the Threads of Conspiracy and Power

3min

Measles Outbreak and Vaccine Controversies

12min

Unlocking Travel Wisdom: Expert Insights for Savvy Explorers

2min

Unraveling Q: The Influence of Media and Politics

2min

Conspiracies and Political Discourse

15min

Unveiling the Red Scare: Historical Parallels and Consequences

5min

The Legacy of McCarthyism

24min

This week we’re looking at how folks who associated themselves with the magical and morbid QAnon memes about the “coming storm” that would destroy the Deep State have become that storm, mainly by talking about it, and are now in the position to congeal an even Deeper State characterized by more repression and control. They’re doing it both as conspiracists and as conspiracy theorists would predict: as rich guys pretending to be oppressed.

This opens up the question of “Have we been here before in the US, and what happened?” The parallels are uncanny. In the late 1920s, Henry Ford had his car dealers stick copies of The Dearborn Independent newspaper in the glove compartments of new cars. That was the rag in which he published excerpts of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Today another auto baron, Elon Musk, busts out seigheils and posts Nazi memes whenever he likes. But only one of them got a White House office.