When Donald Trump suggested on Wednesday that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) once married her own brother in an immigration fraud scheme, he demonstrated the remarkable degree to which even the most far-off corners of the right-wing internet can launch unproven, anonymous claims into the national political discourse.The president had been asked by a reporter from the pro-Trump about whether his administration was investigating Omar “for possibly marrying her brother.” In response, Trump hinted that “somebody” in the government was looking into the matter.“There’s a lot of talk about the fact that...…When Donald Trump suggested on Wednesday that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) once married her own brother in an immigration fraud scheme, he demonstrated the remarkable degree to which even the most far-off corners of the right-wing internet can launch unproven, anonymous claims into the national political discourse.The president had been asked by a reporter from the pro-Trump about whether his administration was investigating Omar “for possibly marrying her brother.” In response, Trump hinted that “somebody” in the government was looking into the matter.“There’s a lot of talk about the fact that...WW…

Donald Trump’s allies in conservative media have a new villain in the coronavirus fight: contact tracing, the rigorous efforts to track the virus’s spread that public health experts say is essential to safely restarting society. Fox News host Laura Ingraham devoted much of her show Thursday night to raising questions about contact tracing, the process where interviewers try to figure out who has been exposed to the virus by literally figuring out whom the infected had contact with. As a Fox News chyron warned that contact tracing should “concern all Americans,” Ingraham claimed that...…Donald Trump’s allies in conservative media have a new villain in the coronavirus fight: contact tracing, the rigorous efforts to track the virus’s spread that public health experts say is essential to safely restarting society. Fox News host Laura Ingraham devoted much of her show Thursday night to raising questions about contact tracing, the process where interviewers try to figure out who has been exposed to the virus by literally figuring out whom the infected had contact with. As a Fox News chyron warned that contact tracing should “concern all Americans,” Ingraham claimed that...WW…

A top Trump campaign adviser recently appeared on the Russian-government funded TV network RT, which U.S. intelligence agencies have said plays a role in the Kremlin’s plans to undermine American democracy.Trump campaign senior legal adviser ’ appearance on RT’s The Alex Salmond Show on July 9. She appears to be the first Trump campaign official to go on the Russian-funded network since the 2016 election. During her interview, Ellis defended Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and bashed the American media as “propagandist activist media.” Ellis also accused Fox News—the cable...…A top Trump campaign adviser recently appeared on the Russian-government funded TV network RT, which U.S. intelligence agencies have said plays a role in the Kremlin’s plans to undermine American democracy.Trump campaign senior legal adviser ’ appearance on RT’s The Alex Salmond Show on July 9. She appears to be the first Trump campaign official to go on the Russian-funded network since the 2016 election. During her interview, Ellis defended Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and bashed the American media as “propagandist activist media.” Ellis also accused Fox News—the cable...WW…

The bizarre press conference Monday by self-identified doctors promoting hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus treatment has become a campaign issue, with a congressman who attended the event at the steps of the Supreme Court being attacked for doing so.Footage of the event, which was organized by the Tea Party Patriots and starred a handful of doctors who have criticized prevailing views on the pandemic, went viral on Monday afternoon racking up more than 13 million views on Facebook after it was boosted by pro-Trump social media accounts.In it, declared that hydroxychloroquine cures COVID...…The bizarre press conference Monday by self-identified doctors promoting hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus treatment has become a campaign issue, with a congressman who attended the event at the steps of the Supreme Court being attacked for doing so.Footage of the event, which was organized by the Tea Party Patriots and starred a handful of doctors who have criticized prevailing views on the pandemic, went viral on Monday afternoon racking up more than 13 million views on Facebook after it was boosted by pro-Trump social media accounts.In it, declared that hydroxychloroquine cures COVID...WW…

A Houston doctor who praises and says that face masks aren’t necessary to stop transmission of the highly contagious coronavirus has become a star on the right-wing internet, garnering tens of millions of views on Facebook on Monday alone. Donald Trump Jr. declared the video of Stella Immanuel a “must watch,” while Donald Trump himself the video.Before Trump and his supporters embrace Immanuel’s medical expertise, though, they should consider other medical claims Immanuel has made—including those about alien DNA and the physical effects of having sex with witches and demons in your...…A Houston doctor who praises and says that face masks aren’t necessary to stop transmission of the highly contagious coronavirus has become a star on the right-wing internet, garnering tens of millions of views on Facebook on Monday alone. Donald Trump Jr. declared the video of Stella Immanuel a “must watch,” while Donald Trump himself the video.Before Trump and his supporters embrace Immanuel’s medical expertise, though, they should consider other medical claims Immanuel has made—including those about alien DNA and the physical effects of having sex with witches and demons in your...WW…

The President of the United States doubled down on his support of a doctors “summit” peddling the —just as social media companies crack down on the viral that came out of the event. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube removed a viral video of the event which had garnered millions of views after President Trump and others retweeted the clip. SquareSpace also suspended the website for America’s Frontline Doctors, which put on the event. The video featuring the eccentric , who claimed that the controversial anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine was a “cure” for Covid-19 and that masks aren’t...…The President of the United States doubled down on his support of a doctors “summit” peddling the —just as social media companies crack down on the viral that came out of the event. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube removed a viral video of the event which had garnered millions of views after President Trump and others retweeted the clip. SquareSpace also suspended the website for America’s Frontline Doctors, which put on the event. The video featuring the eccentric , who claimed that the controversial anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine was a “cure” for Covid-19 and that masks aren’t...WW…

Since the emerged, the most visible clashes over the stay-at-home orders meant to combat the virus’ spread have played out at state capitols, with armed men trying to or protesters clashing with California Highway Patrol officers in Sacramento. But last Saturday, the front lines of coronavirus culture wars began moving away from the epicenters of government and closer towards actual Main Street. Last weekend, the Bad “S” Icehouse in the small Gulf Coast town of Oyster Creek, , became the scene of one such confrontation after owner Shauntae Johnston was set to reopen in defiance of...…Since the emerged, the most visible clashes over the stay-at-home orders meant to combat the virus’ spread have played out at state capitols, with armed men trying to or protesters clashing with California Highway Patrol officers in Sacramento. But last Saturday, the front lines of coronavirus culture wars began moving away from the epicenters of government and closer towards actual Main Street. Last weekend, the Bad “S” Icehouse in the small Gulf Coast town of Oyster Creek, , became the scene of one such confrontation after owner Shauntae Johnston was set to reopen in defiance of...WW…

Twitter Tuesday that it’s done letting run rampant on its site, setting the stage to ban 7,000 QAnon accounts and limit the voice of roughly 150,000 more. But Twitter’s crackdown comes too late to stop QAnon’s growth. While QAnon’s presence on Twitter will almost certainly shrink after the move, the movement it built on Twitter and other social media platforms has already moved into the real world—and established a foothold in the Republican Party.Ahead of the deletions, panicked QAnon believers have attempted to evade bans on Twitter by changing up their spelling—now they claim to...…Twitter Tuesday that it’s done letting run rampant on its site, setting the stage to ban 7,000 QAnon accounts and limit the voice of roughly 150,000 more. But Twitter’s crackdown comes too late to stop QAnon’s growth. While QAnon’s presence on Twitter will almost certainly shrink after the move, the movement it built on Twitter and other social media platforms has already moved into the real world—and established a foothold in the Republican Party.Ahead of the deletions, panicked QAnon believers have attempted to evade bans on Twitter by changing up their spelling—now they claim to...WW…

As she gathered support for what was then thought to be a long-shot primary bid against Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO), congressional hopeful Lauren Boebert made an on “Patriots’ Soapbox,” a YouTube channel with a devoted following that claims to broadcast “real news the MSM does not cover.”In her appearance, Boebert ran down her usual talking points: how she confronted former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke over gun control, how the restaurant she owns stands out because of its open-carry policy for waitresses, and how she dreams of joining the hard-right House Freedom Caucus. But a...…As she gathered support for what was then thought to be a long-shot primary bid against Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO), congressional hopeful Lauren Boebert made an on “Patriots’ Soapbox,” a YouTube channel with a devoted following that claims to broadcast “real news the MSM does not cover.”In her appearance, Boebert ran down her usual talking points: how she confronted former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke over gun control, how the restaurant she owns stands out because of its open-carry policy for waitresses, and how she dreams of joining the hard-right House Freedom Caucus. But a...WW…

A won the GOP Senate primary in Oregon on Tuesday, giving a massive electoral stage to the bizarre pro-Trump movement that the FBI considers a potential domestic terror threat.Jo Rae Perkins, an insurance agent and avowed QAnon believer, handily won the contest to take on Sen. Jeff Merkley (D) in the general election. Perkins, who has launched unsuccessful Senate and House bids in the past, beat her nearest Republican primary opponent by nearly 20 percentage points on Tuesday.To celebrate, Perkins tweeted a video acknowledging the support she had received from QAnon believers. The victory...…A won the GOP Senate primary in Oregon on Tuesday, giving a massive electoral stage to the bizarre pro-Trump movement that the FBI considers a potential domestic terror threat.Jo Rae Perkins, an insurance agent and avowed QAnon believer, handily won the contest to take on Sen. Jeff Merkley (D) in the general election. Perkins, who has launched unsuccessful Senate and House bids in the past, beat her nearest Republican primary opponent by nearly 20 percentage points on Tuesday.To celebrate, Perkins tweeted a video acknowledging the support she had received from QAnon believers. The victory...WW…