Truth, Social Media and Conspiracy Theories: Cults, Conspiracy Theories and Extremism

Folio concludes the Truth, Social Media and Conspiracy Theories series with a discussion about cults, conspiracy theories and extremism. Conspiracy theories around the 2020 election and "#StopTheSteal" movement contributed to the Jan 6 insurrection at the US Capitol and Republican state legislatures' enactment of voting restrictions. Do cults such as QAnon, liberal "cancel culture," white power "Replacement" Theory and the rise of extremist groups like the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, neo-Nazis, right wing militias and left-wing Antifa present a threat to democracy?

The panel will feature presidential historian Bob Merry, author of Where They Stand: American Presidents in the Eyes of Voters and Historians, David Domke Associate Director for Organizational Support at Common Power, Rachel Moran, post-doctoral fellow at UW's Center for an Informed Public, Emily Kaufman investigative researcher at the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism, and Bruce Chapman founder and chairman of the Discovery Institute. 

About the panelists:

Robert…