Alex Kaplan
@alkapdc.bsky.social
Senior Researcher at Media Matters, focusing on social media misinformation, disinformation, & online extremism. Statements are mine, not employer's. Send tips to [email protected].
Pinned
Alex Kaplan
@alkapdc.bsky.social
· Jan 13
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Given the growth of Bluesky, I plan going forward to also document here Trump's ongoing amplification of QAnon-promoting accounts on Truth Social. My original thread/documenting, which began in 2022, can be found here.
Reposted by Alex Kaplan
New:
ACIP member Robert Malone suggested on a stream that ACIP may restrict mRNA COVID vaccines.
“I’m not deaf to the calls that we need to get the COVID vaccine mRNA products off the market. All I can say is stay tuned & wait for the upcoming ACIP meeting.” www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-...
ACIP member Robert Malone suggested on a stream that ACIP may restrict mRNA COVID vaccines.
“I’m not deaf to the calls that we need to get the COVID vaccine mRNA products off the market. All I can say is stay tuned & wait for the upcoming ACIP meeting.” www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-...
January 23, 2026 at 6:33 PM
New:
ACIP member Robert Malone suggested on a stream that ACIP may restrict mRNA COVID vaccines.
“I’m not deaf to the calls that we need to get the COVID vaccine mRNA products off the market. All I can say is stay tuned & wait for the upcoming ACIP meeting.” www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-...
ACIP member Robert Malone suggested on a stream that ACIP may restrict mRNA COVID vaccines.
“I’m not deaf to the calls that we need to get the COVID vaccine mRNA products off the market. All I can say is stay tuned & wait for the upcoming ACIP meeting.” www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-...
New:
ACIP member Robert Malone suggested on a stream that ACIP may restrict mRNA COVID vaccines.
“I’m not deaf to the calls that we need to get the COVID vaccine mRNA products off the market. All I can say is stay tuned & wait for the upcoming ACIP meeting.” www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-...
ACIP member Robert Malone suggested on a stream that ACIP may restrict mRNA COVID vaccines.
“I’m not deaf to the calls that we need to get the COVID vaccine mRNA products off the market. All I can say is stay tuned & wait for the upcoming ACIP meeting.” www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-...
January 23, 2026 at 6:33 PM
New:
ACIP member Robert Malone suggested on a stream that ACIP may restrict mRNA COVID vaccines.
“I’m not deaf to the calls that we need to get the COVID vaccine mRNA products off the market. All I can say is stay tuned & wait for the upcoming ACIP meeting.” www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-...
ACIP member Robert Malone suggested on a stream that ACIP may restrict mRNA COVID vaccines.
“I’m not deaf to the calls that we need to get the COVID vaccine mRNA products off the market. All I can say is stay tuned & wait for the upcoming ACIP meeting.” www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-...
On a right-wing podcast earlier this week, January 6 participant & far-right figure Jake Lang, while discussing who would "own the streets of Minneapolis," said that "we need Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, Three Percenters, Boogaloo, all of them. There's even more. Patriot Front, all the active clubs."
January 22, 2026 at 9:29 PM
On a right-wing podcast earlier this week, January 6 participant & far-right figure Jake Lang, while discussing who would "own the streets of Minneapolis," said that "we need Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, Three Percenters, Boogaloo, all of them. There's even more. Patriot Front, all the active clubs."
On a Proud Boys-affiliated podcast this week, Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio said the Proud Boys "are not going under no official capacity" to Minnesota, though individual Proud Boys may go. However, Proud Boy "PatriotRob" said "when Enrique goes out" to Minnesota, "I'm probably going with him."
January 21, 2026 at 8:40 PM
On a Proud Boys-affiliated podcast this week, Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio said the Proud Boys "are not going under no official capacity" to Minnesota, though individual Proud Boys may go. However, Proud Boy "PatriotRob" said "when Enrique goes out" to Minnesota, "I'm probably going with him."
Reposted by Alex Kaplan
“Influencers associated with the QAnon conspiracy theory movement have boasted about multiple social media posts shared by the Trump administration’s Department of Labor that invoke phrases tied to the movement.”
QAnon community declares vindication as Trump’s Labor Department pens multiple posts echoing QAnon phrases
www.mediamatters.org
January 20, 2026 at 10:04 PM
“Influencers associated with the QAnon conspiracy theory movement have boasted about multiple social media posts shared by the Trump administration’s Department of Labor that invoke phrases tied to the movement.”
Reposted by Alex Kaplan
Nick Fuentes didn't disappear after his Instagram ban.
In reality, he spent last year quietly taking over the platform. Here's how:
www.mediamatters.org/nick-fuentes...
In reality, he spent last year quietly taking over the platform. Here's how:
www.mediamatters.org/nick-fuentes...
Nick Fuentes’ Instagram takeover
An army of groypers is spamming Instagram with Fuentes’ content, netting millions of views
www.mediamatters.org
January 20, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Nick Fuentes didn't disappear after his Instagram ban.
In reality, he spent last year quietly taking over the platform. Here's how:
www.mediamatters.org/nick-fuentes...
In reality, he spent last year quietly taking over the platform. Here's how:
www.mediamatters.org/nick-fuentes...
Reposted by Alex Kaplan
The December 2020 meeting with Trump that Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn, & Patrick Byrne attended to push election fraud claims became infamous.
Years later, it appears that Byrne has again visited the Trump White House regarding election fraud claims, & it was announced on a podcast by his allies.
Years later, it appears that Byrne has again visited the Trump White House regarding election fraud claims, & it was announced on a podcast by his allies.
SCOOP:
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson announced on her show last week that conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne "got called in to the White House" that day.
Conspiracy theorist attorney Stefanie Lambert, who has represented Byrne, also claimed that Byrne was "at the White House."
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson announced on her show last week that conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne "got called in to the White House" that day.
Conspiracy theorist attorney Stefanie Lambert, who has represented Byrne, also claimed that Byrne was "at the White House."
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson claims Patrick Byrne “got called in to the White House”
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson said on her January 8 show that election conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne was supposed to appear on the program but instead “got called in to the White House.” Stefani...
www.mediamatters.org
January 16, 2026 at 8:19 PM
The December 2020 meeting with Trump that Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn, & Patrick Byrne attended to push election fraud claims became infamous.
Years later, it appears that Byrne has again visited the Trump White House regarding election fraud claims, & it was announced on a podcast by his allies.
Years later, it appears that Byrne has again visited the Trump White House regarding election fraud claims, & it was announced on a podcast by his allies.
Reposted by Alex Kaplan
SCOOP:
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson announced on her show last week that conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne "got called in to the White House" that day.
Conspiracy theorist attorney Stefanie Lambert, who has represented Byrne, also claimed that Byrne was "at the White House."
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson announced on her show last week that conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne "got called in to the White House" that day.
Conspiracy theorist attorney Stefanie Lambert, who has represented Byrne, also claimed that Byrne was "at the White House."
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson claims Patrick Byrne “got called in to the White House”
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson said on her January 8 show that election conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne was supposed to appear on the program but instead “got called in to the White House.” Stefani...
www.mediamatters.org
January 16, 2026 at 6:49 PM
SCOOP:
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson announced on her show last week that conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne "got called in to the White House" that day.
Conspiracy theorist attorney Stefanie Lambert, who has represented Byrne, also claimed that Byrne was "at the White House."
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson announced on her show last week that conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne "got called in to the White House" that day.
Conspiracy theorist attorney Stefanie Lambert, who has represented Byrne, also claimed that Byrne was "at the White House."
Reposted by Alex Kaplan
Influencers associated with the QAnon conspiracy theory movement have boasted about multiple social media posts shared by the Trump administration’s Department of Labor that invoke phrases tied to the movement, reports Alex Kaplan. www.mediamatters.org/qanon-conspi...
QAnon community declares vindication as Trump’s Labor Department pens multiple posts echoing QAnon phrases
Andrea Austria / Media Matters
www.mediamatters.org
January 16, 2026 at 3:00 AM
Influencers associated with the QAnon conspiracy theory movement have boasted about multiple social media posts shared by the Trump administration’s Department of Labor that invoke phrases tied to the movement, reports Alex Kaplan. www.mediamatters.org/qanon-conspi...
On a podcast yesterday, prominent election denier David Clements said that "the stuff that's going on with Q — if it's real, right, & it is — is as mind blowing as anything that the Founders could have been grappling with to secure independence."
January 16, 2026 at 10:16 PM
On a podcast yesterday, prominent election denier David Clements said that "the stuff that's going on with Q — if it's real, right, & it is — is as mind blowing as anything that the Founders could have been grappling with to secure independence."
The December 2020 meeting with Trump that Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn, & Patrick Byrne attended to push election fraud claims became infamous.
Years later, it appears that Byrne has again visited the Trump White House regarding election fraud claims, & it was announced on a podcast by his allies.
Years later, it appears that Byrne has again visited the Trump White House regarding election fraud claims, & it was announced on a podcast by his allies.
SCOOP:
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson announced on her show last week that conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne "got called in to the White House" that day.
Conspiracy theorist attorney Stefanie Lambert, who has represented Byrne, also claimed that Byrne was "at the White House."
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson announced on her show last week that conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne "got called in to the White House" that day.
Conspiracy theorist attorney Stefanie Lambert, who has represented Byrne, also claimed that Byrne was "at the White House."
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson claims Patrick Byrne “got called in to the White House”
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson said on her January 8 show that election conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne was supposed to appear on the program but instead “got called in to the White House.” Stefani...
www.mediamatters.org
January 16, 2026 at 8:19 PM
The December 2020 meeting with Trump that Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn, & Patrick Byrne attended to push election fraud claims became infamous.
Years later, it appears that Byrne has again visited the Trump White House regarding election fraud claims, & it was announced on a podcast by his allies.
Years later, it appears that Byrne has again visited the Trump White House regarding election fraud claims, & it was announced on a podcast by his allies.
SCOOP:
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson announced on her show last week that conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne "got called in to the White House" that day.
Conspiracy theorist attorney Stefanie Lambert, who has represented Byrne, also claimed that Byrne was "at the White House."
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson announced on her show last week that conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne "got called in to the White House" that day.
Conspiracy theorist attorney Stefanie Lambert, who has represented Byrne, also claimed that Byrne was "at the White House."
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson claims Patrick Byrne “got called in to the White House”
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson said on her January 8 show that election conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne was supposed to appear on the program but instead “got called in to the White House.” Stefani...
www.mediamatters.org
January 16, 2026 at 6:49 PM
SCOOP:
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson announced on her show last week that conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne "got called in to the White House" that day.
Conspiracy theorist attorney Stefanie Lambert, who has represented Byrne, also claimed that Byrne was "at the White House."
LindellTV host Emerald Robinson announced on her show last week that conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne "got called in to the White House" that day.
Conspiracy theorist attorney Stefanie Lambert, who has represented Byrne, also claimed that Byrne was "at the White House."
On a podcast yesterday, Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes called FBI Director Kash Patel "a traitor" who has "become part of the cover up & part of the deep state," & that Patel has "been compromised or bought off, but he's joined the bad guys."
January 16, 2026 at 4:50 PM
On a podcast yesterday, Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes called FBI Director Kash Patel "a traitor" who has "become part of the cover up & part of the deep state," & that Patel has "been compromised or bought off, but he's joined the bad guys."
Reposted by Alex Kaplan
SCOOP: My investigation into TikTok Shop uncovered an algorithmic web of far-right product search suggestions that nudged me toward white nationalist and Nazi-related terms.
www.wired.com/story/tiktok...
www.wired.com/story/tiktok...
January 14, 2026 at 11:42 AM
SCOOP: My investigation into TikTok Shop uncovered an algorithmic web of far-right product search suggestions that nudged me toward white nationalist and Nazi-related terms.
www.wired.com/story/tiktok...
www.wired.com/story/tiktok...
Reposted by Alex Kaplan
Last month, whites-only community Return to the Land leader Eric Orwoll said on a podcast "ordinary Republicans are now at a point where they think what we're doing is a good thing & they explicitly support it" & said the GOP "& government officials are saying explicitly white identitarian things."
January 14, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Last month, whites-only community Return to the Land leader Eric Orwoll said on a podcast "ordinary Republicans are now at a point where they think what we're doing is a good thing & they explicitly support it" & said the GOP "& government officials are saying explicitly white identitarian things."
The Labor Department in recent days has done multiple posts echoing QAnon phrases. QAnon influencers in response have declared vindication.
One of them wrote the department "is Q posting. … This is not debatable now. If you like it, cool. If you don’t like it, too bad. It’s happening."
My latest:
One of them wrote the department "is Q posting. … This is not debatable now. If you like it, cool. If you don’t like it, too bad. It’s happening."
My latest:
QAnon community declares vindication as Trump’s Labor Department pens multiple posts echoing QAnon phrases
www.mediamatters.org
January 14, 2026 at 8:46 PM
The Labor Department in recent days has done multiple posts echoing QAnon phrases. QAnon influencers in response have declared vindication.
One of them wrote the department "is Q posting. … This is not debatable now. If you like it, cool. If you don’t like it, too bad. It’s happening."
My latest:
One of them wrote the department "is Q posting. … This is not debatable now. If you like it, cool. If you don’t like it, too bad. It’s happening."
My latest:
On a QAnon podcast a few days ago, election denier David Clements said he met with U.S. Agency for Global Media's Kari Lake "for about an hour" & she told him that if VOA got more money than she wanted, she'd spend the funds on "content to the rest of the world about how rigged our elections are."
January 14, 2026 at 4:16 PM
On a QAnon podcast a few days ago, election denier David Clements said he met with U.S. Agency for Global Media's Kari Lake "for about an hour" & she told him that if VOA got more money than she wanted, she'd spend the funds on "content to the rest of the world about how rigged our elections are."
In a podcast appearance in late November, prominent election denier David Clements said that "Q is real" and is "a white hat operation through and through."
January 13, 2026 at 10:09 PM
In a podcast appearance in late November, prominent election denier David Clements said that "Q is real" and is "a white hat operation through and through."
Some in the far-right have been sharing memes based on George Floyd's murder to mock the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a ICE officer.
(Have blurred the images.)
(Have blurred the images.)
January 9, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Some in the far-right have been sharing memes based on George Floyd's murder to mock the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a ICE officer.
(Have blurred the images.)
(Have blurred the images.)
During an "election integrity" chat on a podcast last month, right-wing conspiracy theorist Wayne Allyn Root suggested that he was behind Trump saying he would pardon Pete Rose & was "the guy who ... created the ideas of no tax on Social Security & no tax on overtime & sold them to the president."
January 7, 2026 at 8:16 PM
During an "election integrity" chat on a podcast last month, right-wing conspiracy theorist Wayne Allyn Root suggested that he was behind Trump saying he would pardon Pete Rose & was "the guy who ... created the ideas of no tax on Social Security & no tax on overtime & sold them to the president."
Nick Fuentes on his show the day after Christmas credited social media platforms & their supposed policy reversals as "the number one thing" for his alleged recent rise in popularity, mentioning platforms like Instagram & YouTube specifically. www.mediamatters.org/nick-fuentes...
![NICK FUENTES (HOST): And starting with number one, the number one thing which accounted for all this success this year -- Why did the show blow up so much this year? The number one thing, which nobody will even mention and nobody has mentioned, is that this is the first year that they simply stopped censoring me. That's it. It's that simple.
...
And what happened this year is there were a few specific decisions that were made.
...
Three, and this is maybe the biggest one, Instagram stopped deleting my clips. And this is something that we noticed. This is like a switch was flipped. I think in like January. All of a sudden you were able to post my clips on Instagram without being banned. And they were able to get millions of views, hundreds of thousands of views. That was never the case. It used to be the case that if you posted any clip from my show, your whole channel will get deleted. All of a sudden starting this year, you're able to post the clip without it getting taken down.
And then the last thing that happened, kind of like the last shoe to drop was around May of this year, I was able to start appearing as a guest on YouTube. This is something else where even in 2024, Candace Owens wouldn't bring me on her show because she was worried that if I was even a guest that the whole YouTube channel would get deleted. And in May for the first time, I think I did the Hodgetwins and then I did the [Digital] Social Hour with Sean [Kelly]. All of a sudden, again, I was on a YouTube show and the YouTube channel was not banned. The video was not taken down. I don't know if it was even demonetized.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:af7tqcetuyt352aolf3znlxe/bafkreidh3rtiazxsbm65nkqfuthpilni6gky3pcswu5rhqakqwyqyst3wi@jpeg)
January 5, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Nick Fuentes on his show the day after Christmas credited social media platforms & their supposed policy reversals as "the number one thing" for his alleged recent rise in popularity, mentioning platforms like Instagram & YouTube specifically. www.mediamatters.org/nick-fuentes...
A key figure with the false conspiracy theory connecting Venezuela to false claims of 2020 election fraud has been conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne.
In October, Byrne on a podcast said "there’s never been as necessary a war since the Civil War, that we go down & take care of Venezuela."
In October, Byrne on a podcast said "there’s never been as necessary a war since the Civil War, that we go down & take care of Venezuela."
January 5, 2026 at 8:26 PM
A key figure with the false conspiracy theory connecting Venezuela to false claims of 2020 election fraud has been conspiracy theorist Patrick Byrne.
In October, Byrne on a podcast said "there’s never been as necessary a war since the Civil War, that we go down & take care of Venezuela."
In October, Byrne on a podcast said "there’s never been as necessary a war since the Civil War, that we go down & take care of Venezuela."
Between Christmas & today, Trump shared images of & links to posts from QAnon influencer "The SCIF" at least 8 times, all to push false election fraud claims.
Additionally, Trump shared an image from another QAnon figure to connect The SCIF's election fraud claims to Trump's actions in Venezuela.
Additionally, Trump shared an image from another QAnon figure to connect The SCIF's election fraud claims to Trump's actions in Venezuela.
January 5, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Between Christmas & today, Trump shared images of & links to posts from QAnon influencer "The SCIF" at least 8 times, all to push false election fraud claims.
Additionally, Trump shared an image from another QAnon figure to connect The SCIF's election fraud claims to Trump's actions in Venezuela.
Additionally, Trump shared an image from another QAnon figure to connect The SCIF's election fraud claims to Trump's actions in Venezuela.
Hope everyone had a nice holiday break. Was on a bit of a holiday break (& grieving the death of my family's cat), & am back to work today.
January 5, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Hope everyone had a nice holiday break. Was on a bit of a holiday break (& grieving the death of my family's cat), & am back to work today.