A journalist who has followed the rise of QAnon explains what it is how it has gained a
mainstream following among Republican lawmakers and ordinary citizens the threat it poses to
democracy and how we can reach those who have embraced the conspiracy and are disseminating
its lies.Over the last year as the Covid-19 pandemic spread worldwide so too did the
pro-Trump cabal known as QAnon. What began as a fringe online conspiracy in the mid 2000s is
now embraced by millions of Americans across the country-and the globe-including new members of
Congress and the thousands of Trump followers armed with guns and a variety of makeshift
weapons who attacked the United States Capitol on January 6 2021 searching for lawmakers
including the Vice President shouting hang Mike Pence.Following internet clues from a
mysterious figure named Q-who has claimed to be a high-level government insider with a Q-level
clearance-QAnon adherents fueled by paranoia and hatred of the left believe that Donald Trump
has been anointed by God to stop evil Democrats who sexually abuse kill and eat children
that Trump won the 2020 election that was stolen from him and will soon order mass executions
of Democrats including Hillary Clinton the Obamas George Soros and many others. QAnon
believers continue to spout lies and disinformation about politics and the pandemic their
beliefs have ruptured friendships and family bonds and caused untold damage.While in office
Trump praised QAnon believers as people who love our country invited them to the White House
and retweeted their crazed messages on a near-daily basis. Though he is gone the threat of
widespread violence from his acolytes-the Storm is coming-remains high. What can we do about
Q's growing platform? Daily Beast reporter Will Sommer has been reporting on the QAnon
conspiracy for years and has been targeted by the group. In this timely and essential book he
explains the genesis of QAnon his experience covering its members online and in the real world
Q's lies and how they are spread how Q has overshadowed politics and what the nation must do
to address this growing danger-including how to help friends and family who have fallen under
Q's pernicious sway.
