A Conspiracy Theory Is Proved Wrong

<p><i>This episode contains strong language. </i></p><p>Inauguration Day was supposed to bring vindication for adherents of the pro-Trump conspiracy theory QAnon.</p><p>Instead, they watched as Joe Biden took the oath as the 46th president of the United States.</p><p>What happens to a conspiracy theory and its followers when they are proved wrong?</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/kevin-roose?smid=pc-thedaily">Kevin Roose</a>, a technology columnist for The New York Times. </p><p>For an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. You can read the latest edition <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-daily-newsletter">here</a>.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>As Mr. Biden took office and Mr. Trump landed in Florida, with no mass arrests in sight, some QAnon believers<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/technology/qanon-election-trump.html"> struggled to harmonize the falsehoods</a> with the inauguration on their TVs.</li><li>Valerie Gilbert posts dozens of times a day in support of QAnon. Her story hints at<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/17/technology/qanon-meme-queen.html?searchResultPosition=4"> how hard it will be</a> to bring people like her back to reality.</li><li>What is QAnon?<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/what-is-qanon.html"> Here is an explainer</a> on the “big tent conspiracy theory.”</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily </a></p>