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Q is back! OR IS HE? A user identifying themselves as “B” posted to a board that theoretically can only be accessed by the person who put out messages as “Q” posted for the first time, but it looks likely that the incident is a fluke and that the original Q has maintained the silence he has kept since December 2020.
Meanwhile, a collection of QAnon influencers and adherents met up in Texas, and Q-world stars Mike Flynn and Sidney Powell made headlines by saying wrong and dangerous things to that audience. The conference comes as some are arguing, somewhat controversially, that the Q movement has lost its mojo and is in retreat.
Donald Trump, presumably on the basis of a Q-connected conspiracy theory that audits in swing states will all go in his direction and somehow automatically return him to the White House, is reported to have told people that he believes he could be “reinstated” as president in August. Trump also reached the end of a short road with the blog he launched last month, which failed to attract a readership despite being a vehicle for the misinformation greatest hits that usually help him fire up supporters.
People who were arrested for participating in the attack on the Capitol to stop the certification of the Electoral College tally in January are beginning to claim that they were victims of misinformation related to the election. Time will tell whether judges find this to be a compelling defense.
The social media platforms made moves this week, with Twitter previewing new misinformation warning labels and Facebook announcing that it would keep Trump from putting things out via Facebook or Instagram for at least two years.
That, and more, below. This is This Week in Misinformation.
— Kevin
QANON & COMPANY
Thread on 29 May post on 8kun purporting to be Q (@pinealdecalcify via Twitter)
QAnon’s Wildest Moments From Their Massively Disturbing Conference (VICE)
In Context: What Michael Flynn said about Myanmar (PolitiFact)
Telegram responses to Flynn’s coup call (@QOrigins via Twitter)
Ex-Trump lawyer Sidney Powell showed up to a QAnon conference in a biker vest and falsely claimed Trump could be 'reinstated' as president (Business Insider)
Column: Reports of QAnon’s death aren’t exaggerated (LA Times)
Response to LA Column on Q being dead (@_MAArgentino via Twitter)
Study: Understanding QAnon’s Connection to American Politics, Religion, and Media Consumption (PRRI)
NEW TRUMP NONSENSE
New York Times Reporter tweets that Trump has told people he could be “reinstated” to the White House in August 2021 (@maggieNYT via Twitter)
Trump ends blog after 29 days, infuriated by measly readership (Washington Post)
Trump's blog isn't lighting up the internet (NBC News)
THE JANUARY 6TH CAPITOL ATTACK
Defense for some Capitol rioters: election misinformation (Associated Press)
PLATFORMS
Twitter is working on three levels of misinformation warnings (@yoyoel via Twitter)
Facebook says Donald Trump to remain banned for two years, effective from Jan. 7 (CNBC)
Fact check: Donald Trump remains suspended from Facebook, Instagram (USA Today)
Report: Instagram is “Fact Checking” Jokes about Anthony Fauci (Breitbart)