Interview With Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL); The QAnon Cult Is Spreading On Social Media
STELTER: QAnon is a virtual cult that casts Democratic politicians and celebrities and other targets as evil child abusers, satanic pedophiles, that sort of thing. QAnon believers seem to be gaining and more and more power. There are groups on Facebook that have millions of members and we are seeing some of these believers creep into Congress. One of these candidates won a primary runoff in Georgia this week. She's in a heavily Republican district which means she's almost certainly going to win and be elected to Congress this fall. Keep in mind if you talk about QAnon, this is not happening in a vacuum. This is not a game. It's not fun online. An FBI field office described QAnon as a potential domestic terror threat last year. And we have seen acts of violence perpetrated by QAnon adherence. Still that woman who won the primary runoff, she was congratulated by President Trump. She's been celebrated by other GOP leaders as well. Most Republican leaders have just kind of remained silent about QAnon, just tried to avoid it, even though there is a disturbing amount of overlap between Trump support and QAnon belief. But let me tell you about one Republican congressman who is speaking out. Adam Kinzinger is with me right now for his first interview about this topic because -- Congressman, thank you for coming on. You just posted a YouTube video I thought was outstanding where you discuss QAnon. And you have a message for people who might have QAnon believers in their family. So, let's start with what you want people to know about what QAnon actually is.</s>REP. ADAM KINZINGER (R-IL): So, you know, we don't necessarily know where it comes from, if it's one person, if it's a basement dweller where this started as a joke, if it's multiple people now, if it's Russian intelligence even. We don't necessarily know. But it started with basically (ph) in October of 2017, it's what they're calling Q drops. Like -- it's very vague conspiracy theories about this satanic network in the government that Trump was sent to basically tear out. They've had predictions about this thing called "the storm", which is a mass roundup and arrested everybody and executions of thousands of people. And people have adhered to this. And, you know, again, what happens is, if it -- it kind of confirms what you already believe and it's dark, it's really attractive in some cases. I haven't addressed it for a while but it's started making into the mainstream. And now, I think it's when it's important for leaders to come out and push back on it because it's already had the attention, frankly, that it doesn't deserve.</s>STELTER: Yeah, I hope your video goes viral because you point out, the initial precisions made by "Q" were bogus. Of course, they didn't come true. So, they've been disbelieved -- disproven again and again and again. When it comes to -- there's a lot of families that are -- that are torn apart by this stuff, where you've got some people that believe in conspiracy theories and others who don't. And you make the point, it's not about hating other people, it's not about looking down on folks who buy into crazy theories. It's about recognizing each other's humanity. How do you think we should talk with each other about this?</s>KINZINGER: So, I think that's the key, is if anybody buys into a conspiracy theory, whether it's on the far left, far right, you know, we never landed on the moon, whatever it is, it's out of an interest of if only the truth is known, life would be better for me and other people. And so, everybody thinks they're the good guy. Everybody wants to do right. And I think understanding humanity from that perspective and then engaging them in that perspective through love and understanding is far different. You're never going to offend somebody onto your side. You're never going to offend somebody away from something they believe. In fact, it emboldens them. So, I think it's understanding that they're still human. And if you believe in this conspiracy theory stuff, especially QAnon, do some independent research. There's a lot of stuff debunking it, including all the predictions that didn't come true, and now, the new Q stuff reads league be a tarot card reader who gives you something so vague that it will absolutely fit into something that happens in the next months.</s>STELTER: Right. Are you disappointed in the politicians that are not denouncing this, that are not speaking out?</s>KINZINGER: I think time is going to tell. So, I think up to maybe about a week ago, there wasn't a reason to denounce it because it didn't need the attention, but now that it's made mainstream, we have a candidate that embraces it that won a primary. I supported her primary opponent. The president hasn't fully denounced it or denounced it at all. Now, it's time for leaders to come out and denounce it. The key here isn't this -- it's not Democrats denouncing it. It's Republicans denouncing it. Democrats and Republicans have to denounce extremism in their own party, because that's where it's effective. It's not going to be effective from the other side denouncing it. It again just emboldens them and says, see, that's exactly what we told you. They don't like us because --</s>STELTER: But you've got a Trump campaign official --</s>KINZINGER: -- you know, they have their constituents at heart.</s>STELTER: Congressman, you even have a Trump campaign official hitting you, punting at you for denouncing QAnon. What's your reaction to Matt Wolking's tweet?</s>KINZINGER: It was pretty surprising. You know, to that point, obviously, they haven't since, so I think that was not a campaign decision. It was a decision by that staffer. The campaign has to, you know, deal with that and I'm sure they are. But it was probably not a really good political move on that staffer's part.</s>STELTER: Congressman, thank you very much for being here. What you said about, you know, how to reach out to folks I think is vital. I'm glad you're talking about it. Yeah.</s>KINZINGER: You bet. Thanks.</s>STELTER: A quick break on the program, and then we'll talk more about this twisted appeal, right, what it is about conspiracy theories that are so appealing. Remember this one? Fox News promoted these lies about Seth Rich. And there's brand new information about that case next.