{"id":3872,"date":"2020-10-08T15:33:52","date_gmt":"2020-10-08T19:33:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/press.nbcnews.com\/?p=3872"},"modified":"2020-10-08T15:33:52","modified_gmt":"2020-10-08T19:33:52","slug":"this-week-on-meet-the-press-reports-qanon-and-conspiracy-theories-an-american-political-tradition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nbcuniversalnewsgroup.com\/nbcnews\/2020\/10\/08\/this-week-on-meet-the-press-reports-qanon-and-conspiracy-theories-an-american-political-tradition\/","title":{"rendered":"THIS WEEK ON MEET THE PRESS REPORTS: \u201cQAnon and Conspiracy Theories: An American Political Tradition\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On this week\u2019s episode, Chuck Todd is joined by experts to discuss the rise of QAnon and the impact that this conspiracy theory has made on our political landscape.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, new polling from Dynata breaks down the demographics of QAnon followers.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tune in tonight, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. ET on<\/strong><\/em> NBC News NOW<\/strong><\/em><\/a> and<\/strong><\/em> Peacock<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On this week\u2019s episode of Meet the Press Reports<\/em>, Chuck Todd examines the rise of QAnon, and how it\u2019s just the latest example in a long history of American political conspiracies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 30-minute episode explores how anonymous posts online made their way from the fringes of the internet all the way to being a topic in the White House briefing room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom the early days of this country’s founding, there have been government skeptics-turned-conspiracy theorists,\u201d Chuck Todd says at the top of the episode. \u201cBut until very recently, they weren’t armed with the tool they now use to propagate their message: social media,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conspiracy theories are nothing new in American political history, but the internet has allowed QAnon to spread fast and dangerously. Social media companies are cracking down, but on this episode, Chuck Todd explores if it is too late. And what happens to the movement if President Trump is re-elected, or if he loses?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, QAnon is on the ballot. The group of experts discuss how a growing list of QAnon-linked congressional candidates could change politics regardless of the presidential election outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the episode, Todd is joined by QAnon and political conspiracy theories experts, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n