Everyone's panicking about everything. Here's why.

The MoJo Daily newsletter, Monday through Friday. [View in browser]( [Support our nonprofit journalism]( [Mother Jones Daily Newsletter](     June 3, 2024 Hello there. My name is Clint Hendler, and I'm a senior editor at Mother Jones. Throughout the Trump era, I've helped lead our coverage of disinformation and extremism. The pervasive lies and invective mean it hasn’t always been a pleasant task. But to make sense of it all, luckily I’ve been able to rely on the insights of reporter Ali Breland and his adept monitoring of platform policy, tech regulation, online radicalization, and related topics. I’m sad to report that Ali recently began a new job at the Atlantic. (While well-wishes are in order, there’s no denying he will be missed at Mother Jones, where one of his specialties has been tracking the bizarre QAnon conspiracy.) But the good news is that he didn’t leave us empty-handed—and that we have just published a final must-read [big story]( based on his years of close observation of the phenomenon. It’s a brainy look at how, despite its over-the-top dark and lurid sci-fi visions, the [self-styled pro-Trump, anti-pedophile Q movement]( has nonetheless played a major part in remaking America’s cultural politics. Today’s persistent national anti-trans panic, largely pushed along by conservative political figures who don’t maintain explicit links to Q-world, illustrates a vector where its reactionary conspiratorial paranoia has diffused into the real world, with real effects. As one expert [told]( Ali, even if Q’s overall presence has faded in the wake of Trump’s first term, its impact on such culture wars is clear: “There is a sense in which QAnon won.” If you want to learn more about how the conspiracy’s stylings and ethos persist—and to learn how to spot its enduring influence—check out the [essay here](. —Clint Hendler P.S. How did a renewable energy project become a battleground in rural New York? My colleagues at Reveal explore a controversial solar project that sparked a seven-year battle—and what it says about our renewable energy future. [Listen here](! Advertisement [House Subscriptions Ad]( [Top Story] [Top Story]( [Trump Says He’s “Okay” With Jail or House Arrest]( Top Republicans are realizing they might have to nominate an incarcerated man at their July convention, CBS reports. BY JULIANNE MCSHANE MOTHER JONES MEMBERSHIP UPDATE   MOTHER JONES NEEDS YOUR HELP Straight to the point: Donations have been concerningly slow for our hugely important First $500,000 fundraising campaign. We urgently need your help, and a lot of help, over the next few weeks so we can pay for the one-of-a-kind journalism you get from us. Learn more in “[Less Dreading, More Doing](,” where we lay out this wild moment and how we can keep charging hard for you. And please help if you can: $5, $50, or $500—[every gift from every person]( truly matters right now. [Donate]( [Trending] [How we've failed the promise of making “genocide” a crime]( BY NOAH LANARD   [Sen. Robert Menendez is scoring big wins in his gold-bar bribery trial]( BY DAN FRIEDMAN   ["Make them pay"—the far right responds to Trump's conviction]( BY KIERA BUTLER   [Columbia students start new Gaza Solidarity Encampment]( BY NAJIB AMINY Advertisement [House Bookshop Ad]( [Special Feature] [Special Feature]( [How Q became everything]( The conspiracy group’s goal was to convince people the world is run by pedophiles, and, well, mission accomplished. BY ALI BRELAND Did you enjoy this newsletter? Help us out by [forwarding]( it to a friend or sharing it on [Facebook]( and [Twitter](. [Mother Jones]( [Donate]( [Donate Monthly]( [Subscribe]( This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755