QAnon's corrosive impact on the U.S.

In just three years, the extremist ideology of QAnon has captured the minds and imaginations of tens of millions of Americans. Their core belief: a global cabal including Democrats, Hollywood elites, and members of what they call the “deep state” control much of our lives. The cabal commits atrocities including pedophilia, Satan worship, and canabalizing children, but it will be vanquished by Donald Trump in an apocalyptic day called “the storm.”

QAnon was born when an anonymous character named “Q” began posting cryptic riddles in an online forum known for hosting hateful and racist content. The movement prospered in pandemic isolation — its followers occasionally erupting in acts of violence, culminating in the assault on the Capitol. But the prophesied storm never happened, instead, Donald Trump left office and QAnon followers have found themselves at a moment of truth.