A reporter down the rabbit hole: Gabriel Gatehouse on edgelords, conspiracy theories and Trump’s America
The former BBC journalist has spent four years considering the misfits, misinformation and manipulation that are now central to US politics. In his new book, The Coming Storm, he weaves a terrifying narrative
Gabriel Gatehouse only got back from Florida a few minutes ago. His wheeled suitcase is still in the hallway of his London home. He was out there covering the US election for Channel 4 News and has had very little sleep, he says, but you’d never guess it from his twinkle-eyed sprightliness. His original plan was to try to get into Donald Trump’s election party at Mar-a-Lago, he tells me as he makes us each an espresso, but his contact told him to forget it; it was full, “and you don’t blag your way in when the guy’s survived two assassination attempts”.
So instead, Gatehouse headed to Little Havana in Miami, which has a sizeable Cuban American population. No Republican nominee has won Miami-Dade county since 1988, but “the swing to Trump was very visible”, he says. “People were just having a big old Cuban party, really, in celebration.” These were ordinary citizens, he says, not “the slightly sinister, Maga, nod-and-a-wink at ‘alt-right’, white supremacy, dictatorship” crowd. But he didn’t spot any upset Democrat voters. “I saw nothing but joy and happiness, and [the election] hadn’t been called for Trump at that point, but they could kind of sense it, they could feel the momentum, and they were right.”
Continue reading...-
Trump’s Allies Revive Debunked Voting Machine Theories
Top stories - The New York Times - October 23 -
A Russian Disinfo Campaign Is Using Comment Sections to Seed Pro-Trump Conspiracy Theories
Tech - Wired - November 1 -
Could conspiracy theories and AI impact the US election?
Top stories - BBC News - October 16 -
Election Fraud Conspiracy Theories Are Already Thriving Online
Tech - Wired - October 29 -
Republicans need real election solutions, not conspiracy theories
Politics - The Hill - October 30 -
Debunking conspiracy theories ahead of Election Day 2024
Top stories - CBS News - 3 days ago -
Musk pushes debunked Dominion voting conspiracy theory at first Pennsylvania appearance
Politics - NBC News - October 18 -
Elon Musk promotes election fraud conspiracy theories at Pennsylvania rally
Politics - NBC News - October 18 -
Conspiracy theories and a $1m check: a night at Elon Musk’s surreal election giveaway
World - The Guardian - October 21
More from The Guardian
-
Iranian man charged in plot to kill Trump; judge grants special counsel’s request to pause Trump’s 2020 case – live
World - The Guardian - 17 minutes ago -
Amsterdam police arrest more than 60 people after attacks on Israeli football fans
World - The Guardian - 18 minutes ago -
‘Almost unparalleled suffering’ in Gaza as UN says nearly 70% of those killed are women and children
World - The Guardian - 1 hour ago -
Outrage against Canada’s Marineland theme park after fifth beluga dies
World - The Guardian - 2 hours ago -
Met police refer themselves to watchdog over Fayed investigation complaints
World - The Guardian - 37 minutes ago
Latest in World
-
Israeli soccer fans were attacked in Amsterdam. The violence was condemned as antisemitic
World - ABC News - 14 minutes ago -
Iranian man charged in plot to kill Trump; judge grants special counsel’s request to pause Trump’s 2020 case – live
World - The Guardian - 17 minutes ago -
Arsenal v Brighton, Manchester City v Tottenham: WSL updates and more – live
World - The Guardian - 17 minutes ago -
Amsterdam police arrest more than 60 people after attacks on Israeli football fans
World - The Guardian - 18 minutes ago -
Ireland v New Zealand: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – live
World - The Guardian - 20 minutes ago