Alex Kaplan

@alkapdc.bsky.social

29274 Followers 28 Following

Senior Researcher at Media Matters, focusing on social media misinformation, disinformation, & online extremism. Statements are mine, not employer's. Send tips to akaplan@mediamatters.org.

Seth Keshel: "Received a very nice letter in the mail today." The post includes an image of a letter addressed to "Seth" that is apparently signed by Trump that says "thank you for sending me a signed copy of your book on" elections, that "you are a tremendous part of our America First movement," and that "with proud, hardworking patriots like you, we will ensure elections are secure, transparent, and fair."
Peter Ticktin, an attorney who has represented Trump, on Real America's Voice. During the interview, the chyron "the case for marshal law" was on screen.
Far-right forum TheDonald: "Whatever your opinion of PF, there’s no denying that a frame-shift happened yesterday:" The post shows an image of a post claiming "she got a seat row to all herself in a bus that standing room only full of white supremacists, apparently, was perfectly safe throughout the ride. The picture is powerful, but not for the reason you think it is."
Liz Crokin: "There’s no situation where a honeytrap can justify journalism because it’s not journalism. This kind of journalism is lower than prostitution. And this is happening all the time in the MAGA Movement. You have operators that openly preach their “Christian faith” and post Bible versus constantly — as they swing, like Brian Gamble and his honeytrap proud “wife”, and have creepy threesomes with their cousin allegedly, according to him and prey on young girls in General Flynn’s America’s Future?"
Former Mesa County, Colorado, clerk Tina Peters said during a stream following her release from prison that she had spoken with the president and she believes “Trump could sign an executive order to get rid of the machines and say that they are — that a vendor cannot have that much influence over our elections.” She also said on a separate podcast that “we need to get rid of the machines” and “mail-in ballots,” and Trump “needs to sign an executive order ... saying it’s unconstitutional that these things are allowed to be done.” [Jerome] Corsi has also claimed that Peters will “play a major role in one of the key factors in Trump ultimately declaring the need for the elections to be supervised by the federal government.”
"Wayne Allyn Root — a radio host who has claimed that mail-in ballots were used to “rig and steal the 2020 election” and who the Nevada Current reported is “known for subscribing to conspiracy theories”— has authored multiple columns for The Gateway Pundit advocating for the proposed national emergency. On his show, Root claimed to have texted the president about a national emergency and he said that he would urge Trump to “sign Jerome Corsi’s executive order on election integrity, Mr. President, and do it now.” John Goodman, who is part of the “Florida Election Integrity Committee,” said on Stern American's “election integrity call” that “if you like the SAVE Act, you should love the national security emergency even more because it's like the SAVE Act on steroids,“ and that such a declaration “will be the trick, unobstructed.” He has also claimed that the call for “a national security emergency on elections” based on his ideas has been “very well received by Trump's legal team.” Root has said that “John Goodman, my election expert, has been telling me” that a national emergency is “the way to go,” and he claimed that Goodman “sent me all the reasons … as to what I could pass on to President Trump to push the urgency of a executive order to deal with election fraud and election integrity.” Corsi has also claimed to “have been working with” Goodman."
"Alex Kaplan of Media Matters notes that since Trump took office in 2025, his loyalists have urged him simply to declare a national emergency in order to justify dictating new voting and election rules to the states."
Left, from QAnon figure Enoch: "Patriots… connect the dots. It started with the White House posting: “White House will be Q posting today… And by Q we mean Quantum. Stay tuned 👀” Then the Dept of War / War Room engaged — including a meme with President Trump and a prominent Q. Later the White House dropped their own mock-up Q-style post: “Q is for quantum 😉” But here’s where it gets wild: The White House Deputy War Room Director (Bobby Levy) quote-tweeted the original post with: “Activation word: Ronald McDonald” That exact phrase and meme didn’t come out of nowhere. It was originally posted by Elon Musk back on November 4, 2024 — in a video where at the 37-second mark, “Q” appears on screen and says the activation word: Ronald McDonald. They’re using the same activation codes Elon dropped years ago. From the White House. From the Dept of War. From Elon. Why is the White House and the Department of War engaging the Q community with memes, mock Q posts, and activation words if it’s supposedly “just a joke”? And why has the mainstream media asked President Trump zero questions about any of this today? We’re watching it all unfold in real time. WWG1WGA" Right, from QAnon figure Clandestine: "Now that we are throwing all our cards on the table, the truth is, I’m one of the OG anons, and I’ve used my influence to inject red pills into the mainstream this whole time. ... My gameplan has been to subtly administer small doses over time. I’ve had great success over the years at penetrating new echo chambers and sneaking Q themes into the mainstream. However, it appears the time for small doses is over. We’ve spent many years trying to soften the landing for the normies, but we are approaching the point of no return. Those who have not woken up yet and willingly taken the red pill… here comes the suppository."
Q posts aggregated on the Q post aggregator site Qagg. The fake Q post shown by the White House social media account looks the same as how the Q posts are shown are Qagg.
QAnon figure Clandestine: "🔥BREAKING NEWS🔥 DNI Gabbard is releasing new evidence about US-funded biolabs in Ukraine, and calls out the Biden administration and complicit media for covering all of this up and attacking/threatening those who tried to expose this, aka, ME! The highest ranking US intelligence official just confirmed that the entire system went out of their way to cover up US-funded biolabs around the world. In other words, Tulsi just confirmed that the US government, the MSM, and powerful NGOs, tried to destroy me to cover up their biological weapon production. I spent the last 4+ years in hell, was relentlessly smeared by global media, having the entire world call me a crazy conspiracy theorist/foreign asset, and I turned out to be correct. I sniffed out where nefarious NGOs were developing biological weapons with US taxpayer money, and the global establishment tried to stop me. They failed. Wild stuff. I’m pretty sure I was a catalyst that changed the world."
QAnon figure Jordan Sather: "Tulsi dropping bombs on her way out 💥 "Today, I’m releasing never before seen intelligence revealing new evidence of past US government funding for more than 120 biolabs in over 30 countries, including Ukraine." I guess those Ukrainian Biolabs weren't such a conspiracy theory after all..."
Liz Crokin on 6/11/26: "I want to put on the record publicly that I resigned from @TrueGenFlynn America’s Future on June 8, 2026."
Proud Boys: "Public Statement from the Proud Boys The Proud Boys organization is built on principles of Western chauvinism, brotherhood, loyalty, and standing up for what is right. We hold our members to a high standard of conduct, accountability, and integrity. Effective immediately, the Proud Boys hereby publicly disavow and disassociate from Jon Mellis for conduct unbecoming. He is no longer a member of the Proud Boys, and we do not endorse or affiliate with him in any capacity. This decision follows careful review and is made in the best interest of the organization and its members. The Proud Boys remain committed to our mission, our values, and supporting true brothers who uphold the standards of the fraternity. We wish Jon the best in his personal endeavors moving forward, but our paths diverge here. - The Proud Boys."
Post on QAnon forum GreatAwakening: "I propose [user] a level headed true patriot 🫡🇺🇸 I wouldn’t risk it, my first action would be revenge on C5 for the monkey ass badge threat 🤣🤣🤣" Lead moderator catsfive in response: "We tried adding a female mod, once.... too much estrogen for team coherence! Not to mention faux moon landings!"
YouTube video from 5/28/26 showing Douglas Frank arriving in South Korea as part of a Korea-US "team" to monitor for supposed election fraud
Video titled "Moon Landing Footage Has a Problem Nobody Noticed" listed in Rumble's "editor pick" section
ENRIQUE TARRIO (HOST): Something that I keep hearing from the left, and I love it, is, like, they're afraid what these J6ers are going to do with this money. Right? ... And if I was a leftist shitbag, I'd be worried. And not for the same reason that they think. They're like, Oh, well, you know, they're going to make a militia out of it. Although I think a lot of J6ers are going to spend their money on firearms. But I think a lot — and from what I hear from the J6 community, I'm part of a lot of group chats. A lot of them want to use this money to start some type of political act — [AUDIO BRIEFLY CUTS OUT] Right? A lot of philanthropic that have to do with the culture, conservative culture. Some of them I've heard that they want to use it to run for office. Right? And there's nothing scarier to the establishment and the left than a J6er with actual power. Right? Because we see what's wrong in the system and we're not afraid.
Trump amplifying posts from @IStandWithTrump47 and evidence of @IStandWithTrump47 promoting QAnon.
From the May 19, 2026, edition of LindellTV's The Absolute Truth with Emerald Robinson, streamed on Rumble EMERALD ROBINSON (HOST): Patrick, what else is happening on the Hill is that Todd Blanche is on the Hill today, and he's been asked a lot. Most of the line of questioning has been related to this $1.7 billion weaponization fund that the president announced in recent days. And of course, I immediately think of you. You're one of those people that I think huh, now Patrick Byrne should be one of those people, along with the J6ers and so many others, that are a product — or excuse me, a recipient of this fund. Patrick — PATRICK BYRNE (FORMER OVERSTOCK CEO): Yeah. ROBINSON: I don't think people really know how much you've been — the government's been weaponized against you. It started before many of the others we even talk about. And how much money you've spent in trying to fight the weaponization. What do you think about this idea? BYRNE: Well, I was weaponized against. ...
From the May 19, 2026, edition of WarBoys Studios' NewsBrief, streamed on Rumble ENRIQUE TARRIO (CO-HOST): Reno says, “Does Ray Epps and Bertino get money?” And — Listen. This is kind of the issue with advocating, and I don't — you know? When you — when we were locked up and our J6 advocates, our amazing advocates, were out there lobbying for our pardons, they knew, most of them, knew that they had to take the position of pardoning all, not one. Right? Or not, “Oh, certain circumstances.” They needed to move the field goal. The 50-yard line had to be at the 100-yard line so they could — if it didn't happen, which it didn't, because we had the commutations and thank the DOJ and thank Trump that we are getting those sentences vacated. We have to push for Bertino. We have to push for Ray Epps. We have to push for, like, all those people to get this money too. You know? You could complain about it later, but I think it's important that we take the position that every J6er needs to be able to get some type of funds. ...
Mikki Willis: "They are really gonna try this again? Pfizer already has a vaccine ready too. How convenient." (Pfizer does not currently have a vaccine for hantavirus.) The post includes an image of a post about a WHO hantavirus media briefing.
QAnon figure Clandestine: "After I got banned in 2022 for the biolabs in Ukraine story, I reached out to my congressmen, media outlets, prominent politicians, etc., looking for help. Only one person responded to me. That person? TULSI GABBARD, who coincidentally is now the head of all US intelligence, and the most vocal individual about the US-funded biolabs in Ukraine. Tulsi helped me get in contact with a specific lawyer, that you all would recognize and also now works for the Trump administration. I told the legal team my story, looking for options to sue the media companies who defamed me for writing about accurate information. Ultimately, I was informed that no one would be willing to take my case pro bono, due to the volatility of the situation and the controversy surrounding the story, despite the fact that the media were just blatantly lying about incontrovertible facts. Now 4+ years later, as the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi is formally investigating the US-funded biolabs in Ukraine. You know, the biolabs in Ukraine that the media said didn’t exist… Video is from 3/22/2022, when Tulsi first publicly spoke out about the biolabs in Ukraine, a month after I was banned on Twitter for the thread."
Trump amplifying posts from @IStandWithTrump47.