The BBC Radio 4 podcast about conspiracy thinking is back, and things are even weirder.
It has been three and a half years since insurrectionists stormed the US Capitol, convinced by the belief in a shadowy cabal of satanic paedophiles who had allegedly stolen the 2020 election from Donald Trump. In the first season of The Coming Storm, investigative journalist Gabriel Gatehouse explored the roots of QAnon, exposing the “epidemic of disorientation” that has plagued America. What began as a hoax on a fringe web forum, nurtured by the anxieties and powerlessness of a globalized world, has evolved into a movement with millions of followers worldwide.
As the US heads into the 2024 presidential election, the podcast returns to investigate the state of conspiracy thinking in America. This time, Gatehouse expands his focus beyond QAnon, looking at how such ideas have seeped into the mainstream. The pandemic, the role of the Federal Reserve, and even Trump’s assassination attempt—everything is now seen through the lens of a deep-state plot. The core message: open your eyes, connect the dots, and see the bigger picture.
What’s more disturbing is how conspiracy theories, once confined to the margins of society, have become mainstream. The once obscure narratives are now debated in the media, among politicians, and across social platforms. Conspiratorial thinking has spread far beyond the confines of the internet’s darkest corners and has taken hold in more visible aspects of political and public life. In this new climate, the lines between fact and fiction are increasingly blurred, and the truth is often as malleable as the conspiracy theorist’s imagination.
Gatehouse’s investigation isn’t just about the power of QAnon, though. The return of The Coming Storm marks a deeper exploration into the broader culture of conspiracy, asking how it has become so embedded in society that it now shapes the way people view government, media, and truth. The podcast scrutinizes how certain events, from lockdowns to major political assassinations, have been framed as part of a larger conspiracy, one orchestrated by powerful forces seeking to control the masses.
As the election nears, the fear is that these ideas will play an even larger role in shaping public opinion. The podcast reflects a nation at a crossroads, with many questioning the reliability of traditional sources of information. How did we arrive at a point where disinformation and conspiracy theories could so easily hijack public discourse? And, more crucially, what does this mean for the future of democracy, particularly as the nation heads into a high-stakes election?
The Coming Storm also raises a fundamental question: what happens when the line between fiction and reality becomes impossible to distinguish? In this age of misinformation, truth seems more subjective than ever, and the podcast warns that we are teetering on the edge of a dangerous new reality, where questioning everything has become the norm. With the election looming, the podcast asks whether the system can withstand the storm of disinformation, or if it will unravel altogether.
Gatehouse’s return is a stark reminder of the deepening divide in America. While some continue to embrace the official narratives, others are drawn to the allure of conspiratorial explanations. The return of The Coming Storm signals the need for a reckoning with these forces and asks how much further we are willing to allow conspiracy thinking to influence our politics, culture, and lives.
