'Deep state' theory makes false claims about martial law, arrests, pandemic
Facts And Fact Checking,Deep State,Conspiracy Theories,Violence In America
The claim: 'Deep State' collapses: martial law is in effect, Biden and Congress arrested, official government statements censored, pandemic created by other countries to overthrow U.S. government
In the days since the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot and President Joe Biden's inauguration, social media platforms and online messaging boards have been flooded with conspiracy theories about a nationwide military takeover.
Social media users have shared a lengthy "Deep State collapses" narrative that makes a variety of claims related to the QAnon conspiracy theory, such as martial law being invoked; Biden and members of Congress being arrested; military takeover of the media; and claims about the COVID-19 pandemic being engineered by other countries to overthrow the U.S. government.
The earliest version of this narrative appears in a Feb. 3 Facebook post from a user who wrote, "don't bother me who my sources are. You don't have to believe it. Do your own research."
