How belief in conspiracy theories affects interpersonal relationships: Feat. Lauren Mastroni

How belief in conspiracy theories affects interpersonal relationships: Feat. Lauren Mastroni

Author: Amanda Stephens, Hanna Bilinski,Rti July 21, 2025 Duration: 0:00

This week we have a special guest, Lauren Mastroni the leading author of the thesis, “I one-hundred thousand percent blame it on QAnon”: The impact of QAnon belief on interpersonal relationships from the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. We discuss how belief in the “big tent” conspiracy QAnon changed the political landscape, and paved the way for the Epstein Files scandal taking over the news this week, how the QAnon community affected their own relationships, and finally what the current situation may mean for the tight-knit Trump administration going forward.

Read along with us:
Background reading: 1. QAnon shows the staying power of Epstein theories. Trump should know they won’t go away (Donie O’Sullivan, CNN), 2. Risky strategy for Trump as he escalates Epstein row with loyal supporters (Anthony Zurcher, BBC), 3. What to Know About the Epstein Files, a Perfect Recipe for Conspiracy Theories (Devlin Barrett, The New York Times)

I one-hundred thousand percent blame it on QAnon”: The impact of QAnon belief on interpersonal relationships (Lauren Mastroni and  Robyn Mooney, The Journal of Social and Personal Relationships)


Every week, writers Hanna Bilinski and Amanda Stephens find themselves stuck in the same cycle: falling down a rabbit hole of alarming headlines and relentless updates. The Doomscroll News Report is their attempt to climb back out and make sense of it all. Instead of just recapping the major international stories that flooded their feeds, they pause to place each event within a broader context, asking what it really means for the global conversation. This isn't a straight news broadcast; it's a dialogue between two curious observers who bring on knowledgeable guests to deepen the discussion. By weaving together expert insight with their own perspectives as individuals striving to stay informed, they create a space for understanding that goes beyond the reactive nature of the daily news cycle. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a necessary conversation that seeks clarity and connection amidst the noise, offering a thoughtful alternative to the endless scroll.
Author: Language: en_us Episodes: 51

The Doomscroll News Report
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