Crash Course: Peter Thiel's big bet

A billionaire bankrolls election deniers, while Q himself may be running for Congress in Arizona [Crash Course] Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Written by [Brett Bachman](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0QhaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9CcmV0dEFCYWNobWFuVwNzcGNCCmFoPl9pYbjhXaNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Peter Thiel's big bet Billionaire technology mogul Peter Thiel is throwing the full weight of his money and influence behind election conspiracists and far-right candidates looking to challenge Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump following the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. One of those candidates, Blake Masters, is literally on Thiel's payroll, [my colleague Igor Derysh reports](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0SNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTUvcGV0ZXItdGhpZWwtYmV0cy1vbi10aGUtZmFyLXJpZ2h0LXRlY2gtdHljb29uLXNwZW5kaW5nLW1pbGxpb25zLXRvLWJhbmtyb2xsLXRydW1wLXdpbmctb2YvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFoPl9pYbjhXaNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) — serving as chief operating officer of Thiel Capital at the same time as he lays the groundwork for a Senate run in Arizona. Another business associate, Ohio Senate candidate J.D. Vance, is also benefiting from the PayPal founder's largesse — to the tune of $10 million. The Hillbilly Elegy author got his start at Thiel's Mithril Capital Management, and later started his own venture capital fund, Narya Capital, with startup cash from Thiel. He's also backing Joe Kent, the Trump-endorsed challenger to Rep. Liz Cheney, among other far-right candidates. None of this political activity is new for Thiel, of course, though his donations have only grown more aggressive after Trump lost last year. Prior to this spending spree, he even met with Trump at the ex-president's Bedminster, New Jersey, resort, in what seemed like a planning session for Trump's revenge tour against the Republicans in Congress who supported his impeachment. (Photo via Getty Images) Is Q running for Congress in Arizona? It appears that former 8chan administrator and QAnon mega-celebrity Ron Watkins is considering a run for Congress, filing a "statement of interest" with the Arizona Secretary of State. [I spoke with a representative for Watkins who confirmed](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0R4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvcm9uLXdhdGtpbnMtbWFueS1zYXktaXMtcWFub24tbWF5LWJlLXJ1bm5pbmctZm9yLWNvbmdyZXNzLWluLWFyaXpvbmEvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFoPl9pYbjhXaNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) that he is, indeed, planning to mount a campaign for the state's first Congressional District, which puts him on a collision course with Democratic Rep. Tom O'Halleran. Many have speculated that Watkins is actually Q — the anonymous online poster who claimed to be a high-level Trump Administration official through inscrutable, conspiratorial missives on 8chan (now 8kun), the site Watkins ran for several years. He [appeared to out himself to the documentary filmmaker Cullen Hoback](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0RVaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMDMvMjEvcWFub24tcS1pbnRvLXRoZS1zdG9ybS1yZXZpZXctaGJvLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) earlier this year — though Tony Teora, a volunteer helping Watkins prepare for the campaign, told Salon that Watkins doesn't even believe in QAnon. "[Watkins] has said emphatically numerous times that he isn't Q," Teora said. "He doesn't consider himself a part of QAnon, in fact he's told me he doesn't even believe there is a QAnon." "To whatever extent it does exist, he would say that it's largely a construct of the fake news media." Watkins is not living in Arizona at the moment, though he is apparently planning to move there soon. - 'Striketober' in full swing as [nearly 100,000 workers authorize work stoppages](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0SRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvc3RyaWtldG9iZXItaW4tZnVsbC1zd2luZy1hcy1uZWFybHktMTAwMDAwLXdvcmtlcnMtYXV0aG9yaXplLXdvcmstc3RvcHBhZ2VzLWFjcm9zcy11c19wYXJ0bmVyLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) across U.S. - Kyrsten Sinema [ditches Senate negotiations for fundraising trip to Europe](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0R9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQva3lyc3Rlbi1zaW5lbWEtZGl0Y2hlcy1zZW5hdGUtbmVnb3RpYXRpb25zLWZvci1mdW5kcmFpc2luZy10cmlwLXRvLWV1cm9wZS8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYWg-X2lhuOFdo1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) - Trump threatens to [withhold future support for GOP](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0SLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvdGhyZWF0ZW5zLXRvLXdpdGhob2xkLWZ1dHVyZS1zdXBwb3J0LWZvci1nb3AtcmVwdWJsaWNhbnMtd2lsbC1ub3QtYmUtdm90aW5nLWluLTIyLW9yLTI0Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) - The race gap in vaccinations is closing — [the politics gap is not](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0RqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvdGhlLXJhY2UtZ2FwLWluLXZhY2NpbmF0aW9ucy1pcy1jbG9zaW5nLXRoZS1nYXAtaXMtbm90Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) - Apple TV+'s new Velvet Underground film [is an irresistible portrait of extraordinary provocateurs](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0RgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvdmVsdmV0LXVuZGVyZ3JvdW5kLWZpbG0tcmV2aWV3LWFwcGxlLXR2LXBsdXMvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFoPl9pYbjhXaNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), Salon TV critic Melanie McFarland writes - Steve Bannon could face criminal charges as [Jan. 6 committee moves to hold ex-Trump aide in contempt](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0SOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvc3RldmUtYmFubm9uLWNvdWxkLWZhY2UtY3JpbWluYWwtY2hhcmdlcy1qYW4tNS1jb21taXR0ZWUtbW92ZXMtdG8taG9sZC1leC1haWRlLWluLWNvbnRlbXB0Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) - Try this [4-ingredient marinade for always-tender flank steak](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0RpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvYS00LWluZ3JlZGllbnQtbWFyaW5hZGUtZm9yLWFsd2F5cy10ZW5kZXItZmxhbmstc3RlYWsvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFoPl9pYbjhXaNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) - The GOP is taking its talking points from QAnon now — [look no further than MAGA school board battles](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvdGhlLXFhbm9uLXBsYXlib29rLW1ha2Utc2Nob29sLWJvYXJkLW1lZXRpbmdzLXRoZS1uZXctYmF0dGxlZ3JvdW5kLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), Salon columnist Amanda Marcotte writes - A brain implant that zaps away negative thoughts [raises thorny ethical questions](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0SEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvYS1icmFpbi1pbXBsYW50LXRoYXQtemFwcy1hd2F5LW5lZ2F0aXZlLXRob3VnaHRzLXJhaXNlcy10aG9ybnktZXRoaWNhbC1xdWVzdGlvbnMvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFoPl9pYbjhXaNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) - House Republican [followed Trump's self-dealing model](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0R7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvZm9sbG93ZWQtc2VsZi1kZWFsaW5nLW1vZGVsLXNwZW50LXRob3VzYW5kcy1vbi1oZXItb3duLWNvbXBhbmllcy1yZXBvcnQvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFoPl9pYbjhXaNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), spent thousands on her own companies - Why is Biden failing? [His tightly controlled relationship to the media might be worse than Trump's](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0SNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvd2h5LWlzLWJpZGVuLWZhaWxpbmctaGlzLXRpZ2h0bHktY29udHJvbGxlZC1yZWxhdGlvbnNoaXAtdG8tdGhlLW1lZGlhLW1pZ2h0LWJlLXdvcnNlLXRoYW4vP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFoPl9pYbjhXaNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), Salon columnist Brian Karem writes - The most powerful space telescope ever built [will look back in time to the Dark Ages of the universe](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0SgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvdGhlLW1vc3QtcG93ZXJmdWwtc3BhY2UtdGVsZXNjb3BlLWV2ZXItYnVpbHQtd2lsbC1sb29rLWJhY2staW4tdGltZS10by10aGUtZGFyay1hZ2VzLW9mLXRoZS11bml2ZXJzZV9wYXJ0bmVyLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) - And, finally, Frances Moore Lappé's classic bean pie is 50 — [and the recipe is definitely worth a try](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0RnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvYS1yZXZvbHV0aW9uYXJ5LWNydW5jaHktYmVhbi1waWUtZm9yLWEtc21hbGwtcGxhbmV0Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) to receive Crash Course. A Supreme Court built by dark money Justice Samuel Alito wants America to know that everything in the storied halls of its Supreme Court is going swimmingly — and it is. For the big donors of the Republican party, at least. [Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse argues in Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0SCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvanVzdGljZS1hbGl0by1jb21wbGFpbnMtYnV0LXRoZS1ldmlkZW5jZS1pcy1jbGVhci10aGlzLXdhcy1idWlsdC1ieS1kYXJrLW1vbmV5Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) that the public is correct to question the Court's independence — and that Alito and his colleagues bear the responsibility for convincing a skeptical nation that they have not been captured by wealthy interests. Because to the untrained eye, it sure looks like they have. "If Alito and the Republican majority on the Supreme Court want the public to believe the court is not a secretive political 'cabal' (his word) doing the bidding of big donors who helped put them there, they should deal with the evidence." "Explain the 80-0 donor win record. Disclose who's behind the dark-money briefs. Stop the special-interest fast lane around the 'case or controversy' requirement. Report gifts and hospitality — not worse than the other branches of government do, but better. Take precedent seriously when it doesn't suit you, not just when it does. Ditto recusal. Put yourself under a code of ethics, like every other federal judge. And understand that you have fouled your nest, not us, and that the Supreme Court must now at least match every other political institution with a renaissance of transparency. Democracy demands it. And the Court That Dark Money Built has squandered the benefit of the doubt." (Photo via Getty Images) - "[The men who are killing America's newspapers](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlYXRsYW50aWMuY29tL21hZ2F6aW5lL2FyY2hpdmUvMjAyMS8xMS9hbGRlbi1nbG9iYWwtY2FwaXRhbC1raWxsaW5nLWFtZXJpY2FzLW5ld3NwYXBlcnMvNjIwMTcxL1cDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)," The Atlantic - "[The Shadow Penal System for Struggling Kids](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0RZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmV3eW9ya2VyLmNvbS9tYWdhemluZS8yMDIxLzEwLzE4L3RoZS1zaGFkb3ctcGVuYWwtc3lzdGVtLWZvci1zdHJ1Z2dsaW5nLWtpZHNXA3NwY0IKYWg-X2lhuOFdo1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)," The New Yorker - "[How an Online Pharmacy Sold Millions Worth Of Ivermectin](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0RGaHR0cHM6Ly90aW1lLmNvbS82MTA0NDA3L3Jhdmtvby1waGFybWFjeS1pdmVybWVjdGluLWNvdmlkLTE5LXBwcC1sb2FuL1cDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)," TIME Magazine - "[Andrew Yang’s Vapid Third-Party Vision](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0RGaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdyZXB1YmxpYy5jb20vYXJ0aWNsZS8xNjM5NzgvYW5kcmV3LXlhbmctZm9yd2FyZC10aGlyZC1wYXJ0eVcDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)," The New Republic - "[The Murders Down the Hall](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0RTaHR0cHM6Ly9ueW1hZy5jb20vaW50ZWxsaWdlbmNlci8yMDIxLzEwL255Y2hhLW55cGQtd29vZHNvbi1ob3VzZXMtbnljLW11cmRlcnMuaHRtbD9XA3NwY0IKYWg-X2lhuOFdo1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)," New York Magazine MAGA faithful pledge allegiance to Jan. 6 flag It was the strangest part of an incredibly strange reporting trip for Salon's Zachary Petrizzo, as hundreds of Trump supporters gathered in Richmond, Virginia, Wednesday to [recite the Pledge of Allegiance in front of a flag that had flown above the former president's Jan. 6 rally](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0SNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMTQvbWFnYS1mYWl0aGZ1bC1wbGVkZ2UtYWxsZWdpYW5jZS10by1zdXBwb3NlZC1qYW4tNi1mbGFnLWdsZW5uLXlvdW5na2luLWZvcmNlZC10by1iYWNrLWF3YXkvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmFoPl9pYbjhXaNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). This was a rally that, as you may remember, preceded a violent insurrection intended to overturn the results of a legitimately held election — an election that Trump had lost. But despite audit after audit coming up blank for Team Trump, and umpteen legal failures that have marred the careers and reputations of a number of once-prominent Republican lawyers and operatives, Wednesday's spectacle of pro-Jan. 6 propaganda shows just how deep the Big Lie rabbit hole goes. These people won't give up the ruse anytime soon, it appears. Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Copyright © 2021 Crash Course, All rights reserved. Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, DE 19801 [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0RBaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPTM1NDM5NTJXA3NwY0IKYWg-X2lhuOFdo1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjS-Q-P0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgphaD5faWG44V2jUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)