Jewish Space Lasers, Conspiracy Theories, and Antisemitism

Jewish Space Lasers, Conspiracy Theories, and Antisemitism

Tuesday at 12:00pm PDT

In 2018 Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene took to social media to share her suspicions that the California wildfires were started by ‘space solar generators’ which were funded by powerful, mysterious backers. Instantly, thousands of people rallied around her, blaming the fires on “Jewish space lasers” and ultimately, the Rothschild family.

AJU’s Mark Oppenheimer will be in conversation with acclaimed journalist and conspiracy theory expert, Mike Rothschild (no relation to the family), as we will explore his meticulously researched book, "Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories." Discover the origins of the Rothschild myths, from their groundbreaking impact on the banking industry to the present day, where they remain a target of unfounded accusations. Separate fact from fiction as we unravel the truth behind their alleged control over global finances, the persistent spread of conspiracies, and reasons behind the continued fascination with the Rothschilds and their connection to contemporary antisemitism.

Mike Rothschild is a journalist, author, and the foremost expert in this ever-changing QAnon conspiracy theory. He is a contributing writer for The Daily Dot, where he explores the intersections between internet culture and politics through the lens of conspiracy theories. As a subject matter expert in the field of fringe beliefs, Mike has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN and Yahoo – among many others. He is also a frequent speaker, and podcast and radio guest on the topic of conspiracy theories, including NPR’s weekly show “On the Media” and a Vice documentary.

Dan Friedman is a writing and digital consultant based in New York. An award-winning writer and editor, Dan was formerly the executive editor of The Forward and the director of content and communications for The Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. He wrote for several Sacha Baron Cohen projects and his work has also appeared  in The New York Times, The Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal. He has a doctorate in comparative literature from Yale and a masters in English literature from Cambridge, where he captained the university soccer team.