1 00:00:00,738 --> 00:00:03,571 Web security company Cloudflare pulled its services from 8chan, 2 00:00:03,655 --> 00:00:04,714 causing the site to go dark. 3 00:00:04,738 --> 00:00:05,881 We'll be down for about ten days. 4 00:00:05,905 --> 00:00:06,947 Ten days of darkness. 5 00:00:07,196 --> 00:00:08,988 My campaign has been quite effective. 6 00:00:09,279 --> 00:00:10,279 ♪ 7 00:00:11,071 --> 00:00:14,238 I was becoming increasingly convinced that Ron was behind Q. 8 00:00:14,488 --> 00:00:16,738 Uh, Q has not tried to get in touch with me. 9 00:00:16,947 --> 00:00:18,780 But a lot of people are asking me about Q. 10 00:00:20,988 --> 00:00:22,279 They didn't ask about Q. 11 00:00:22,363 --> 00:00:23,363 Interesting. 12 00:00:23,488 --> 00:00:26,738 Do you connect Q to those shootings? 13 00:00:27,071 --> 00:00:29,738 Not necessarily Q, but definitely the Nazi boards. 14 00:00:29,822 --> 00:00:31,780 They're winking and nodding to the Nazis. 15 00:00:32,029 --> 00:00:35,279 And on the other hand, they're in Congress, talking about the First Amendment. 16 00:00:35,363 --> 00:00:37,697 Fred was on an all-out media blitz. 17 00:00:37,947 --> 00:00:39,196 Attacking his former bosses-- 18 00:00:39,446 --> 00:00:40,697 The first thing they should do 19 00:00:40,780 --> 00:00:43,738 is stop treating it like it's just a game. 20 00:00:43,947 --> 00:00:45,613 I'm gonna put it back online. 21 00:00:45,947 --> 00:00:49,363 They'll have to turn all the electricity off in the world 22 00:00:49,446 --> 00:00:51,488 to stop me. It's gonna be, like-- 23 00:00:52,988 --> 00:00:56,613 Blowing on a dandelion, and spreading the seeds. 24 00:01:13,154 --> 00:01:16,279 ♪ ♪ 25 00:01:24,655 --> 00:01:28,488 Every 17 years, a great awakening occurs. 26 00:01:31,154 --> 00:01:32,571 Rising from the Earth, 27 00:01:32,655 --> 00:01:35,738 the once-dormant cicada will metamorphosize 28 00:01:35,822 --> 00:01:37,571 to its final form. 29 00:01:53,488 --> 00:01:57,113 ♪ ♪ 30 00:01:57,196 --> 00:01:59,446 Hello. We are looking for 31 00:01:59,530 --> 00:02:02,571 highly intelligent individuals. 32 00:02:02,655 --> 00:02:05,863 To find them, we have devised a test. 33 00:02:07,113 --> 00:02:09,988 There is a message hidden in this image. 34 00:02:10,071 --> 00:02:13,655 Find it, and it will lead you on the road to finding us. 35 00:02:14,655 --> 00:02:16,321 Good luck. 36 00:02:16,405 --> 00:02:17,738 3301. 37 00:02:18,363 --> 00:02:20,363 ♪ ♪ 38 00:02:20,446 --> 00:02:22,154 Cicada 3301. 39 00:02:22,238 --> 00:02:24,947 It's known as the most elaborate and mysterious puzzle 40 00:02:25,029 --> 00:02:26,530 of the Internet Age. 41 00:02:26,613 --> 00:02:29,405 It dates back to 2012. 42 00:02:29,488 --> 00:02:32,488 Now, like QAnon, Cicada 3301 originated 43 00:02:32,571 --> 00:02:34,405 with a post on 4chan, 44 00:02:34,488 --> 00:02:36,029 and it prompted an unknown number 45 00:02:36,113 --> 00:02:39,154 of internet denizens to try and solve 46 00:02:39,238 --> 00:02:40,988 an increasingly difficult series of puzzles. 47 00:02:41,071 --> 00:02:42,571 Let me give you an example. 48 00:02:42,655 --> 00:02:46,488 If you took this first message, put it into a text-only editor, 49 00:02:46,571 --> 00:02:47,905 you would see a hidden clue-- 50 00:02:47,988 --> 00:02:51,321 "Caesar says," followed by a seemingly random code. 51 00:02:51,405 --> 00:02:53,405 And that code actually references 52 00:02:53,488 --> 00:02:56,113 a famous cryptography tool called a Caesar Cipher. 53 00:02:56,196 --> 00:02:58,697 Plug in the code, and it would produce a web address. 54 00:03:00,196 --> 00:03:01,655 You have done well. 55 00:03:01,738 --> 00:03:04,405 This would eventually lead you to a phone number 56 00:03:04,488 --> 00:03:06,655 that provided GPS coordinates... 57 00:03:06,738 --> 00:03:09,405 Multiply all three of these numbers together 58 00:03:09,488 --> 00:03:10,863 to find the next step. 59 00:03:10,947 --> 00:03:15,071 And this is where Cicada would transform. 60 00:03:15,154 --> 00:03:18,029 Howdy, folks. This one was just outside the subway... 61 00:03:18,113 --> 00:03:20,863 What had started as just a game on the internet 62 00:03:20,947 --> 00:03:22,780 had crawled out from behind the screen, 63 00:03:22,863 --> 00:03:25,279 sending participants from around the globe 64 00:03:25,363 --> 00:03:28,530 out into the real world, in search of the next clue. 65 00:03:30,113 --> 00:03:32,613 No one knows the true purpose of Cicada. 66 00:03:32,697 --> 00:03:34,488 Was it just an amusing game? 67 00:03:34,571 --> 00:03:37,655 Was it a recruitment test for a government agency? 68 00:03:37,738 --> 00:03:39,697 Or a way of collecting brilliant individuals 69 00:03:39,780 --> 00:03:41,655 for some secret society? 70 00:03:41,738 --> 00:03:42,822 But what we do know 71 00:03:42,905 --> 00:03:44,863 is that someone named Thomas Schoenberger 72 00:03:44,947 --> 00:03:46,738 stepped out from behind the shadows, 73 00:03:46,822 --> 00:03:48,488 claiming to be involved. 74 00:03:48,571 --> 00:03:51,279 Thomas was a prolific composer and pianist. 75 00:03:51,363 --> 00:03:54,113 In fact, he wrote the music you're listening to right now. 76 00:03:56,446 --> 00:03:58,363 But his philosophies behind Cicada 77 00:03:58,446 --> 00:04:00,405 were less about a fun game 78 00:04:00,488 --> 00:04:03,321 and more geared towards altering society as a whole. 79 00:04:04,738 --> 00:04:07,822 Thomas requested that rather than appear on camera, 80 00:04:07,905 --> 00:04:11,238 we use a more suitable representation. 81 00:04:11,321 --> 00:04:13,279 Cicada instructs 82 00:04:13,363 --> 00:04:16,405 the solvers to self-reflect. 83 00:04:16,488 --> 00:04:18,780 ♪ ♪ 84 00:04:18,863 --> 00:04:20,863 An interior renaissance is 85 00:04:20,947 --> 00:04:24,780 more profound than external revolution. 86 00:04:24,863 --> 00:04:27,488 You know, we're only using 10 or 11% of our brains. 87 00:04:27,571 --> 00:04:32,029 Imagine what it would be to, to use 30 or 40%. 88 00:04:32,113 --> 00:04:33,780 Cicada's unique formula 89 00:04:33,863 --> 00:04:35,905 of collecting like-minded individuals 90 00:04:35,988 --> 00:04:37,321 through an internet game 91 00:04:37,405 --> 00:04:40,613 attracted interest from others looking for innovative ways 92 00:04:40,697 --> 00:04:42,530 to awaken the masses. 93 00:04:42,613 --> 00:04:46,238 It seems one of those people... 94 00:04:46,321 --> 00:04:49,655 was an Anon who goes by the name Courtney Tubbs, 95 00:04:49,738 --> 00:04:52,363 better known as IWillRedPillU. 96 00:04:53,363 --> 00:04:58,488 She was in a chat room, and asking me, 97 00:04:58,571 --> 00:05:00,446 "What do you mean by this puzzle?" 98 00:05:00,530 --> 00:05:02,488 As you may recall, 99 00:05:02,571 --> 00:05:05,405 Courtney Tubbs had worked as a writer for The Goldwater, 100 00:05:05,488 --> 00:05:07,613 a website owned by the Watkinses. 101 00:05:07,697 --> 00:05:09,780 And these conversations with Thomas, 102 00:05:09,863 --> 00:05:12,988 they took place right before Q got started, 103 00:05:13,071 --> 00:05:15,238 just as Cicada was creating puzzles 104 00:05:15,321 --> 00:05:17,446 featuring "Alice in Wonderland" 105 00:05:17,530 --> 00:05:18,905 falling down a rabbit hole, 106 00:05:18,988 --> 00:05:21,446 a phrase repeated dozens of times 107 00:05:21,530 --> 00:05:23,279 in the earliest QDrops. 108 00:05:30,488 --> 00:05:32,238 ♪ ♪ 109 00:05:34,780 --> 00:05:37,905 ♪ ♪ 110 00:06:42,947 --> 00:06:44,571 Hey, how you doing? 111 00:06:44,655 --> 00:06:46,571 - This is my new place. - Oh great! 112 00:06:46,655 --> 00:06:48,238 You know, you should've got 16Q. 113 00:06:48,321 --> 00:06:50,238 It's right across the way there. 114 00:06:50,321 --> 00:06:52,530 Like, it's right there. 115 00:06:52,613 --> 00:06:54,780 In the wake of three mass shootings, 116 00:06:54,863 --> 00:06:56,947 all associated with 8chan, 117 00:06:57,029 --> 00:06:59,863 Fred had been trying to destroy the very monster 118 00:06:59,947 --> 00:07:01,530 that he had created. 119 00:07:01,613 --> 00:07:04,446 I think 8chan is a blight 120 00:07:04,530 --> 00:07:06,029 on the internet, on society. 121 00:07:06,113 --> 00:07:08,738 I think they are totally incapable 122 00:07:08,822 --> 00:07:10,905 of running it in a way that's positive. 123 00:07:10,988 --> 00:07:12,363 ♪ ♪ 124 00:07:12,446 --> 00:07:14,571 8chan was where the Christchurch shooter 125 00:07:14,655 --> 00:07:16,530 had found an audience to celebrate 126 00:07:16,613 --> 00:07:18,321 his white supremacist message. 127 00:07:18,405 --> 00:07:21,655 But, there was an interesting twist here. 128 00:07:23,071 --> 00:07:26,238 New Zealand had commissioned an expansive study, 129 00:07:26,321 --> 00:07:28,571 and it found that the Christchurch shooter 130 00:07:28,655 --> 00:07:31,113 had been radicalized not on 8chan, 131 00:07:31,196 --> 00:07:34,029 but by the algorithms on YouTube and Facebook. 132 00:07:36,196 --> 00:07:37,655 Blood and soil! 133 00:07:37,738 --> 00:07:39,446 Which lead him to increasingly 134 00:07:39,530 --> 00:07:42,279 extreme content and personalities. 135 00:07:42,363 --> 00:07:43,988 Even though the report's findings 136 00:07:44,071 --> 00:07:46,446 showed that 8chan wasn't quite as culpable 137 00:07:46,530 --> 00:07:48,113 as originally thought, 138 00:07:48,196 --> 00:07:50,613 Fred wasn't ready to let up 139 00:07:50,697 --> 00:07:53,405 on his war against Ron and Jim's site. 140 00:07:53,488 --> 00:07:55,863 It affects my life in a big way 141 00:07:55,947 --> 00:07:58,446 each time one of these shootings happens. 142 00:07:58,530 --> 00:08:00,947 And they don't give a fuck about 143 00:08:01,029 --> 00:08:02,905 how it affects me, you know? 144 00:08:02,988 --> 00:08:05,571 And, look, maybe that's very narcissistic, 145 00:08:05,655 --> 00:08:07,613 whatever, you know, but... 146 00:08:07,697 --> 00:08:09,363 not only do they not care about me, 147 00:08:09,446 --> 00:08:11,822 they don't care about all the people dying. 148 00:08:11,905 --> 00:08:13,488 I just wanna be done with this, 149 00:08:13,571 --> 00:08:16,321 and, look, if they shut it down, 150 00:08:16,405 --> 00:08:18,571 I have no reason to go after them. 151 00:08:18,655 --> 00:08:21,071 Do you feel like if he changed the name 152 00:08:21,154 --> 00:08:24,154 that you would stop, or would that not be enough? 153 00:08:24,238 --> 00:08:27,279 I might. I might stop, yeah. Um-- 154 00:08:27,363 --> 00:08:29,863 Is it mostly that 8chan ties back to you? 155 00:08:31,530 --> 00:08:33,113 Yes, yes. 156 00:08:33,196 --> 00:08:35,863 ♪ ♪ 157 00:08:35,947 --> 00:08:38,113 Up until now, it seemed that Fred 158 00:08:38,196 --> 00:08:40,905 had been hellbent on destroying 8chan. 159 00:08:40,988 --> 00:08:42,238 But if all he really needed 160 00:08:42,321 --> 00:08:44,196 was for the site's name to be changed, 161 00:08:44,279 --> 00:08:47,488 that seemed like something the 8chan guys might agree to. 162 00:08:50,571 --> 00:08:53,196 ♪ ♪ 163 00:08:57,154 --> 00:08:58,530 A crusade. 164 00:08:58,613 --> 00:09:00,947 And nothing-- nothing we do is gonna be able to stop him 165 00:09:01,029 --> 00:09:04,613 until he satisfies all the conditions of his mission, 166 00:09:04,697 --> 00:09:07,822 so the name's gonna be changed. That's guaranteed. 167 00:09:07,905 --> 00:09:09,947 And he's completely out of the picture. 168 00:09:10,029 --> 00:09:13,071 Right, like a fresh start. 169 00:09:13,154 --> 00:09:15,029 That's what he wants so, uh, 170 00:09:15,113 --> 00:09:17,446 hopefully that works out. That'd be nice. 171 00:09:21,822 --> 00:09:24,697 ♪ ♪ 172 00:09:24,780 --> 00:09:27,196 The next day, Tom set up a meeting with Fred 173 00:09:27,279 --> 00:09:29,071 to broker a peace deal. 174 00:09:29,154 --> 00:09:30,321 It had been almost a year 175 00:09:30,405 --> 00:09:32,780 since they'd seen each other in person. 176 00:09:40,321 --> 00:09:43,488 - It's definitely been a while. - Yeah, I know. 177 00:09:44,530 --> 00:09:46,863 We saw each other three shootings ago. 178 00:09:49,655 --> 00:09:52,988 - Alright, I'll let you talk. - Well, I don't know 179 00:09:53,071 --> 00:09:55,697 how much we actually disagree. 180 00:09:55,780 --> 00:09:58,279 I'm happy as long as 181 00:09:58,363 --> 00:10:00,405 you know, it's not 8chan anymore. 182 00:10:00,488 --> 00:10:03,697 Or on that domain or on related domains. 183 00:10:03,780 --> 00:10:05,571 Yeah, it has to be 184 00:10:05,655 --> 00:10:07,738 put to bed because, as a brand-- 185 00:10:07,822 --> 00:10:10,530 - Well, doesn't it? - Well, yeah. 186 00:10:10,613 --> 00:10:15,363 If the users are gonna move to a new site, 187 00:10:15,446 --> 00:10:18,446 we have to let them know that the old one is dead, 188 00:10:18,530 --> 00:10:20,363 so that they give up on it. 189 00:10:21,321 --> 00:10:22,988 Thank you. 190 00:10:23,071 --> 00:10:25,446 I'm just glad that 8chan's not coming back. 191 00:10:25,530 --> 00:10:28,113 And, you know, whatever you name it, 192 00:10:28,196 --> 00:10:31,780 my name's not on it. I have nothing to do with it. 193 00:10:31,863 --> 00:10:34,238 - It's like absolution. - Yeah, 194 00:10:34,321 --> 00:10:36,279 I think none of us want to be back here again, 195 00:10:36,363 --> 00:10:39,446 - like, rehashing this same drama. Yeah. - Yeah. Right. 196 00:10:39,530 --> 00:10:41,321 What's the new site gonna be called? 197 00:10:41,405 --> 00:10:43,113 - I don't know yet. - You don't know? 198 00:10:43,196 --> 00:10:45,071 - Really? - Well, there's-- 199 00:10:45,154 --> 00:10:46,905 It's down to like a top five. 200 00:10:46,988 --> 00:10:48,780 Yeah? Can I know the top three? 201 00:10:48,863 --> 00:10:50,446 - You can't. - I can't. 202 00:10:50,530 --> 00:10:53,089 - Sworn to secrecy. - You know I would put them all on Twitter, so... 203 00:10:53,113 --> 00:10:55,613 - Yeah. - Let's just be honest. 204 00:10:55,697 --> 00:10:58,905 You know, even though I was on a crusade against 8chan, 205 00:10:58,988 --> 00:11:00,822 it's nice talking to you. 206 00:11:00,905 --> 00:11:02,279 See, we still get along. 207 00:11:04,571 --> 00:11:07,488 Sorry. 208 00:11:07,571 --> 00:11:10,029 You okay? 209 00:11:10,113 --> 00:11:13,238 Sorry... 210 00:11:14,071 --> 00:11:15,613 Went down the wrong pipe. 211 00:11:15,697 --> 00:11:17,154 We should get a selfie also. 212 00:11:17,238 --> 00:11:19,238 You wanna have a selfie with me on your...? 213 00:11:19,321 --> 00:11:21,405 - We can do that. - Really? 214 00:11:23,697 --> 00:11:26,154 - Okay, cool. - Alright, cool. Can I see? 215 00:11:26,238 --> 00:11:27,238 Yeah. 216 00:11:27,279 --> 00:11:29,071 Oh! Great! I can't wait to put that 217 00:11:29,154 --> 00:11:31,405 on my-- my account. 218 00:11:31,488 --> 00:11:35,655 ♪ ♪ 219 00:11:35,738 --> 00:11:39,571 Jim has already had like this plan to attack. 220 00:11:41,238 --> 00:11:43,113 But now, it's not necessary. 221 00:11:43,196 --> 00:11:44,530 Hello. 222 00:11:44,613 --> 00:11:46,613 It seems like things are settled now, 223 00:11:46,697 --> 00:11:48,446 and I wanna keep it that way, 224 00:11:48,530 --> 00:11:51,738 so I'm just kind of pumping the brakes. 225 00:11:51,822 --> 00:11:54,196 Well, as long as Fred stays quiet, 226 00:11:54,279 --> 00:11:57,446 then Jim should follow suit. 227 00:12:06,363 --> 00:12:08,047 What's the new site gonna be called? 228 00:12:08,071 --> 00:12:09,488 - Oh! - - I don't know yet. 229 00:12:09,571 --> 00:12:12,238 You don't know? Can I know the top three? 230 00:12:12,321 --> 00:12:14,738 - You can't. - You know I would put them all on Twitter. 231 00:12:14,822 --> 00:12:18,279 I think he recorded the entire conversation. 232 00:12:23,655 --> 00:12:25,697 Maybe. 233 00:12:29,154 --> 00:12:31,613 ♪ ♪ 234 00:12:33,154 --> 00:12:35,697 Cicada 3301 attracted more 235 00:12:35,780 --> 00:12:38,279 than the likes of an employee at 8chan. 236 00:12:39,238 --> 00:12:40,613 It seemed another individual 237 00:12:40,697 --> 00:12:44,029 had been in touch with Thomas looking for inspiration. 238 00:12:45,238 --> 00:12:46,571 Tracy Beanz, 239 00:12:46,655 --> 00:12:50,405 she was asking me a lot of questions about Cicada. 240 00:12:50,488 --> 00:12:53,363 I don't know where to look. Can I go like this? Hi. 241 00:12:53,446 --> 00:12:56,655 Tracy Beanz was the very first QTuber on the scene. 242 00:12:56,738 --> 00:12:59,613 Let's just do the Q video that I was gonna do today. 243 00:12:59,697 --> 00:13:02,279 - I'm gonna flip you. - Considered by her followers 244 00:13:02,363 --> 00:13:04,780 to be, quote, the "godmother of the movement." 245 00:13:08,863 --> 00:13:11,697 And her support did not go unnoticed by Trump's 246 00:13:11,780 --> 00:13:13,947 embattled former National Security Advisor 247 00:13:14,029 --> 00:13:15,655 General Michael Flynn. 248 00:13:15,738 --> 00:13:17,822 I could tell she was taking notes. 249 00:13:22,321 --> 00:13:25,405 Flynn was well versed in the art of irregular warfare. 250 00:13:25,488 --> 00:13:28,905 It seemed he understood how to tap social media influencers, 251 00:13:28,988 --> 00:13:31,780 even giving them a catchy codename. 252 00:13:31,863 --> 00:13:35,446 We have an army of digital soldiers. 253 00:13:35,530 --> 00:13:38,947 I think that Flynn was watching and thinking, 254 00:13:39,029 --> 00:13:40,947 "Wow. Uh, you know, 255 00:13:41,029 --> 00:13:43,655 "This Cicada thing is taking off. 256 00:13:43,738 --> 00:13:46,196 "Okay, this is what we need to do 257 00:13:46,279 --> 00:13:49,446 for this digital soldier model." 258 00:13:49,530 --> 00:13:52,488 It's a really important clue. Tracy Beanz, 259 00:13:52,571 --> 00:13:55,071 she's communicating with me and asking me questions, 260 00:13:55,154 --> 00:13:57,154 and she's running to General Flynn 261 00:13:57,238 --> 00:13:59,780 six weeks before the launch of Q. 262 00:14:00,446 --> 00:14:03,571 ♪ ♪ 263 00:14:03,655 --> 00:14:06,780 However, Tracy Beanz wasn't the only QTuber 264 00:14:06,863 --> 00:14:08,822 who may have been exchanging information 265 00:14:08,905 --> 00:14:10,655 with ex-military sources. 266 00:14:10,738 --> 00:14:13,154 Right now, we're in the midst of a civil war. 267 00:14:13,238 --> 00:14:16,697 It's a cold civil war, but it's happening as we speak. 268 00:14:16,780 --> 00:14:19,905 Craig's most constant source was Nick Noe, 269 00:14:19,988 --> 00:14:21,988 a self-proclaimed Benghazi whistle-blower 270 00:14:22,071 --> 00:14:23,238 and Air Force veteran. 271 00:14:23,321 --> 00:14:26,738 It's gonna be patriots against whatever this... 272 00:14:27,321 --> 00:14:29,071 fake, you know, 273 00:14:29,154 --> 00:14:32,071 patriotic movement is on the left. 274 00:14:32,154 --> 00:14:34,446 And, uh... yeah. 275 00:14:34,530 --> 00:14:37,279 We're gonna-- We're gonna murder them all. 276 00:14:41,154 --> 00:14:44,196 I love how you even-- You even smirked at that. 277 00:14:44,279 --> 00:14:47,488 Nick had been feeding Craig intel for months, 278 00:14:47,571 --> 00:14:50,822 and reinforcing that Q was legit. 279 00:14:50,905 --> 00:14:54,029 It is a psychological operation 280 00:14:54,113 --> 00:14:56,988 that is ran at the highest levels, 281 00:14:57,071 --> 00:14:59,029 and the reason that it's important 282 00:14:59,113 --> 00:15:01,780 that it's at this anonymous message board-- 283 00:15:07,738 --> 00:15:09,238 Start over. 284 00:15:09,321 --> 00:15:12,279 So the reason that they use the anonymous message-- 285 00:15:15,905 --> 00:15:17,530 Nick was representing 286 00:15:17,613 --> 00:15:19,697 the interests of a retired Army Major General 287 00:15:19,780 --> 00:15:21,738 who'd worked hard to maintain his influence 288 00:15:21,822 --> 00:15:24,363 since returning to civilian life. 289 00:15:24,446 --> 00:15:26,196 I'm joined live by Paul Vallely. 290 00:15:26,279 --> 00:15:29,571 He's a retired US Army Major General. 291 00:15:29,655 --> 00:15:32,238 Do you believe that military people, 292 00:15:32,321 --> 00:15:33,905 they should get behind Donald Trump? 293 00:15:33,988 --> 00:15:36,613 Yes, I do because he will hire the best people 294 00:15:36,697 --> 00:15:40,405 and put them in the staff in the Pentagon and intelligence. 295 00:15:40,488 --> 00:15:41,571 Thank you very much. 296 00:15:41,655 --> 00:15:43,321 In addition to being an early 297 00:15:43,405 --> 00:15:45,071 and ardent supporter of Donald Trump, 298 00:15:45,154 --> 00:15:48,405 General Vallely had connections to Steve Bannon, 299 00:15:48,488 --> 00:15:50,947 Michael Flynn, and Jerome Corsi. 300 00:15:51,029 --> 00:15:53,655 Before, we had a, a weak President. 301 00:15:53,738 --> 00:15:57,154 He has even been openly hostile towards the federal government. 302 00:16:14,530 --> 00:16:17,405 And perhaps most importantly, back in the '80s, 303 00:16:17,488 --> 00:16:21,238 Vallely basically wrote the book on military psyops. 304 00:16:21,321 --> 00:16:23,613 Short for psychological operation, 305 00:16:23,697 --> 00:16:26,279 a psyop is a non-violent military campaign 306 00:16:26,363 --> 00:16:29,279 that aims to manipulate a population's thinking 307 00:16:29,363 --> 00:16:31,988 by hijacking information channels. 308 00:16:32,071 --> 00:16:35,154 Or more simply, pushing a false narrative to the masses 309 00:16:35,238 --> 00:16:37,905 in hopes of making it true. 310 00:16:37,988 --> 00:16:40,488 Try to get the message out that President Trump... 311 00:16:40,571 --> 00:16:42,464 What I'm gonna do is I'm gonna play this. 312 00:16:42,488 --> 00:16:44,655 It's gonna take about 20 minutes... 313 00:16:44,738 --> 00:16:46,947 For General Vallely's next campaign, 314 00:16:47,029 --> 00:16:49,113 Nick was here to plant a seed. 315 00:16:49,196 --> 00:16:52,113 One that might harm Joe Biden's chances at the Presidency. 316 00:16:52,196 --> 00:16:53,905 ♪ ♪ 317 00:16:53,988 --> 00:16:57,321 I'm putting together a bipartisan coalition 318 00:16:57,405 --> 00:16:59,279 to go to Iran 319 00:16:59,363 --> 00:17:01,738 to discuss Bin Laden's transfer 320 00:17:01,822 --> 00:17:04,154 to the United States. 321 00:17:04,238 --> 00:17:06,697 Nick claimed to have an audio recording that proved 322 00:17:06,780 --> 00:17:08,947 Osama Bin Laden was still alive, 323 00:17:09,029 --> 00:17:12,697 and that the Obama administration had faked his death. 324 00:17:12,780 --> 00:17:15,113 Okay, so CIA director stops him. 325 00:17:15,196 --> 00:17:17,655 They wanted to hand over Bin Laden to us, 326 00:17:17,738 --> 00:17:20,530 just, oh, here you go! 327 00:17:20,613 --> 00:17:22,238 The State Department... 328 00:17:23,196 --> 00:17:24,655 cooked up this plan. They said, 329 00:17:24,738 --> 00:17:28,863 "No. We're gonna have him-- You can put him in Pakistan, 330 00:17:28,947 --> 00:17:32,071 so we can kill him," and get re-elected basically. 331 00:17:33,530 --> 00:17:35,071 Nick said that he would try 332 00:17:35,154 --> 00:17:36,863 to put me in touch with General Vallely. 333 00:17:36,947 --> 00:17:39,113 I wanted to know more about the military 334 00:17:39,196 --> 00:17:42,571 or ex-military's involvement and interest in Q. 335 00:17:48,154 --> 00:17:51,363 ♪ ♪ 336 00:17:51,446 --> 00:17:53,071 I think your guys' best bet, 337 00:17:53,154 --> 00:17:55,488 and this is being like just totally playing it straight, 338 00:17:55,571 --> 00:17:58,154 Qchan I think is the first one. 339 00:17:58,238 --> 00:18:01,113 Okay, yeah. He's just like 340 00:18:01,196 --> 00:18:04,738 tweet storming the whole conversation. 341 00:18:04,822 --> 00:18:07,863 - So this is becoming a press release now. - Yeah. 342 00:18:07,947 --> 00:18:10,238 Fred has turned into a reporter, 343 00:18:10,321 --> 00:18:14,238 announcing 8chan is dead and not coming back. 344 00:18:14,321 --> 00:18:17,988 I just know that that's gonna make things blow up. 345 00:18:18,071 --> 00:18:21,488 We're dealing with a lot of volatile personalities. 346 00:18:23,988 --> 00:18:26,071 They're all crisscrossing. 347 00:18:26,154 --> 00:18:29,863 It seemed Fred was trying to scoop the 8chan guys 348 00:18:29,947 --> 00:18:33,196 in an effort to both confuse Q's followers 349 00:18:33,279 --> 00:18:36,113 and to thwart the launch of their rebranded site, 350 00:18:36,196 --> 00:18:38,446 the name of which they had hidden from him 351 00:18:38,530 --> 00:18:39,905 with good reason. 352 00:18:39,988 --> 00:18:42,947 ♪ ♪ 353 00:18:43,029 --> 00:18:45,697 8chan would become 8kun. 354 00:18:48,279 --> 00:18:51,613 And this graphic they created, you know, of a storm 355 00:18:51,697 --> 00:18:54,113 wasn't exactly a subtle reference. 356 00:18:58,446 --> 00:19:00,780 It seemed that they were angling to preserve 357 00:19:00,863 --> 00:19:04,113 just one community-- QAnon. 358 00:19:04,196 --> 00:19:06,488 ♪ ♪ 359 00:19:06,571 --> 00:19:08,530 But the name change did have an effect 360 00:19:08,613 --> 00:19:10,279 on the normies of the world. 361 00:19:10,363 --> 00:19:13,321 I actually just got a text last night. 362 00:19:13,405 --> 00:19:15,697 "Hey, um, is 8chan still online?" 363 00:19:17,613 --> 00:19:18,738 You won. 364 00:19:21,530 --> 00:19:23,113 Yeah, 365 00:19:23,196 --> 00:19:25,697 but I feel like I didn't totally win. 366 00:19:26,530 --> 00:19:28,905 I mean, I think I'm winning. 367 00:19:29,571 --> 00:19:32,655 I just... for me, the name change, 368 00:19:32,738 --> 00:19:35,154 it's not different enough. 369 00:19:35,238 --> 00:19:38,446 Like, people don't have any idea where to go. 370 00:19:38,530 --> 00:19:40,405 They don't know that it exists anymore. 371 00:19:41,655 --> 00:19:44,947 Timothy McLaughlin, "Wired" definitely knows. 372 00:19:45,029 --> 00:19:46,988 -Sure, yeah, but-- -Okay? 373 00:19:47,071 --> 00:19:49,279 Drew Harwell, "Washington Post," 374 00:19:49,363 --> 00:19:50,631 - definitely knows. - But in terms of 375 00:19:50,655 --> 00:19:54,196 the average citizen like who was associating 376 00:19:54,279 --> 00:19:56,822 8chan with all of the shootings and with you... 377 00:19:56,905 --> 00:20:00,279 Okay, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, but... 378 00:20:00,363 --> 00:20:02,655 if there's another shooting, 379 00:20:02,738 --> 00:20:05,363 McLaughlin, Harwell, 380 00:20:05,446 --> 00:20:07,947 Roose, Kevin Roose, "New York Times," 381 00:20:08,029 --> 00:20:10,071 they are gonna be writing the articles. 382 00:20:10,154 --> 00:20:12,738 They know that this is all bullshit, 383 00:20:12,822 --> 00:20:16,071 and they are gonna write it exactly how I'm saying. 384 00:20:16,154 --> 00:20:19,571 That 8chan and 8kun are basically alter egos. 385 00:20:19,655 --> 00:20:23,321 - Fred, you-you got what you asked for. - Yes. 386 00:20:26,321 --> 00:20:29,571 That doesn't mean to stop asking! 387 00:20:29,655 --> 00:20:32,154 If I'm winning, why should I stop? 388 00:20:32,238 --> 00:20:34,029 ♪ ♪ 389 00:20:34,113 --> 00:20:36,196 Fred started a new round of attacks 390 00:20:36,279 --> 00:20:39,029 that were repelling service providers left and right. 391 00:20:39,113 --> 00:20:41,321 And even though the 8kun guys had a new name, 392 00:20:41,405 --> 00:20:43,571 they couldn't seem to get the site online. 393 00:20:43,655 --> 00:20:46,279 We offered the olive branch to Fred. 394 00:20:46,363 --> 00:20:48,238 We met him in good faith, 395 00:20:48,321 --> 00:20:51,279 and then he continued to attack us 396 00:20:51,363 --> 00:20:53,071 from many angles. 397 00:20:53,154 --> 00:20:55,613 Fred even went after the domain registrars 398 00:20:55,697 --> 00:20:58,238 where Jim might've purchased 8kun.com 399 00:20:58,321 --> 00:20:59,738 or 8kun.org 400 00:20:59,822 --> 00:21:01,905 and pushed them to revoke ownership. 401 00:21:01,988 --> 00:21:05,279 It's really causing a lot of problems for us. 402 00:21:06,905 --> 00:21:09,279 Literally... whoa. 403 00:21:09,363 --> 00:21:13,029 Oh, we almost died. What he's doing is... 404 00:21:13,113 --> 00:21:14,446 Literally, what he's doing is 405 00:21:14,530 --> 00:21:16,446 the textbook definition of libel. 406 00:21:28,279 --> 00:21:30,613 ♪ ♪ 407 00:21:30,697 --> 00:21:33,571 Just look at the camera and like do poses. 408 00:21:33,655 --> 00:21:35,738 After months of battling Fred 409 00:21:35,822 --> 00:21:38,321 and tirelessly searching for a service provider, 410 00:21:38,405 --> 00:21:40,321 8kun had won. 411 00:21:40,405 --> 00:21:42,822 They finally managed to get online. 412 00:21:42,905 --> 00:21:45,530 It's our first break in like three months, so... 413 00:21:46,738 --> 00:21:47,738 Yeah. 414 00:21:47,822 --> 00:21:49,905 The site looked and functioned 415 00:21:49,988 --> 00:21:51,613 basically the same as 8chan, 416 00:21:51,697 --> 00:21:54,113 as if it was ported from the '90s. 417 00:21:54,196 --> 00:21:57,279 Except the only people interested enough to stick around 418 00:21:57,363 --> 00:21:59,405 were mostly QAnons. 419 00:21:59,488 --> 00:22:01,530 Yeah, this is perfect. 420 00:22:04,655 --> 00:22:07,405 - Nice to meet you, Reina. - Nice to meet you. 421 00:22:09,196 --> 00:22:10,488 This Reina girl's cute. 422 00:22:10,571 --> 00:22:12,655 Little chubby, but cute. 423 00:22:12,738 --> 00:22:14,405 Aren't you satisfied? 424 00:22:14,488 --> 00:22:16,071 I'm not sa-- I'm never sa-- 425 00:22:16,154 --> 00:22:21,071 It's like, do heroin users get satisfied? 426 00:22:24,988 --> 00:22:27,363 Yeah, Q posted a few hours after we went live. 427 00:22:27,446 --> 00:22:29,488 - So he didn't waste any time? - No, he was immediate. 428 00:22:29,571 --> 00:22:32,238 I couldn't even see the website, and he's already posting. 429 00:22:32,321 --> 00:22:33,655 ♪ ♪ 430 00:22:33,738 --> 00:22:36,154 Due to some technical difficulties, 431 00:22:36,238 --> 00:22:39,446 it was basically impossible for users to post on 8kun 432 00:22:39,530 --> 00:22:42,029 during its first few days back online. 433 00:22:42,113 --> 00:22:45,029 Yet somehow, Q managed to. 434 00:22:45,113 --> 00:22:47,363 He could tell the website's not running well. 435 00:22:47,446 --> 00:22:49,530 But he still went out of his way to make posts, 436 00:22:49,613 --> 00:22:52,697 probably to calm everybody or whatever he's doing. 437 00:22:52,780 --> 00:22:54,279 I don't know... 438 00:22:54,363 --> 00:22:56,780 I'm not Q, I don't know who Q is, so... 439 00:22:58,738 --> 00:23:00,822 No idea. 440 00:23:00,905 --> 00:23:04,279 I don't even-- I barely even follow it, honestly. 441 00:23:04,947 --> 00:23:06,905 ♪ ♪ 442 00:23:06,988 --> 00:23:08,905 After three months of being silenced, 443 00:23:08,988 --> 00:23:12,279 you'd expect that Q would've come up with a backup plan. 444 00:23:12,363 --> 00:23:14,697 Some way to move on from its secure tripcode 445 00:23:14,780 --> 00:23:17,780 for a more stable platform elsewhere. 446 00:23:17,863 --> 00:23:22,029 But Q stayed put, remaining loyal to the Watkinses. 447 00:23:22,113 --> 00:23:23,697 It just seems so weird to me 448 00:23:23,780 --> 00:23:28,071 that Q would tie himself so hard to 8chan. 449 00:23:28,154 --> 00:23:30,488 This is why I think Q 450 00:23:30,571 --> 00:23:34,530 and 8chan are much... deeper connected. 451 00:23:34,613 --> 00:23:37,446 There were also some other noticeable connections 452 00:23:37,530 --> 00:23:41,071 - that were more on the surface. - Do you like my watch? 453 00:23:41,154 --> 00:23:44,738 - What's-- what is this watch? - This is a watch that Ronald sold me. 454 00:23:44,822 --> 00:23:49,238 One Bitcoin gets you one Omega Seamaster. 455 00:23:49,321 --> 00:23:51,363 Not that I'm gonna be doing any diving. 456 00:23:51,446 --> 00:23:55,029 Expensive watches show up in multiple QDrops, 457 00:23:55,113 --> 00:23:58,071 often accompanied by a fountain pen and the phrase, 458 00:23:58,154 --> 00:23:59,321 "The clock is ticking." 459 00:23:59,405 --> 00:24:01,905 Anons believe that this was further proof 460 00:24:01,988 --> 00:24:03,988 of Q's close proximity to Trump. 461 00:24:04,071 --> 00:24:07,738 And he told me it's a great way to move money across borders 462 00:24:07,822 --> 00:24:09,697 'cause you're allowed to wear it on the plane, 463 00:24:09,780 --> 00:24:11,405 and it's worth, you know, whatever. 464 00:24:11,488 --> 00:24:13,571 Not only would he wear watches, 465 00:24:13,655 --> 00:24:16,154 sometimes he would pull out pocket watches 466 00:24:16,238 --> 00:24:17,446 and show them to me. 467 00:24:17,530 --> 00:24:19,571 I don't wanna sound like I'm crazy, 468 00:24:19,655 --> 00:24:22,279 but when I saw the pen and the watch, I was like, 469 00:24:22,363 --> 00:24:24,446 "Oh my god! They're speaking right to me!" 470 00:24:24,530 --> 00:24:26,279 Every day is a great day 471 00:24:26,363 --> 00:24:29,321 when you have a brand new Marlin Pen. 472 00:24:30,655 --> 00:24:32,822 Do you think if Ron is actually Q 473 00:24:32,905 --> 00:24:34,488 that he would ever admit it to me? 474 00:24:34,571 --> 00:24:36,697 ♪ ♪ 475 00:24:36,780 --> 00:24:38,697 I think he wants the credit deep down. 476 00:24:38,780 --> 00:24:41,405 He wants people to think that he's smart, 477 00:24:41,488 --> 00:24:44,071 and he pulled something off. 478 00:24:44,154 --> 00:24:47,947 'Cause they can definitely pull off a secret project for this long. 479 00:24:48,029 --> 00:24:50,947 They do have a lot of experience playing these games. 480 00:25:01,697 --> 00:25:03,881 Look at that beautiful baby. Look at that beautiful baby. 481 00:25:03,905 --> 00:25:06,154 Wow, what a baby! 482 00:25:06,238 --> 00:25:07,988 What a baby! 483 00:25:08,071 --> 00:25:09,655 Throughout 2019, 484 00:25:09,738 --> 00:25:13,113 Q had been slowly making its way into the mainstream. 485 00:25:13,196 --> 00:25:16,655 And now, its ideas were ready for the limelight. 486 00:25:16,738 --> 00:25:19,321 Remember that first AMPFest? 487 00:25:19,405 --> 00:25:22,321 You can put a few different pieces together... 488 00:25:22,405 --> 00:25:25,405 The 2018 New Right gathering that felt more like 489 00:25:25,488 --> 00:25:27,113 a middle school talent show? 490 00:25:27,196 --> 00:25:30,405 - Stand up! Stand up! Stand up! Stand up! 491 00:25:30,488 --> 00:25:32,697 Well, AMPFest had become 492 00:25:32,780 --> 00:25:34,530 the new face of the Republican Party. 493 00:25:34,613 --> 00:25:36,279 It drew in more than a thousand people 494 00:25:36,363 --> 00:25:39,697 with Q-friendly speakers uniting behind a key issue. 495 00:25:39,780 --> 00:25:42,321 First and foremost is the obstacle 496 00:25:42,405 --> 00:25:44,738 of internet censorship. 497 00:25:44,822 --> 00:25:47,738 All sharing the stage with Donald Trump Jr. 498 00:25:47,822 --> 00:25:50,530 I typed in my handle. 499 00:25:50,613 --> 00:25:52,947 I came up on page six! 500 00:25:53,029 --> 00:25:55,363 They can do that to me? 501 00:25:55,446 --> 00:25:57,571 Who can't they, and more importantly, 502 00:25:57,655 --> 00:26:00,029 who aren't they doing it to? 503 00:26:02,613 --> 00:26:08,363 USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! 504 00:26:08,446 --> 00:26:13,154 USA! USA... ♪ ♪ 505 00:26:13,238 --> 00:26:14,947 Hey, this is Cullen. 506 00:26:15,029 --> 00:26:17,071 After a few days of phone tag... 507 00:26:17,154 --> 00:26:18,905 How'd your game of golf go? 508 00:26:18,988 --> 00:26:21,405 I was finally able to get in touch with General Vallely. 509 00:26:21,488 --> 00:26:24,113 I'm trying to figure out what I can ask you 510 00:26:24,196 --> 00:26:28,071 or what you can say about, you know, the QAnon... 511 00:26:28,154 --> 00:26:29,863 um, operation. 512 00:26:36,780 --> 00:26:38,029 Okay. 513 00:26:57,488 --> 00:26:59,613 Is, is that-- is the Army of Northern Virginia, 514 00:26:59,697 --> 00:27:02,905 is that something that's a known entity? 515 00:27:04,196 --> 00:27:06,697 Okay. Alright. 516 00:27:06,780 --> 00:27:08,530 QAnon's not working as part of that, 517 00:27:08,613 --> 00:27:10,655 just getting information through it? 518 00:27:11,446 --> 00:27:12,863 Okay. 519 00:27:21,655 --> 00:27:22,863 Mm-hmm. 520 00:27:25,446 --> 00:27:29,071 - First of all... - A private network of ex-military guys 521 00:27:29,154 --> 00:27:33,196 curating intel for the President and his anonymous buddy Q? 522 00:27:33,279 --> 00:27:35,780 It sounded like something out of a Tom Clancy novel. 523 00:27:35,863 --> 00:27:38,238 Well, I have eyes on the ground that work with me... 524 00:27:38,321 --> 00:27:40,161 The problem with someone like Vallely 525 00:27:40,238 --> 00:27:43,530 is it's hard to tell if they're feeding you false information 526 00:27:43,613 --> 00:27:46,321 in hopes that you'll later repeat it as fact. 527 00:27:46,405 --> 00:27:48,029 You know, running a psyop on you. 528 00:27:48,113 --> 00:27:51,071 - And as far as... - But it was clear that Vallely's group 529 00:27:51,154 --> 00:27:53,905 was coordinating with a number of other networks, 530 00:27:53,988 --> 00:27:57,655 all actively supporting Q. 531 00:27:57,738 --> 00:28:00,613 And these groups tend to intersect with other groups 532 00:28:00,697 --> 00:28:03,571 that have similar ambitions. 533 00:28:05,571 --> 00:28:08,154 Groups like Cicada 3301. 534 00:28:08,238 --> 00:28:11,113 And upon prying a little deeper into Thomas Schoenberger, 535 00:28:11,196 --> 00:28:14,154 it became clear that he had a much more shadowy past 536 00:28:14,238 --> 00:28:16,196 than I'd previously thought. 537 00:28:16,279 --> 00:28:19,697 - I've been digging into Biden... - Now, Thomas had suggested 538 00:28:19,780 --> 00:28:21,613 that one of Q's earliest promoters, 539 00:28:21,697 --> 00:28:24,613 Tracy Beanz, was taking Cicada's ideas 540 00:28:24,697 --> 00:28:26,196 directly to General Flynn. 541 00:28:26,279 --> 00:28:28,905 This was irregular warfare at its finest. 542 00:28:28,988 --> 00:28:30,655 I couldn't verify this claim. 543 00:28:30,738 --> 00:28:32,196 And it seemed that Thomas 544 00:28:32,279 --> 00:28:34,321 may have been deflecting attention away 545 00:28:34,405 --> 00:28:36,988 from his own business relationships. 546 00:28:37,071 --> 00:28:40,738 You know, I did some military work 547 00:28:40,822 --> 00:28:43,321 with Bijan Kian. 548 00:28:43,405 --> 00:28:46,738 In 2011, Thomas claims that he 549 00:28:46,822 --> 00:28:50,405 and Iranian-born entrepreneur Bijan Kian 550 00:28:50,488 --> 00:28:53,279 ran a spy operation together in the Middle East 551 00:28:53,363 --> 00:28:55,863 on behalf of the Pentagon. 552 00:28:55,947 --> 00:28:58,530 A few years later... 553 00:28:58,613 --> 00:29:02,655 Bijan would join forces with General Flynn... 554 00:29:02,738 --> 00:29:05,863 to start the Flynn Intel Group. 555 00:29:05,947 --> 00:29:08,697 With these connections, was Cicada playing a role 556 00:29:08,780 --> 00:29:10,446 in a larger psyop? 557 00:29:10,530 --> 00:29:12,988 One that overlapped with ex-military networks 558 00:29:13,071 --> 00:29:16,196 to bolster the Q narrative from the beginning? 559 00:29:18,905 --> 00:29:20,947 How can I put this? 560 00:29:21,029 --> 00:29:22,738 I'm not a professional soldier. 561 00:29:22,822 --> 00:29:24,363 ♪ ♪ 562 00:29:24,446 --> 00:29:27,613 But... I happen to have, um, 563 00:29:27,697 --> 00:29:30,196 certain talents. 564 00:29:30,279 --> 00:29:31,780 How in the world does a pianist 565 00:29:31,863 --> 00:29:34,071 get tangled up in something like that? 566 00:29:34,154 --> 00:29:35,780 Well, 567 00:29:35,863 --> 00:29:39,571 I, you know, I've done more than just piano 568 00:29:39,655 --> 00:29:42,113 in my life. 569 00:29:48,113 --> 00:29:49,780 In less than a month's time, 570 00:29:49,863 --> 00:29:52,780 I'm gonna be back in court for Jim's naturalization petition. 571 00:29:52,863 --> 00:29:55,321 Of course on the opposition. 572 00:29:55,405 --> 00:29:56,655 ♪ ♪ 573 00:29:56,738 --> 00:29:58,154 Amidst all the drama, 574 00:29:58,238 --> 00:30:01,780 Jim was trying to naturalize to become a Filipino citizen. 575 00:30:01,863 --> 00:30:03,613 We have some great arguments 576 00:30:03,697 --> 00:30:05,697 for why it should not be approved. 577 00:30:05,780 --> 00:30:08,780 The Filipino immigration system allows witnesses 578 00:30:08,863 --> 00:30:11,238 to object to a person trying to become a citizen. 579 00:30:11,321 --> 00:30:13,530 Fred hoped to appear as a witness 580 00:30:13,613 --> 00:30:16,071 at Jim's upcoming naturalization hearing, 581 00:30:16,154 --> 00:30:18,196 in order to derail the process. 582 00:30:18,279 --> 00:30:21,697 Do you think at this point, like, you've pushed Ron and Jim to the max, 583 00:30:21,780 --> 00:30:23,905 or is there more room to go? 584 00:30:24,029 --> 00:30:28,530 I think, given the current circumstances, that... 585 00:30:28,613 --> 00:30:30,279 I can't push them anymore. 586 00:30:30,363 --> 00:30:33,988 ♪ ♪ 587 00:30:34,071 --> 00:30:36,947 That wasn't exactly true. 588 00:30:37,029 --> 00:30:39,988 When 8kun contracted a service provider in China, 589 00:30:40,071 --> 00:30:42,446 Fred saw an opportunity. 590 00:30:44,196 --> 00:30:47,321 He alerted the company that Ron's site was home to a board 591 00:30:47,405 --> 00:30:50,113 promoting Hong Kong's independence protests, 592 00:30:50,196 --> 00:30:52,446 figuring that the Chinese Communist Party 593 00:30:52,530 --> 00:30:54,154 wouldn't look too kindly on that. 594 00:30:54,238 --> 00:30:57,822 And shortly thereafter, the site was booted. 595 00:30:57,905 --> 00:31:00,029 Adding to the general weirdness, 596 00:31:00,113 --> 00:31:02,780 Ron had once told me that he liked to sing opera, 597 00:31:02,863 --> 00:31:07,238 and suggested performing a song to set the mood. 598 00:31:07,321 --> 00:31:11,238 ♪ For the world ♪ 599 00:31:12,154 --> 00:31:15,530 ♪ Darkness shall ♪ 600 00:31:15,613 --> 00:31:19,321 ♪ Cover the Earth ♪ 601 00:31:21,780 --> 00:31:23,947 Then, Fred took it to the next level 602 00:31:24,029 --> 00:31:27,655 and doxxed Ron's wife, a Chinese national. 603 00:31:27,738 --> 00:31:30,530 Even the QAnon debunker Travis View 604 00:31:30,613 --> 00:31:32,363 thought it was ruthless. 605 00:31:32,446 --> 00:31:36,279 ♪ And grows darkness ♪ 606 00:31:36,363 --> 00:31:39,446 ♪ The people ♪ 607 00:31:39,530 --> 00:31:41,631 You don't just fuck with somebody's family 608 00:31:41,655 --> 00:31:43,571 and expect not to get counter-punched. 609 00:31:43,655 --> 00:31:46,029 If you bully me for months and months and months, 610 00:31:46,113 --> 00:31:48,113 I'm gonna fuck you up. 611 00:31:50,113 --> 00:31:52,655 I'm gonna stay quiet about it until it happens. 612 00:31:54,071 --> 00:31:56,071 ♪ ♪ 613 00:31:56,154 --> 00:31:58,738 With Fred's attacks continuing to escalate, 614 00:31:58,822 --> 00:32:00,738 Ron and Jim had a new plan. 615 00:32:00,822 --> 00:32:03,863 Fred had poked a lot of fun at Jim on Twitter, 616 00:32:03,947 --> 00:32:05,822 but it seems he hadn't considered 617 00:32:05,905 --> 00:32:09,697 that speech isn't quite as protected in the Philippines. 618 00:32:09,780 --> 00:32:12,488 In fact, the Philippines considers something called 619 00:32:12,571 --> 00:32:15,697 cyber libel to be a rather serious crime. 620 00:32:15,780 --> 00:32:18,697 And Jim's lawyers had honed in on a particular tweet 621 00:32:18,780 --> 00:32:22,363 that they felt could support a strong cyber libel case. 622 00:32:22,446 --> 00:32:24,321 ♪ ♪ 623 00:32:24,405 --> 00:32:27,571 Of all things, Fred had called Jim "senile" 624 00:32:27,655 --> 00:32:30,238 for wearing a Q pin in front of Congress. 625 00:32:30,321 --> 00:32:35,655 And so began the case of James Arthur Watkins versus Fredrick Robert Brennan. 626 00:32:40,863 --> 00:32:45,029 ♪ Rising ♪ 627 00:32:46,530 --> 00:32:49,113 A lot of people expected Jim to file something. 628 00:32:49,196 --> 00:32:54,071 But what was filed, uh, shocked me 629 00:32:54,154 --> 00:32:56,530 because it's a libel suit 630 00:32:56,613 --> 00:32:59,780 that is so ridiculous back in the US, 631 00:32:59,863 --> 00:33:01,196 a judge would throw it out. 632 00:33:01,279 --> 00:33:03,446 The legal standards here are a little bit different. 633 00:33:03,530 --> 00:33:07,571 But, even here, it's a high bar 634 00:33:07,655 --> 00:33:09,488 for that suit to try to clear. 635 00:33:09,571 --> 00:33:12,113 But the Filipino government had to decide 636 00:33:12,196 --> 00:33:14,488 if it wanted to pursue an indictment, 637 00:33:14,571 --> 00:33:16,488 a process that often takes months. 638 00:33:16,571 --> 00:33:20,279 It's a matter of opinion, and, uh, 639 00:33:20,363 --> 00:33:23,154 opinions can't be libelous. 640 00:33:23,238 --> 00:33:24,988 All of these attack strategies 641 00:33:25,071 --> 00:33:27,446 seemed like part of a game... 642 00:33:27,530 --> 00:33:30,571 where actual beliefs took a backseat to winning. 643 00:33:30,655 --> 00:33:32,530 When you're jumping, punch, 644 00:33:32,613 --> 00:33:35,321 - and it will give you a little boost. - Wow. 645 00:33:35,405 --> 00:33:38,279 Okay, so this is like the world of 8kun, basically? 646 00:33:39,238 --> 00:33:41,321 Basically. 647 00:33:41,405 --> 00:33:43,405 They saw their lives as a game. 648 00:33:43,488 --> 00:33:46,154 So much so that Ron and Tom had created 649 00:33:46,238 --> 00:33:49,530 a literal video game based on the world of 8kun. 650 00:33:49,613 --> 00:33:53,029 Jim is called the Pig Merchant. 651 00:33:53,113 --> 00:33:55,697 So, see there's all the enslaved humans? 652 00:33:55,780 --> 00:33:58,446 And there's Jim sitting on his throne. 653 00:33:59,780 --> 00:34:02,279 So who is Ron in the game? Can we see him? 654 00:34:02,363 --> 00:34:04,988 Oh, Ron, we can't see him. He's at the very end. 655 00:34:05,071 --> 00:34:09,405 After you beat, um, the Pig Merchant, 656 00:34:09,488 --> 00:34:14,196 then the area of Codemonkey gets revealed. 657 00:34:14,279 --> 00:34:17,363 And that's, like, the final final boss. 658 00:34:17,446 --> 00:34:19,655 It's interesting that Ron 659 00:34:19,738 --> 00:34:22,405 would cast himself as the secret final boss 660 00:34:22,488 --> 00:34:25,196 in a video game of his own design. 661 00:34:25,279 --> 00:34:28,613 Ronald Watkins is related to Q somehow. 662 00:34:29,238 --> 00:34:31,822 ♪ ♪ 663 00:34:31,905 --> 00:34:33,988 What do you see are the primary clues 664 00:34:34,071 --> 00:34:35,571 that Ron and Jim are behind it? 665 00:34:35,655 --> 00:34:38,988 Bending over backwards to help Q at every opportunity. 666 00:34:40,154 --> 00:34:43,822 But also the pen and the watch. 667 00:34:43,905 --> 00:34:45,839 You know what I see is a weird clue here? 668 00:34:45,863 --> 00:34:47,780 Ron and Jim have shared almost every obsession 669 00:34:47,863 --> 00:34:50,321 of theirs with me except for watches. 670 00:34:50,405 --> 00:34:53,655 Oh, see? Why don't you bring them up? 671 00:34:53,738 --> 00:34:56,613 "Nice watch! Do you collect watches?" 672 00:34:58,988 --> 00:35:02,571 It has escalated to a full-scale rivalry. 673 00:35:02,655 --> 00:35:04,530 Sure, rivalry. Yeah. 674 00:35:04,613 --> 00:35:07,238 I mean, what would you call it? 675 00:35:07,321 --> 00:35:11,321 Maybe war is a little bit going too far, but... 676 00:35:11,405 --> 00:35:16,405 I woke up at 5:00 to go to a naturalization hearing, 677 00:35:16,488 --> 00:35:19,446 and I'm not the person that's supposed to be naturalized. 678 00:35:19,530 --> 00:35:21,780 ♪ ♪ 679 00:35:21,863 --> 00:35:26,446 Jim I'm going to a hearing on my citizenship. 680 00:35:26,530 --> 00:35:29,863 Just an opportunity to wear nice clothes and go to court. 681 00:35:31,947 --> 00:35:33,947 Usually, the naturalization process 682 00:35:34,029 --> 00:35:35,613 is pretty straightforward, 683 00:35:35,697 --> 00:35:37,446 especially for a wealthy American. 684 00:35:37,530 --> 00:35:39,113 But, with the help of his lawyer, 685 00:35:39,196 --> 00:35:41,238 Fred was hoping to derail everything 686 00:35:41,321 --> 00:35:44,321 by testifying against Jim's character. 687 00:35:44,405 --> 00:35:46,238 What would you say to him if you see him? 688 00:35:46,321 --> 00:35:48,613 He's gotta be the one to engage. 689 00:35:48,697 --> 00:35:50,363 It's just not smart. 690 00:35:50,446 --> 00:35:51,863 Whoa. 691 00:35:51,947 --> 00:35:54,530 They're gonna be like, "We're being harassed by this libeler 692 00:35:54,613 --> 00:35:57,738 and previous employee," blah, blah, blah. 693 00:36:00,071 --> 00:36:02,613 I feel like maybe a little bit nervous, 694 00:36:02,697 --> 00:36:05,822 but also pretty confident. 695 00:36:05,905 --> 00:36:08,738 I think it's most likely gonna get dismissed today. 696 00:36:11,446 --> 00:36:12,905 Careful now. 697 00:36:12,988 --> 00:36:15,571 You gotta watch out for gangsters. 698 00:36:16,279 --> 00:36:19,697 ♪ ♪ 699 00:36:21,321 --> 00:36:23,196 - Is he? - Jim. 700 00:36:31,697 --> 00:36:33,405 It's gonna be an interesting day. 701 00:36:33,488 --> 00:36:35,697 Alright, we definitely gotta go then. 702 00:37:22,697 --> 00:37:25,363 - How did it go? - Uh... 703 00:37:25,947 --> 00:37:27,822 Yeah. 704 00:37:27,905 --> 00:37:29,488 Did you see Jim come out? 705 00:37:30,530 --> 00:37:32,279 I did, yeah. 706 00:37:34,655 --> 00:37:36,279 Where? 707 00:37:41,488 --> 00:37:44,863 Honestly, he could've walked out of there a citizen. 708 00:37:44,947 --> 00:37:46,738 The judge asked me, "Mr. Brennan, 709 00:37:46,822 --> 00:37:48,238 where's your attorney?" 710 00:37:48,321 --> 00:37:51,279 - Was the lawyer here today? - No. 711 00:37:51,363 --> 00:37:53,780 He probably won't even be representing me next time 712 00:37:53,863 --> 00:37:57,154 'cause of what happened today, so that's it. 713 00:37:57,238 --> 00:37:59,071 The hearing was a bust. 714 00:37:59,154 --> 00:38:00,363 Without his lawyer present, 715 00:38:00,446 --> 00:38:02,822 Fred wasn't allowed to voice his opposition. 716 00:38:02,905 --> 00:38:06,613 Jim was one step closer to becoming a Filipino citizen. 717 00:38:06,697 --> 00:38:09,321 Yeah, we're just gonna leave 'cause, honestly, 718 00:38:09,405 --> 00:38:12,488 I might end up on /r/PublicFreakout if we don't. 719 00:38:12,571 --> 00:38:13,863 You know that subreddit? 720 00:38:13,947 --> 00:38:17,113 This is why millennials can't buy fucking houses! 721 00:38:17,196 --> 00:38:20,029 Fuck! 722 00:38:20,113 --> 00:38:22,613 What the-- 723 00:38:22,697 --> 00:38:25,863 She never said anything after that fucking nut! 724 00:38:35,863 --> 00:38:40,113 I couldn't recall seeing Fred this upset ever. 725 00:38:40,196 --> 00:38:42,613 He even compared this moment to how he felt after 726 00:38:42,697 --> 00:38:44,988 the El Paso Walmart shooting, 727 00:38:45,071 --> 00:38:48,196 a sentiment that didn't earn him many likes. 728 00:38:48,279 --> 00:38:49,613 ♪ ♪ 729 00:38:49,697 --> 00:38:51,405 That sucked. 730 00:38:51,488 --> 00:38:54,446 Honestly, I think we were really close to losing. 731 00:38:55,947 --> 00:38:57,863 Fuck. 732 00:38:59,405 --> 00:39:02,738 Are you concerned that because just Jim has more 733 00:39:02,822 --> 00:39:06,530 sort of access and money that he'll be able to 734 00:39:06,613 --> 00:39:09,738 make the libel case against you stick? 735 00:39:10,822 --> 00:39:12,196 I don't know. 736 00:39:15,154 --> 00:39:16,822 Jim ♪ When the ♪ 737 00:39:16,905 --> 00:39:21,154 ♪ Moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie ♪ 738 00:39:21,238 --> 00:39:23,405 ♪ That's amore ♪ 739 00:39:25,738 --> 00:39:26,738 Got it. 740 00:39:26,780 --> 00:39:29,113 ♪ With a smile on your face ♪ 741 00:39:29,196 --> 00:39:31,196 ♪ Like a pasta fagioli ♪ 742 00:39:31,279 --> 00:39:34,488 ♪ You're in love ♪ 743 00:39:34,571 --> 00:39:36,780 ♪ That's amore ♪ 744 00:39:38,363 --> 00:39:39,697 ♪ ♪ 745 00:39:39,780 --> 00:39:41,530 Mm! 746 00:39:41,613 --> 00:39:43,697 Jim seemed particularly buoyant 747 00:39:43,780 --> 00:39:46,113 after his immigration hearing. 748 00:39:49,321 --> 00:39:51,863 Jim, you're not wearing a watch today. 749 00:39:51,947 --> 00:39:54,363 You know, don't you normally have a watch on? 750 00:39:54,446 --> 00:39:56,905 Oh! I forgot my watch. 751 00:39:56,988 --> 00:39:59,196 ♪ ♪ 752 00:39:59,279 --> 00:40:01,071 Maybe it fell off when you were walking-- 753 00:40:01,154 --> 00:40:04,321 No, I forgot it. That's all. 754 00:40:06,530 --> 00:40:09,238 That's a weird thing to forget. It's like a... 755 00:40:09,321 --> 00:40:11,405 Well, I take it off when I take a shower, 756 00:40:11,488 --> 00:40:13,321 and I just forgot to put it back on. 757 00:40:13,405 --> 00:40:16,905 Do you have a lot of watches or just like one main watch? 758 00:40:16,988 --> 00:40:21,238 I have a lot of watches. 759 00:40:21,321 --> 00:40:24,530 I've been collecting them for, like, 30 years, you know. 760 00:40:29,113 --> 00:40:32,363 The next morning, I was headed home to LA. 761 00:40:32,446 --> 00:40:34,738 Obviously, if the libel thing moves forward, 762 00:40:34,822 --> 00:40:36,822 I'll be back here for that. 763 00:40:37,530 --> 00:40:38,988 Well... 764 00:40:45,071 --> 00:40:47,154 You're not worried at all about... 765 00:40:48,029 --> 00:40:50,154 the libel case affecting you 766 00:40:50,238 --> 00:40:52,613 when you're running a free speech website? 767 00:40:52,697 --> 00:40:55,571 Like the kinda irony to that? 768 00:41:19,446 --> 00:41:23,029 America. The greatest nation 769 00:41:23,113 --> 00:41:24,738 this world has ever known. 770 00:41:24,822 --> 00:41:27,113 Back in the States, ex-military figures 771 00:41:27,196 --> 00:41:30,196 were not the only ones looking to harness Q's influence. 772 00:41:30,279 --> 00:41:32,488 Congressional candidates like Lauren Boebert 773 00:41:32,571 --> 00:41:37,029 and Marjorie Taylor Greene were openly embracing Q. 774 00:41:37,113 --> 00:41:39,822 I'm Marjorie Greene, Republican for Congress. 775 00:41:39,905 --> 00:41:43,822 Save America. Stop Socialism. 776 00:41:43,905 --> 00:41:47,279 As were a slew of Washington insiders. 777 00:41:47,363 --> 00:41:50,571 Excuse me. Sorry. It's a bad time to come in here. 778 00:41:50,655 --> 00:41:52,822 Two of them even hit up Ron directly. 779 00:41:54,321 --> 00:41:55,488 Zelda, come on! 780 00:41:55,571 --> 00:41:58,196 And Ron wanted me to document the call. 781 00:42:02,029 --> 00:42:04,530 This call is being recorded. 782 00:42:04,613 --> 00:42:07,154 Nice to meet you. My name is Jason Sullivan. 783 00:42:07,238 --> 00:42:09,738 I also have a very good friend of mine that's on the line 784 00:42:09,822 --> 00:42:11,488 who is a legendary 785 00:42:11,571 --> 00:42:15,363 former lead technical director of the NSA, Bill Binney. 786 00:42:15,446 --> 00:42:17,321 Hello? Bill here. 787 00:42:17,405 --> 00:42:19,029 Jason Sullivan 788 00:42:19,113 --> 00:42:22,321 was Roger Stone's chief social media strategist. 789 00:42:22,405 --> 00:42:24,029 Working together with Bill Binney, 790 00:42:24,113 --> 00:42:25,780 Sullivan had developed a tool 791 00:42:25,863 --> 00:42:27,697 that gamed Twitter's algorithms, 792 00:42:27,780 --> 00:42:29,863 allowing for anyone of his choosing 793 00:42:29,947 --> 00:42:32,697 to massively amplify their message. 794 00:42:32,780 --> 00:42:34,363 This is not a sales call. 795 00:42:34,446 --> 00:42:36,613 This is just a, you know, get an introduction 796 00:42:36,697 --> 00:42:39,196 and see if there's any ways or any things we can-- 797 00:42:39,279 --> 00:42:42,113 To do to help the cause of the Great Awakening. 798 00:42:43,279 --> 00:42:45,988 If, if, uh, Q is trying to utilize 799 00:42:46,071 --> 00:42:49,738 or optimize abilities on Twitter, 800 00:42:50,613 --> 00:42:52,154 we can make 'em better. 801 00:42:53,113 --> 00:42:54,905 We've got proprietary tools 802 00:42:54,988 --> 00:42:56,363 that can help recruit their armies 803 00:42:56,446 --> 00:42:58,166 and get everybody on the same sheet of music 804 00:42:58,238 --> 00:43:00,279 to where we're all disseminating together 805 00:43:00,363 --> 00:43:01,988 and our splash in the pond 806 00:43:02,071 --> 00:43:05,113 is getting bigger and bigger every time we drop something. 807 00:43:05,196 --> 00:43:07,196 ♪ ♪ 808 00:43:07,279 --> 00:43:10,780 Ron's the, you know, the chief admin that's creating 8kun, 809 00:43:10,863 --> 00:43:12,905 and that's where Q is dropping stuff, 810 00:43:12,988 --> 00:43:16,822 so it looks like these two are, you know, you know, 811 00:43:16,905 --> 00:43:19,780 working together in some way, shape, or form. 812 00:43:19,863 --> 00:43:23,071 Oh, so now you're thinking I'm a key player in this? 813 00:43:23,154 --> 00:43:25,154 I'm not-- I'm not insinuating anything. 814 00:43:25,238 --> 00:43:27,071 The bottom line at the end of the day is 815 00:43:27,154 --> 00:43:28,964 I wanna help the President of the United States 816 00:43:28,988 --> 00:43:30,571 get his word out. 817 00:43:30,655 --> 00:43:32,405 The President himself would be 818 00:43:32,488 --> 00:43:34,738 helping get Q's word out soon after. 819 00:43:34,822 --> 00:43:38,488 In December of 2019, facing possible impeachment, 820 00:43:38,571 --> 00:43:41,780 Donald Trump did what he does best. 821 00:43:41,863 --> 00:43:43,947 ♪ ♪ 822 00:43:44,029 --> 00:43:47,113 Trump retweeted a massive flurry of QAnon accounts, 823 00:43:47,196 --> 00:43:48,446 all in a single weekend, 824 00:43:48,530 --> 00:43:50,697 shifting news coverage away from his problems 825 00:43:50,780 --> 00:43:53,363 and providing a solid endorsement of Q. 826 00:43:53,446 --> 00:43:55,697 And remember that story about Osama Bin Laden 827 00:43:55,780 --> 00:43:57,113 still being alive? 828 00:43:57,196 --> 00:43:59,863 Months later, this would be the end result. 829 00:43:59,947 --> 00:44:03,363 Just this week, you retweeted to your 87 million followers 830 00:44:03,446 --> 00:44:04,822 a conspiracy theory 831 00:44:04,905 --> 00:44:07,780 that Joe Biden orchestrated to have SEAL Team 6, 832 00:44:07,863 --> 00:44:10,279 the Navy SEAL Team 6, killed to cover up 833 00:44:10,363 --> 00:44:12,613 the fake death of Bin Laden. 834 00:44:12,697 --> 00:44:15,613 -I'll put it out there. People can decide-- -I don't get that! 835 00:44:15,697 --> 00:44:19,822 You're the President! You're not, like, someone's crazy uncle! 836 00:44:19,905 --> 00:44:22,321 During the home stretch of the Presidential race, 837 00:44:22,405 --> 00:44:24,363 Trump retweeted the Bin Laden claim. 838 00:44:24,446 --> 00:44:27,822 A claim not provided by US intelligence agencies, 839 00:44:27,905 --> 00:44:31,071 but by the same dude feeding Craig scoops 840 00:44:31,154 --> 00:44:32,697 in between burps. 841 00:44:32,780 --> 00:44:35,655 ♪ ♪ 842 00:44:35,738 --> 00:44:37,697 The descendant of an internet game, 843 00:44:37,780 --> 00:44:40,738 Q now had real power. 844 00:44:40,822 --> 00:44:43,196 The President needed Q. 845 00:44:43,279 --> 00:44:46,279 The political class was reaching out to Ron. 846 00:44:46,363 --> 00:44:50,530 Retired military operatives were planting intel with QTubers. 847 00:44:50,613 --> 00:44:54,571 The line between the game and reality 848 00:44:55,571 --> 00:44:56,988 had blurred. 849 00:45:05,571 --> 00:45:07,113 Hey, Fred. 850 00:45:10,321 --> 00:45:12,029 Fred? 851 00:45:12,113 --> 00:45:13,613 Hey Fred, are you there? 852 00:45:13,697 --> 00:45:15,571 I've been crying for two days straight. 853 00:45:15,655 --> 00:45:17,446 Fred? Shit... 854 00:45:17,530 --> 00:45:19,530 My whole life has just fallen apart. 855 00:45:19,613 --> 00:45:23,738 I don't know. It's not good. 856 00:45:23,822 --> 00:45:26,363 But, I don't know, I guess I deserve it. 857 00:45:26,446 --> 00:45:27,697 ♪ ♪ 858 00:45:27,780 --> 00:45:30,113 Let's walk back a little and just tell me-- 859 00:45:30,196 --> 00:45:31,697 Tell me what's going on right now. 860 00:45:31,780 --> 00:45:35,321 Well, two days ago, my lawyer, you know, messaged me. 861 00:45:35,405 --> 00:45:38,697 "There is going to be a case opened against you 862 00:45:38,780 --> 00:45:43,279 at the trial court, and that the government is gonna prosecute." 863 00:45:43,363 --> 00:45:46,405 Fred's lawyer somehow got advance notice 864 00:45:46,488 --> 00:45:49,530 that the cyber libel indictment was about to drop. 865 00:45:49,613 --> 00:45:53,113 There's a mandatory minimum of six years. 866 00:45:53,196 --> 00:45:54,947 Maximum 12, 867 00:45:55,029 --> 00:45:58,738 if they find you guilty of cyber libel. 868 00:45:58,822 --> 00:46:01,196 I've talked to all these lawyers by now, 869 00:46:01,279 --> 00:46:04,113 and they tell me to leave the country. 870 00:46:04,196 --> 00:46:07,488 I guess I'm just gonna have to try to rebuild in California, 871 00:46:07,571 --> 00:46:09,822 which I never thought I would be doing, but... 872 00:46:09,905 --> 00:46:13,279 Or crash at my mother's house and cry for six months 873 00:46:13,363 --> 00:46:14,613 and do drugs, right? 874 00:46:14,697 --> 00:46:16,238 I don't really know what I can do, bro. 875 00:46:16,321 --> 00:46:18,297 I mean, you're still in pretty good spirits 876 00:46:18,321 --> 00:46:20,863 all things considered. 877 00:46:20,947 --> 00:46:24,071 That's good 'cause I feel like shit. 878 00:46:25,530 --> 00:46:29,196 My wife kinda asked me like... 879 00:46:29,279 --> 00:46:32,405 like, "Why did you really do all this, you know? 880 00:46:32,488 --> 00:46:35,196 "Do you just wanna be famous? 881 00:46:35,279 --> 00:46:38,196 You're the one that decided to keep it going." 882 00:46:39,446 --> 00:46:41,279 Why has it got me? 883 00:46:41,363 --> 00:46:43,947 Yeah. 884 00:46:44,029 --> 00:46:46,530 I told my wife I fucked up our lives, 885 00:46:46,613 --> 00:46:49,154 and I don't know that it can be fixed. 886 00:46:49,238 --> 00:46:52,988 I think I have to just give up on this fight 'cause... 887 00:46:53,071 --> 00:46:55,905 I don't really think I changed anything in the long run. 888 00:46:55,988 --> 00:46:58,780 ♪ ♪ 889 00:46:58,863 --> 00:47:01,405 How, how can I be helpful at this point? 890 00:47:02,863 --> 00:47:05,446 If you could come and just 891 00:47:05,530 --> 00:47:07,738 kinda help me get my shit on the plane 892 00:47:07,822 --> 00:47:10,113 - and get there. - Okay. 893 00:47:12,071 --> 00:47:13,655 And, of course, I will pay. 894 00:47:13,738 --> 00:47:16,196 I'll bring that watch. We can go pawn it together. 895 00:47:16,279 --> 00:47:19,154 I was gonna say, you should bring the watch. 896 00:47:19,238 --> 00:47:24,196 No, I have to, like, I'm running out of money. 897 00:47:24,279 --> 00:47:29,238 So, if you could be here on Monday, that would be perfect for me. 898 00:47:32,822 --> 00:47:34,113 Okay. 899 00:47:35,405 --> 00:47:37,196 Thank you. Bye-bye. 900 00:47:42,613 --> 00:47:44,238 Man. 901 00:47:45,571 --> 00:47:48,697 Rivalries-- rivalries suck. 902 00:47:51,822 --> 00:47:53,863 ♪ ♪ 903 00:47:53,947 --> 00:47:56,446 With his condition, if Fred went to jail, 904 00:47:56,530 --> 00:47:58,196 he'd almost certainly die. 905 00:47:58,279 --> 00:48:00,863 While cyber libel may be a big deal in the Philippines, 906 00:48:00,947 --> 00:48:04,154 no one deserves a death sentence for something they said. 907 00:48:04,238 --> 00:48:06,655 So I felt like I had no choice but to help. 908 00:48:09,446 --> 00:48:12,613 The police could come looking for Fred at any moment. 909 00:48:13,446 --> 00:48:15,905 We had no time to lose. 910 00:48:18,863 --> 00:48:20,947 20E... 911 00:48:22,113 --> 00:48:23,988 20E. 912 00:48:24,071 --> 00:48:26,488 First time I've ever actually been to his place. 913 00:48:26,571 --> 00:48:29,321 We've had to hide it every time before this 914 00:48:29,405 --> 00:48:31,905 to prevent doxxing. 915 00:48:31,988 --> 00:48:35,113 ♪ ♪ 916 00:48:44,947 --> 00:48:46,947 Hey there. 917 00:48:47,029 --> 00:48:49,905 - Hey. - Hey, guys. 918 00:48:49,988 --> 00:48:52,863 - What's up? - What's up with you? 919 00:48:52,947 --> 00:48:54,321 Uh... 920 00:48:55,446 --> 00:48:58,154 I messed up my entire life. 921 00:48:58,238 --> 00:49:01,196 I've been in a really bad place these last few days. 922 00:49:01,279 --> 00:49:04,196 There was an entire day here where I researched 923 00:49:04,279 --> 00:49:06,738 almost everything there is to know 924 00:49:06,822 --> 00:49:10,196 about a detention center in Camp Bagong Diwa, 925 00:49:10,279 --> 00:49:12,154 known as Bicutan Detention Center. 926 00:49:15,947 --> 00:49:19,196 ♪ ♪ 927 00:49:24,071 --> 00:49:26,947 I've been so broken down by this case. 928 00:49:27,029 --> 00:49:30,113 It just felt like my whole reality fell apart. 929 00:49:30,196 --> 00:49:32,363 I had this mental divide in my mind 930 00:49:32,446 --> 00:49:35,905 between like the digital world and the real world. 931 00:49:35,988 --> 00:49:38,905 And for me, it really 932 00:49:38,988 --> 00:49:41,029 didn't break down until this happened. 933 00:49:41,113 --> 00:49:44,321 I always just thought that the internet is the internet, 934 00:49:44,405 --> 00:49:46,905 and I kinda had, I guess, a kind of 935 00:49:46,988 --> 00:49:48,530 split personality. 936 00:49:48,613 --> 00:49:50,196 What I did on the internet was different 937 00:49:50,279 --> 00:49:52,113 from what I did in real life. 938 00:49:52,196 --> 00:49:55,488 And internet stuff, like 8chan stuff, 939 00:49:55,571 --> 00:49:59,905 I didn't really see it as affecting the real world. 940 00:50:00,655 --> 00:50:01,947 You know what? 941 00:50:02,029 --> 00:50:05,029 There's no difference at all. The internet is the real world. 942 00:50:09,279 --> 00:50:11,071 That's why I suggested, you know, 943 00:50:11,154 --> 00:50:13,530 it's better for you to leave in the meantime, you know? 944 00:50:13,613 --> 00:50:16,279 Fred decided to give the lawyer who had bailed 945 00:50:16,363 --> 00:50:19,071 on the immigration hearing a second chance. 946 00:50:19,154 --> 00:50:21,780 This is definitely the way to go is for him to leave tomorrow. 947 00:50:21,863 --> 00:50:25,863 Yeah, for-for to leave. It would be for his best interest. 948 00:50:25,947 --> 00:50:27,405 The Bureau of Immigration, 949 00:50:27,488 --> 00:50:29,780 it's supposed to issue him the I-Card, you know? 950 00:50:29,863 --> 00:50:33,363 It's like the entry exit permit, you know? 951 00:50:33,446 --> 00:50:35,530 You cannot leave without the I-Card. 952 00:50:35,613 --> 00:50:37,238 The lawyer said Fred could be 953 00:50:37,321 --> 00:50:38,863 issued an I-Card at the airport. 954 00:50:38,947 --> 00:50:41,238 All we had to do was get there early 955 00:50:41,321 --> 00:50:43,363 and pick it up at customs. 956 00:50:43,446 --> 00:50:44,905 Our flight was at 9:00 AM, 957 00:50:44,988 --> 00:50:48,071 so if we left by 2:00 AM, we'd be good to go. 958 00:50:48,154 --> 00:50:51,154 Traffic in Manila is terrible. 959 00:50:56,613 --> 00:50:58,113 Fuck! 960 00:51:06,029 --> 00:51:08,571 Oh my fucking, fuck this fucking thing. 961 00:51:08,655 --> 00:51:11,071 Okay. 962 00:51:11,154 --> 00:51:13,613 So the power's out in my unit right now. 963 00:51:14,613 --> 00:51:16,697 It's 2:40 in the morning. 964 00:51:16,780 --> 00:51:19,988 We're about to head to the airport 965 00:51:20,071 --> 00:51:21,405 to try to get out of here. 966 00:51:21,488 --> 00:51:23,154 I don't know if Fred's power is also out. 967 00:51:23,238 --> 00:51:25,196 I just sent him a message. 968 00:51:25,988 --> 00:51:27,988 Okay, here we go. 969 00:51:34,571 --> 00:51:36,988 It's 26 flights? 970 00:51:37,071 --> 00:51:38,863 Oh my god! 971 00:51:38,947 --> 00:51:41,822 ♪ ♪ 972 00:51:43,321 --> 00:51:44,863 Oh god. 973 00:51:46,655 --> 00:51:48,697 Fred's elevators better be working. 974 00:51:49,863 --> 00:51:52,113 I can't even imagine. 975 00:51:52,196 --> 00:51:53,363 Hey. Hey, Fred. 976 00:51:53,446 --> 00:51:54,988 Hey. 977 00:51:57,279 --> 00:52:00,655 I am exhausted. I am sweating profusely. 978 00:52:00,738 --> 00:52:02,363 There's power in your place? 979 00:52:03,530 --> 00:52:05,279 Okay. 980 00:52:05,363 --> 00:52:06,530 Thank God! 981 00:52:07,405 --> 00:52:08,780 Hey, hey, hey. 982 00:52:08,863 --> 00:52:10,988 Sorry, are we going too fast? 983 00:52:15,947 --> 00:52:18,780 ♪ ♪ 984 00:52:18,863 --> 00:52:20,446 Goodbye, Philippines. 985 00:52:20,530 --> 00:52:22,238 I'm feeling really good about leaving, 986 00:52:22,321 --> 00:52:23,446 even though I don't want to. 987 00:52:23,530 --> 00:52:25,446 Even though I love this place, 988 00:52:25,530 --> 00:52:27,988 and I'm gonna miss it a lot. 989 00:52:28,071 --> 00:52:31,530 Right, time for your daring escape. 990 00:52:31,613 --> 00:52:33,113 What did my attorney say? 991 00:52:33,196 --> 00:52:35,571 "You're not escaping anything, Fred." 992 00:52:40,780 --> 00:52:43,947 Sorry, sorry, sorry. Bye-bye. 993 00:52:44,029 --> 00:52:45,279 Bye, May! 994 00:52:45,363 --> 00:52:49,113 You were such a good caregiver for many, many years, okay? 995 00:52:49,196 --> 00:52:50,488 Little did we know, 996 00:52:50,571 --> 00:52:52,154 the indictment was being written up 997 00:52:52,238 --> 00:52:54,196 as we were arriving. 998 00:52:56,405 --> 00:52:58,697 So, we will be transferring you... 999 00:52:58,780 --> 00:53:01,988 We dropped off Fred's luggage and headed to Customs. 1000 00:53:02,071 --> 00:53:04,154 I shut down cameras for this stretch. 1001 00:53:04,238 --> 00:53:06,738 It was already a precarious enough situation. 1002 00:53:10,029 --> 00:53:12,446 We were pulled into an interrogation room. 1003 00:53:14,363 --> 00:53:15,683 In a country like the Philippines, 1004 00:53:15,738 --> 00:53:17,571 with an autocratic leader who has a history 1005 00:53:17,655 --> 00:53:18,988 of killing journalists, 1006 00:53:19,071 --> 00:53:21,363 this was just about the last place 1007 00:53:21,446 --> 00:53:22,697 we wanted to be. 1008 00:53:24,446 --> 00:53:26,655 The officials weren't speaking in English, 1009 00:53:26,738 --> 00:53:29,780 so I couldn't tell if Fred was about to be carted off to jail. 1010 00:53:29,863 --> 00:53:31,238 ♪ ♪ 1011 00:53:31,321 --> 00:53:35,571 It turns out, the problem was with the I-Card. 1012 00:53:35,655 --> 00:53:38,113 They just aren't issued at the airport. 1013 00:53:38,196 --> 00:53:39,738 And the office that has them 1014 00:53:39,822 --> 00:53:42,613 was two hours away in Manila traffic. 1015 00:53:44,446 --> 00:53:46,571 Fred was fucked. 1016 00:53:52,113 --> 00:53:54,780 - Okay. - Hey, I got some good news! 1017 00:53:54,863 --> 00:53:57,780 - What is it? - It's actually really good news. 1018 00:53:57,863 --> 00:54:00,238 They're gonna deliver the actual I-Card 1019 00:54:00,321 --> 00:54:02,196 - to the airport. Yes. - Here? 1020 00:54:02,279 --> 00:54:03,321 Okay. 1021 00:54:03,405 --> 00:54:06,071 But it's not gonna get here in time. 1022 00:54:06,154 --> 00:54:07,738 ♪ ♪ 1023 00:54:07,822 --> 00:54:11,029 The lawyer claimed he was sending somebody with an I-Card 1024 00:54:11,113 --> 00:54:14,238 which seemed questionable at best. 1025 00:54:14,321 --> 00:54:18,238 But there was no other choice except to sit around and wait for it, 1026 00:54:18,321 --> 00:54:21,113 so we missed our flight. 1027 00:54:21,196 --> 00:54:24,196 Global travel was shutting down due to the coronavirus. 1028 00:54:24,279 --> 00:54:28,905 And all other flights out of Manila were booked for the next week. 1029 00:54:28,988 --> 00:54:31,863 Except for one that left in an hour. 1030 00:54:33,571 --> 00:54:36,029 This has become like reality now. 1031 00:54:36,113 --> 00:54:38,071 This isn't just a game that I play online 1032 00:54:38,154 --> 00:54:40,613 and then go back to my family. 1033 00:54:45,863 --> 00:54:47,697 Game over. 1034 00:54:49,113 --> 00:54:51,321 This was our last shot, 1035 00:54:51,405 --> 00:54:54,405 so we bought two tickets and hoped for the best. 1036 00:54:54,488 --> 00:54:57,571 ♪ ♪ 1037 00:55:04,780 --> 00:55:05,905 Hi, honey! Sorry. 1038 00:55:07,363 --> 00:55:09,238 Not yet. 1039 00:55:09,321 --> 00:55:11,113 Where is he? 1040 00:55:11,196 --> 00:55:13,405 Yes! Oh, I see him! 1041 00:55:13,488 --> 00:55:15,988 Thank you! 1042 00:55:16,071 --> 00:55:18,113 Somehow, in less than 45 minutes, 1043 00:55:18,196 --> 00:55:20,571 a guy appeared on a motorcycle, I-Card in hand. 1044 00:55:20,655 --> 00:55:22,947 Looks right to me. 1045 00:55:23,029 --> 00:55:24,905 Honey, are you there? 1046 00:55:25,905 --> 00:55:27,446 Can you bring the car to us? 1047 00:55:27,530 --> 00:55:29,488 We need to go to Terminal 3 really fast. 1048 00:55:29,571 --> 00:55:31,947 But the indictment could drop at any second. 1049 00:55:32,029 --> 00:55:34,947 Okay. They're on the way they said. 1050 00:55:35,029 --> 00:55:37,488 And our new flight was leaving from a terminal 1051 00:55:37,571 --> 00:55:39,571 on the other side of the airport. 1052 00:55:40,905 --> 00:55:41,988 Whoa! 1053 00:55:47,822 --> 00:55:49,738 No, they're not. 1054 00:55:49,822 --> 00:55:52,321 But, this is great cinema. 1055 00:55:54,697 --> 00:55:57,446 Yeah. Dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun! 1056 00:55:58,863 --> 00:56:01,321 We have to go! We need to move! 1057 00:56:01,405 --> 00:56:03,113 Sorry, I love you! I gotta go! 1058 00:56:10,780 --> 00:56:12,530 Sorry, this thing has a max speed. 1059 00:56:12,613 --> 00:56:14,822 I wish we could just run, but... 1060 00:56:17,071 --> 00:56:18,697 Sorry we're late! 1061 00:56:20,405 --> 00:56:22,863 I'm not used to this level of activity. 1062 00:56:22,947 --> 00:56:25,029 ♪ ♪ 1063 00:56:25,113 --> 00:56:26,613 Okay. 1064 00:56:31,697 --> 00:56:33,863 Yeah, we're on a flight to Hong Kong. 1065 00:56:33,947 --> 00:56:36,238 From Hong Kong, we're gonna go to LA. 1066 00:56:38,279 --> 00:56:41,071 We made it. We got-- we got through. 1067 00:56:45,613 --> 00:56:48,738 ♪ ♪ 1068 00:56:50,905 --> 00:56:52,780 During our layover in Hong Kong, 1069 00:56:52,863 --> 00:56:54,947 Fred learned that the indictment had dropped 1070 00:56:55,029 --> 00:56:58,238 just moments after the plane left Manila. 1071 00:56:58,321 --> 00:57:01,279 He had narrowly escaped. 1072 00:57:07,822 --> 00:57:10,405 So you think Q is gonna write about you? 1073 00:57:10,488 --> 00:57:11,571 I do. 1074 00:57:11,655 --> 00:57:13,905 If he figures out you've come to LA? 1075 00:57:13,988 --> 00:57:16,780 Maybe it's just narcissism, 1076 00:57:16,863 --> 00:57:18,947 but I think that 1077 00:57:19,029 --> 00:57:22,238 my narrative got really wrapped up in Q's, 1078 00:57:22,321 --> 00:57:25,154 and that they would see this as a big victory. 1079 00:57:27,655 --> 00:57:29,321 I think Q is Ronald also. 1080 00:57:29,405 --> 00:57:33,113 I think that he cannot help himself but to gloat about this. 1081 00:57:33,196 --> 00:57:36,279 ♪ ♪ 1082 00:57:36,363 --> 00:57:38,488 February 18th. "To be blunt, 1083 00:57:39,363 --> 00:57:40,988 game over." 1084 00:57:46,530 --> 00:57:47,988 It's not. 1085 00:57:48,071 --> 00:57:49,947 We're just playing a new game now. 1086 00:57:50,029 --> 00:57:52,363 This is a new game. 1087 00:57:52,446 --> 00:57:55,530 ♪ ♪ 1088 00:59:02,988 --> 00:59:04,697 I still think that Q is just as dangerous, 1089 00:59:04,780 --> 00:59:06,446 if not more so, during this pandemic. 1090 00:59:07,279 --> 00:59:11,196 One of the main reasons that Jim likes 8chan is not financial. 1091 00:59:11,279 --> 00:59:12,279 It's power. 1092 00:59:12,613 --> 00:59:14,947 Q, to him, was like a prize pig. 1093 00:59:15,029 --> 00:59:16,488 ♪ 1094 00:59:16,571 --> 00:59:18,196 People conspiracy-theorize 1095 00:59:18,279 --> 00:59:19,919 about things that they think are powerful. 1096 00:59:20,905 --> 00:59:22,279 If the stuff doesn't come true, 1097 00:59:22,738 --> 00:59:24,547 someone else is gonna try and make it come true. 1098 00:59:24,571 --> 00:59:26,172 It's starting to affect levels of government, 1099 00:59:26,196 --> 00:59:27,863 and it's getting really terrifying. 1100 00:59:28,613 --> 00:59:31,154 If this shit is not somehow curtailed, 1101 00:59:31,947 --> 00:59:33,988 this is gonna be very violent. 1102 00:59:35,238 --> 00:59:36,321 It's gonna get, uh, crazy. 1103 00:59:36,738 --> 00:59:39,697 There's millions of people who are involved in this now. 1104 00:59:41,154 --> 00:59:42,655 You now have the ear of The President. 1105 00:59:42,905 --> 00:59:43,988 Hi, I'm gonna make a claim. 1106 00:59:44,071 --> 00:59:46,071 It's gonna shatter some institutions. 1107 00:59:46,446 --> 00:59:48,279 I think he's gonna get people killed. 1108 00:59:49,947 --> 00:59:51,780 ♪