QAnon, Militias, and White Supremacy: The Ideologies Behind NY & NJ Arrestees in Capitol Riot

Two weeks after armed insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol, a picture is emerging about the extremist ideologies that motivated the attackers charged with federal crimes, including nearly two dozen from New York and New Jersey. 

While this may be a blue part of the country, the indictments show that the cornucopia of the far-right is present here. They are MAGA in miniature -- a coalition of adherents of a variety of extremist ideologies, often radicalized online, and always aligned in support of former President Trump. They don’t fit any caricature of the far-right: Those arrested included city employees and an art student; people of varying incomes, religions, and neighborhoods.

While FBI charging documents and social media histories give a sense of their views, there are no hard lines separating the accused. Adherents of the QAnon conspiracy mix with anti-Semitic white nationalists on far-right social media platforms, allowing for a cross-pollinating of extremist ideas. 

WNYC's Matt Katz and Gothamist's Jake Offenhartz discuss their findings with All Things Considered host Sean Carlson.

For more go to Gothamist.com.