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Kelly McEvers
And this is embedded from NPR. Conspiracy theories have been a thing in American politics for a while now. One study found that 35% of the country believes there is a single group of people who secretly rule the world. One thing that worries experts is right now, conspiracy theories are getting more sticky because people in power are legitimizing them. Politicians have been talking about QAnon saying the 2020 election was stolen, that Covid vaccines had microchips. These, of course, have all been thoroughly debunked. In the lead up to last year's election, though, a massive amount of misinformation was amplified on social media. Today we're bringing you a story about a family that's in crisis. In this time of misinformation, reporter Zach Mack thinks his father is being radicalized and his father thinks Zach's the one being brainwashed. Last year, they took a pretty unconventional approach to try to pull each other out of the spell that each of them thinks the other is under. That year long journey forced Zach to wonder if one family can exist in two realities. By the way, this is a different kind of series for us because their story is so personal. Zach's parents have asked us not to use their names, and you'll hear Zach refer to them simply as mom and dad. Before we get started, just a quick heads up. This episode contains explicit language. Okay, here's Zach.
Zach Mack
This all started about a year ago when my father called and left me this message.
Dad
Hey, Zach, dad, again, good conversation last night. Hey, I didn't remember to tell you this because I was kind of tired, but they're going to shut us down again, and it's going to be a worse shutdown than 2020 because of this EMP, all the supply lines are going to be disrupted. So you really want to store up two months worth of food and water because they probably won't be able to pump water throughout the city because that's all controlled by computers and electronics. And the EMP is going to shut down everything electronic. I know, I know it sounds like conspiracy theory, but they're going to do this. This is what they're planning. And I just want to have you be prepared. Okay?
Zach Mack
My dad's talking about something called an electromagnetic pulse, EMP for short, which if You've ever seen the movie Ocean's Eleven? It's what they use to pull off the casino heist.
Dad
What's a pinch?
Zach Mack
A pinch is a device which creates, like, a cardiac arrest for any broadband electrical circuitry, an electromagnetic pulse which shuts down any power source within its blast radius. My dad says he's certain that sometime soon technology like this will be used to wipe out all digital communication across the country. That's right. No cell service, no electricity, no George Clooney or Brad Pitt. Just the Dark Ages. I wouldn't describe my father as a paranoid person. I wouldn't even call him an anxious person. He's actually an optimist. He's very friendly and rarely serious. There's a lot of dad jokes, but dad and I have never been particularly close. Aside from watching Ohio State football games, there's not a lot we typically agree on. But lately, it feels like we can't even agree on reality. Like so many Americans, Dad's gotten swept up in conspiracy theories. He believes in chemtrails, that the government can control the weather. That January 6th was staged by what he calls the shadow government. Most of his theories connect back to an idea that a cabal he calls the globalists are secretly running the world these days. We can barely get through a family dinner without him saying something that fast tracks us into debate, usually while my mom and sister look the other way.
Dad
You're saying that I'm a conspiracy theorist?
Zach Mack
Yes.
Dad
And the facts that I'm citing are totally bogus. According to your opinion?
Zach Mack
Well, yes. One of the last times I was home, we got into it because dad was complaining about YouTube removing a lot of the stuff he wants to watch.
Dad
It's called denying us freedom of speech. No, it's called denying us freedom of speech.
Zach Mack
It's misinformation.
Dad
No. Who gets the right to label it misinformation?
Zach Mack
These circular arguments never go anywhere. Nothing's ever resolved. So how do you reason with someone who's gone deep down the rabbit hole? And can you? A year ago, I decided to confront my father and tell him I thought he was being radicalized online. But, as always, he didn't agree. But what he did next surprised me. Dad texted me a photo of a sheet of paper where, in his barely legible cursive, he had written out a list of 10 predictions, 10 things that he was positive would all take place sometime in 2024, assuring me that when all of these things happened, I would see once and for all that he was right at the bottom of the page was a challenge to a bet for $10,000. And let me just say, dad and I are not big gamblers, nor are we rich. 10k is easily more money than either of us has ever wagered in our entire lives. Looking over the list, it was filled with politically apocalyptic predictions, and I remember being some combination of perplexed, horrified and weirdly amused. The bet seemed really over the top, but I also saw it as an opportunity. Instead of just arguing until the end of time, we're actually going to settle this. And now we had a deadline, January 1, 2025, and hopefully that'd give me enough time to change his mind, bring him back to reality a little bit, that is, before his beliefs tear the family apart. From NPR's Embedded, I'm Zach Mak, and this is Alternate Realities.
Mom
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Dad
Can you hear me?
Zach Mack
Okay, I can hear you. Can you hear me? When dad first sent over his predictions, I quickly got him on the phone to discuss the terms. I could tell that both of us were excited to try something new. Do you have the list in front of you? Because you you.
Dad
Yeah.
Zach Mack
Can you walk me through the the 1 through 10 each one? I'll probably have a couple clarifying questions.
Dad
Yeah, absolutely.
Zach Mack
Keep in mind that this call and these predictions all came back in January 2024.
Dad
Number one Obama will be found guilty of treason in 2024.
Zach Mack
So, like, by a court.
Dad
Yes.
Zach Mack
Okay.
Sponsor Announcer
Not.
Zach Mack
Not the court of public opinion.
Dad
Correct.
Zach Mack
Okay.
Dad
And then number two, Biden will be found guilty of treason in 2024.
Zach Mack
Just treason for something specific.
Dad
For selling all those secrets that he had in the back of his Corvette.
Zach Mack
Okay, I don't know if that's a joke. I'm not sure.
Dad
It's partially a joke, but it's also real.
Zach Mack
Okay. Number three, it went on like this. Dad's other predictions were that Nancy Pelosi would also be convicted of treason. Same for Bill and Hillary Clinton, who would go down for murder as well. That Trump would be reinstated without an election and cleared of all charges that Biden would be removed from office. Same for both the governor and mayor of New York. Eventually, we landed on his final prediction for 2024, his boldest one. And then number 10.
Dad
Number 10. I threw this in because I thought you'd be excited about it.
Zach Mack
Yeah, it's an exciting one. It's probably the most exciting 1.
Dad
The US will come under martial law in 2024 because of mass rioting and chaos, so the military will have to step in.
Zach Mack
For the record, I was never actually excited about the possibility of this happening. For this one, do you think this will be happening all over the country? Only in certain parts.
Dad
The whole United States will come under martial law, and the biggest cities will be targeted. You know, New York, unfortunately. Washington, D.C. the Bay Area.
Zach Mack
Okay.
Dad
Chicago, L.A. houston, Dallas.
Zach Mack
You seem pretty confident about that.
Dad
I am 100% confident.
Zach Mack
Dad's always been sure of himself, but he'd never said anything like this before, and now he was predicting the future with certainty.
Dad
When all these things happen, then you will realize that I'm not as big a crackpot as you think I am and that these are not conspiracy theories. These are reality.
Zach Mack
When I was growing up in the Bay Area, dad was a lone Christian conservative in our family and social circle. My mother, on the other hand, is a fairly liberal Jewish woman, and my sister and I are generally on the same page as her. Dad's views have always been a point of tension, but for years they were easy to ignore because he usually kept pretty quiet about them. He barely ever mentioned politics, though. I always knew he was skeptical of vaccines and that he hated the Clintons. Eventually, his beliefs became more extreme, and around 2019, my dad, who has never been very tech savvy, got an iPad. And it wasn't long after that that he started saying weird things. One time when I was Home visiting. We got into it because he tried to tell me that the government was controlling Facebook from the very beginning and that Mark Zuckerberg was just a pawn. And when the pandemic hit, he started getting more outspoken, bristling at mask wearing and refusing to get vaccinated. Eventually, he came to believe that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump, who he didn't even vote for in 2016. I've tried talking him out of this stuff for years. Occasionally, I've even tried getting ahead on what I know is inevitably coming his way. How much do you know about QAnon?
Dad
Not a lot. In fact, I still chuckle about this when I mention it to other people. You actually turned me on to QAnon.
Zach Mack
I know this. I thought if I could warn you about a thing in advance, you would understand what it was and understand that it was bullshit.
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But.
Zach Mack
But Go on. That might have been a miscalculation on my part.
Dad
That was definitely a miscalculation on your part. But no, because I know, Zach, that you. You love me and you care about me and you want the best for me.
Zach Mack
Yeah, absolutely.
Dad
You were warning me from your perspective because you didn't want me to fall down that rabbit hole.
Zach Mack
Yeah.
Dad
So I totally respected your opinion and your belief. I simply didn't agree with it.
Zach Mack
While all this has been going on, there's been something else that's been causing a huge rift in the family. Two years ago, my sister Kira came out to my dad. My mom and I had known for years, but she was always afraid to tell dad because she thought he'd disapprove. It didn't go well. He said he'd always loved my sister, that she was always welcome in the house, but he thought her being gay was a choice. A choice that he ultimately didn't agree with. These past two years have not been easy for the family, especially Kira.
Mom
I think the hardest part is that he looked at me and told me that I was wrong about myself and that he was right. And I don't understand how he could know that.
Zach Mack
There's this lingering question of how our family is going to move forward when my sister doesn't feel supported. Then there's all the conspiracy stuff, which is especially hard for my mom.
Sister Kira
It's getting pretty crazy, and I don't even know half of it. You know, we have two generators in the house. He's stockpiling weird food because my dad.
Zach Mack
Thinks the grid is going to go down. He started hoarding survivalist supplies, and I guess he went on A little shopping spree one time while my mom was.
Sister Kira
Out of town when I came home from Chicago. There are now eight flats of water in the garage that he bought at Costco and some kind of fancy water filter system that was a couple hundred dollars. And he moved some money without my permission.
Zach Mack
How did he do that? He didn't need your sign off?
Sister Kira
No, because it's a joint account. And he withdrew from a joint account without telling me and made a purchase he knew I would never approve.
Zach Mack
What was it he bought?
Sister Kira
A precious metal.
Zach Mack
Dad's also worried the banks are going to collapse, so he wants to move big chunks of their money into things like platinum and silver. Mom was initially irritated by the bet because dad didn't run it by her. But eventually I could see her warming up to the idea of a deadline.
Sister Kira
I want a date. And then when that date happens, the precious metals gets returned to cash. The flat of water go back to Costco. You do something else with the food generators we now have, and you move on. I have been very clear that I'm not sure how much more I can take. And I've even said, you know, I'm considering leaving, ending the marriage.
Zach Mack
You said that to him?
Sister Kira
Yeah. Which is very hard for me to say because I'm 69. I'm about to retire. Not necessarily the life I had planned for myself, to be alone, but what kind of life do I have now?
Zach Mack
It was still early on, but it was already starting to feel like dad and I hadn't just made a friendly wager. Maybe we had just put our entire family on a collision course. One that could end with dad in financial trouble or estranged or both.
Sister Kira
The problem I'm having is I don't know where he's getting this information.
Zach Mack
I'd been wondering the same thing for a long time. Where the hell is he getting all this from? And how is he so sure?
Mom
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Zach Mack
After seeing Dad's predictions, I started retracing his steps. A bit curious about how he got here. He grew up in a deeply Christian household, but at some point in his younger years, he rebelled. And when my parents met in the 80s, neither of them were interested in religion. Sometime after I was born, that began to change. And as the years passed, Dad's faith deepened.
Dad
So every human being has five physical senses, right? Yeah. Sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.
Zach Mack
Yep.
Dad
And we tend to live in a physical world based upon all the perceptions we get from those five senses.
Zach Mack
Right.
Dad
It's kind of like the old saying is seeing is believing, but in the spiritual world it's just the opposite. And by that I mean you have to believe it first in order to see it manifest.
Zach Mack
During the pandemic, dad started believing in prophecy, which is the idea that God still speaks through intermediaries. When you're talking about how God speaks today and you believe it's through prophets, that is a divisive within Christianity. Right? That is a divisive thought.
Dad
Very divisive.
Zach Mack
Why do you believe it?
Dad
Because it's a God ordained process and he's always had prophets. And it makes sense that just like he had prophets in Old Testament times.
Zach Mack
Yeah.
Dad
He would continue with it. Why would he suddenly stop? I never quite understood why God would stop talking to his people.
Zach Mack
So iPad in hand, he went searching.
Dad
I was googling around trying to find someone who I thought was reputable, reliable and truly plugged into God. Because there's a lot of false prophets out there.
Sister Kira
I am the Great Revealer.
Zach Mack
Meet Julie Green, my father's preferred prophet. This is a prophetic word. I'm very excited to give this one. It's just the authoritative power of God coming through me. She's a blonde, middle aged pastor. A great fall is coming.
Sister Kira
A fall of a global cabal.
Zach Mack
She sits in an office chair in a drab looking room and rattles off a lot of prophecies.
Sister Kira
My children, 2024 will be a year like no other.
Zach Mack
She's part of a growing movement within Christianity that emphasizes spiritual warfare and politics. And God's saying this, don't put up with this anymore. Global globalism, the elites, global control. Dad told me he found her a couple years ago and watches her three to four times a week. Woe to you, enemies of Almighty God. Overthrow rogue God. Obama, the Clinton. Every stolen election will be overturned. I am stopping their ultimate terrorist attack. That would bring in martial law and complete shutdown of society as a whole. As you can probably tell, the majority of Dad's predictions, they came from Julie Greene.
Dad
I firmly believe that first and foremost, that God did lead me to Julie Greenery.
Zach Mack
When I spoke to dad about all this, it was clear that his predictions all stem from his religious beliefs, which I've always found somewhat confusing. Because to look at his list, none of these ideas seem to have anything to do with God at all. Do you want these things to happen or do you just feel confident that they are going to happen?
Dad
Well, I mean, because this is like a pretty.
Zach Mack
This is pretty huge shakeup.
Dad
Yeah.
Zach Mack
I would say our country hasn't seen anything like this since the Civil War, probably.
Dad
Well, not even in the Civil War. This is going to be the biggest shakeup to ever hit the United States of America and the world at large. So, yeah, I mean, I'm a fan of all this stuff happening except for the blackout and the martial law.
Zach Mack
Are you at all afraid about what would happen if all the predictions come true?
Dad
To be honest with you, I'm most concerned about your safety because you live in New York City.
Zach Mack
Okay.
Dad
And I think. I think New York City is going to be hit very hard and I think the terrorists are going to wreak havoc on New York City. I'm very concerned about your safety and welfare because I firmly believe that roughly 5% of the illegal immigrants coming across the borders are being brought in as terrorists and they're being shipped to every major city in the US to create chaos and havoc and they're going to terrorize our nation.
Zach Mack
Okay. Just to be clear, there is no evidence to support these claims. And frankly, it's pretty hard to hear him spew these xenophobic ideas. When you say all this kind of stuff to me, it sounds not so. Right. It sounds. It sounds nuts.
Dad
Yeah, I totally get it.
Zach Mack
I guess, like, what we probably can agree on is that this is not the publicly held belief. This is not like the sort of agreed upon truth amongst most people. Right. Would you agree on that?
Dad
Yeah. Correct.
Zach Mack
So in that, you know, it seems like the people that are in your life just don't buy into this. I'm wondering, how do you know that you're right? Why are we all wrong?
Dad
I don't like to look at it in those terms. That's. I think that's overly judgmental to come from the position I'm right and you're wrong. Although a lot of people would view it that way. I prefer to look at it from the perspective of I have access to more information, so I can see the bigger picture more clearly than other people can.
Zach Mack
Okay.
Dad
It's kind of like the President of the US Right? He has access to a ton of information that you and I don't. He can see the big picture because he has more information. He has more resources.
Zach Mack
Why do you believe that you have more resources?
Dad
Because I believe God has gifted me with wisdom and discernment to discern between fact and fiction and read between the lines.
Zach Mack
My dad's belief in prophecy means that he thinks he can see the world as it really is, whereas nonbelievers like me cannot. But here's what drives me nuts. My father can barely navigate the Internet. He can't even figure out how to access his own email from his laptop. So when he talks about having access to more information, it sounds less like wisdom from God and more like delusion. Looking back over his list about treason and martial law, I'm still surprised that this is what he wants to put his money on. What happens if you're wrong?
Dad
Just what I said. I will pay you $1,000 for each one of these 10 things that are wrong.
Zach Mack
But, I mean, I think the way you've laid it out here, there'll be a pretty clear case of, like, who's right and who's wrong.
Dad
Yeah. Yeah. I think it will be very black and white. And if you are wrong, then you're $10,000 richer.
Zach Mack
Yeah, but look, I'm not. This isn't just about the money. Right. I would like to make some positive strides for our family.
Dad
Well, I think that once you see that I haven't been duped by AI and social media and the algorithms, I think you will gain a lot more respect for who I am and how I think and how I've come to believe.
Zach Mack
I do think for both of us, this is about respect. We each feel dismissed by the other, and we're fighting to be heard. And I'm not gonna lie, it's also about winning. Because at the end of the day, these predictions will either happen or they won't.
Dad
Right. But when. When they do happen, you're gonna go, wow, that's amazing. How did he know that?
Zach Mack
100%. If and when they do happen, I will definitely say, wow, that is amazing.
Dad
The other thing I want to have you say after each one of these is that, wow, dad, you were right and I was wrong.
Zach Mack
Same goes for you then.
Dad
Okay, Absolutely.
Zach Mack
All right, deal. Happy to do it. So this bet, it was always about the opportunity it presented. A chance to shift my father's perspective. I picture his beliefs like a giant cruise ship, and I'm just trying to nudge its trajectory a couple of millimeters, knowing that with enough time, even that slight adjustment will land the ship at a completely different destination. But when you're charting off course, it's hard to tell where you'll end up. And that's especially hard for the family.
Mom
So, like, let's say these things don't come true and he's willing to say, like, I was wrong about these things. I don't feel like that would affect his beliefs around, like, me. Like, even if he's right about everything else, I'm probably still gonna be gay after that.
Sister Kira
I need an endpoint. And so the end point is December 31st, and that when January 1st comes around, things have to change.
Zach Mack
If you're wrong, what. What happens to you? What happens to your. Your beliefs?
Dad
What happens to me? That's a good question, because I haven't even entertained that idea because I feel 100% confident this is going to happen. So I can't really answer that question. You'll have to interview me at the.
Zach Mack
End of the year as we go. At the end of the year. Okay.
Dad
Yeah.
Zach Mack
Okay. I think that's all I have.
Dad
Okay. All right, fair enough.
Zach Mack
All right, I love you. I gotta run.
Dad
All right, love you too. Good. Good conversation, good chatting.
Zach Mack
All right, five. Coming up on Alternate Realities, I try to figure out how my dad got here, see things from his side.
Dad
Zach, I could never talk to you about this again, have great times with you, great conversations, and pretend I didn't believe any of this anymore.
Zach Mack
So just suppressing it, that's what I.
Dad
Feel pressured to do when I have these kind of conversations with you.
Zach Mack
This is Alternate Realities, episode one of three. And heads up, the next two episodes are available right now. Thank you for listening.
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Summary of "Alternate Realities: A Strange Bet" – Embedded by NPR
Release Date: February 21, 2025
Introduction
In the compelling episode titled "Alternate Realities: A Strange Bet," NPR's Embedded delves into the intricate dynamics of a family torn apart by the rising tide of conspiracy theories. Host Zach Mack narrates his personal journey, highlighting the profound impact of misinformation and radicalization within his own household. This episode meticulously examines the clash of beliefs between Zach and his father, culminating in an unconventional $10,000 bet aimed at reconciling their divergent realities.
The Onset of Conspiracy Theories in the Family
The story begins with Zach recounting the moment his father’s beliefs began to shift dramatically. Approximately a year prior, Zach received a concerning message from his father discussing an impending electromagnetic pulse (EMP) event:
Dad [01:58]: "They're going to shut us down again, and it's going to be a worse shutdown than 2020 because of this EMP... No cell service, no electricity... Just the Dark Ages."
Initially characterized by skepticism, Zach observes how his father, once an optimistic and jovial individual, became entrenched in various conspiracy theories. These ranged from beliefs in chemtrails and government weather control to the notion that the 2020 election was stolen.
The Unconventional Bet
In an effort to confront and possibly mitigate his father's radicalization, Zach initiates a confrontational dialogue. This tension reaches a pivotal point when his father presents him with a list of ten apocalyptic predictions for 2024, accompanied by a bold challenge:
Dad [02:59]: [Explains EMP and its effects]
Dad [08:12]: "Number one Obama will be found guilty of treason in 2024."
Zach Mack [24:56]: "But, I mean, I think the way you've laid it out here, there'll be a pretty clear case of, like, who's right and who's wrong."
Recognizing the strain their disagreements were causing, Zach proposes a wager: if his father’s predictions come true, he owes Zach $10,000. Conversely, if they do not, his father must acknowledge Zach’s perspective. This bet serves as both a challenge and a potential bridge for reconciliation.
Impact on Family Relationships
The fallout from this bet extends beyond Zach and his father, deeply affecting the entire family. Zach’s sister, Kira, who recently came out as gay, finds herself in an increasingly tense environment. Her father's rigid beliefs have strained their relationship:
Sister Kira [13:14]: "I need an endpoint. And so the end point is December 31st, and that when January 1st comes around, things have to change."
This familial tension is further exacerbated by financial decisions made by their father, such as hoarding survivalist supplies and investing in precious metals without the family's consent. Kira contemplates drastic measures, including ending her marriage, highlighting the profound personal costs of the family's divided realities.
Exploring the Father's Beliefs and Influences
Zach seeks to understand the roots of his father’s radicalization by tracing his emotional and ideological journey. His father’s turn towards extreme beliefs coincides with his deepening religious convictions, specifically the belief in modern-day prophecy. This shift is influenced by figures like Julie Greenery, a self-proclaimed prophet who intertwines spiritual warfare with political conspiracies:
Zach Mack [19:10]: "Dad told me he found her a couple years ago and watches her three to four times a week."
Julie Greenery’s proclamations fuel his father’s apocalyptic worldview, leading to a deterministic belief in the inevitable fulfillment of these dire predictions.
The Role of Religion and Prophecy
Religion plays a pivotal role in solidifying Zach’s father’s convictions. He interprets his prophetic experiences as divine guidance, believing that his enhanced discernment sets him apart from others:
Dad [24:10]: "Because I believe God has gifted me with wisdom and discernment to discern between fact and fiction and read between the lines."
This belief system reinforces his rejection of mainstream narratives and fosters a sense of mission to unveil the supposed hidden truths controlling society.
The Challenge and Its Implications
As the end of 2024 approaches, the bet casts a long shadow over the family's future. Zach reflects on the precarious balance between seeking truth and preserving familial bonds:
Zach Mack [26:08]: "I do think for both of us, this is about respect. We each feel dismissed by the other, and we're fighting to be heard."
Both Zach and his father recognize that the outcome of the bet could irreversibly alter their relationship. Zach hopes that the defined endpoint will provide clarity and possibly restore harmony, while his father remains steadfast in his beliefs, convinced of their impending validation.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
"Alternate Realities: A Strange Bet" poignantly captures the fragility of family relationships in the face of ideological extremism. As Zach navigates the complexities of his father’s convictions, the episode underscores the pervasive influence of misinformation and the challenges of bridging vastly different worldviews. Looking ahead, the family stands at a crossroads, with the bet serving as both a test of beliefs and a last-ditch effort to mend fractured ties.
This episode sets the stage for the subsequent installments, promising a deeper exploration of the family's struggle and the broader societal implications of entrenched conspiracy theories.
Notable Quotes from the Episode
Dad [01:58]: "They're going to shut us down again, and it's going to be a worse shutdown than 2020 because of this EMP... No cell service, no electricity... Just the Dark Ages."
Dad [08:12]: "Number one Obama will be found guilty of treason in 2024."
Sister Kira [13:14]: "I need an endpoint. And so the end point is December 31st, and that when January 1st comes around, things have to change."
Zach Mack [26:08]: "I do think for both of us, this is about respect. We each feel dismissed by the other, and we're fighting to be heard."
Dad [24:10]: "Because I believe God has gifted me with wisdom and discernment to discern between fact and fiction and read between the lines."
This detailed account of Zach Mack's familial struggles offers listeners an intimate look into the human cost of conspiracy theories and the enduring quest for understanding and connection amidst divergent realities.