Pizzagate

{{gold}}[[File:I Want to Believe Pizza.png|thumb|right|165px|If the [[Moon landing hoax|moon landings were fake]] and [[Extraterrestrial|aliens]] are real, why would John Podesta eat so much pizza?]][[File:Comet Ping Pong outside.jpg|thumb|right|165px|{{wpl|Comet Ping Pong}}]]{{conspiracy}}
{{hatnote|Not to be confused with the {{wpl|Battle_of_the_Buffet#"Pizzagate"|Battle of the Buffet}} in British football.}}

'''Pizzagate''' is the ([[Poe's law|admittedly rather silly and unoriginal]]) name of an actual [[conspiracy theory]] claiming that [[Hillary Clinton]] is secretly involved in a [[pedophile]] ring centered around a pizza restaurant in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>[http://archive.is/K7eci Wikileaks Bombshell Reveals Clinton Email "Where They Are Literally Pricing How Much It Costs to Transport Children."] (November 6, 2016) ''Resurgence Media Network'' (archived copy from 23 Nov 2016 06:04:10 UTC).</ref> This outlandish theory was spawned from [[John Hogue|a highly peculiar pattern-analytical reading]] of the hacked emails leaked by [[Wikileaks]] belonging to {{wpl|John Podesta||,}} then-manager of [[2016 U.S. presidential election|Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign]], as the highly suspect code phrase "[[cheese]] pizza" figured among said correspondence.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-38156985 The Saga of 'Pizzagate': The fake story that shows how conspiracy theories spread] (2 December 2016) ''BBC News''.</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/pizzagate-shows-how-fake-news-hurts-real-people/2016/11/25/d9ee0590-b0f9-11e6-840f-e3ebab6bcdd3_story.html Pizzagate shows how fake news hurts real people] (November 25, 2016) ''Washington Post''.</ref> The fact that the mention of cheese pizza was much more interesting to [[Crank|some people]] than the {{wpl|Podesta_emails|actual emails of any possible importance whatsoever}} says ''something'' about the [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy]] crowd.{{efn|Forget the rest, the man mentioned pizza! Quick, to the [[kookmobile]]!}}

The Pizzagate theory was initially promoted and popularized on the notorious [[Poe's law|Poe-nest]] [[4chan]] and on [[Reddit]]. It spread quickly over various [[fake news]] websites, as well as [[social media]] platforms such as [[Facebook]] and [[Twitter]], and culminated in an [[Gun nut|armed man]], arguably acting on the suggestion of one [[Alex Jones]],<ref name="JONES2">[http://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2016/12/16/alex-jones-deletes-video-which-he-had-told-his-audience-personally-investigate-pizzagate-restaurant/214846 Alex Jones Deletes Video In Which He Had Told His Audience To Personally "Investigate" "Pizzagate" Restaurant. Deletion Came After Listener Seeking To "Self-Investigate" Comet Ping Ping Fired Shots Inside] by Eric Hananoki (December 16, 2016 2:51 PM EST) ''Media Matters''.</ref> entering the 
lion's den
 pizza parlor in question, rifle in hand, to "self-investigate"{{efn|Wait a minute, does that mean he was there to investigate ''himself''?}} the claims in December 2016. Luckily, no one was injured. 

==Origin and spread==
[[File:Conspiracy theorist (48555437426).jpg|thumb|right|300px|
Dumbshit
 Trump supporter holding a Pizzagate sign with [[triple parentheses]] around [[Epstein]], an antisemitic [[dogwhistle]].]]

The foundations of Pizzagate were laid by 4chan [[troll]]s scouring Clinton-related emails released by [[Wikileaks]], looking for dirt.{{efn|Keeping in mind that [[Confirmation bias|"looking" often means "finding"]].}} They found a series of emails which mentioned the pizza parlor {{wpl|Comet Ping Pong}} in Washington, D.C.,{{efn|Like your typical D.C. pizza restaurant, but with 
[[WAKE UP|NWO sacrificial altars]]
 ping pong tables.}} having seen occasional use as a venue for [[Democratic Party|DNC]] fundraising events.<ref>[https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/?q=comet&mfrom=&mto=&title=&notitle=&date_from=&date_to=&nofrom=&noto=&count=50&sort=2#searchresult The Podesta Emails] ''Wikileaks''</ref> Because [[Improbable things happen|life is random]], the phrase "cheese pizza" happened to be an inside joke referring to child pornography on 4chan.{{efn|Because '''C'''heese '''P'''izza, get it?}}<ref>[https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cheese+pizza cheese pizza] ''Urban Dictionary''.</ref><ref>[http://www.cracked.com/article_24597_why-pizzagate-stupidest-conspiracy-theory-ever.html Everything You Need To Know About Pizzagate (Is Insane)] (February 07, 2017) ''Cracked''.</ref> Thus, users started to fabricate a conspiracy theory around the mention of this generic food item in the Podesta emails, soon speculating up a storm. Based on this diligent research, they quickly concluded that Podesta, Clinton [[Vague|and others]] were all part of a clandestine pedophile ring operating out of the innocent-looking pizza parlor.<ref name="vox">[http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/12/5/13842258/pizzagate-comet-ping-pong-fake-news Pizzagate, the fake news conspiracy theory that led a gunman to DC's Comet Ping Pong, explained: How Pizzagate went from the musings of 4chan trolls to the cause for a gunman at Comet Ping Pong] by German Lopez (Dec 8, 2016, 11:15am EST) ''Vox''.</ref> The conspira-trollery eventually flooded [[Reddit]], where, on /r/The_Donald/, redditor "DumbScribblyUnctious" collected all the dubious conspiracy theories into [[Gish Gallop|one giant screed]] titled "Comet Ping Pong — Pizzagate Summary".<ref name="comet_ping_pong_pizzagate_summary">[https://web.archive.org/web/20161114013840/https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/comments/5b1qtf/comet_ping_pong_pizzagate_summary/ Comet Ping Pong — Pizzagate Summary] ''Reddit'' (archived from 14 Nov 2016).</ref>

For the simple reason that this [[Poe's law|inherently borders on actual absurdist comedy]], the popularity of the Pizzagate [[manufactroversy]] grew quickly, with theories about the supposed conspiracy quickly [[Adding epicycles|growing ridiculously complex and lengthy]].<ref name="vox" /> Professional insanity dispenser [[Alex Jones]] fanned the flames by adding his own conspiratorial twist, posting an [[InfoWars]] bulletin titled ''[[Argument from ignorance|Pizzagate Is Real: Something Is Going On, But What?]]'',<ref name="JONES">[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/12/13/1610677/-Open-thread-for-night-owls-Alex-Jones-scrubs-pizzagate-content-cited-by-lunatic-gunman Open thread for night owls: Alex Jones scrubs 'pizzagate' content cited by lunatic gunman] by Hunter (Dec 13, 2016 · 8:00 PM PST) ''Daily Kos''.</ref> where he told viewers that "[[Do your own research|you have to go investigate it for yourself]]",<ref name="JONES2"/> neglecting to factor in that [[Crank|his viewers]] might actually be impressionable enough to {{sl|A gunman|take his suggestions to heart}}.

As Pizzagate blew up on the internet, the hashtag #pizzagate began trending on [[Twitter]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/hashtag/pizzagate #pizzagate on Twitter] Twitter</ref> Comet Ping Pong suddenly gained a massive amount of followers on Instagram, along with numerous death threats.{{efn|Since if [[Alex Jones|someone]] said something on the internet, it must be true, ''right?''}} The conspiracy theory was actively spread on Twitter by a number of [[Donald Trump|Trump]] supporters, a mob apparently still consumed by Trump's ([[Irony|later completely abandoned]]) "crooked Hillary" narrative, desperate for any scraps of manufactroversy that could realize their wet dream — to "[[Scapegoat|lock her up]]".<ref name="vox"/>{{efn|Because [[Credulity|any negative story about crooked Hillary ''must'' be true, no matter how outlandish!]]}}

===Meanwhile in Turkey...===
[[Turkish]] media outlets loyal to 
sultan
 president [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] responsibly decided to publish articles promoting the Pizzagate conspiracy theory.<ref>[http://www.dailydot.com/layer8/pizzagate-alt-right-turkey-trolls-child-abuse/ How the alt-right's PizzaGate conspiracy hid real scandal in Turkey] by Efe Kerem Sozeri (Nov 23 at 4:47PM) ''The Daily Dot''.</ref> Aside from the goal of generally stirring anti-American sentiment in Turkey, the stories were likely meant to deflect from a sexual abuse scandal implicating a [[Charity|charitable]] foundation with ties to Erdoğan's ruling party, and to distract from crackdowns on dissent after the [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan#2016 military coup attempt|attempted coup of July 2016]].

===A gunman===
[[File:US v Welch Affidavit in Support of Criminal Complaint.pdf|thumb|right|175px|''United States v. Welch'' criminal complaint.]]
{{cquote|Help me [armed redneck listener]. You're my only hope.|||[[Fun:Star Wars|
Princess Leia
]] [[Alex Jones]], making a wish to the [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/JackassGenie Jackass Genie]}}

As Pizzagate propagated across social media through various fake news outlets, with [[Infowars|strategic command in charge of Hillary-bashing operations]] taking the hysteria to a new level, many people, lacking the apparent ability to tell fact from fiction, took the whole production for a ''real'' news story. One such misguided individual {{---}} 28-year-old Edgar Maddison Welch {{lived||2025}}<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2025/01/10/g-s1-42040/pizzagate-gunman-killed-police-north-carolina 'Pizzagate' gunman killed by police in North Carolina, authorities say] (January 10, 20252:13 AM ET) ''Associated Press'' via ''NPR''.</ref> from Salisbury, [[North Carolina]] {{---}} decided to respond to Alex Jones' impassioned pleas for 
General Kenobi
 ''someone'' to take matters into their own hands and "[[Mass shooting|personally investigate]]".<ref name="JONES2"/>

Like a modern-day fake news-fueled {{wpl|Travis Bickle||,}} Welch ominously stepped inside Comet Ping Pong on December 4, 2016 at around 3 p.m., when the parlor was packed with customers.<ref name="Heavy">[http://heavy.com/news/2016/12/edgar-maddison-welch-comet-pizza-pizzagate-washington-dc-gunman-suspect-photos-pictures-facebook-conspiracy-north-carolina/ Edgar Maddison Welch: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know] by Tom Cleary (Dec 4, 2016 at 9:49pm) ''Heavy.com''.</ref> And Welch hadn't come alone, either (making his entrance brandishing a loaded rifle), supposedly on a mission to "self-investigate" the Pizzagate conspiracy.{{efn|This about marks the definite point in the story where '''extreme concern''' is warranted.}} Understandably, employees and diners alike made like a tree and left the scene. In a sense, Welch had successfully managed to drain ''that'' particular [[NWO]] swamp. According to his own post-arrest words, Welch "fired off some rounds". Thankfully (though oddly, perhaps battling some kind of [[Poltergeist|Pizzergeist]]?), he only fired his gun once he was alone in the parlor.<ref name="Heavy"/> Soon after, he was promptly arrested after surrendering to police.<ref>[https://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/heres-what-we-know-about-the-pizzagate-gunman?utm_term=.bbNxNr2BQ#.qkdw52Arj Here's What We Know About The Alleged "Pizzagate" Gunman: Edgar Maddison Welch was arrested after police said he came to investigate a ludicrous conspiracy theory that a popular restaurant secretly provides underage prostitutes to top Democrats] (Originally posted on Dec. 5, 2016 at 7:06 a.m. Updated on Dec. 5, 2016 at 2:22 p.m.) ''Buzzfeed''.</ref><ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2016/12/05/media/fake-news-real-violence-pizzagate/index.html Fake news, real violence: 'Pizzagate' and the consequences of an Internet echo chamber] by Brian Stelter (December 6, 2016: 9:30 AM ET) ''CNN Money''.</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/05/gunman-detained-at-comet-pizza-restaurant-was-self-investigating-fake-news-reports Washington gunman motivated by fake news 'Pizzagate' conspiracy: Washington restaurant Comet Ping Pong was target of fake news reports it was operating a child abuse ring led by Hillary Clinton and an aide] (Monday 5 December 2016 07.51 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref><ref>[http://archive.is/3NYR3 A man just walked into the Comet restaurant in DC with a rifle. No shots heard. I'm ok, hiding in the red fox coffeeshop next door.] by Kent Hoshiko (12:11 PM - 4 Dec 2016) ''Twitter'' (archived from 7 Dec 2016 08:36:36 UTC).</ref> Welch later stated that:<ref name="NYT">[https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/07/us/edgar-welch-comet-pizza-fake-news.html The Comet Ping Pong Gunman Answers Our Reporter’s Question] by Adam Goldman (Dec. 7, 2016) ''New York Times''.</ref>

{{cquote|I just wanted to do some good and went about it the wrong way. I regret how I handled the situation.}}

While Welch first ''heard'' of the Pizzagate conspiracy through word of mouth, he confirmed it was the barrage of nonsense on the internet that led him to believe his actions were warranted.<ref name="NYT"/>{{efn|If only fake news peddlers had a damn conscience.}}

After the shooting, Alex Jones later apologized:<ref>Alex Jones, {{a|https://donotlink.it/https://www.infowars.com/a-note-to-our-listening-viewing-and-reading-audiences-concerning-pizzagate-coverage/|A Note to Our Listening, Viewing and Reading Audiences Concerning Pizzagate Coverage}} ''Infowars,'' 24 March 2017.</ref><ref>Tom O'Connor, [http://www.newsweek.com/alex-jones-apologize-pizzagate-fake-news-574025 Alex Jones Apologizes for 'Pizzagate' Fake News.] ''Newsweek'', 24 March 2017.</ref>

{{quotebox|
I want our viewers and listeners to know that we regret any negative impact our commentaries may have had on Mr. Alefantis, Comet Ping Pong, or its employees. We apologize to the extent our commentaries could be construed as negative statements about Mr. Alefantis or Comet Ping Pong, and we hope that anyone else involved in commenting on Pizzagate will do the same thing.
}}

At some point, the InfoWars apology was deleted from the web site.<ref group=note>One might say Alex Jones ''welched'' on the apology that likely kept him from facing the music on this one (see what we did there?)</ref> Taking and bearing responsibility is too much effort.

Some Pizzagate believers condemned Welch on Facebook, accusing him of being a [[crisis actor]] involved in a [[false flag]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/02/16/pizzagate-qanon-capitol-attack/ Pizzagate’s violent legacy: The gunman who terrorized a D.C. pizzeria is out of prison. The QAnon conspiracy theories he helped unleash are out of control.] by Michael E. Miller (February 16, 2021) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> However, if one starts from the premise that Pizzagate is true, one could conclude that Welch acted rationally;<ref name=stanley>''How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them'' by Jason Stanley (2018) Random House. ISBN 9780525511830.</ref>{{rp|61}} this is basically what Welch had confessed.<ref name="NYT"/> The conclusion from this is that Pizzagate, like many conspiracy theories, is not meant to be believed but to function as a [[smear campaign]].<ref name=stanley/>{{rp|61}}

In May 2019, an [[FBI]] memo from the Phoenix Field Office designated several political conspiracy theories ([[QAnon]], Pizzagate, [[HAARP]], [[New World Order]], [[Sandy Hook massacre]]) as domestic threats with the potential to incite violence.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/fbi-documents-conspiracy-theories-terrorism-160000507.html FBI document warns conspiracy theories are a new domestic terrorism threat] by Jana Winter (August 1, 2019) ''Yahoo News''.</ref><ref name=fbi>[https://www.scribd.com/document/420379775/FBI-Conspiracy-Theory-Redacted (U//LES) Anti-Government, Identity Based, and Fringe Political Conspiracy Theories Very Likely Motivate Some Domestic Extremists to Commit Crminal, Sometimes Violent Activity] (30 May 2019) ''FBI Phoenix Field Office'' via ''Scribd''.</ref> As evidence, the FBI cited arrests for criminal activities associated with the theories.<ref name=fbi/>

On January 4, 2025 Welch was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over for an outstanding arrest warrant on the driver. When officers realized Welch also had an outstanding warrant for a parole violation they attempted to remove him from the vehicle and arrest him. Welch pulled out a handgun, pointed it at an officer, and it was demanded he drop the weapon. When he refused two of the officers opened fire. Welch died in the hospital two days later.<ref>{{cite web | last=Strillacci | first=Elisabeth | title="Pizzagate" gunman killed by Kannapolis police after he pulls gun on officer | website=Salisbury Post | date=2025-01-09 | url=https://www.salisburypost.com/2025/01/09/pizzagate-gunman-killed-by-kannapolis-police-after-he-pulls-gun-on-officer/ | access-date=2025-01-16}}</ref>

===Team Trump responds===
As it happens, even Michael G. Flynn, son of Trump confidante and retired lieutenant general Michael T. Flynn, promoted the conspiracy theory, tweeting on December 6:<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/06/us/politics/michael-flynn-son-trump.html?_r=0 Trump Fires Adviser’s Son From Transition for Spreading Fake News] by Matthew Rosenberg, et al. (Dec. 6, 2016) ''New York Times''.</ref>

{{cquote|[[Burden of proof#Shifting the burden|Until #Pizzagate proven to be false, it'll remain a story]]. The left seems to forget [[WikiLeaks|#PodestaEmails]] and [[WAKE UP|the many 'coincidences' tied to it]].}}

His comments attracted national attention and even resulted in him [[Stopped clock|being fired from Trump's transition team]]. Even after his sacking, Flynn shared several tweets by [[Gamergater]] and lawyer [[Mike Cernovich]], showing continued support for the conspiracy theory and tacitly implying that he believed the gunman incident might have been a [[false flag]] operation.

==="Reputable" sources===
[[File:PiZZa2.jpg|thumb|right|165px|[[Time cube|THE MATH CHECKS OUT!!]]]]
{{main|Fake news}}

*[[Alex Jones]]: "PIZZAGATE IS A DIVERSION FROM THE GREATER CRIMES IN PODESTA WIKILEAKS"<ref>{{a|https://donotlink.it/http://www.infowars.com/pizzagate-is-a-diversion-from-the-greater-crimes-in-podesta-wikileaks/|Pizzagate Is A Diversion From the Greater Crimes in Podesta Wikileaks: Why not cover the hundreds of other dastardly deeds in the emails?}} by Alex Jones (December 5, 2016) ''Infowars''.</ref> (Well, yes it is, since [[Irony|he's the one who made it an issue]] in the first damn place.)
*[[The Daily Stormer]] ([[neo-Nazi]]) headline: "Massive Cover-Up of Pizzagate Child Sex Ring Allegations"<ref>{{a|https://donotlink.it/http://www.dailystormer.com/massive-cover-up-of-pizzagate-child-sex-ring-allegations/|Massive Cover-Up of Pizzagate Child Sex Ring Allegations}} by Ben Richards (November 27, 2016) ''Daily Stormer''.</ref>
*[[The Right Stuff]] (neo-Nazi) opening paragraph: "Make yourself aware of the information, use it to prepare memes and to make the lives of Leftists miserable. Do not run headlong into [[Illuminati]] conspiracy, that has been a failing tactic in the past, so we must exercise extreme caution around this topic."<ref>[http://archive.is/qUd8Z #PizzaGate] by Butch Leghorn (Nov 27, 2016) ''The Right Stuff'' (archived from 17 Mar 2017 00:09:57 UTC).</ref>
*[[What Does It Mean]] (conspiracist) headline: "Assassination Of [[Finnish]] Reporters Investigating Bizarre 'Pizzagate' Plot Puzzles Russia"<ref>{{a|https://donotlink.it/http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index2180.htm|Assassination Of Finnish Reporters Investigating Bizarre "Pizzagate" Plot Puzzles Russia}} by "[[Sorcha Faal]]" (December 5, 2016) ''What Does It Mean''.</ref>
*[[Smoloko News]] (anti-Semitic) headline: DHS Insider: CIA AND MOSSAD BEHIND DC PEDO RING<ref>[https://donotlink.it/http://smoloko.com/?p=15548 DHS INSIDER: CIA AND MOSSAD BEHIND DC PEDO RING] (February 23, 2017) ''smoloko.com''</ref>
*[[YourNewsWire]] ([[clickbait]]) headline: "Pizzagate: [[BBC]] Cover Up Another Huge Pedophile Scandal"<ref>{{a|https://donotlink.it/http://yournewswire.com/pizzagate-bbc-cover-up-pedophile-scandal/|Pizzagate: BBC Cover Up Another Huge Pedophile Scandal}} by "Baxter Dmitry" (December 3, 2016) ''YourNewWire''.</ref>
*The New Nationalist (neo-Nazi) headline: "Will General Flynn Bust the DC Pizzagate Pedophile Ring?"<ref>{{a|https://donotlink.it/http://www.newnationalist.net/2016/11/21/will-general-flynn-bust-the-dc-pizzagate-pediphile-ring/|NewNationalist {{---}} Will General Flynn Bust the DC Pizzagate Pedophile Ring? }} by Thomas Müller (November 21, 2016) ''The New Nationalist''.</ref>
*We Occupy Earth, (conspiracist) headline: "BREAKING !!! Julian ASSANGE Dead man SWITCH goes off after Exposing Hillary CLINTON !"<ref>{{a|https://donotlink.it/https://weoccupyearth.wordpress.com/2016/11/21/hillary-clinton-pizzagate-child-trafficking-pedophilia-scandal/|WeOccupyEarth {{---}} Hillary Clinton PizzaGate Child Trafficking Pedophilia Scandal}} by Daniel J Towsey (November 21, 2016) ''We Occupy Earth''.</ref>
*WebLine News ([[clickbait]]) headline: "Triggered Reddit CEO Shuts Pizzagate Community Then Alters User Comments"<ref>[https://donotlink.it/http://archive.is/L046N Triggered Reddit CEO Shuts Pizzagate Community then Alters User Comments] (November 24, 2016) ''WebLine News'' (archived from 8 Dec 2016 22:57:47 UTC).</ref>
*[[Before It's News]] (All of the above) headline: "'Pizzagate': How 4Chan Uncovered the Sick World of Washington’s Occult Elite"<ref>{{a|https://donotlink.it/http://beforeitsnews.com/eu/2016/11/pizzagate-how-4chan-uncovered-the-sick-world-of-washingtons-occult-elite-2615694.html|"Pizzagate": How 4Chan Uncovered the Sick World of Washington’s Occult Elite}} (November 21, 2016 8:48) ''Before It's News''.</ref>

When the unified neo-Nazi/[[Tinfoil hat|tinfoil]]/clickbait front is on your side, you know you're doing it [[alt-right|right]].

==(Mis)infographics==
Several images circulating on Twitter claim to reveal the "[[truthiness|truth]]" about Pizzagate. These collages are indistinguishable from displays of batshit insanity, commonly known as "crazy walls" or "serial killer walls".<ref>[https://crazywalls.tumblr.com/ Crazywalls] (October 25, 2017) ''Tumblr''.</ref> [[Haig's Law]] may be useful here.

===Infographic #1===
[[File:Pizzagate_infographic1.jpg|thumb|center|Taste the crazy: typical Pizzagate infographic.|700px]]

The first infographic we look at eases us into the crazy world of a nutjob. It delves into several emails from the Clinton email leak:<ref>[https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/32795 Email ID #32795] Wikileaks</ref><ref>[https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/30613 Email ID #30613] Wikileaks</ref>

{{sbs|title=1|Original (mis)infographic|Analysis}}
{{sbs
|1={{quotebox|
Hi John,

The realtor found a handkerchief (I think it has a map that seems pizza-related. Is it yorus{{sic}}? They can send it if you want. I know you're busy, so feel free not to respond if it's not yours or you don't want it.

Susaner
}}
|2=The author finds this email strange. It sounds like a handkerchief with a map of popular pizza joints printed on it. Certainly not evidence of a crime. 
}}

{{sbs
|1={{quotebox|
Mary and John

I think you should give notice when changing strategies which have been long in place. I immediately realized something was different by the shape of the box and I contemplated who would be sending me something in the square shaped box. Lo and behold, instead of pasta and wonderful sauces, it was a lovely, tempting assortment of cheeses, Yummy. I am awaiting the return of my children and grandchildren from their holiday travels so that we can demolish them. Thank you so much. I hope you and your gang are well.

I miss you both

Best wishes fro a merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Herb

Ps.{{sic}} Do you think I’ll do better playing dominos{{sic}} on cheese than on pasta?
}}
|2=This appears to be jokingly referring to sending each other food as a strategy to impact each other's performance in games of dominoes. Strained Boomer humor, for sure. Conspiracy theorists may think this email is code for something, and "demolish them" can refer to children and grandchildren rather than the assortment of cheeses (and therefore "we" referring to eating the cheeses with the grandchildren). You'll see, however, the Podesta's Comet Pizza is a weird establishment. Playing a game of {{wpl|dominoes}} on a slice of cheese is tame compared to the hipster atmosphere the pizza place has to offer. More plausibly, the sentence could be interpreted to mean 'on [a stomach full of] cheese or pasta', rather than the nonsensical 'on [top of]'.
}}

{{clear}}

===Infographic #2===
[[File:Pizzagate_infographic2.jpg|thumb|center|700px]]

{{sbs|title=1|Original (mis)infographic|Analysis}}
{{sbs
|'''Now if you have made it here, there are many[,] many more mails talking about pizza, walnuts, hotdogs, pizza partys,{{sic}} etc; every link is in the pastebin[.] check for yourself: [https://web.archive.org/web/20200508213320/https://pastebin.com/8qk1WCsr http://pastebin.com/8qk1WCsr]'''
|A pizza place has mails talking about pizza. ''Suspicious!!''
}}

{{sbs
|'''We don't mean to distort the narrative to mean something else but before we continue[,]'''
|[[Argument by assertion]]. Merely asserting that you aren't distorting the narrative doesn't {{---}} gasp! {{---}} mean you aren't. Just because {{wpl|Robert Tappan Morris}} didn't mean to create a worm, {{wpl|Morris worm#The mistake|didn't stop him from wreaking havoc on the Internet|.}}
}}

{{sbs
|'''YOU need to know something, a piece of information that will help you recognize the patterns, signs, symbols, codewords, etc: [https://wikileaks.org/wiki/FBI_pedophile_symbols https://wikileaks.org/wiki/FBI_pedophile_symbols]'''

[[File:Pizzagate infographic-2 rip.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

|This infographic introduces a declassified [[pedophile]] sign, telling the reader to keep it in mind for later. In addition, the graphic links to the {{wpl|Handkerchief code}} on [[Wikipedia]]. The screenshot ''very'' crudely tacks on an entry for a white handkerchief (to indicate the person is a pedophile). The idea of white symbolizing children seems entirely fabricated, as there is simply no evidence to support this connection.

Note that the "DICTIONARY" 
cleverly
 implies that Cheese Pizza is well known to mean child porn.  I mean of course one could say that cheese pizza is well known since it's a common serving of the dish, but there is no reason to mention that unless you want to [[Association fallacy|guilt it by association]].

Also, there isn't any care for [[critical thinking]]; [[Confirmation bias|you should just trust all the most contrived patterns you're seeing only because you're actively looking for them while ignoring everything that inconveniences the narrative]].{{efn|Many sites have a wide variety of hanky codes, but not a single one says anything about white referring to children.<ref>[https://user.xmission.com/~trevin/hanky.html Gay Hanky Codes] by Trevin Beattie</ref><ref>[http://lgbt.wikia.com/wiki/Handkerchief_code Handkerchief code] ''LGBT Project Wiki''.</ref>}}}} 

{{sbs
|1='''<font color=orange>Why investigate this place?</font>'''<br>'''Most of the mails in the Podesta Leaks refer to the Cheese Pizza, Pasta, or just Pizza in a cryptic way, but that's not all, let's check THE FACTS:'''
|2=Aw yeah. I see our master craftsman is taking lessons from {{wpl|GeoCities}} webdesign with some sexy [[Green ink|orange ink]]. Pro-tip: Putting "THE FACTS" in all caps doesn't turn crazy speculation into ''actual'' facts.
}}

{{sbs
|[Band list screenshot]<br>[Establishment screenshot which welcomes all ages]
|Notice how the images don't actually prove anything and are completely devoid of any meaning? Get used to this because presenting images with no meaning is something this author is very, ''very'' good at. One image is a bunch of tags that are "friends" of the establishment, which includes Heavy Breathing, the name of a band. This is highlighted in green for emphasis because and only because "Heavy Breathing" is a weird, creepy name, and can be associated with sex acts, which seems like a perfect fit for torturous pattern seekers. It's strange how pizza and cheese are highly contrived code words that confirm a conspiracy, but "Heavy Breathing" is much more explicit, and that ''also'' confirms the conspiracy. Finally, for some reason "brightestyoungthings" isn't highlighted, but oh well, better highlight everything. "Pandahead" is probably a code word for something out there anyway.

"All ages" is a very common phrase in the punk scene. It just means that no alcohol will be served, so that those under 21 (the legal drinking age in the US) can enjoy the show too. It's extremely common to see shows advertised as "all ages" and there is nothing sexual about it at all.  Unless, of course, you really really want to pretend there is...
}}
{{sbs
|[A screen capture of Comet Ping Pong's FaceBook page]

[Comet Ping Pong's Facebook profile picture]
|A picture of man who truly loves his pizza. It's an exaggerated cartoon that exaggerates like every other cartoon. That's how jokes work. And these people claim the left has no sense of humor...
}}

===Infographic #3===
[[File:Pizzagate infographic3.jpg|thumb|center|700px]]

This infographic takes images off of Comet Ping Pong's FaceBook {{---}} which are band posters {{---}} and points things out with little analysis.

{{sbs|title=1|Original (mis)infographic|Analysis}}
{{sbs
|1='''<font color=red>◀ ''Look at the handkerchief code again</font>'''''
|2=The text points to a logo for the band {{wpl|The Coathangers||.}} The author attempts to imply that the drops on the logo are linked to the handkerchief code, but note that most of the colors in the rainbow (including white, now, since it's been crudely forged into a screenshot of the Wikipedia article) are components of the handkerchief code, so literally any image with color can be interpreted through their lens. Never mind that they're already completely ignoring the whole "handkerchief" part of the code.
}}

{{sbs
|1='''''<font color=green>Well apart from the weird imagery and occultism references[,] some of you may have pickup,{{sic}} these have nothing illegal, but we kept digging and the rabit{{sic}} hole was too deep...</font>'''''
|2=According to an article from Slate, Cauterucci and Fischer suggest that the restaurant's unorthodox and downright weird imagery is the reason behind the conspiracy:<ref>[http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2016/12/06/comet_ping_pong_is_a_haven_for_weirdos_and_now_a_target.html?wpsrc=sh_all_dt_fb_bot Comet Is D.C.'s Weirdo Pizza Place. Maybe That’s Why It’s a Target.] by Christina Cauterucci & Jonathan L. Fischer (Dec. 6 2016 11:57 AM) ''Slate''.</ref>

{{quotebox|
So why Comet? It’s possible that alt-righters susceptible to conspiracy theories might have latched onto any D.C. pizza place (they think the word pizza is a pedophilic code word). And it’s true that Comet’s owner, James Alefantis, has some connections to Democratic Party bigwigs. But there’s something special about Comet Ping Pong, and it’s that distinctive character, sadly, that may have allowed the campaign against it to fester. Comet is, after all, D.C.'s weirdo pizza place.

For the better part of a decade, Comet has been both a neighborhood hang for young families as well as a reliable home for eccentrics, queers, outsiders, and their art. Alefantis, who owns another restaurant on the same street and is a formidable player in the D.C. art world, fills his restaurant with a rotating collection of installations from local visual artists. The pingpong tables in the back room regularly get cleared out for concerts featuring up-and-coming local acts alongside touring bands that could easily book the bigger venues in town. While families eat pizza in the front, D.C. punks cheer on their friends and idols in the back. Even when the headliner is a band called Sex Stains, the vibe is generally pretty wholesome.
}}
}}

{{sbs
|1='''''<font color=red>>Sex Stains<br>>ALL AGES</font>'''''
|2=The author uses [[green ink|red ink]] and [[4chan]] ">"s to show professional journalism is afoot.

{{wpl|Sex Stains}} is a punk rock band that the author apparently has a problem with. Apparently, the band got accused of being involved in a pedophile ring and wrote this letter to the press:<ref>Tempey, Nathan (December 5, 2016). [http://dcist.com/2016/12/what_on_earth_is_pizzagate_why_did.php "What On Earth Is Pizzagate And How Did It Result In Gunfire At Comet Ping Pong?"] by Nathan Tempey (Dec 5, 2016 3:35 pm) ''DCist''.</ref>

{{quotebox|
Sex Stains.<br>
A band name we decided on after 100 suggestions by random people on Facebook because every name we could think up was already taken.
We are just a punk rock band from L.A.
We are NOT pedophiles. Just the thought of that is sickening!<br><br>
What the hell happened here?<br>
A few months ago, we passed through DC on a week long mini tour. We booked a show at Comet. We were told it's an ok place for bands to play, so we did. That's about the extent of our involvement with or knowledge of this venue.<br>
[…]<br>
There was absolutely NO PLOT to purposefully use offensive symbols or to mess with peoples heads. There was/is ZERO interest in anything having to do with children. No one in the band had any knowledge of the triangle/spirals horrid symbolism. We're shocked & disgusted by the theory that we are somehow linked to Pedophelia{{sic}} rings or Satanic cults, and also by the hateful comments & accusations we've been receiving. WE ARE NOT pedophiles and do NOT support or promote it. Period. Again, we are just a punk rock band.
}}
}}

{{sbs
|1=[[File:Pizzagate_infographic-3_rip.jpg|thumb|300px|left|'''''<font color=red>could it be?</font>''''']]&nbsp;
|2=The graphic points out hearts in two band posters, Cold Beat and {{link|link|http://www.cinemahearts.com/|Cinema Hearts|,}} because a heart symbol was used by pedophiles at one point. Note that the hearts in either logo are just normal heart symbols lacking the smaller ones inside, the distinctive characteristic of the pedophile logo. The heart symbol is possibly one of the most common symbols on Earth. ''{{wpl|The Legend of Zelda}}'' video game series has a lot of heart symbols. With this logic, the ''Zelda'' series promotes pedophilia.
}}

{{sbs
|1='''''<font color=red><big>Heavy Breathing</big><br>(This band is fucking weird)</font>'''''
|2=Thanks for your opinion. And we'll like to let you know that quirky names and surreal imagery (such as the decapitated woman in the band poster) are extremely common for bands.
}}

===Infographic #4===
[[File:Pizzagate infographic 4.jpg|thumb|center|700px]]

{{sbs|title=1|Original (mis)infographic|Analysis}}
{{sbs
|1=[[File:Pizzagate infographic 4 rip.jpg|thumb|left]]&nbsp;
|2=The shirt is a reference to the L'Enfant Cafe-Bar in D.C., whose owner is pictured in the image, and which itself is named after Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the designer of much of the layout of Washington, D.C.<ref>{{wpa|Pizzagate conspiracy theory#Debunking}}</ref>

Proponents claim that the owner James Alefantis changed his name to signal a hidden message, "J’aime L'enfants" or "I love children" in French. Such a message would be lost to illicit clients who don't know French. Careful facts don't get in the way of a tasty conspiracy: it also is grammatically incorrect in [[French]] (correct would be "j'aime les enfants" or "j'aime des enfants", since l' is always ''singular'') (though [[Shoehorning|it can still be made to fit]]).<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/comments/5f4fnz/james_alefantis_name_is_damn_close_to_jaime/ James Alefantis' name is damn close to J'aime al'enfants, which is French for "I love the child" #PizzaGate], Reddit</ref>
}}
{{sbs
|1=[[File:Pizzagate infographic 4 rip2.jpg|thumb|left]]&nbsp;
|2=Our top investigator shows us screenshots from Joshua Ryan Vogelsong's instagram profile. On there is Photoshopped gay porn pretending to be about pizza, a nude man on pizza, a nude man with pizza on his crotch, and a male penis ejaculating pizza. While the infographic author thinks this is pedophilia symbolism, this is not the case, as we are reasonably certain that pedophilia needs to involve, you know… children. According to Vogelsong's profile description:

{{quotebox|
'''Joshua Ryan Vogelsong''' @gaybashdc @donnaslash [https://homosuperior.bandcamp.com/releases homosuperior.bandcamp.com]
}}

Yup, Vogelsong is gay. This explains all the sexual imagery of men.
 
And while Comet Pizza is indeed for all ages, as they correctly mention in the image, that doesn't mean every individual person with any relation to Comet Pizza at all will have a completely SFW Instagram feed.

}}

===Infographic #5===
{{sbs|title=1|Original (mis)infographic|Analysis}}
{{sbs
|1=[[File:Pizzagate infographic 5.png|thumb|300px|left]]&nbsp;
|2=This infographic attempts to link a person and two restaurants to a pedophile ring through symbol similarities: 

#Besta Pizza<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/comments/5bdslv/pol_figured_it_out_podesta_pizza_logo_is/ Figured it out {{---}} Podesta Pizza logo is LITERALLY PEDO CODE] (2016) ''Reddit''.</ref><ref>[http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread1145451/pg1 Reddit user Claims to have Connected PEDO ring to DOJ] by Maluhia (Nov, 6 2016 @ 05:38 PM) ''Above Top Secret''.</ref> (the red logo) with the Boy Lover Symbol;<ref>[https://wikileaks.org/wiki/FBI-pedophile-symbols.pdf (U) Symbols and Logos Used by Pedophiles to Identify Sexual Preferences] (31 January 2007) ''Federal Bureau of Investigation'' via ''WikiLeaks''.</ref>
# Comet Ping Pong (a logo with two ping pong paddles) with the "Child Lover" symbol
# A symbol found on Terasol Bistro's website with the "Girl Lover" symbol.

Aside from the first logo comparison, the other two logos lack any fair comparison. The restaurant Besta Pizza's old logo just happens to look similar to the official "Boy Love" symbol. Because of these remote similarities, cranks conclude that the two pizza places and Clinton are part of a pedophile ring; quite a [[Jumping to conclusions|jump]] when you consider the widely-known pedophile symbols would be the '''last''' symbol someone would choose to use for a ''secret'' pedophile ring.
}}
{{clear}}
{{sbs
|1=
<div style="background: black;"><font color=white>How much longer will society ignore these inconvenient truths? When a pattern emerges, will you ignore it? Real children get abused every day, is your fear of being labeled a conspiracy theorist going to stop you from achieving justice?<br>'''#PedoFiles''' #SprititCooking #Anonymous</font></div>
|2=Mere coincidence won't hold up in a court of law as evidence. Any graphic designer worth their salt knows triangles and hearts are extremely common and basic shapes that can be found everywhere.
}}

===Podesta email "code words"===
{|style="float:right; margin-left: 10px;"
!Word
!
!Supposed meaning
|-
|hotdog
|=
|boy
|-
|pizza
|=
|girl
|-
|cheese
|=
|little girl
|-
|pasta
|=
|little boy
|-
|ice cream
|=
|male prostitute
|-
|walnut
|=
|person of color
|-
|map
|=
|semen
|-
|sauce
|=
|orgy
|-
|domino
|=
|BDSM
|}

{{cquote|BREAKING [NEWS]: PEOPLE WILL LITERALLY FIND EVERYTHING IN ANYTHING<br>

My friend texted me that he had fries at the bowling alley last night. Now I'm like 95% sure he's smoking [[crack]] behind the Arby's.|||JokedUp<ref>[http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/261-politics/74516655?page=1 WikiLeaks: Pedophile Code Words Found In Podesta Emails] (2016) ''Gamefaqs''.</ref>}}

[[Cranks]] speculated that words and phrases used in leaked Clinton-related emails were pedophile code words. (Of course, these words could also be used normally in normal conversations, but apparently cranks feel the pedophile meanings are somehow more "believable".)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161104031225/https://twitter.com/JaredWyand/status/794284672675147776 Search all Podesta emails for these keywords. We are uncovering a child sex ring.] by Jared Wyand (November 4, 2016) ''Twitter'' (archived from November 4, 2016).</ref> No attempt is made to prove that such a code exists; it's merely asserted without evidence.

==="Pizzagate: Just The Facts"===
One (mis)infographic features an explanatory paragraph that speculates on the extent of the conspiracy and who's involved in it:<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161205163510/https://i.sli.mg/eoWIeB.jpg Pizzagate infographic] ''SLiMG'' (archived from December 5, 2016).</ref>

{{quotebox|It is [[WAKE_UP|becoming increasingly clear]] that many of "the [[elite]]" including [[Vague|high ranking politicians, celebrities and very wealthy people]] are operating a global [[sex trafficking]] ring. They are doing it [[FEMA death camps|under the guise of helping children in need]] (fostering, rehoming, mentoring etc). [[Vague|Big money is changing hands]]. [[Vague|Big players are heavily involved]]. [[Satanism|Satanic rituals]] are involved. [[Freemason]]s are involved. [[Reptilians|The people who control everything you see, read and hear]] are involved.}}

Of course, every politician is part of the conspiracy — with the exception of Donald Trump, because he "[[No true Scotsman|isn't really a true politician, even as president]]".

* An infographic claims that codewords used by pedophiles are used in Clinton-related emails. But aside from "[https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chicken&defid=1128324 chicken]", terms like "sauce", "pasta", "[https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pizza pizza]", "handkerchief",<ref>[http://madworldnews.com/phrases-podesta-emails-hillary/ Disturbing Phrases In Podesta Emails Point To Hillary Crew Speaking In Code] by Dawn Parabellum (November 6, 2016) ''Mad World News''.</ref> and "pillows" are not documented terms used by pedophiles; they were [[PIDOOMA|pulled out of thin air]].

* Adherents believe that the supposed pedophile ring [[Satanic panic|also worships Satan]], citing as evidence a jokey email signature used by retired Foreign Service officer Lewis Amselem: "With fingers crossed, the old [[rabbit's foot]] out of the box in the attic, I will be sacrificing a chicken in the backyard to {{wpl|Moloch}} …"<ref>[https://wikileaks.org/clinton-emails/emailid/14333 Hillary Clinton Email Archive] ''Wikileaks''.</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/DNCleaks/comments/5az9ca/with_fingers_crossed_the_old_rabbits_foot_out_of/ DNC leaks] (2016) ''Reddit''.</ref>{{efn|We've all seen much stupider email sigs. Who would take this one seriously? Oh wait, [[Christian]]s would!}} Never mind that Moloch isn't Satan.

===Pizza.jpg===
[[File:Pizzagate-pizza.jpg|thumb|centre|700px|Cranks dissect the email; their arrows are colorful "enought"]]

{{clear}}

[[File:Pizzagate-mm-pizza.jpg|thumb|right|230px|The attachment]]

The alleged cornerstone of Pizzagate is an attachment found in a forwarded email from [[Bill Clinton]] advisor Doug Band in 2009 called "pizza.jpg". The attachment contains a photo of two adults enjoying pizza with a kid, which is supposedly evidence of child molestation; however, the email and its attachment were completely misinterpreted.<ref>[https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/8673 Re: pizza.jpg] Original email containing "pizza.jpg" (2009-08-08 00:21) ''Wikileaks''.</ref> What "Pizza.jpg" actually shows is American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling along with a young girl, possibly Lee's daughter Hana. The three are eating pizza after Clinton secured their release from captivity in [[North Korea]] in August 2009. "As John said, it doesn't get any better than this," Band comments to Clinton aide [[Huma Abedin]], Podesta, and others. "Nice", Podesta responds.<ref>[http://dcist.com/2016/12/what_on_earth_is_pizzagate_why_did.php What on earth is Pizzagate?] by Nathan Tempey (Dec 5, 2016 3:35 pm) ''DCist''.</ref>

No child abuse. No pedophile ring. Yet cranks continued to cook up nutty conspiracies based on the photo.<ref>[http://madworldnews.com/phrases-podesta-emails-hillary/ Disturbing Phrases In Podesta Emails Point To Hillary Crew Speaking In Code] by Dawn Parabellum (November 6, 2016) ''Mad World News''.</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/comments/5barzy/as_john_said_it_doesnt_get_any_better_than_this/ "As John said, it doesn't get any better than this" - Doug Band pizza.jpg] (2016) ''Reddit''.</ref>

{{cquote|also Podesta sent this pic with this email. [[WAKE UP|Obviously Asian sex slaves]]|||@OmsToTheWorld<ref name="omg slaves">[https://web.archive.org/web/20170218200338/https://twitter.com/OmsToTheWorld/status/794435310486691844 @CrazyJoezGalaxy also Podesta sent this pic with this email. Obviously Asian sex slaves] by @OmsToTheWorld (November 3, 2016) ''Twitter'' (archived from February 18, 2017).</ref>}}

{{cquote|@OmsToTheWorld [[Poe's Law|I can't tell if you guys are being serious or if you really are that retarded]].|||@SlotrowHornbth<ref name="omg slaves"/>}}

==Podesta Art Collection==
Cranks claim that John Podesta is a pedophile because of Tony Podesta's art collection and point to weird art created by the Serbian artist Biljana Đurđević.<ref>https://pizzapartyshutdown.wordpress.com/2017/01/27/tony-podesta-and-his-taste-in-artwork/</ref>

In reality, these claims are sourced from a 2015 interview with Podesta's brother, Tony Podesta, who claims to own some of the artist's work.<ref>https://washingtonlife.com/2015/06/05/inside-homes-private-viewing/</ref> While the interview doesn't detail which pieces from the artist Tony owns, leave it to cranks to pull up the creepiest ones they could find. Per Tony:<ref>https://www.newsweek.com/john-podesta-art-balenciaga-scandal-1763960#slideshow/2158168</ref>

<blockquote>
I get an image of Biljana's work every week from conspiracy theorists and wingnuts saying it's proof positive that John and I, and everybody else, are involved in this ring of child abuse in the basement of a [pizza parlor]. John has never owned the work.
</blockquote>

==Lessons and conclusions==
===Crème de la Kremlin===
{{cquote|Taking one campaign manager's email account and releasing it with zero curation in the last month of an election needs to be treated as what it is: political sabotage, not whistle-blowing.|||Sociology professor {{wpl|Zeynep Tufekci||,}} commenting on the Podesta e-mail leak<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/05/opinion/what-were-missing-while-we-obsess-over-john-podestas-email.html WikiLeaks Isn't Whistleblowing] by Zeynep Tufekci (Nov. 4, 2016) ''New York Times''.</ref>}}

Pizzagate was confirmed in Senate intelligence committee hearings by Clint Watts to be part of a [[Russian]] "Active Measures" online operation pushing [[fake news]], ludicrous conspiracies, and a general pro-Russian agenda.<ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/03/30/russia-s-info-war-on-the-u-s-started-in-2014.html Clint Watts' Testimony: Russia's Info War on the U.S. Started in 2014: Clint Watts is testifying Thursday morning before the Senate's intelligence committee on Russia’s interference in U.S. politics. Here's what he told the senators.] by Clint Watts (30 March 2017, 6:44 AM ET) ''Daily Beast''.</ref><ref>[https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/salvadorhernandez/russian-trolls-spread-baseless-conspiracy-theories-like Russian Trolls Spread Baseless Conspiracy Theories Like Pizzagate And QAnon After The Election: Less than two weeks after the first "Q" post appeared on 4chan, a Russia-backed troll account began amplifying the conspiracy theory on Twitter.] by Salvador Hernandez (August 15, 2018, at 10:49 p.m. ET) ''BuzzFeed News''.</ref> These findings lent support to what Glen Caplin, spokesman for the Clinton campaign, had argued previously:<ref>[http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/hillary-clinton-wall-street-speeches-podesta-emails-229689 Hacked 80-page roundup of paid speeches shows Clinton 'praising Wall Street': Clinton's speaker's bureau flagged hundreds of excerpts from her high-dollar speeches that could prove damaging.] by Kyle Cheney (10/12/2016 03:37 PM EDT Updated 10/12/2016 04:09 PM EDT) ''Politico''.</ref>

{{quotebox|By dribbling these out every day, WikiLeaks is proving they are nothing but a propaganda arm of the Kremlin with a political agenda doing [[Putin]]'s dirty work to help elect Donald Trump.}}

===This is why we can't have nice things===
[[File:Comet Ping Pong Pizzagate 2016 03 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Despite the mass hysteria, the community created thoughtful art to support the Comet Ping Pong workers through the tough times.]] 

Thanks to Pizzagate, something called "cybersteria" (i.e. public hysteria caused by internet trolls) is now a thing.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/fruzsinaeordogh/2016/12/07/with-pizzagate-is-cybersteria-the-new-normal/#6596d24d4375 With Pizzagate, Is Cybersteria The New Normal?] by Fruzsina Eordogh (Dec 7, 2016 @ 06:56 PM) ''Forbes''.</ref> That means [[bullshit|BS]] (like Pizzagate) brainstormed by [[asshole]]s on 4chan or [[8chan]], picked up by the Alex Jones Infowars crazy train, amplified and spread by [[fake news]] sites, and then kept alive by Twitter trolls is something we're all going to have to live with.

Facebook is now taking the problem of fake news (and its own role in perpetuating it) much more seriously, looking into ways to identify it and stop treating it like any other trending topic in the future.<ref name="vox" /> Thanks, Facebook &mdash; too little, too late!  (We're kidding, of course.  Facebook has since chosen to ditch that pesky fact-checking altogether.<ref>https://www.npr.org/2025/01/07/nx-s1-5251151/meta-fact-checking-mark-zuckerberg-trump</ref>  Can't put up roadblocks to nonsense that happens to back up a billionaire's political agenda, now can we?)

A large fault with the story surrounding the Pizzagate situation is the nature of the allegations. In short, all of the "evidence" is {{wpl|Circumstantial evidence|circumstantial|,}} and it's not even good circumstantial evidence, either. Even if Comet Pizza does have a pedophile ring, "self-investigators" are doing an extremely poor job pushing their case. To date, no evidence or victims have come forward to confirm the existence of a crime of any sorts at Comet Ping Pong.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/pizzagate-conspiracy-theories-michael-flynn-junior-1.3883406 'Pizzagate': How a WikiLeaks-fuelled conspiracy theory led to gunfire at a D.C. restaurant: Trump adviser's son among those perpetuating false story of Democrat-run child sex trafficking ring] by Matthew Barakat & Jessica Gresko (Posted: Dec 06, 2016 1:45 PM ET Last Updated: Dec 06, 2016 1:45 PM ET) ''CBC News''.</ref>

==The aftermath==
John Podesta made a tweet which pissed off conspiracy theorists:

{{cquote|I know I’m asking for it but the community is great and the pizza is great too. Thanks James.|||John Podesta<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170420183517/https://twitter.com/johnpodesta/status/855114163810689024 I know I’m asking for it but the community is great and the pizza is great too. Thanks James.] Twitter, 20 April 2017.</ref>}}

The tweet links to a ''Washington Post'' article by James Alefantis:<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/pizzagate-taught-us-the-value-of-community/2017/04/19/92cae67c-23b0-11e7-bb9d-8cd6118e1409_story.html?utm_term=.65683d206870 [[Washington Post]] {{---}} What happened when 'Pizzagate' came to my restaurant]</ref>

{{quotebox|Sadly, many people who don’t know me or my neighborhood cling to an absurd lie: that I and political figures including Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her campaign chairman, John Podesta, run a child-slavery ring out of Comet’s basement.
}}

{{quotebox|
Anti-Clinton conspiracy theorists and online trolls congregating on Reddit and 4chan decided that the words “pizza” and “cheese” in these emails were code for pedophilia.

They ultimately pushed the lie that my pizza restaurant was being used to abduct children and commit heinous crimes.

These lies ricocheted from shadowy chat rooms to various social-media platforms, encouraged by fake news articles and deliberately amplified by provocateurs such as Alex Jones, who broadcast these smears to his audience of millions.
}}
===Donutgate===
After the main course, it is customary to follow with dessert. In Pizzagate's case, this means the equally horrible Donutgate, with bizarre pedo ring theories centered on the quirky beloved Portland staple {{wpl|Voodoo Doughnut||.}}<ref>[https://www.salon.com/2018/08/16/doughnutgate-online-conspiracy-theorists-target-oregon-donut-shop-with-pizzagate-like-claims_partner/ Donutgate: How one Oregon donut shop became the target of online conspiracy theorists]</ref>{{efn|This, of course, has no connection to a better-known scandal<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6627374/ariana-grande-donutgate-no-charges Ariana Grande Will Not Be Charged for Donutgate] by Natalie Weiner (7/13/2015) ''Billboard''.</ref> involving pop star Ariana Grande in 2015.}}

===Pizzagate 2: Retarded Boogaloo===
As the Pizzagate conspiracy faded away, most of the energy in the movement got absorbed into [[QAnon]]. However, as of 2019, the ashes of Pizzagate continue to smolder on within, with some ''still'' engaged in the quest of busting up elite pedo sex rings they perceive to be running in Comet Ping Pong's basement. (Comet Ping Pong, incidentally, does not have a basement.)

On January 23, 2019, in what was possibly propelled by conspiracy theories (based on his parents earlier posting conspiracy videos pushed by "[[Joe M]]"{{efn|JoeM is a very prominent QAnon huckster, and one of the many co-authors behind a surprisingly (and depressingly) best-selling QAnon book.<ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-co-authors-of-a-bestselling-qanon-book-are-at-war-with-each-other The Co-Authors of a Bestselling QAnon Book Are at War With Each Other: At issue is whether an e-book version is too grifter-y] by Will Sommer (Jun. 17, 2019 4:56AM ET) ''Daily Beast''.</ref>}}), Ryan Jaselskis attempted to set a black curtain at Comet Ping Pong on fire, bizarrely (but perhaps related to the conspiracy theory) leaving behind a diaper and baby food in the process.<ref>[https://wjla.com/news/local/man-pleads-guilty-to-fire-at-dc-pizza-restaurant "Man pleads guilty to fire at DC Comet pizza restaurant associated with 'Pizzagate'",] Associated Press, 2019-12-19</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/pizzagate-conspiracy-video-posted-youtube-account-alleged-arsonist-s-parents-n971891 "'Pizzagate' video was posted to YouTube account of alleged arsonist's parents before fire",] Brandy Zadrozny and Ben Collins, NBC News, 2019-02-14</ref>

Several years late to the party, on November 28 2023, [[Elon Musk]] shared a meme on [[Twitter]] stating that "Pizzagate is real" and replied to several other Pizzagate tweets.<ref>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkavwm/elon-musk-endorses-conspiracy-with-meme-saying-pizzagate-is-real "Elon Musk Endorses Conspiracy With Meme Saying ‘Pizzagate Is Real’"] by Matthew Gault, Vice, 2023 November 28</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/elon-musk-boosted-pizzagate-conspiracy-theory-rcna127087 "Elon Musk has boosted the 'pizzagate' conspiracy theory five times in the last two weeks"] by Ben Goggin, NBC News, 2023 November 29</ref> Unsurprisingly given the devolution of Twitter under Musk, despite the Pizzagate conspiracy being long dead, Musk's signal boosts had the effect of temporarily increasing traffic relating to Pizzagate on Twitter by over 9500%.<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/elon-musk-drove-massive-spike-pizzagate-content-1234920066/ "Elon Musk Drove a 9,500-Percent Surge in Pizzagate Content"] by Tim Dickinson, Rolling Stone, 2023 December 7</ref>

==See also==
*[[Coverup]]
*[[Hillary Clinton]]
*[[Deep web]] {{---}} Want to see more (mis)infographics? 4chan has you covered.
*[[Fake news]]
*[[Frazzledrip]] — a breakaway [[conspiracy theory]] based on fake news, the [[dark web]], and [[adrenochrome]]
*[[Pissgate]]
*[[Satanic panic]] {{---}} We'll have you know that Gen-X perfected the child sex conspiracy, thank you very much. And we didn't use memes or pizza, we did it with cocaine and hard work.
*[[WikiLeaks]] {{---}} Those ultimately responsible for the entire mess.
*[[QAnon]] {{---}} the crazier sequel that is more infamous

==External links==
*[http://www.snopes.com/pizzagate-conspiracy/ Snopes on Pizzagate]
*"[http://reason.com/blog/2016/12/09/the-pizzagate-gunman-belongs-to-a-long-a The PizzaGate Gunman's Paranoid Rescue Fantasy Comes from a Long American Tradition]": because Pizzagate isn't the first time [[Satanic Ritual Abuse|something like this]] happened (link to ''[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]]'').
*[http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/12/the_comet_ping_pong_pizzagate_scandal_is_a_child_sex_ring_myth_for_the_age.html "A Moral Panic for the Age of Trump".]
*{{wpl|Case of Drąsius Kedys|Something like it in Lithuania, except it actually happened|.}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrUvQ3W3nV4 "A real pizzagate implementation, by the clergy".]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note|2|80%}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:4chan]]
[[Category:2016 US presidential election]]
[[Category:Alt-right]]
[[Category:Alt-lite]]
[[Category:The Clintons]]
[[Category:Fake news]]
[[Category:Gates]]
[[Category:Media hysteria]]
[[Category:Pseudohistory]]
[[Category:QAnon]]
[[Category:Right-wing troll campaigns]]
[[Category:Russia]]
[[Category:Trumpism]]

Categories: 4chan, 2016 US presidential election, Alt-right, Alt-lite, The Clintons, Fake news, Gates, Media hysteria, Pseudohistory, QAnon, Right-wing troll campaigns, Russia, Trumpism