Episode 3 of American Emergency; The Movement To Kill FEMA

How an unprecedented storm of conspiracy theories beset FEMA during Hurricane Helene.

[00:00] Host Micah Loewinger presents the third part of our investigation American Emergency: The Movement to Kill FEMA. This week, Micah takes a deep dive into the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024, when conspiracy theories surged online, including the old rumors about FEMA camps. And we hear from a library worker who was rescued by raft during the storm, about the greatest obstacle she faced after the storm: bureaucracy.

Further reading / watching:

• “The simple statistical error Republican Supreme Court justices used to gut the VRA (gelliottmorris.com/p/2026-05-08-simple-math-er…),” by G. Elliot Morris

• “This year’s U.S. House elections will be least competitive on record (gelliottmorris.com/p/2026-05-12-uncompetitive-…),” by G. Elliot Morris

• “Some N.C. residents distrust FEMA so much they’re hesitant to apply for hurricane aid,” (washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/12/15/some-nc-…)by Brianna Sacks

• “How a conspiracy-fueled group got a foothold in this hurricane-battered town,” (washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/10/23/how-cons…) by Brianna Sacks

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