Far-right pundits baselessly claim Hurricane Ian was created by the 'deep state' to target Gov. Ron DeSantis and other red states: 'They are angry with us'
- Far-right pundits suggested that the "deep state" is targeting Gov. Ron DeSantis and other red states.
- DeAnna Lorraine and Lauren Witzke said a shadowy government group is using "weather manipulation technology."
Two far-right pundits are spewing baseless a conspiracy theory about "weather manipulation" — claiming that Hurricane Ian was created by the so-called Deep State to target Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other GOP-led states as "punishment."
The comments were made by DeAnna Lorraine and Lauren Witzke, both former GOP congressional candidates, according to The Independent and RightWing Watch, a group that monitors right-wing activity.
"We understand that the 'deep state,' they have weather manipulation technology," Lorraine said on her Telegram show, per a clip posted by the group on Friday, referring to the hurricane that struck the Sunshine State.
"These huge hurricanes always seem to target red states, red districts, and always at a convenient time — typically right before elections," she added. "Or, in this case, possibly because Ron DeSantis has been stepping out of line a lot and challenging, fighting the 'deep state."
The "deep state" is a conspiracy term referring to a shadowy cabal of influential people who manipulate politics and public life, Insider previously reported, and was used by former President Donald Trump and QAnon.
Florida is still reeling after Ian ripped through the state earlier this week, cutting power and downing trees. Floodwaters reached as high as the second floor of some buildings. Officials note that Ian has weakened to a tropical storm and appears to be heading north toward Georgia and South Carolina.
During the interview, Witzke agreed with Lorraine and suggested that the deep state is "trying to change people's DNA through vaccination."
"Of course, they would be willing to do something like this to target red states," Witzke said.
"I'm not putting it past the elites to target something like this towards Florida as punishment for getting rid of vaccine mandates or getting rid of child grooming," she continued. "They are angry with us, and it wouldn't surprise me to find out that the technology does exist. But you're not supposed to talk about that or know about that because that's controversial or a conspiracy theory. No, it's true."