Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

QAnon 'Lumber Truthers' Are Now Convinced That Biden Is Behind The Surge In Wood Prices

QAnon 'Lumber Truthers' Are Now Convinced That Biden Is Behind The Surge In Wood Prices
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for CARE; Kens Karpentry/YouTube

Right-wing crackpots and QAnon believers are at it again. This time their conspiracy theory centers on something more random than ever—lumber.

So-called "Lumber Truthers" have been going viral lately with accusations the lumber shortage being experienced in the U.S. is the result of artificial market manipulation, on the basis several right-wingers have seen large supplies of lumber sitting idle in train yards.


So a whole new conspiracy theory says Democratic President Joe Biden is creating a lumber price surge.

The story is proliferated by people like the owner of the Ken's Karpentry YouTube page in videos like the one below.

youtu.be

Prices for lumber have tripled in recent months as pandemic-related production slowdowns collide with surging demand for new housing and home improvement projects.

It's a pretty simple supply-and-demand equation. But for the conspiracy-inclined, the sight of lumber supplies sitting in rail yards awaiting delivery spells a sinister scheme to crush access to the American Dream.

The theory has resulted in far-right Republicans and QAnon devotees staking out rail yards and other supply chain modes of transportation to film stacks of lumber as "proof" of chicanery, much like the "Film Your Hospital" movement sought to prove the pandemic was being faked last year.

As the man in the Ken's Karpentry video put it:

"I'm just astounded at how much lumber is here, and I'm wondering why there's such a problem at the lumber yard. We're still seeing the prices increase at the lumber yards, so I'm not sure why."

But other voices, like a poster on a hugely popular QAnon forum, have been more bluntly alarmist:

"There are a LOT of these type vids showing the BS narrative of Lumber shortages. Nothing short of market manipulation to drive up prices, most notably homes. Why Homes? Part of the American dream is to buy a house."

And others blamed the shortage on a diabolical plan by President Biden himself, as a narrator of another video about the conspiracy claimed:

"So Joe Biden says there's a shortage of lumber, and that's why the price at Home Depot is so high on 2x4's and such?"

If none of this makes any sense to you, you're not alone.

People on social media have doubts.










In addition to simple market—and pandemic—related forces, the supply of available wood has also been curtailed by bark beetle infestations and wildfires, especially in Canada, the largest exporter of lumber to the United States.

Maybe Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is on in this conspiracy too.

More from Trending

Lisa Murkowski
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Lisa Murkowski Slammed After Criticizing Massive Budget Bill She Just Voted For

Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski was slammed after she claimed that President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill is "not there yet" despite casting the deciding vote to narrowly pass it before sending it back to the House.

In a marathon voting session, the Senate narrowly passed the legislation in a 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote after three Republicans joined all Democrats in opposition.

Keep ReadingShow less
Woman listening to her boyfriend play guitar
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Things People Initially Found Attractive About Their Partner That Now Annoy Them

Being in a relationship can be wonderful, but it's not without its ups and downs.

In order for it to work, we have to allow it to grow and change over time rather than being locked forever into what it was when we first started dating our person.

Keep ReadingShow less
JD Vance
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

JD Vance Gets Perfectly Shamed After Claiming Medicaid Cuts In Budget Bill Are 'Immaterial'

Critics slammed Vice President JD Vance after he claimed that the "minutiae of the Medicaid policy" in President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," are "immaterial" to the millions of Americans who would lose their healthcare coverage if it were to become law.

According to The Washington Post, the bill "includes the biggest reduction of funding for the federal safety net since at least the 1990s, targeting more than $1 trillion in social spending." WaPo noted that the $3 trillion package "partially pays for its large price tag by slashing spending on Medicaid and food stamps SNAP), which congressional Republicans maintain are rife with fraud."

Keep ReadingShow less
Sir Ian McKellen
Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images

Ian McKellen Moved To Tears After Massive Glastonbury Crowd Starts Chanting His Name

Acting icon Sir Ian McKellen was moved to tears after joining the Scissor Sisters on stage at this year's Glastonbury Music Festival and standing before a crowd that showed their love by chanting his name.

The openly gay actor—best known to legions of fans around the world for his performances as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Magneto in the live-action X-Men films—made a surprise appearance on the Woodsies stage for Saturday’s headline set.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Trump Just Unveiled His Expensive New Line Of Fragrances—And The Bottle Is Peak Trump

President Donald Trump was widely mocked after he took to Truth Social to announce his latest narcissistic venture: a new line of Trump Fragrances for men and women called "Victory 45-47" that comes in a bottle shaped like a small gold statue of himself.

The Victory 45-47 fragrances are priced at $249 for a 100ml bottle, with a $50 discount on each when buying two or more. The women’s perfume is marketed as “a sophisticated, subtly feminine scent that’s your go-to signature for any occasion,” while the men’s cologne is described as offering “rich, masculine notes with a refined, lasting finish.”

Keep ReadingShow less