CNN's Brian Stelter compared conservative media's influence on some Americans to the "radicalization" of terrorists and mass shooters.
In discussing supporters of President Donald Trump on Sunday, Stelter said they believe the "right-wing media machine" promoting voter fraud or claims President-elect Joe Biden had stolen the election.
"The best word for what is happening in America right now is radicalization," Stelter said on his CNN Sunday show "Reliable Sources."
"That's what it is. That's what this hyped-up, right-wing media machine is doing. That's why it feels harder to talk about politics with other people, harder to speak a common language about right and wrong."
Stelter described ISIS members and mass shooters in Orlando, Florida, and El Paso, Texas, as classic examples of online radicalization.
"The same pipeline that helps my children learn, helps you connect with your loved ones, also poisons some adults and distorts their reality," Stelter said. "The body of research about radicalization is very clear.
"The Internet creates more space for extremism and the echo chamber effect accelerates the process. QAnon is one really clear recent example. But so is 'Stop the Steal' and so are some corners of the anti-vaccination movement."
Stelter did say radical ideas were not held only by people on the right.
"Do some liberals have radical ideas? Of course," he said. "Radical thought is nothing new in America. But radicalization is specific because it is a process."
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