This book, dealing as it does with present-day political actors and conspiracies, is very much of its time. But it is also quite timeless in how it elegantly untangles fact from fiction. I can imagine encouraging people interested in the function and history of antisemitic conspiracy theories to read it for years to come.” – The Washington Post I spoke with Rothschild over Zoom about how these lies metastasized, the new phony Rothschild heir and Elon Musk’s decision to take on the Anti-Defamation League. The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity. I know you kind of got into the conspiracy game through radio host Art Bell. Do you have a memory of when you learned what your last name signifies to people? Mike Rothschild Photo by Terica Adkins

With the current rise of antisemitism, this important book looks at how one Jewish family —the Rothschilds—became a lightning rod for the conspiracy theories of the last two centuries, and how those theories are still very much alive today. From the conspiracies of the Rothschilds, this work moves into conspiracies about Jews in general, as such actions play into the classic moves and motives of anti-semitism. While the book was published before the start of the recent Gaza crisis, the theories and actions of those against Israels and Jews writ large would fit well within this text.

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The result is an increasing presence of and tolerance for right-wing anti-Semitism in American public discourse. Notions like assigning blame to wealthy Jews like George Soros for non-white immigration, an idea that has its origins on the far-right anti-Semitic fringe, are not only acceptable but echoed by Republicans at the higher level. Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Rothschild was always conscious of the historical weight his name carried. “I knew there was a wealthy Rothschild family, but we weren’t related,” he said. It wasn’t until college that Rothschild’s fascination with conspiracy theories began to take root. He became an avid listener of the Art Bell “Coast to Coast” AM radio show, which delved into topics such as UFOs, crop circles, and cattle mutilations. “I never believed any of it. But I was fascinated by it as storytelling, and kind of what mindset would drive someone to be attracted to something that repels most people,” he recalled. The Rothschild family has featured heavily in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories since at least the 19th century. Anti-Semites have generally updated the theory by replacing the Rothschilds with George Soros, a more contemporary and plausible-seeming mastermind for a global conspiracy to spread left-wing ideology. Greene’s version has instead updated the theory by giving the Rothschilds possession of a secret, powerful space laser.Don't tell me that this is about a condemnation of antisemitic remarks when you have a member of the Republican caucus who has talked about Jewish space lasers and an entire amount of tropes," Ocasio-Cortez said. "And also elevated her to some of the highest committee assignments in this body."

And yet it is, at the same time, kind of horrifying. It’s the latest in a long line of conspiracies about the Rothschild family, and those conspiracies are always, at root, anti-Semitic: Since the 19th century, people have used claims that this one particular wealthy family controls the world to cast aspersions on Jews in general. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia has courted controversy on various issues by promoting QAnon conspiracy theories, alongside a history of anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic remarks. Years-old views, including a Facebook interaction in which she agreed with a comment that the Parkland shooting was a "false flag" staged event, and a video in which she pushed 9/11 conspiracy theories, have been unearthed. There are so many libels and misconceptions about them: canards about Nathan Mayer Rothschild learning about the Waterloo outcome early and profiting off it on the British market, their net worth, them having a plan for conquest by sending the sons to different countries, funding both sides of every war. And obviously we get into space lasers at the end. What is the most consequential lie and the one that you see being repeated the most? And are there any that are easier to debunk than others? The Rothschilds, a Jewish banking family, have long been the targets of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories claiming that Jewish people are in control of the entire world. While Greene specifically did not use the words "Jewish space laser," she heavily implied that the Rothschilds were involved in the laser conspiracy.

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For many Jews," says Mike Rothschild, "the Rothschilds have been a beacon of hope in dark times, a reminder that anything is possible with unity and a steadfast devotion to family and tradition." A patient and painstaking invalidation of antisemitism that also highlights its perniciousness. ” –Publishers Weekly A video posted on Greene's YouTube channel on January 21 shows her confronting David Hogg, who survived a 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen people were killed in the shooting. She specifically mentioned Roger Kimmel on the PG&E board, U.S. Senator for California Dianne Feinstein, her husband Richard Blum, former California governor Jerry Brown, and Michael Peevey who is on the board of Solaren.