Conspiracy theories themselves are old but their peddlers’ political power is new
Evidence
But while conspiracy theories are as old as the country itself, there is something new at work: people who peddle lies and half-truths have come to prominence, fame, and power as never before. If our conspiratorial world is a vast ocean, 2016 was, clearly, the year that Alex Jones—along with other groups, like anti-immigration extremists, anti-Muslim think tanks, and open neo-Nazis and white supremacists—were able to catch the wave of the Trump presidency and surf to the mainstream shore. — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 30
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: The conspiracies are old but the magnetic convergence assembling them is new. — Naomi Klein, Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror…, 322; Conspiracy theories become dangerous when fused with resurgent nationalism and white supremacy — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 108; State propagandists, bots, and amateur conspiracy theorists form reinforcing alliances. — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 396 (+4 more)
Broader Connections
- The conspiracies are old but the magnetic convergence assembling them is new.
#corroborates(0.85) — Naomi Klein, Doppelganger, 322 - Conspiracy theories become dangerous when fused with resurgent nationalism and white supremacy
#expands(0.80) — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 108 - State propagandists, bots, and amateur conspiracy theorists form reinforcing alliances.
#expands(0.75) — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 396