Normalization of Conspiratorial Thinking

Conspiratorial thinking is increasingly becoming normalized and integrated into governmental practices, raising concerns about how state resources are spent on fabricated issues. The emergence of conspiracy theorists and pseudoscience advocates taking influential positions within the government exemplifies this trend. These figures have begun to promote thinly-veiled conspiracies surrounding topics like UFOs and COVID-19, even organizing congressional hearings that primarily serve as platforms for their sensational claims. This merging of conspiracy with governance not only distracts from pressing societal issues but also legitimizes harmful misinformation in the public sphere.