Is Trump relaying more extreme conspiracy theories? That seems hard to prove. Remember that he started out with birtherism and Pizzagate. He& #39;s always been this extreme. And these theories successfully rile up his base of resentful white voters. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/05/12/donald-trumps-conspiracy-theories-for-junkies-252210">https://www.politico.com/news/maga...

If it helps to think of it in business terms: Trump is a master marketer, a storyteller for white people who feel victimized by losing perceived, and these conspiracies are his brand& #39;s stories to soothe and comfort them. Bedtime stories for fascists, basically. It& #39;s never changed

Nor is the embrace of conspiracy theories as a branding strategy just limited to Trump. This is Rush L*mbaugh& #39;s business model. It is Joe R***n& #39;s business model. This is how you earn the loyalty - and dollars - of many resentful middle-aged American white men.

Alex Berenson - once a respected and rigorous New York Times reporter - has descended into the conspiracy theorist ecosystem too, and it has helped him get a gig with Fox News. https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-quietly-gives-fox-nation-show-to-alex-berenson-coronavirus-truther-called-covid-contrarian">https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-...

If there& #39;s a distinction in Trump& #39;s current array of conspiracy theories, it& #39;s that this new batch is much more high-level and procedural. "Obamagate" is inside-baseball for the centrist intelligence group, not a mass outrage. IMO Trump is targeting B***n& #39;s support among elite Rs