This week in conspiracy theories

I’ve been writing regularly about conspiracy theories that have made their way into mainstream politics and this week these three examples stood out for me:

• Jack Burkman, conspiracy theorist and right-wing operative, staged an “FBI” raid on his home this week… and then got the Washington Post to cover it as if it was an actual FBI raid. But don’t worry; YouTube is still prominently promoting his videos.
• Michael Caputo, the Trump administration official in charge of communicating with the public about the pandemic, accused career government scientists of “sedition” in their handling of the pandemic and warned that left-wing hit squads were preparing for armed insurrection after the election. His remarks are left me speechless: “You understand that they’re going to have to kill me, and unfortunately, I think that’s where this is going… If you carry guns, buy ammunition, ladies and gentlemen, because it’s going to be hard to get.”
• Remember when Reince Priebus pulled Republican support of Todd Akin in the heat of a competitive Senate race because of Akin’s “legitimate rape” comment? Preibus essentially handed the Democrats a Senate seat on a matter of principle — and also good long-term politics. But that was four years ago. Republical leader Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) denounced congressional candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) during her primary for her racist and conspiracy theory views, going so far as to endorse her challenger just ninety days ago: “And since she won the GOP nod, Scalise, like the rest of Greene’s Republican critics, has changed his tune.”