As Anna Merlan notes in Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power, “there is much at stake” in peddling such disinformation. Foreign actors and extremist groups in Europe and the US see the adoption of conspiracy theories as their potential road to political power. Foreign intelligence organizations are listening and willing to help if they result in weakening their main adversary. Although espionage tactics began in the shadows, the results of their efforts can have terrifying consequences for the protection of democracy anywhere.
Republic of Lies by