How Conspiracy Theories Hijacked American Consciousness

Sonali Kolhatkar speaks with Tea Krulos about how conspiracy theories have hijacked the American consciousness.

President Donald Trump’s tenure has been marked by an unusual proliferation of conspiracy theories entering the mainstream from Pizzagate to the Parkland shooting, the coronavirus, and now QAnon. This should not surprise us considering that Trump, one of the most enthusiastic promoters of the conspiracy theory that Barack Obama is not a natural-born citizen, arrived in the White House elevating the art of conspiracy-mongering to a dangerous level.

Tea Krulos, freelance journalist and author from Milwaukee, WI. His previous books, Heroes in the Night, Monster Hunters and Apocalypse Any Day Now explored the driving beliefs and lives of the people who choose to reject accepted reality and substitute their own. His new book is called American Madness: The Story of the Phantom Patriot and How Conspiracy Theories Hijacked American Consciousness.

Rising Up with Sonali is a radio and television show that brings progressive news coverage rooted in gender and racial justice to a wide audience. Rising Up With Sonali was built on the foundation of Sonali Kolhatkar's earlier show, Uprising, which became the longest-running drive-time radio show on KPFK in Los Angeles hosted by a woman. RUS airs on Free Speech TV every weekday.

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