These days, however, conspiracy theories and those who believe them seem to be playing an outsize role in politics and culture. On the left, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has exploited conspiracy theories about vaccines to wage his own campaign for the presidency this year. The Associated Press has examined the history of conspiracy theories in the United States. “I was suicidal before I got into conspiracy theories,” said Antonio Perez, a Hawaii man who became obsessed with Sept. 11 conspiracy theories and QAnon until he decided that they were interfering with his life. Russia, China, Iran and other U.S. adversaries have worked to amplify conspiracy theories as a way to destabilize democracy further.

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Persons: Robert F, Kennedy Jr, ”, John Llewellyn, Melissa Sell, Antonio Perez, “, I’ve, they've, —, Nash, peddlers, Trump, Timothy Caulfield Organizations: Associated Press, Illuminati, Wake Forest University, AP, Sandy, Elementary, Capitol, Business, U.S, University of Alberta Locations: United States, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Hawaii, U.S, Russia, China, Iran