A Department of Justice for an Age of Conspiracy Theories - The Atlantic
theatlantic.com
When the institution designed to debunk conspiracies starts spreading them, epistemic trust collapses — and this piece shows exactly how that feedback loop works.
Epistemic AuthorityInstitutional Trust TheoryConspiracy Theory CognitionBackfire Effect
Theory Briefing
- The DOJ has shifted from conspiracy-theory watchdog to active participant, undermining its own institutional credibility.
- Kennedy assassination theories resurface as a case study — showing how official bodies can legitimize fringe narratives.
- Once a trusted authority validates conspiracy thinking, the spiral of public distrust becomes nearly impossible to reverse.