How Washington fell for Nord Stream conspiracy theories - Semafor
semafor.com
Washington's embrace of Nord Stream conspiracy theories is a textbook case of motivated reasoning — showing how geopolitical stakes warp elite judgment just as much as public opinion.
Motivated ReasoningEpistemic BubblesConspiracy Theory PsychologyInformation Warfare
Theory Briefing
- The Nord Stream pipeline explosion spawned competing narratives that Washington insiders accepted with surprisingly little scrutiny.
- Motivated reasoning explains how high-stakes geopolitical events make even sophisticated actors vulnerable to unverified theories.
- Semafor reports the true story is stranger than the conspiracies themselves — a sign of how reality can outpace even imaginative speculation.