Speaker Mike Johnson says his election conspiracy theories feel 'instinctively' true
ms.now
Johnson's claim that election conspiracies feel "instinctively" true is a textbook case of motivated reasoning overriding evidence — and reveals how feelings become facts in polarized politics.
Motivated ReasoningEpistemic ClosureConfirmation BiasElite Cue Theory
Theory Briefing
- Johnson endorsed the debunked Dominion/Hugo Chávez conspiracy theory, citing gut instinct rather than any factual basis.
- Motivated reasoning explains why Johnson trusts feelings over evidence — belief shapes perception, not the other way around.
- Even fellow Trump allies rejected these claims, yet Johnson's position as Speaker amplifies fringe theories into mainstream politics.