Amna Nawaz
@PBSNewsHour·5.3M subscribers·62.2K videos
What conspiracy theories reveal about our culture
Posted
July 18, 2026
Views
8,995
Likes
411
Engagement
4.57%
July 18, 2026
8,995
411
4.57%
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1:31Now PlayingConspiracy theories reveal a lot about the culture and experiences of those who believe them, author Jesse Walker says.
"It tells us something true about the anxieties and the experiences of the people who believe it, even if it says absolutely nothing true about subjects of the theory themselves," he told PBS News' Judy Woodruff.
"Conspiracy theories aren't just a feature of the fringe," he added. "They're present across the political spectrum, including in the center."
Walker, author of "The United States of Paranoia: A Conspiracy Theory," joined Woodruff for the latest episode of her podcast, "In Pursuit of Happiness," to discuss how conspiracy theories have shaped American history.
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