Analyst Molly Olmstead examined the aftermath of Saturday's shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where alleged shooter Cole Allen fired multiple rounds at the Washington Hilton, striking a Secret Service agent's bulletproof vest.
No one was killed, and Allen was arrested on scene.
Writing for Slate, Olmstead highlighted how people across the political spectrum quickly labeled the attack "staged" despite overwhelming evidence of political motivation, including Allen's prior donations to Kamala Harris's 2024 campaign and a manifesto he left behind.
Olmstead argued this trend demonstrates conspiracy theories have evolved into their own political movement operating outside traditional partisan lines. She noted, while typical MAGA and "BlueAnon" accounts promote opposing fantastical plots, some individuals have become so influenced by "question-everything" internet culture that they undermine their own former political allies.
Olmstead contended conspiratorial thinking itself now functions as a distinct political force.
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