The theory that Reagan's campaign delayed the hostage release illustrates how anxieties about election interference, combined with later revelations like Iran-Contra, can create powerful and lasting conspiracy narratives, regardless of official inquiries finding no evidence.

The Epstein scandal's potential to implicate powerful figures has given it disproportionate political influence. The threat of damaging revelations acts as a hidden force shaping high-level government actions, from influencing congressional votes to orchestrating diversionary PR stunts, effectively making a deceased criminal a major political actor.

A psychological tactic to neutralize Stephen Miller is to publicly portray him as the power behind the throne. Citing how the 'President Bannon' Time Magazine cover led to Steve Bannon's ousting, this strategy would trigger Trump's narcissism and cause him to push Miller away.

A toxic, symbiotic relationship exists between GOP voters, right-wing media, and elected officials. Each element reinforces the others, creating an incentive structure where politicians and media figures must cater to the base's appetite for Trumpism to survive, regardless of their personal beliefs.

Supporting Trump after he tried to overturn an election required a new level of justification. Backers embraced extreme narratives, like left-wing elites being child predators, because only a threat perceived as equally or more severe than Trump's actions could make their continued support feel morally coherent.

Vance's political future is complicated by a fundamental split on the right. He must navigate the demands of his pro-AI, tech-focused donors against the strong anti-AI sentiment of influential media figures like Tucker Carlson and his broader MAGA base, making it a critical political challenge.

According to Kiriakou, a former CIA director coined the term 'conspiracy theory' as a deliberate strategy to marginalize and dismiss individuals who were accurately exposing secret and unethical agency operations like MKUltra, making them sound irrational.

Effective political propaganda isn't about outright lies; it's about controlling the frame of reference. By providing a simple, powerful lens through which to view a complex situation, leaders can dictate the terms of the debate and trap audiences within their desired narrative, limiting alternative interpretations.

In a scenario where VP JD Vance replaces an incapacitated Trump, he would be a less formidable leader. Vance lacks Trump's powerful personality cult, which is the essential glue holding his diverse and often conflicting political coalition together. Without it, Vance would face significant internal party resistance.