Over the last few years, conspiracy theories have become so prominent and consequential in social and political discourse that it is no longer possible to dismiss them as the ideations of kooks and fringe weirdos.

Unfortunately, conspiracy theories now inform a significant and influential part of the country’s right wing. Politicians like Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene have embraced unfounded conspiracies like QAnon. Following the 2020 election, the Q-verse has broadened to include anti-vaxxers, natural healers, mystics, flat Earthers, and, paradoxically, sovereign citizens. But also in the mix are those that believe in shady, fictional cabals of global elitists like the Illuminati. Since the 1960s, right-wing conspiracy mongers like The John Birch Society and Pat Robertson have warned of Satan’s plan for one world government and a “New World Order” carried out by multinational and private groups of powerful people like the Trilateral Commission, Bohemian Club, Bilderberg Group, and the United Nations. The idea of global elitists pulling the strings behind the curtain usually has anti-semitic undertones and shades of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a long-enduring conspiracy theory itself.

Even twice-impeached President Trump tapped into the spirit of conspiracies by refusing to concede his 2020 defeat. Trump soldiers like his personal attorney Rudolph Guiliani and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindellstoked the flames of a stolen election conspiracy. Trump also sent constant fundraising emails to support an “Official Election Defense Fund” financially. Donors thought they were funding the fight against nonexistent voter fraud. Instead, the millions in donations went to the Save America Political Action Committee, which then spent the money on contributions to former chief-of-staff Mark Meadows’ charity, the America First Policy Institute, a think tank that employs former Trump officials, and the “Trump Hotel Collection,” among other non-voter-fraud-related causes.