<p><b>How the new conspiracists are undermining democracy—and what can be done about it</b></p><p>Conspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new—conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. In <i>A Lot of People Are Saying</i> Russell Muirhead and Nancy Rosenblum show how the new conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory why so few officials speak truth to conspiracy and what needs to be done to resist it.</p><p>Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence—especially facts ominously withheld by official sources—to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence no dots revealed to form a pattern no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase “a lot of people are saying”) and bare assertion (“rigged!”).</p><p>The new conspiracism targets democratic foundations—political parties and knowledge-producing institutions. It makes it more difficult to argue persuade negotiate compromise and even to disagree. Ultimately it delegitimates democracy.</p><p>Filled with vivid examples <i>A Lot of People Are Saying</i> diagnoses a defining and disorienting feature of today’s politics and offers a guide to responding to the threat.</p>