06, Feb. 2026 /Mpelembe Media  —  Conspiracy theories have been a persistent feature of American political life, though their status has shifted over time. In the 17th and 18th centuries, conspiracy theories were considered “orthodox knowledge” voiced by elites, such as the Founding Fathers’ fears of British plots or the Puritan belief in the devil’s influence,. In the early republic, fears centered on the Illuminati, Freemasons, and Catholics, who were accused of subverting American liberty,,. Following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, persistent myths arose claiming that John Wilkes Booth escaped and a government cover-up hid the truth. Continue reading →