The NYT article "'False Flag' Theory on Pipe Bombs Zooms From Right-Wing Fringe to Mainstream" is not only an incisive examination of the whys and wherefores of conspiracy theories, it would seem to explain why such a childlike rabble-rouser sits in the Oval Office"
"Conspiracy theories play especially well on social media, which amplifies provocative and engaging content by design and often rewards misinformation with increased distribution. One study published this year, led by M.I.T. researchers, found that on Twitter, falsehoods were 70 percent more likely to be retweeted than accurate news."
What, for instance, was more "provocative and engaging" than the concept of birtherism to explain — egads — a black man as president of the United States? Or the loss of one's job because of "illegal" Mexican immigrants? Or an imaginary rise in crime because of "illegal" Mexican immigrants as criminals?
And the list goes on, perfectly suited for the most gullible among us — whose numbers are far greater than we ever imagined.