Moments after the attempted assassination of Trump, conspiracy theories went viral

Guest: Alex Boyd, Toronto Star reporter 

The investigations continue into what drove 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks to open fire last weekend, at former president Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, before being shot dead by a Secret Service sniper. But moments after the shooting, social media platforms were flooded with conspiracy theories with both right and left-wing voices amplifying mis and disinformation. From claims that the blood on Trump's ear was fake and from a theatrical prop to allegations of a staged operation by the Secret Service, the internet was rife with speculation. We unpack how this incident reveals the growing reach of conspiracy theories beyond traditional political lines, how they spread so quickly and social media’s role in amplifying them. 

Audio sources: TikTok/The Daily Show 

This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz and Matthew Hearn

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