The Body Snatchers Revisited

Misinformation, Conspiracy, and the Weaponization of Expertise

In the age of rampant misinformation, even those we consider well-informed, intelligent, and highly educated can fall prey to conspiracy theories. Recently, while volunteering at a local festival, I had a conversation with a physician that left me stunned. When the topic of COVID-19 vaccines came up, he suggested they were dangerous and that vaccinated children would suffer long-term consequences. He even went so far as to call Dr. Fauci a criminal. When I asked why such claims hadn't been fully explored by mainstream media, his response was murky, implying some kind of suppression of the "truth." This interaction, along with recent exchanges I've had about gun control, highlights a dangerous trend: how even people with expertise or access to credible information can become ensnared in misinformation.

**The Medical Misinformation Epidemic**

What does it say when a physician, trained in science and critical thinking, falls into the trap of misinformation? Doctors, by the very nature of their profession, are expected to base their opinions on peer-reviewed research, evidence, and established scientific consensus. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown how deeply political beliefs and personal biases can cloud judgment, even within the medical community. The demonization of Dr. Fauci and the spread of false narratives about vaccines have created a parallel reality for millions of Americans. It’s no wonder Fauci has to travel with five U.S. Marshals.

But why? How can someone trained in the scientific method succumb to such ideas? Cognitive dissonance, confirmation bias, and the constant flood of misinformation, often framed to align with pre-existing beliefs, play a significant role. People are more likely to trust sources that confirm what they already suspect, no matter how ungrounded those sources may be. For many, it feels easier to believe that mainstream media or governmental bodies are suppressing the "real" truth than to accept the overwhelming scientific evidence proving vaccines' efficacy and safety.

**Weaponizing “Expertise”: John Lott and the Gun Control Debate**

This same dynamic is apparent in the gun control debate, where pseudo-experts like John Lott are regularly brought forward to perpetuate debunked theories like “more guns, less crime.” Despite his studies being thoroughly discredited by genuine experts, Lott's views remain a staple in Republican subcommittees. I’ve personally witnessed him present “statistics” to fawning Republican members of the Virginia General Assembly, providing a veneer of intellectual credibility to those opposing even the most basic forms of gun regulation. Then there’s John Stossel, a once-respected journalist, who now aligns himself with libertarian ideologues promoting a gun “free-for-all” society.

Off the deep end with Stossel

When a friend recently sent me a video of Stossel interviewing Lott, asking for my take, it became clear how easily thoughtful, well-meaning individuals can be swayed, even momentarily, by figures cloaked in the guise of authority. That Stossel would provide a platform for Lott’s nuttery just shows how far from reality he's strayed. Since leaving *20/20*, Stossel has taken a sharp libertarian turn, embracing fringe views that are not just harmful but factually wrong. While my friend didn’t buy into Lott’s argument outright, he was struck by how “thoughtful” Stossel appeared—illustrating how these conspiracy-laden views spread through emotional resonance rather than factual grounding. I don’t fault my friend for considering the notion. He’s not as down in the weeds as I’ve been over the last nine years and I’m glad he asked my opinion so I could enlighten him. Would that it could be that easy with others firmly entrenched in fantasy.

**How Misinformation Thrives**

What ties these instances together is a simple truth: misinformation thrives because it appeals to people's fears, emotions, and pre-existing biases. A doctor skeptical of vaccines may already distrust government institutions or pharmaceutical companies, making it easier to fall into conspiracy theories. Likewise, paranoid gun worshippers are predisposed to concern about personal liberty and are likely drawn to the idea that more guns make for a safer society, no matter how much evidence points to the contrary.

The sad irony is that the very people tasked with protecting public health, in one case, and public safety, in another, are being influenced by ideas that are harmful not just to them, but to society as a whole. Whether it’s misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines or the endless recycling of discredited gun myths, we’re living in an era where so-called expertise can be weaponized to advance political and ideological agendas.

It’s disheartening to realize that intelligence or education is no safeguard against falling into these traps. As we navigate an increasingly fractured and polarized world, it becomes ever more critical to remain vigilant about the information we consume. More importantly, we need to recognize how misinformation spreads not just through ignorance, but through sophisticated manipulation of people’s fears, biases, and, sometimes, even their intelligence. Until we collectively grapple with that reality, we’ll continue facing the dangerous consequences of living in a world where truth is just another narrative—up for debate. Or, as Kellyanne Conway might call it, “alternative facts.”