CNN host explains why it’s so dangerous to laugh at and ridicule conspiracy theorists

In recent months and years, it’s become clear that conspiracy theories are increasingly seeping into the mainstream social and political landscape.

Once were fringe ideas consigned to the dark side of the web, these beliefs are now having more of an impact on real-life politics.

Taking on the latest bizarre claim that ‘Jewish Space Lasers’ were responsible for the 2018 wildfires that ripped through California, CNN host Jake Tapper has perfectly explained why we can’t just laugh off these bizarre conspiracy theories.

Taking to Twitter, Tapper made clear how we need to hold people, especially those in the public sphere, accountable for spreading them, writing:

“#JewishSpaceLasers may be funny unless you contemplate how many of these conspiracy theories are rooted in anti-Semitism and racism and how many elected officials are helping to mainstream them because they frankly don’t care if it ends up getting anyone hurt or killed.”

His comments come after bizarre and unfounded claims by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a known QAnon supporter and conspiracy theorist, resurfaced.

It is not a leap to assume people like her, an elected official who is helping to spread false and dangerous conspiracies, are who he is referencing in his tweet.

The whole world witnessed the consequence of what can happen when far-right conspiracy theorists are mobilised in numbers, with the shocking and deadly riots on Capitol Hill last month. They were largely predicated on the conspiracy that it was widespread voter fraud that led toTrump not being re-elected.

Tapper’s words were met with agreement:

It’s honestly scary that it needs saying at all.

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