U-M Political Science graduate student Franshelly M. Martinez-Ortiz discusses conspiracy theories and their effects in Michigan. "My findings demonstrate that government suspicion is not simply a product of misinformation—it is often a rational response to systemic failures and historical violence."
"In the past, conspiracy theories were confined to marginal outlets and fringe networks. Today, they are pervasive in mainstream media. The presence of political figures who openly endorse and promote conspiratorial thinking reflects the growing appeal of these narratives among the public. This has reached new levels of salience with the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services, who has publicly claimed that Wi-Fi causes cancer and a “leaky brain.” His appointment indicates that conspiracy beliefs may play an increasing role in steering governance and public policy."
Franshelly Martinez Ortiz is a doctoral candidate in political science and public policy at the University of Michigan and a fellow at the U-M Center for Racial Justice. She is also a Converse Miller Fellow at the Center for Political Studies and a Next Generation Scholar at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research.
