Introducing “BlueAnon” a term reflecting the left-wing equivalent of the right’s QAnon conspiracy theories. According to this perspective, an elite network of child-abusing Satanists has infiltrated the Democratic Party, aiming to undermine elections and dismantle the “Make America Great Again” movement. This represents a shift where the left is now perceiving hidden schemes everywhere.

In an email sent to left-leaning journalists on Saturday night, Dmitri Mehlhorn, a political adviser to Reid Hoffman, the billionaire LinkedIn founder and Democratic donor, speculated that a recent shooting might have been orchestrated or even staged to provide Trump with photo opportunities and exploit the resulting backlash. He compared this to a known Russian strategy, referencing Putin’s alleged 1999 actions in which he reportedly targeted civilians and attributed the attacks to terrorists to consolidate power. Mehlhorn also mentioned that similar tactics of committing heinous acts to gain advantage have been used by groups like Hamas.

Mehlhorn’s dubious claims are part of a broader trend. Jess Margera, a left-leaning musician, expressed skepticism on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “I hate to be that person, but this seems too convenient given the recent spotlight on Project 2025” a reference to a proposal by the Heritage Foundation, which Trump himself has distanced himself from. This proposal aims to steer the next GOP administration toward policies favored by business and hawkish donors.

Meanwhile, Shadi Bartsch, a prominent Latin scholar and translator of Virgil at the University of Chicago, commented, “I guess I’m now a conspiracy theorist. Trump’s seemingly unharmed hand after supposedly being shot has made me question the official story. I’m not sure what happened, but I no longer trust the main narrative.”

Approximately 52,000 users on X liked a post asserting that the widely circulated photo of Trump, showing him with bloodied hands and raising a fist under the American flag, was staged. The post criticized the image, noting its “great camera angle,” “high quality,” and the absence of a Secret Service agent covering Trump’s wound, along with the strategically placed flag.

Another post, which encouraged users to “raise your hand and repost if you think this was staged,” received around 48,000 likes and was seen 1.2 million times. A different post with 6 million views and 7,000 likes questioned: “Why would you risk further danger after a near-assassination and shout ”˜Fight, fight, fight!’?”

Consider the implications of these claims: they suggest that Trump, with possible assistance from the Secret Service and other security agencies, orchestrated a shooting that resulted in at least two deaths, including the would-be assassin, and nearly caused a fatal injury to himself all to gain a polling advantage in an election he was already favored to win before the July 13 events. Such theories are as outlandish as those alleging Hillary Clinton runs a child exploitation ring.

The rise of BlueAnon illustrates the proliferation of such conspiracy-driven narratives.

The BlueAnon phenomenon actually emerged before the recent assassination attempt on Trump. My first encounter with it was following President Joe Biden’s underwhelming debate performance in June. Chris Strider, a former senior video producer for Biden and an Emmy nominee, expressed his concerns by saying, “There’s something about this that feels very much like Russian disinformation. I can’t provide evidence, just a gut feeling.” Many others speculated that CNN had intentionally used side-angle cameras to make Biden appear worse or that his microphone levels had been adjusted to diminish his voice.

The proponents of these left-leaning conspiracy theories often mock their right-wing counterparts, portraying them as both deluded and harmful. This is perhaps the most disheartening aspect of the situation. Despite claims of being more rational, Americans have arrived at a point where both sides of the political spectrum readily embrace conspiracy theories to explain historical events.

What has led us to this state? Such a widespread social failure likely has many contributors. The turbulence of recent history and the rapid dissemination of images and information through social media undoubtedly play a role. Increasing political polarization exacerbates the issue. However, much of the responsibility rests with the mainstream media, which has repeatedly mishandled significant stories over the years.

From the false claims about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction to the Russiagate controversy, from Hunter Biden’s laptop to exaggerated assertions about the effectiveness of masks and severe lockdowns during the pandemic, the mainstream media have frequently acted irresponsibly. By aligning too closely with power rather than maintaining the skepticism expected of journalists, they have undermined their own credibility in debunking myths and establishing factual narratives.

Addressing the fractured, conspiracy-driven mindset that now influences political narratives on both the right and left will be a challenging endeavor. It’s a daunting task, and the road to remedying this situation seems fraught with difficulty.