Its crazy elsewhere too like in the UK, Hungary, Russia, most of eastern and southern europe, India, Brasil, etc. same MO just nationalist/racist/anti intellectual/conspiracy junk shared on social media.

because it's the same Russian / Chinese / NK efforts, and all heavily automated.

how is this a surprise?

We've always had conspiracy theories and fringe believes, but it's now mainstream in the US.

When hasn't it been mainstream? It sure qualified as mainstream for JFK assassinations and arguably Roswell as well. And that is before going to the Know-Nothings and their anti-catholic conspiracy theories.

Conspiracy theories about JFK, Roswell, moon-landings, and things like that are basically harmless. Well, mostly harmless anyway. Usually spread by someone trying to flog some nonsense book, or a confused "true believer".

But this is different: it's just a plain ordinary self-serving lie. Completely invented by a sad narcissistic liar and his merry band of sycophantic enablers to win ("win") an election.

There's also a type of maliciousness to it that's lacking in more traditional conspiracy theories.

We probably shouldn't even call it "conspiracy theory".

I don't know. I thought the news out of Turkey today was... interesting, at least from a historical perspective. I don't think it's just us in the US.