Crash Course: "Groomers," Paul Pelosi and so much more: The most unhinged GOP conspiracy theories of 2022

Deranged beliefs flooded the Republican zone in 2022 — but somehow, voting late on Election Day didn't help them Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvN3BvbDZsdzk1dy8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). "Groomers," Paul Pelosi and so much more: The most unhinged GOP conspiracy theories of 2022 Conspiracy theories have been a fixture of American politics for generations, but in the age of Donald Trump and the internet, they have become more dangerous and unhinged than ever. In the past year — quite likely a golden age of conspiracy theory — Republicans have endorsed all kinds of dubious, far-fetched or provably false theories, most based either in denying the validity of election results or embracing the all-encompassing online cult movement QAnon, which is now pretty much the conservative mainstream.  This is not to say that liberals or progressives are incapable of embracing ludicrous theories. Both sides do it! But let's be honest: Republicans have a particular gift for this stuff, which has reached new heights of late with baseless claims that the "deep state" used ballot drop boxes to rig the 2020 election or that electronic voting machines were somehow programmed — by the Chinese government? the Italian military? an incomprehensible cabal linked to the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez? — to defeat Republicans. [Read the rest from Areeba Shah.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvMzgzOW1tdm5jNi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images) Winter storms are back — and scientists say climate change is making them a lot worse As [winter storms continue to pummel much of the United States](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcGtqdmZ2NXFiNC8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), is climate change partially — or majorly — to blame? As with any natural disaster that relates to the weather, it is natural to wonder whether climate change plays a role. Certainly the weather this winter has been [extreme](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvY3RiNW1qbGVidS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), with Texans and Oklahomans being warned of potential tornadoes and Americans everywhere [bracing for possible power outages](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvOXA3MmM0NXUyNC8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (which on their [own can be devastating](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbW01bzJmejBlMi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo)). Winter storms mean blocked roads, damaged property, crumbling infrastructure and possibly even injuries and deaths. The big question for both policymakers and the public, therefore, is [how much of the horrid weather](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvNnl0c3prcWNrci8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) can be definitively attributed to global warming. Climate change experts say that it's not merely a coincidence — climate change really is worsening our winter storms this year, as multiples experts told Salon. [Read the rest from Matthew Rozsa.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvdWRjcmpnYnRsNi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images) - ["The White Lotus"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcHhtcHc1eXhxei8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): Here are the real hotels featured on the show, but can you afford them? - In [Israel](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvY3htMDRrYnh1MS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), Netanyahu's extremist new government rips off the mask - Even if [Harry and Meghan](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvaDdqZTdybnA1My8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) "win" for Netflix, they lose - After conducting a Twitter poll, [Musk](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcmZsMGdhemNzZS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) reinstates a number of briefly suspended journalists - What really happens when an [oil pipeline](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvdGhnOWg4bTQwZi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) leaks? - ["The Menu"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvdTJxdng1azk3aS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): Ralph Fiennes’ new film shows why restaurants are a ripe setting for horror - Why [Taylor Swift](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvMTJtMDNza2dmZS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) could succeed as a director and what to expect from her first film - Surrender to Alejandro Iñárritu's Netflix movie ["Bardo,"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvNTBjdWt0Zm93OS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) a surreal "chronicle of uncertainties" - "Cash grab": Knives out in TrumpWorld as his closest allies rage over his "worthless" [NFT stunt](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcXQ1NWRtbXp3dy8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) If you found yourself here without subscribing, sign up for [Crash Course](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvYnVqZnhjNzd0Ny8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), so you don't miss anything! Why did it take so long to adapt Octavia Butler? In a beautiful essay in [Vulture](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvY281MThwMWNlaS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), published earlier this year, [E. Alex Jung](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvNGNjZWJvd3EyYy8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) writes that Octavia E. Butler "never told an aspiring writer they should give up, rather that they should learn, study, observe, and persist." Butler could have been speaking of her own life, a writerly existence of fairly early publishing success but a consistent struggle for financial security and the uphill battle of being a Black woman in a genre dominated by white men. Butler is now considered a visionary if not the mother of [Afrofuturism](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvdm91ZDBlMWVyeS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), which Ramtin Arablouei of [NPR](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvNThheDh2MWo1OC8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) describes as "an open-ended genre combining science fiction, fantasy and history to imagine a liberated future through a Black lens." Butler was raised by her widowed mother, who worked for wealthy white women, and grandmother in Pasadena, California. She said the moment she decided to be a writer of science fiction was when she saw the 1954 B-movie "[Devil Girl from Mars](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcHlvMTNmb2Rydi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo)" as a 9-year-old. She loved comics, superheroes and sci-fi, loved a genre that took its time loving her back. [Read the rest from Alison Stine.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvMXc2cXluYjgxZi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (Tina Rowden/FX) - "Famed LA mountain lion euthanized following health problems," [AP News](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcDJobTk1dGk3cy8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Sharon Osbourne hospitalized after unspecified medical emergency," [NBC News](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcmc2MGxncGN4NS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Biden admin says U.S. wrongly revoked Oppenheimer's security clearance in 1954," [Reuters](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvaDVyNzBqdXYyNi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star Jen Shah asks court for reduced prison sentence after guilty plea for telemarketing fraud scheme," [CNN](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvZnBpdG9tdjVtOC8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) PG&E cuts thousands of workers ahead of winter wildfire maintenance Pacific Gas & Electric, California's private utility company that maintains a monopoly over electric service in the state, let go of thousands of contractors and employees across multiple trades over the last month. Union leaders told members that the layoffs were due to overspending, and that as Pacific Gas & Electric, or PG&E, overruns its budget towards the end of the year, the company decided to push back fourth-quarter work into the new year. Workers let go include vegetation management inspectors, tree trimmers, electrical linesmen, and pole testers — all work that is critical to wildfire mitigation. "[We] do annual maintenance to ensure fire safety and have deadlines to get it done," said a vegetation management inspector in the north Bay Area who requested anonymity. "By pushing back fourth-quarter work, [the crews] are falling behind one to two months." The delay could be costly: [Winter is often the best time to prune trees](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvOHVtaHNhbjBoci8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), when cracks and deadwood are more visible and trees are not actively growing.   [Read the rest from Blanca Begert.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvcWFxcGk0eDZrcS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPTQ3OGZiMzB3M3NXA3NwY0IKY5DPAJ9j-lbNLVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (Getty Images) [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlgYXPP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmOQzwCfY_pWzS1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. 1000 N. 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