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Conspiracy theories

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Trump shortly after the attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024.

Many Americans think Trump assassination attempts were fake, survey finds

Growing numbers of people are signing up to conspiracy theories over attempts on the president’s life, with the results of a major poll labelled “definitely bleak” by one analyst.

  • Liam Scott

Latest

‘They can shoot me’: Dezi Freeman’s last text message haunts his friend

Those who knew Freeman say it’s not surprising that the experienced bushman evaded police for so long.

  • Sherryn Groch
The location of Porepunkah, the scene of the police killings, and the property near Walwa where Dezi Freeman was found.

Dezi Freeman’s family finally got him a mental health appointment. He never made it

Just weeks before the Porepunkah shootings, Freeman had finally been convinced to get psychiatric help.

  • Melissa Cunningham, Grant McArthur and Lachlan Abbott
Dezi Freeman during an appearance on Nine’s A Current Affair in 2018.

A doona and a surprise tip-off: The bizarre final moments of Dezi Freeman

For more than 200 days, Dezi Freeman was a ghost in the bush. Then an unexpected tip-off led police to his hide-out. Now the hunt is on for those who helped him.

  • Sherryn Groch, Cameron Houston, John Silvester, Chris Vedelago and Marta Pascual Juanola
Colin Robertson, a self-described amateur detective who has been investigating the crash for almost four years.

‘Bike boy’ campaign accused of giving cash gifts to potential witnesses in case against Daniel Andrews

Court documents say those driving the “bike boy scandal” spent tens of thousands of fundraising money on “gifts” to potential witnesses in lawsuits they lodged on behalf of the young cyclist injured in a 2013 crash.

  • Sherryn Groch
Joel Gilbert, a US filmmaker, conservative activist and conspiracy theorist.

Obama conspiracy theorist to address Australian conservative summit

American filmmaker and Infowars regular Joel Gilbert is speaking this week at Advance’s new conference in Sydney along with former prime minister Tony Abbott and Victorian MP Moira Deeming.

  • Michael Koziol
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Bushfire smoke over Melbourne on Sunday morning.

Lasers and internet blackouts: Conspiracy theories spread like wildfire after deadly blaze

Experts warn misinformation during and after natural disasters will become more common as climate change effects increase.

  • Kieran Rooney
Police searching a plantation at Porepunkah during the manhunt for Dezi Freeman.

Months after that fateful day, Porepunkah remains a conspiracy-riddled mystery

Vision of heavily armed police combing Victoria’s High Country, following the murder of two officers, shocked Australia. But the scenes continue to this day as the whereabouts of Dezi Freeman remain a mystery.

  • Grant McArthur
An example of AI-generated misinformation being spread on social media after the Bondi attack.

Fake hero, wrong suspect: Misinformation floods social media after Bondi shooting

Elon Musk’s chatbot said Edward Crabtree – a fictional 47-year-old IT professional – was the hero who tackled one of the attackers and seized his weapon.

  • David Swan
Kim Kardashian expressed doubt about the moon landings in a recent TV episode.

Ground control to Kim Kardashian: We’ve been to the moon six times

When the reality star said on TV that she believed a well-worn conspiracy theory, the head of NASA himself felt compelled to set the record straight.

  • Rich McKay