Trump Officials Considered Voting Machine Ban, Citing Conspiracy Theory - Arise News
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When those in power treat debunked conspiracy theories as policy rationale, it reveals how motivated reasoning and institutional capture can weaponize governance itself.
Motivated ReasoningEpistemic BubblesInstitutional CaptureElite Theory
Theory Briefing
- Trump officials reportedly considered banning voting machines, using a conspiracy theory as the formal policy justification.
- Motivated reasoning theory explains how pre-existing beliefs drive officials to seek evidence that confirms, not challenges, their conclusions.
- When conspiracy theories enter institutional decision-making, epistemic breakdown threatens the legitimacy of democratic infrastructure itself.