COVID-19 pandemic reshaped American political discourse through partisan lenses, but a less examined force—populism—also influenced public attitudes. This worldview positions average citizens against elites and often distrusts experts.
- Worldview & Methods
Populism's anti-intellectual stance is central to understanding COVID conspiracies.
Conservative media consumption interacts differently with this predisposition than partisanship alone.
- Key Findings
We show empirically that populism correlates strongly with conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19, independently of partisanship.
Among high-populism individuals, conservative media is a stronger driver of these theories.
Conspiracy belief directly reduces compliance with public health recommendations.
- Impact
These findings suggest political communication strategies must address both partisan and populist dynamics to effectively shape pandemic-related behaviors.
