Front Burner Why is everything a ‘false flag’?
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May 1, 2026 
Kathryn Olmsted, distinguished history professor at UC Davis and author, explores false-flag operations and the roots of political mistrust. She traces historical cases of government deception, how traumatic events and social media fuel conspiratorial claims, and why influencers and partisan figures amplify doubt. The conversation looks at past abuses, wartime fabrications, and how to teach healthy skepticism.
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False Flags Have Real Historical Precedent
- False-flag operations have historical precedent and real-world use by states to justify wars and consolidate power.
- Kathryn S. Olmsted cites examples like Manchuria and Gleiwitz to show governments have staged attacks to shift public opinion.
AI And Speed Amplify Conspiracy Spread
- Traumatic events plus fast, fake information make conspiracies spread instantly.
- Kathryn S. Olmsted notes AI-generated images and doctored media now overwhelm people with convincing fakes.
Monetization Turns Fringe Theories Mainstream
- Social media and monetization turned fringe conspiracy peddlers into high-reach influencers.
- Olmsted explains incentives for outrage: clicks, views, and monetizable followings fuel rapid mainstreaming.