Conspiracy Theories abound across the political spectrum. Speculation about who killed Lincoln to the JFK assassination takes on lives of their own. Investigative journalist Chip Berlet has carefully studied this phenomenon and says focusing on these theories deflect public attention from examining and understanding crucial societal problems. Berlet is interviewed by Barsamian.

Chip Berlet
Chip Berlet is senior analyst with Political Research Associates, an organization which monitors and reports on right-wing movements. His articles appear in "The New York Times," "The Boston Globe" and "The Progressive" magazine. He is the editor of "Eyes Right: Challenging the Right Wing Backlash" and co-author of "Right-Wing Populism in America."