America's favorite conspiracy theories: By the numbers

(Image credit: AP Photo)

last updated 8 January 2015

Every once in a while, the fine pollsters at Public Policy Polling decide to troll America. And America usually makes it worth their while. This time, PPP decided to ask voters about "20 widespread and/or infamous conspiracy theories." They cover everything from "oldies-but-goodies" to just plain cuckoo to borderline cases and even "non-crazy conspiracy theories."

There's something for just about everyone to raise their eyebrows over. The entire survey, including cross tabs, is here (PDF). A look at some of our favorite numbers:

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Percentage of respondents who believe there was a conspiracy to assassinate John F. Kennedy — the only majority response for any of the conspiracy theories

Percentage who think Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing JFK

Percentage of voters 18 to 39 who think the JFK assassination was a conspiracy

Percentage of voters 18 to 39 who believe that "shape-shifting reptilian people control our world by taking on human form and gaining political power to manipulate our societies." Another 13 percent are not sure.

Percentage of all respondents who believe in the lizard people conspiracy

Percentage of voters who believe that President Obama is the Antichrist

Percentage of Republicans who think Obama is the Antichrist — or at least "think it would be funny to say so," says Slate's David Weigel

Percentage of voters who say global warming is a hoax (51 percent say it is not)

Percentage of Republicans who say global warming is a hoax

Percentage of voters who believe "the Bush administration intentionally misled the public about the possibility of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to promote the Iraq War." 45 percent don't believe this.

Percentage of Democrats who believe Team Bush lied about Iraq WMDs

Percentage of voters who believe "the United States government knowingly allowed the attacks on September 11th, 2001, to happen." 78 percent do not believe this.

Percentage of voters who believe that aliens exist (24 percent are unsure)

Percentage of voters who believe "a UFO crashed at Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947, and the U.S. government covered it up"

Percentage of Hispanics who believe in the Roswell UFO conspiracy

Percentage of black voters who believe in the Roswell UFO conspiracy

Percentage of black voters who believe "the CIA was instrumental in distributing crack cocaine into America's inner cities in the 1980s"

Percentage of Hispanic voters who believe the CIA pushed crack on inner cities

Percentage of voters who believe that "a secretive power elite with a globalist agenda is conspiring to eventually rule the world through an authoritarian world government, or New World Order"

Percentage of Mitt Romney voters who believe in the New World Order (a plurality — 35 percent do not believe this)

Percentage of voters who believe Saddam Hussein was involved in the 9/11 attacks

Percentage of Romney voters who believe Hussein was involved in 9/11

Percentage of voters who believe the moon landing was faked

Percentage of voters who believe in a link between autism and childhood vaccinations. 34 percent are unsure.

Percentage of voters who believe the "media or the government adds secret mind-controlling technology to television broadcast signals"

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.