This week, Jim Ludes and Mark Jacobson welcome Stephen Clermont, Head of Polling at Change Research, for a discussion of the sustained appeal of conspiracy theories in the United States, today--all stemming from a collapse in public confidence for the major institutions in American public life.  First up, however, they discuss the optics and messaging of the gathering of uniformed U.S. military leaders at Quantico this week, the remarks of Secretary Pete Hegseth; President Vladimir Putin's remarks at Valdai and his appeal to the shared values between Russia and MAGA followers; as well as the recent election results in Moldova.