FACT Aotearoa News Briefs 12 October 2026

My friends are spouting conspiracy theories – what should I say? - The Guardian
I’ve got [a] friend who thinks cholesterol is a lie and that we should live largely on meat (and supplements). Another went through a sugar causes cancer phase. And another is sceptical of vaccines. I’m not convinced that a lightly regulated for-profit industry (supplements) is automatically more trustworthy than a highly regulated for-profit one (pharma). [How do I] have a respectful conversation about that?
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/oct/04/friends-spouting-conspiracy-theories

The media is polluted with bad science, but there are ways to clean it up - Newsroom
Shoddy studies keep making the news, and they’re all over social media. You don’t need to know a lot about science to spot a bad study: a little understanding goes a long way. One principle that makes it easy to discern which studies to pay attention to is: a single study on its own doesn’t mean much.
https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/09/28/the-media-is-polluted-with-bad-science-but-there-are-ways-to-clean-it-up/

Xenia Fedorova, or how Russian propaganda turns free thinking on itself - The Conversation
The more powerful a source appears, the more it seems positioned to manipulate us and capable of harming us should it try to deceive us. As a result, the more powerful a source – for instance because it is governmental – the more this informational filter is likely to be triggered, especially in the minds of citizens with low trust in political institutions. RT builds a significant part of its editorial strategy on mobilising conspiracy theories aimed precisely at delegitimising Western narratives by portraying them as instruments of a hidden power, all while presenting Russian positions as the authentic voice escaping this control.
https://theconversation.com/xenia-fedorova-or-how-russian-propaganda-turns-free-thinking-on-itself-292858

Conspiracies are page one of the repressive playbook: critics warn of Trump’s conspiratorial attacks - The Guardian
Trump’s extensive use of conspiracy theories is the hallmark of an authoritarian leader that has weakened trust in the coming midterm elections, dangerously ignored scientific evidence, and often pushed for prosecutions of his political enemies in ways that seriously erode civil liberties, say critics. "They're almost always used to justify repression."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/01/trump-conspiratorial-attacks-repressive-playbook

Anger, remorse, conspiracy theories: how sports fans cope when their club does wrong - The Conversation
In sport as in politics, the maxims “never apologise, never explain” and “my team, right or wrong” apply among the most shameless of fans. This response to scandal resembles how right-wing populist movements like MAGA, Reform, and One Nation deal with issues such as lying, disinformation and financial irregularities. In such cases, conspiracy theories can circulate. In the case of the Manchester City cheating scandal, some supporters spread ideas about how the club and its players have been targeted by nefarious forces within the game.
https://theconversation.com/anger-remorse-conspiracy-theories-how-sports-fans-cope-when-their-club-does-wrong-293205