This image provided by the Library of Congress shows the painting "Trial of George Jacobs of Salem for Witchcraft" in 1692 signed "T.H. Matteson, 1855." From the Salem witch trials to fears of the Illuminati to the Red Scare to QAnon, conspiracy theories have always served as dark counter programming to the American story taught in history books. (Tompkins Harrison Matteson/Library of Congress via AP)