The destruction of truth and with it expertise has left a portion of the population with only brute authority as the criteria of truth. They have no independent knowledge by which to judge so everything is a lie and there is no truth.

This is a primary characteristic of fascism that is based on tribalism, oppression and fear. Scientific knowledge and objective expertise threatens their lies and use of fear to maintain control of enough people to intimidate all others.

Because this only works with already frightened, ignorant, and angry people rationality is replaced with endless conspiracies. This produces a social pathology that is contagious. The sources of this pathology must be isolated and removed from society. This is very difficult.