A recent study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science suggests that people who are highly active in politics and also believe in conspiracy theories are the most likely to justify political violence. The findings provide evidence that conspiracy beliefs alone might not lead to violence, but they can become dangerous when combined with active political engagement. This implies that spreading unverified narratives among already mobilized political groups tends to create a volatile environment. Political participation is generally seen as a healthy part of a democratic society. Standard political engagement, known as normative political action, includes behaviors that follow social rules and the law. Examples include voting in elections, joining a political party, or participating in peaceful protests. Sometimes peaceful political actions escalate into illegal or violent behavior, which scientists call nonnormative political action. Examples of this include sending death threats, demolishing property, and physically clashing with law enforcement. The January 6 Capitol Hill riots in 2021 provided a real-world context to explore this shift. During this event, a mob stormed the United States Capitol …