You might want to look up Sharyl Attkisson (former CBS reporter) who’s latest book explains that the federal government, though the CIA, actually promulgated the concept and accepted usage of the term “conspiracy theory” to knock down interfering inquires in the 1950 and through the Kennedy assassination period.
Somewhat like the climate post Poland’s invasion turned the term “appeasement” from normal connotation into total negative connotation and fixed it forever on Chamberlain, once you or your beliefs are called a “conspiracy theory” you are discounted.
they also coined the term “plausible deniability.”
Thanks. I didn’t know Sharyl Attkisson had written about it.
I did hear, some time ago, about the CIA doing that.