Why do people read the National Enquirer?

Fake news, conspiracies, etc are a part of every healthy culture. Extremes provide an anchor where the public discerns the truth in the middle.

Unhealthy cultures do not use parody or conspiracies. The truth is a highly-controlled monotone drumbeat.

If anything, "fake news" is actually helping Trump - It dilutes the extremes allowing for him to remain unfiltered.

But here is the key - "fake news" historically alters the public's allowance for hypocrisy by allowing a greater tolerance for today's ridiculous headline. After all, if tomorrow will brings something new and even more ridiculous, why worry about it at all?

This is how power wields extreme measures right under our noses. The public learns to not pay attention.