Poll: The "deep state" is President Trump’s most compelling conspiracy theory

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows about half of Americans (48 percent) believe in the concept of a deep state — i.e. “military, intelligence and government officials who try to secretly manipulate government policy” — and 35 percent dismiss it as a conspiracy theory.

The belief is very bipartisan. While 45 percent of Republicans believe it exists — perhaps believing it is undermining Trump even as we speak — 46 percent of Democrats also believe it exists — perhaps hoping it is undermining Trump even as we speak.

But it may not be a partisan thing, after all. Independents are slightly more likely to believe in the deep state, with 51 percent believing it’s a real thing.