Modern Conservatism has become a cult, very much given to conspiracy theorizing when confronted with inconvenient facts. Liberal policies were supposed to cause hyperinflation, so low measured inflation must reflect statistical fraud; the threat of climate change implies the need for public action, so global warming must be a gigantic hoax. 

The faithful must avoid “lamestream media” and listen to only “approved” news sources. The isolation serves two purposes. First purpose is to stoke the fires of rage against unbelievers attacking core beliefs by their statements of fact. Second, to disseminate “studies” by “experts” to reassure the faithful. You can't have facts infecting the belief system.