Hurricane Helene conspiracy theories about lithium mining, weather control spread widely
CBSN
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, false rumors about the federal response have spread rapidly on social media. More extreme conspiracy theories have also taken root, including claims that politicians manipulated the weather to target Republican areas and that the government is trying to seize land in North Carolina to mine lithium.
The false claims have been amplified by high-profile politicians and social media influencers with large followings. Despite gaining millions of views online, these claims have been debunked by officials and experts, who stress that the government response remains focused on recovery efforts in the hardest-hit regions. Here are two fact checks about the main claims.
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