Across U.S., some local Republican leaders use conspiracies, lies to build the base The bitter, combative rhetoric is helping the officials grow their constituencies on social media and gain outsize influence in their communities, city councils, county boards and state assemblies. By GARANCE BURKE, MARTHA MENDOZA, JULIET LINDERMAN and LARRY FENNAssociated Press Share Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6. A faction of local, county and state Republican officials across the country is pushing lies, misinformation and conspiracy theories online that echo those that helped inspire the violent Capitol insurrection, forcing the Republican Party into an internal reckoning. John Minchillo/Associated Press