Not just a phone on a line, but more and more you need a smart phone to verify your existence. I was an early adopter 2003-2010 and cut free. I've managed thus far, but may have to get one to live in the new normal.

I'm sure there were some progressives that overlapped with conspirophiles, but I wouldn't conflate them. Heck, Jimmy Dore and Kim Iversen can't even fully embrace the idea that it's all rigged (an obvious conspiracy).

I don't think the old way was to be racist, so much as less globalist and more nationalist. Further, the old progressives knew to be anti-war and anti-oppression - and stopping those problems would stop forcing people from their homes and lands to seeking better lives.