AWAD: [Conspiracy] Theory

You often hear the word "theory" connected to a conspiratorial explanation for a newsworthy event. Such theory barely rises to the level of hypothesis, typically, which is where the "speculation" sense of the word comes into play. Not that such quibbles matter to conspiracy theorists. 

They fancy themselves power-elite analysts. Cockamamie mainstream explanations for, inter alia, the assassination of President Kennedy or the September 11, 2001 collapse of World Trade Center 7 cannot help but meet with skepticism. This in turn spurs the positing of alternative interpretations. 

Conspiracy theorists will stop theorizing when the Party Line starts exhibiting some tie to reality. It's as simple as that.