When news emerged on September 26, 2022 that explosions occurred at points along the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipelines, the information space lit up quickly. The loudest, most insistent talking point that emerged came both from pro-Kremlin mouthpieces and right-wing pro-Trump Americans. They claimed that the United States covertly—either through the shadowy “Deep State” or “The Regime” or a clandestine CIA operation—carried out the attacks on Joe Biden’s order. The reason given for this action varied. It included speculation that this was done to punish Russia for continuing their war of choice in Ukraine. Others asserted that this was done to intentionally provoke Russia and push us closer to World War III by those who somehow see this as a favorable outcome. Other explanations included the claim that the United States was punishing Germany for its overreliance on Russian gas and hoped this shock to the system would encourage the Germans to up their assistance to the Ukrainian cause. The supposed justifications are too numerous to list, and they are based on scant evidence with heavy doses of conjecture.