In this case take stupid to mean gullible.

Academically accomplished people were especially prone to being gullible on account of the propaganda all coming from within their peer group. Some high IQ people saw through the scam. Those that did tended to be on the margins of polite society already, or had a developed distrust of big government. In seeing through the Covid psy-op, being unemployed or a beat-down blue collar guy was a distinct advantage.

In this case take stupid to mean gullible.

Academically accomplished people were unusually prone to being gullible on account of the propaganda all coming from within their peer group. Some high IQ people saw through the scam. Those that did tended to be on the margins of polite society already, or had a developed distrust of big government. In seeing through the Covid psy-op, being unemployed or a beat-down blue collar guy was a distinct advantage.