There is a big difference between Intelligence and Critical Thinking. Critical Thinking is how humans are supposed to think, but it takes training and practice to get really good at it. If you aren’t introduced to Critical Thinking Skills at an early age, then you substitute a sort of chaotic thinking, that tries to connect dots between known data points, and extrapolates weird conclusions, instead of thinking through the evidence with proper Critical Thinking Skills.

That’s how you end up with smart people who make dumb decisions. They have the intelligence to retain knowledge, etc. but if you can’t think properly, then you can’t apply that knowledge properly. Eventually you end up on a weird path, applying your intelligence to a poorly designed strategy.

Nothing helps citizens resist propaganda like Critical Thinking Skills, which is why Republicans have actively suppressed the teaching of Critical Thinking Skills in schools for decades, because that creates citizens who will listen to the Conservative Propaganda Machine without questioning it. That makes them easy to manipulate, which is the objective of every politician.