I don't think that's fighting stupid with stupid, but more so pitching black-sheep thinking to someone who likes the idea of being a black sheep.

Your first example isn't entirely unlikely (I'd make it part of my effort if I were trying to destabilise a country) and as you said, the second example isn't too stupid.

A friend of mine dated a woman recently and she was partial to some qanon business. When he carefully probed with an argument to see how firm her thinking was, she said literally "I don't want to change my mind," which is likely quite insightful.