The Secret Origins of 'Conspiracy Theory'
A new book shows how a phrase made its way from the crime pages to our political arguments—and picked up a passel of meanings along the way.
Conspiracy Theories
Tulsi Gabbard's Not-So-Shocking Revelation of U.S.-Funded Veterinary Biolabs in Ukraine
Trump's director of national intelligence revives a Russian disinformation campaign on her way out.
Hunter Biden and Candace Owens Are BFFs Now
Hunter Biden blames "the Epstein class" for turning on his dad.
Jared Polis' Controversial Commutation of Tina Peters' Prison Sentence Upholds Freedom of Speech
Colorado's governor agreed with a state appeals court that the former Mesa County clerk had been punished for her wacky beliefs about the 2020 election as well as her illegal conduct.
The Daily Mail's Dishonesty About Charlie Kirk's Alleged Killer
This is how a conspiracy theory grows.
Ex-Prince Andrew's Arrest Shows the Epstein Scandal Isn't Just About Sex
The king's brother is under investigation for old-fashioned corruption—something Epstein excelled in.
How the Epstein Files Became the Ultimate Conspiracy Theory
Michael Shermer examines the psychology behind pattern seeking, the limits of suspicion, and how the Epstein files fuel conspiracy thinking.
The Epstein Files Obsessives Keep Lying About Their Critics
Tara Palmeri insinuated that Michael Tracey disagrees with her because he's paid by Epstein associates. That's a lie.
Epstein Files Fuel Online Outrage at Figures With No Criminal Allegations
"My wife and I have received many threatening and malicious emails, texts, and voicemails the past several days."
Epstein Files: FBI Tracked Down Anonymous 4chan Conspiracy Theorist
The Department of Justice released subpoenas for personal information on two anonymous commenters claiming to have inside knowledge about Jeffrey Epstein's death.
The Epstein Files Are Becoming a Witch Hunt
"This type of broad reveal of criminal investigative files, released to a rabid media, will absolutely result in innocent people being hurt," warned Clay Higgins.
Elon Musk Said Rand Paul Is the One Person in Washington Who 'Gets It'
In an interview with Reason, CNN's Scott Jennings recounts the conversation he had with the tech entrepreneur about his distaste for exorbitant government spending.
CNN's Scott Jennings: The Conservative Movement's Identity Crisis
Scott Jennings discusses life as a conservative at CNN, Trump’s record a year into his second term, and how figures like Candace Owens damage the right.
How Marjorie Taylor Greene Went From QAnon Acolyte to MAGA Exile
You don't need a detailed theory to explain the departing congresswoman's journey.
Jeffrey Epstein: Trump 'Spent Hours At My House' With Victim
Congressional investigators released emails from the late sex trafficker discussing how to leverage his relationship with the future president.
Lindy-Hopping Nazis and Golems With Guns: The Return of Thomas Pynchon
In Shadow Ticket, characters are forever finding refuge in the folds of the map.
The Conspiracy Theorists Who Claim Kamala Harris Really Won in 2024
Echoes of Trump's 2020 delusions are reborn in blue.
Michael Tracey: Cutting Through the Jeffrey Epstein Fog
Journalist Michael Tracey discusses problems with what he call the "Epstein mythology" on the latest episode of Just Asking Questions.
National Conservatism Has a Bigotry Problem, Whether Yoram Hazony Wants To Admit It or Not
"Nobody ever said that to be a good natcon you have to love Jews," Hazony declared at last week's National Conservatism Conference.
How Elite Special Operations Troops Created a Drug Cartel
A bizarre criminal conspiracy in the ranks of the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg
Why Trump Can't Make the Epstein Story Kill Itself
Ginned-up mobs don't love nuance!
What Should Libertarians Make of the Epstein Files?
Plus: Tulsi Gabbard accuses Obama of treason, Congress slashes NPR funding, and a listener asks if we actually like each other.
Enigmas Never Age
Plus: Throuple reproduction, weight-loss drug competition, and more...
How a Government Mind Control Experiment Backfired
Historian John Lisle uncovers how Cold War paranoia, LSD, and unchecked power led the CIA to fund torture, deception, and mind control experiments on unwitting Americans.
There's Probably No 'Smoking Gun' in the JFK or Epstein Cases. We Should Be Allowed To Look Anyway.
You don't need to uncover a vast conspiracy to find valuable revelations—and without transparency, you don't know what revelations might be there.
Review: Was Charles Manson Carrying Out a CIA Experiment?
Errol Morris' new Netflix documentary explores alternative theories of the Manson cult's infamous 1969 murders.
New Oklahoma Curriculum Requires Students To Learn 2020 Election Fraud Conspiracies
The new standards are "the most unapologetically conservative, pro-America social studies standards in the nation," according to State Superintendent Ryan Walters.
RFK Jr. Hires a Vaccine 'Skeptic' To Find the Cause of Autism
A perfect example of waste, fraud, and abuse.
The Conspiracy Jokers
A new book explores the legacy of the Report on Iron Mountain, while another probes the life of the novelist and essayist Robert Anton Wilson.
The Sad Quest for a Secret 'Epstein Client List'
The Trump administration’s spectacle rehashed information that journalists, lawyers, and victims had already unveiled.
Will FBI Director Kash Patel Be a Principled Reformer or a Trump Hatchet Man?
The newly confirmed head of the country's leading law enforcement agency has a history of advocating politically motivated investigations even while condemning them.
When Yoga Sparked a Sex Panic
"Hindu mystics" with "swarthy faces and dreamy-looking eyes" once had Uncle Sam in a tizzy.
Jim O'Shaughnessy: Don't Squander This Age of Innovation
Wall Street legend Jim O’Shaughnessy discusses how to live well and innovate boldly during the age of Trump, Musk, and AI.
FBI Nominee Kash Patel, Who Vowed To 'Come After' Trump's Enemies, Disclaims 'Retributive Actions'
At his confirmation hearing, the president's pick to run the nation's leading law enforcement agency ran away from his record as a MAGA zealot.
Michael Shermer: Conspiracy Thinking, Wokeness, and the Future of Free Thought
The founder of Skeptic magazine discusses whether conspiracy thinking is on the rise and whether it's coded right or left.
Police Data: N.J. Drone Sightings Concentrated Along Airport Flight Paths
Are New Jerseyans mistaking normal airplanes for mysterious drones?
No, an Iranian 'Mothership' Isn't Attacking New Jersey With UFOs
The wave of drone sightings is sparking sci-fi speculation mixed with war fever.
Kash Patel's QAnon Dalliances Reflect an Outlook That Pits Trump Against Evil Conspirators
The president-elect's pick for FBI director says he rejects some of the right-wing sect's bizarre beliefs but agrees with "a lot of what the movement says."
Why Socialists Are Cheering the Death of an Insurance CEO
Plus: A listener asks the editors if libertarians are more prone to believing in conspiracy theories.
Starlink Election Fraud Claims Show Dems Are Not Immune to Conspiracy Theories
The spread of conspiracy theories in response to a bruising electoral loss is not only found on the political right.
Trump Is Not Thoughtful Enough To Be a Fascist
The Republican presidential candidate’s views do not reflect any unifying principle other than self-interest.
Thierry Malleret: Is the Great Reset Underway?
Great Reset co-author Thierry Malleret discusses stakeholder capitalism, libertarianism, and his new book satirizing the World Economic Forum on Just Asking Questions.
The 'Day of Jihad' That Never Came
One year ago, political figures spread a false terrorism panic that made everyone less free—and incited violence against a child.
War Game Documents an All-Star Political Live-Action Role-Playing Game
What happened when some officials role-played a bigger, noisier rerun of January 6, 2021
J.D. Vance Promoted Rumors of Pet-Eating Immigrants Even After Learning They Were 'Baseless'
To justify his misinformation, the Republican vice presidential candidate cited a report from a woman whose lost cat turned up, very much alive, in her own basement.
Who Wanted To Kill Henry Kissinger?
Newly released FBI files show a lot of strange threats against the former secretary of state’s safety—and say a lot about 1970s America.
J.D. Vance Says It Does Not Matter Whether 'Rumors' of Pet-Eating Migrants Are True
Donald Trump's running mate says he is willing to "create stories" if they help call attention to the costs of lax immigration policies.
