Conspiracy Theories

Three generations of the Bush political dynasty have conspiracy theories swirling around them, involving a connection to JFK’s death, the grave of a Native American leader, and a war undertaken for questionable motives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The official story of the Bush family’s rise in America is one of adventure, accomplishment and power. Where does that story begin, and how did they become one of the most powerful political dynasties in American history? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul Bennewitz’s 1981 report sparked multiple conspiracy theories, particularly around the Majestic 12 — a secret government group tasked with investigating extraterrestrial life. It also suggested the use of alien technology in developing spacecraft, and proposed evidence of otherworldly interference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After witnessing multiple UFO sightings around Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, researcher Paul Bennewitz took matters into his own hands — and in 1981, uncovered a secret base where he believed aliens were conspiring with the U.S. government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s distracting at best, and destructive at worst — but what actually causes the Hum? Some say it’s produced by active natural gas lines. Others point to military planes sending low-frequency transmissions. And a few suggest it’s a government attempt at mind control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since it was first reported in England in the 1970s, this low-frequency humming has spread around the world. No one has been able to trace its source. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did the Republican Party plot to hide evidence of Ronald Reagan’s wrongdoing? What was Vice President George H.W. Bush's true role? And did the CIA help the Contras smuggle drugs — and kick off the 1980s crack epidemic? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Throughout the 1980s, Ronald Reagan's administration ran an illegal weapons trade right under Congress's nose. Even today, it's impossible to say for sure who was involved, due to the changing stories and possible cover-ups surrounding the Iran-Contra Affair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The official story of Poe’s ill-fated final journey isn’t the only story. Some believe he was robbed and died from a resulting injury. Or that he was murdered by his future in-laws. Or maybe he was taken prisoner by a gang and tortured… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most historians believe literary icon Edgar Allan Poe died in 1849 of alcohol poisoning. But the circumstances of his death are baffling: Four days before he died, Poe turned up incoherent, wearing someone else’s clothes. What really happened during his delirious final days? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

According to a CIA dossier, the Red Brigade was an unimpressive group of barely competent terrorists. Yet somehow, they managed to kidnap former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro, hold him hostage, and murder him while avoiding capture. Was the Red Brigade getting bolder? Or did they get help from the CIA? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On March 16, 1978, a radical terrorist cell kidnapped former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro, killing his bodyguards and snatching him from his vehicle with tactical precision. How did a tiny, underequipped guerrilla cell pull off one of the most notorious crimes in Italian history? And did they do it alone? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Black Hills Forest in South Dakota is home to Mount Rushmore. Some say that the area is a magnet for paranormal phenomenon. Others claim the monument itself serves as a Presidential Doomsday bunker. Or perhaps, the landmark is a time capsule meant for future civilizations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s been hailed as a “shrine of democracy,” but Mount Rushmore’s history is filled with strong-arming and contention, starting with the stolen land it sits on. And though the sculptor’s designs were never officially completed, some say the U.S. government still has plans for the monument. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The U.S. government refuses to comment on what went on at the Montauk Air Force Base. But several so-called "Montauk boys" have testified about their experiments with sex trafficking, brainwashing, and terrorism. Was Montauk a gruesome, predatory experiment? Or is the truth even more twisted than that? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Officially decommissioned in 1981, the Montauk Air Force Base in New York is rumored to have been the site of government experiments with time travel and mind control. Its decades-old secrets began to unravel in 1984, when engineer Preston Nichols allegedly uncovered repressed memories of their sordid research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In his 1965 rematch with Muhammed Ali, heavyweight boxing champion Sonny Liston went down a little too easily. The suspicious defeat followed him until his mysterious death in 1971, which only fueled the rumors of foul play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Charles “Sonny” Liston was once the heavyweight boxing champion of the world: a human dreadnought built for fighting. But during a match with a newcomer in May 1965, Liston was sent to the mat by an unremarkable punch few spectators even noticed. How could the champion go down so easily? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If the world really is hollow, why have so many scientists covered up the evidence? Is it because the earth's interior holds the key to surviving an apocalypse? Or because it's home to an alien species. Or perhaps we've been living on the inside this whole time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For centuries, human cultures around the world have maintained the earth is hollow—home to spiritual beings or monsters. The idea persisted through Norse legends, Greek mythology, Hindu texts… and into the modern era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fluoridated water may be one of the most controversial federal programs of the past century. In the 1950s, watchdogs argued fluoride was part of a communist plot. More recently, it's been linked to big business interests and mind control programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nearly three out of four U.S. communities add fluoride to their water. Officially, the compound strengthens teeth and helps prevent cavities—but recent studies have suggested it might increase cancer risks and lower IQ. Is fluoridated water a medical marvel, or a poison? And why is the U.S. government afraid to address the evidence against it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Investigating the blast and compiling evidence was a huge undertaking. And in the 25 years since the Oklahoma City bombing, McVeigh was turned into something of a folk hero, with his rhetoric inspiring copycats and seeping into mainstream politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the morning of the attack, McVeigh parked a rental truck below the Murrah building’s daycare center. At 9am, he ignited the bomb’s two-minute fuse and fled. The explosion was catastrophic, and the day thereafter was filled with tragic deaths, miraculous survivals—and the hunt for the person at the center of it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After coming of age in the early ‘90s, Timothy McVeigh became increasingly radicalized against the U.S. government. Witnessing tragic events at Ruby Ridge and Waco motivated him to plan and execute the most devastating incident of domestic terrorism in American history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2020 marks the 25th anniversary of this devastating attack: On April 19, 1995, a U.S. Army veteran named Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck bomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring hundreds more. Join us on a four-part series examining the event. In this first episode, we look at the historic underpinnings of domestic terrorism in the U.S., and chronicle the events that triggered McVeigh’s revenge against the government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fifty years after Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance, no one knows how he died or where he was buried. Did the FBI push him out of a plane? Was he murdered by the notorious serial killer "The Iceman"? Or was it his best friend and mob associate, Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the 1950s to 1970s, Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa was America's working class hero. But his ties to the mob landed him in hot water, and on July 30, 1975, Hoffa vanished outside of a Detroit restaurant—never to be seen again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some theories about the Spear of Destiny are as old as the lance itself. Does it actually hold occult powers and a terrible curse? Was it the reason Hitler invaded Austria? And is it possible that many of history's conquerors shared the same sword—or were there duplicates? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The lance that pierced Jesus on the cross is said to hold mystical powers. Passed down through history from Charlemagne to Otto I to Adolf Hitler, the Spear of Destiny brings impossible victories to those who wield it… and tragic death to those who abandon it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the U.S.S. Eldridge disappeared in a green fog, theories surrounding the failed Naval project ran rampant. Some say it sparked other government operations. Others say they saw the ship teleport to Norfolk, Virginia. And one first-hand witness claims the project allowed him to travel through time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In October 1943, the U.S.S. Eldridge became enveloped in a green fog and disappeared in the Philadelphia Shipyard. Years later, Carlos Allende's claims about what happened were dismissed as a hoax—until more witnesses came forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To this day, no one is quite certain of how composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died. He was well-liked by the public, but had enemies all around. Was he poisoned by his rival, Antonio Salieri? Or did his connections to the Freemasons get him killed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On December 5th, 1791, one of the greatest composers of all time died at the age of 35. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s death immediately sparked questions about what befell him. Some wondered if it was a strange illness, while others believed there was a more sinister cause… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the Titanic sank, people searched for something—or someone—to blame. Millionaire J.P. Morgan, insurance fraud, and even a cursed mummy were all speculated to be the malevolent force behind the ship’s demise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage in 1912, over 1,500 people lost their lives… and to this day, many wonder if poor planning, negligent design, and undertrained crew members played a role in the devastating event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

His untimely death in 1996 left fans searching for answers. Some say Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight helped orchestrate his murder, but sightings of the late rapper have sparked theories that Tupac is still alive… And that he may even be performing in disguise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1996, rap artist Tupac Shakur was shot and killed just off the Las Vegas Strip. Many believe his assailants were members of the Los Angeles Southside Crips, but no one has ever been convicted of his murder. In fact, some say that Tupac Shakur may still be alive... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He was killed by police outside Chicago's Biograph Theater on July 22nd, 1934. But some theorists believe John Dillinger used an innocent man as a decoy to fake his own death. And he may have even had help from the FBI and other inside sources throughout his criminal career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By the 1930s, John Dillinger pulled off 24 bank heists and three jailbreaks—making him Public Enemy Number One. He was one of the most famous celebrity criminals in history, until he was shot and killed by the FBI outside Chicago's Biograph Theater in 1934. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since its establishment in 1913, the Federal Reserve has been primed for conspiracies. Some believe it was the Fed that intentionally caused the Great Depression. Others claim they had a hand in JFK's assassination. While many feel the Fed might be part of a secret society's plot to establish a New World Order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1910, six wealthy bankers met in secret on Jekyll Island, Georgia. There, they drafted up the plans for America's centralized bank, better known today as, The Federal Reserve. "The Fed" is completely autonomous from the U.S. government making it one of the most powerful private organizations in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2010, word spread online that things around the world were changing. From beloved children's books to the titles of movies, people were finding out that what they had once remembered as fact was now false. This is now known as the Mandela Effect, and people are still trying to figure out its cause. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Matrix is considered to be one of the greatest science fiction films of all time. But what if its central idea was based more in fact than fiction? The Simulation Theory suggests that every living thing today is living inside of a computer simulation. And some of the greatest minds of our time believe it may be true... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When a major earthquake hit the Caribbean in 2010, conspiracy theorists started studying the skies—noting peculiar low-frequency wavelengths. Between environmental catastrophes, a failed NASA mission, and government mind control technologies, HAARP's weather-modifying apparatus has been blamed for altering far more than just the weather. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After his sudden death in 1943, Nikola Tesla never saw his plans for an earth-shaking death ray to fruition. But in the late 1980s, it's possible the government did. Switching hands from major gas corporations to U.S. Department of Defense teams, the High Auroral Research Program in Alaska raised far more questions than they did answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After General Butler's claims were heard by the Special Committee on Un-American Activities in 1934, he was called a liar and a fraud. But others believed the respected General's testimony was authentic, and the Committee may have been in on the fascist plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the 1930s, many felt that Franklin Delano Roosevelt’'s New Deal program erred too far on the side of socialism. A former U.S. General was subsequently roped into a plan to overthrow FDR in an attempt to establish a new fascist regime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Demonic possession, alien technology, and a secret base in Antarctica—it all seems like the stuff of science fiction. But for many, it's the explanation for how Adolf Hitler rose to power...and how he might have survived World War II. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many have wondered how someone as evil as Adolf Hitler came to power. Between his rise from anonymous artist to fanatical dictator, his obsession with so-called miracle weapons, and his final days in an underground bunker, some feel as though there is more to Hitler's story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices