What's A Conspiracy Theory Anyway? We Talk UFOs, Gov't Secrets & Journalism w Two WSJ Reporters
What's A Conspiracy Theory Anyway? We Talk UFOs, Gov't Secrets & Journalism w Two WSJ Reporters  
Podcast: Why Should I Trust You?
Published On: Thu Jul 31 2025
Description: With the Jeffrey Epstein saga dominating the conversation for weeks now, it feels like we’re roasting in a summer of conspiracy theories.And given how conspiracy and cover-up play a recurring role in the story we’re exploring about the breakdown of trust in public health and medicine, this week felt as good as any to take on the topic.So, what’s fueling today’s conspiracy theories? And -- hold that thought -- do we as a society even LIKE the phrase conspiracy theory any more? Where’s the line between healthy skepticism and something more destructive? And couldn’t we come up with a better term for the beliefs of people who say they feel dismissed by an establishment that labels their good-faith suspicions as conspiratorial?To help us unpack all this, we’re joined by two Wall Street Journal reporters, Aruna Viswanatha and Joel Schectman. Back in June, they published a major investigative piece that dove into the godfather of all conspiracy theories: the claim that the U.S. military has been secretly studying alien spacecraft for decades.What these reporters uncovered wasn’t what anyone expected and is our jumping-off point for a conversation about conspiracy theories, legitimate suspicion, and how investigative journalism might hold a key to not only getting at the truth, but also rebuilding trust.Hosts:Brinda AdhikariTom JohnsonMaggie BartlettDr. Mark AbdelmalekGuests:Joel Schectman, Wall Street Journal ReporterAruna Viswanatha, Wall Street Journal ReporterAuthors, The Pentagon Disinformation That Fueled America's UFO Mythology https://tinyurl.com/mrxsxxrpResources:Why People Believe Conspiracy Theorieshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/misguided/202506/why-people-believe-conspiracy-theoriesI Was Just About To When My Grant Was Cuthttps://substack.com/home/post/p-169548794MAHA Supporters Weigh in on Kevin Hall Episodehttps://whyshoulditrustyou.substack.com/p/maha-supporters-weigh-in-on-kevinThanks for listening! If you like us, please leave a review, rate us, and please subscribe! Got questions? Comments? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at questions@whyshoulditrustyou.net