What The Files Say

About this site

Conspiracy theories, read against the documents.

Some of the wildest-sounding conspiracy theories turned out to be true: the CIA really did run MKUltra, the FBI really did run COINTELPRO, and the Pentagon really did draft Operation Northwoods. Others have no support in the record at all. Most fall somewhere in between.

What The Files Say takes one theory at a time and asks a simple question: what do the documents actually show? Each file follows the same format:

  1. What the theory says, in its popular form.
  2. Why people believe it, fairly stated.
  3. What's on the record, with links to primary sources.
  4. What's unproven or disputed.
  5. Open questions the record hasn't answered.

We're not here to sneer at anyone. Curiosity about what governments hide is healthy, and history shows it's sometimes justified. We just want the documents on the table.

Funding

Some pages link to books and documentaries on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. See the disclosure. No advertiser or affiliate program influences a rating.

Images

All graphics on this site, including the folder logo, stamps and redaction bars, are original designs made for the site. No third-party images are used.