How a Conspiracy Theory About Missing Scientists Made Its Way to the White House
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
From birtherism to QAnon, Donald Trump has a well-documented history of embracing conspiracy theories. So it was only a matter of time before a vague theory about the deaths and disappearances of 11 scientists, which has been swirling for weeks in tabloids and on podcasts, reached the White House. In quick succession, the House Oversight Committee and the FBI both sprang into action following Trump’s promise last week to look into a potential link between the seemingly unrelated cases. But for conspiracy theory experts, writes VF’s Dan Adler, the missing-scientists saga similarly falls apart on any closer inspection. “It’s one of those things where once you start looking into the details,” paranormal investigator Benjamin Radford told him, “the mystery sort of vanishes.”
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CAITLIN DICKSON,
SENIOR EDITOR
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A haphazard grouping of recent cases emerged from what one paranormal investigator describes as “mystery-mongering data mining.” It also made for ideal fodder for the president and our leading media personalities alike.
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“Off the record!” one woman shouts in my direction after detailing a sexy secret.
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Actors are still resistant, but high-profile multihyphenates like Ben Affleck are looking for ways that AI can help filmmakers without replacing creatives.
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Joseph P. Kennedy’s brief Hollywood reign, from 1926 to 1930—during which he ran three studios, spearheaded the talkie revolution, and created the prototype for the modern entertainment empire—has gone largely unexamined, overshadowed by his founding of America’s greatest political dynasty. As disclosed in rarely seen archives, the Boston financier devastated the careers of two major stars, one of them his mistress Gloria Swanson, in the merciless pursuit of movie-industry fortune.
From the June 2015 issue, Cari Beauchamp reveals how Kennedy became the first (and only) outsider to take Hollywood for a ride, while succumbing to its ultimate seduction.
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posted by Francis Dwight at 1:45 PM
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