New Government UAP Council Announced & $2.5 Million Psychic Fraud Case

This week on Headlines from the Beyond:

Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has been tasked by the White House and several federal agencies with assembling a new UAP Science Advisory Council aimed at helping the government better understand the nature of unidentified anomalous phenomena. The council brings together experts from disciplines ranging from physics and computer science to psychology, anthropology, philosophy, and oceanography. We break down the council's mission, who is involved—including skeptic Michael Shermer and anthropologist Peter Skafish—and what it means that the group will operate without access to classified information while advising a larger government UAP Governance Board.

We also examine a major psychic fraud case that resulted in the indictment of a Texas couple accused of stealing more than $2.5 million from emotionally vulnerable victims. According to federal prosecutors, the pair allegedly convinced people they were suffering from curses tied to their finances and persuaded them to liquidate assets, purchase gold, and hand over large sums of money under the promise that the funds would be spiritually cleansed and returned. The case highlights the darker side of the paranormal marketplace and raises important questions about exploitation, belief, and vulnerability.

Finally, we look ahead to Litha, the Summer Solstice, which takes place this Sunday. Celebrated by many contemporary Pagans, witches, and nature-based spiritual traditions, Litha marks the longest day of the year and the moment when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. We discuss the significance of the solstice and point listeners toward our latest Field Notes from the Beyond newsletter for a deeper look at the history, folklore, and modern celebration of this important seasonal festival.

Three stories, one briefing on the strange, the storied, and the extraordinary.

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Show Notes

More Details on the UAP Science Advisory Council

Couple arrested in ‘fortune teller fraud’ that milked $2.5m from customers for a financial ‘cleanse’

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center