Former 9/11 Truther Charlie Veitch on What Convinced Him it Wasn't an Inside Job

In 2011, the BBC went on a mission: to take a minibus load of 9/11 conspiracy theorists on a trip across America in the hopes of convincing members of the troupe with scientific evidence and expert testimony that the terrorist attack was not an "inside job."

The BBC's 9/11 Conspiracy Road Trip

Charlie Veitch, one of five British participants in the documentary-style 9/11 Conspiracy Road Trip, with Irish comedian Andrew Maxwell, was approached by the BBC because of his high profile within the “Truther” community.

However, about three days into filming, something started to happen: Charlie began to change his mind, the only member of the group to do so.

Veitch's story has drawn the interest of skeptics and debunkers who are keen to understand how the he transformed from ardent "truther," to having, with humility, accepted the facts and testimonies he heard during his nine-day ride across America.

“I found my personal truth and you don’t have to agree with me,” Veitch told Maxwell during filming, “but I can’t push propaganda for ideas I no longer believe ... So, I just basically have to take it on the chin and admit I was wrong, be humble about it and just carry on.”

Veitch has since faced a backlash from the very people and community he once identified with and even counted as friends. In a recent interview with Myles Powers, he talked about what led him to change to his mind during filming, as well as how conspiracy theorists reacted to losing one of their more vocal advocates.



“[W]hat I thought when I was in New York on this BBC trip was that to me, the truth was the most important thing. Hence, the “truth” movement, but oh how wrong I was,” says Veitch.

James Randi: TV Psychic Sylvia Browne Wrong Again

The self-proclaimed “psychic” made famous by TV propagators including Montell Williams, Maury Povich and Larry King, is facing the music for giving the family of Amanda Berry false information about her disappearance on The Montell Williams Show in 2004.

Amanda Berry went missing just before her 17th birthday in 2003. Berry’s mother, Louwana Miller, was later told by Sylvia Browne that Berry was dead. Miller would not live to find out that her daughter was indeed alive, held captive for nearly a decade along with two other women -a case that rocked the country. Miller, who died at the age of 43, just three years after her daughter’s disappearance, was convinced by Browne’s words, “She’s not alive, honey,” to the end.

According to Amanda Berry is dead, psychic tells her mother on Montel Williams' show (republished), in an interview with The Plain Dealer’s Stephen Hudak, made shortly after filming the show with Browne, Miller said she was “98 percent” certain about the validity of Browne’s predictions.

Mega Ancient Aliens Takedown

Ancient Aliens Debunked: the movie



Written and produced by Chris White and featuring commentary from Dr. Mike Hesier, (an expert in ancient astronaut debunkery), Ancient Aliens Debunked, is the mother of dismantling the brainless series that is History Channel's Ancient Aliens.

Ancient Aliens Debunked is an incredibly thorough and well researched critique of the outright falsities that Ancient Aliens propagates. Although it is by no means comprehensive, even in the three hour time span, it IS the most comprehensive, step-by-step, video take-down of the ancient astronaut theory, and its major proponents, that currently exists. I am personally hoping for a sequel, I mean, there are four seasons of this show! How much more can this network decay?!

Governor Jesse "the body" Ventura is back on TruTV with more Conspiracy Theory

Jesse Ventura plays the roles of Governor, pro-wrestler and paranoia addled "truth seeker" in this amped up reality tv show. As the video below shows, the Jesse Ventura's Conspiracy Theories is pasted together with rock music, bad acting, fear and FEAR.




The show returns for a third season on TruTV (formerly Court TV) this November. In it's past two seasons, the show has touched on all the major conspiracy theories (from JFK to Area 51), and almost always lends credence to even the most far fetched ones, including the FEMA death camps and HAARP conspiracies. Possibly one of the lowest points of the series came in season one, in which Ventura and his "investigators" propagated the "global warming hoax" theory. I have a feeling that all there is left for this show to tackle are ancient aliens and morgellons.

However, this sort of outrageous programming is nothing new to TruTV, as it has been demonstrated that TruTV executives (along with higher ups from it's parent company, Turner Broadcasting) do not care that many of the network's "reality" programs are indeed faked. As TruTV's motto says, "Not reality. Actuality." Most viewers with a discerning mind may already realize that "reality" TV is not an accurate depiction of the real world. However, shows, including Jesse Ventura's Conspiracy Theories, that are framed as "reality" shows do set up the expectation that the people, events and characters are real and that there is something factual to Ventura's approach to truth seeking. And of course, those who already buy into the idea that some antennas in Alaska cause earthquakes, likely will not be fazed in the least by the cheesy, over-the-topness of the show and fusion with the "reality" genre.

The Travel Channel scores new paranormal reality tv show

From the channel that brought you men who scream like complete bitches in the dark comes another show by one of the men who screams the most at ghosts nothing: "Paranormal Paparazzi." There isn't much information about the program which will air 28th of September at this time. But we do know that "Ghost Adventure's" Zak Bagans is a producer. Keep in mind that while there are plenty of these types of shows out there, The Travel Channel caries some of the absolute worst: Ghost Adventures, The Dead Files (where a psychic and detective team up), and Paranormal Challenge (not as cool as it sounds and also starring Zak Bagans). The show is also hosted and co-produced by Aaron Sagers, the founder of Paranormal Pop Culture website. This site is less about spreading woo and more about reporting on Twilight or other TV and film monsters. However, with Bagans behind the drivers wheel, we might expect cheap and deceptive editing tactics ... and possibly more useless screaming.

The not-so-secret 'Secrets of the Psychics'

It's amazing what you can find on youtube these days. Consider this gem: Secrets of the Psychics, a PBS Nova episode from 1993. James "the Amazing" Randi, conjurer, arch-skeptic and founder of JREF (and the million dollar paranormal challenge), sets about debunking psychic claims including faith healing and spoon bending. As always, Randi sheds light on the deceptive tactics "psychics" use to make their abilities seem unworldly to the untrained eye. For more recent Randi action check out this segment of ABC's 2011 series "Beyond Belief." (below the fold)

Squatchin' with Saget

"Strange days, strange days. Seemed like a good idea at the time ..." sings Bob Saget in the opening credits of "Strange Days," a short-lived series on A&E. The show documents Saget's journey across America where he gains insight into "different and unusual" subcultures. A full year before "Finding Bigfoot" began airing on Animal Planet, Saget spent a week with the Bigfoot Field Research Organization in Washington's Olympic National Park searching for the elusive creature.