The Cultist's Digest - Truth, Power, and Democracy Under Fire?

A digest for the cult of free thought

June 6, 2025

Welcome to The Cultist’s Digest

Because questioning the mainstream apparently makes me a cultist. Wink.

Because questioning the mainstream apparently makes me a cultist. Wink.

Welcome back to The Cultist's Digest! This week's collection has been particularly thought-provoking—a mix of deep investigations, historical re-examinations, and stories that challenge how we think about power, truth, and accountability.

Here's what I've been consuming lately: How a tiny Gulf nation spent $100 billion to quietly reshape American politics, why your personal government data is being compiled into detailed surveillance profiles, the 80-year royal murder mystery that reveals how power covers its tracks, and the manipulation techniques that fool millions online. From foreign money operations hiding in plain sight to families fighting for justice decades after tragedy struck, these stories don't fit neatly into typical left-right categories. That's exactly the point.

The algorithms want to feed you more of what you already believe. This newsletter does the opposite. Whether it's a provocative take on historical villains, an investigation into government surveillance, or a deep dive into how manipulation works in our digital age, these pieces offer perspectives you might not encounter in your usual media diet.

After all, real independent thinking requires exposure to ideas that make you uncomfortable—especially ones that challenge your assumptions about how the world really works.

"The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos." — H.L. Mencken

Truth Under Attack: The Battle for Information

How we know what we know—and who's trying to control that knowledge.

Decoding Digital Manipulation

The Insane Influencer Logic That Tricked Millions of People

A brilliant breakdown of how wellness influencers use sophisticated manipulation techniques to spread false information. Using the example of an influencer claiming "carrots are not food," this analysis reveals the logical fallacies and psychological tricks that make millions of people believe demonstrably false claims. Essential viewing for anyone trying to navigate today's information landscape.

Historical Mysteries Through Audio Storytelling

The Butterfly King Podcast (Exactly Right)

This gripping World War II murder mystery follows award-winning journalist Becky Milligan as she unravels 80 years of lies and cover-ups around the mysterious death of King Boris III of Bulgaria. When the king suddenly dies amid the chaos of WWII, suspects abound—from Nazi agents to Soviet operatives to his own court. Milligan's investigation reveals a tragic family saga filled with treachery and deceit, showing how even royal deaths can be buried under layers of political convenience. A masterful blend of historical detective work and storytelling that proves the past is never really past.

---

Want to see how the real power games work?

The stories below reveal the hidden mechanics of influence that shape everything from foreign policy to your personal data. These are the investigations that don't make it into your algorithmic feed—but probably should.

Become a paid subscriber to access the full newsletter, including:

• How Qatar spent $100 billion to buy American influence

• The government surveillance system being built with your data

• Why democracy's biggest critic now influences the White House

• A video reassessment of history's most brutal dictator

• Decades-long quests for justice when institutions fail

---