Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"The way to tell whether something is AI or not is to develop an AI program to answer that question. And then we're going to have to get rid of that AI with them. Then we're going to have to hire Harrison Ford. He's going to have to do Blade Runner 9. And he's going to have to kill that AI." — Ed Larson
"Most of these things, of course, turn out to be misidentifications. A lot of balloons. And so, you do that. But then, in terms of the methodology, radar is a big part of a government UFO investigation." — Nick Pope
"We have now acknowledgement that there have been these programs. We know their names. We know the names of some of the people who ran them. We have some of the videos. We have those three F-18 Ford looking infrared videos that have been released." — Nick Pope
The episode features a conversation with Nick Pope, a former official who investigated UFO sightings for the UK Ministry of Defense. He discusses the evolution of UFO conferences like "Contact in the Desert," noting their growth and the shift in venues. Pope details his past role, which involved investigating sightings for defense, national security, and safety of flight issues. He explains that while the official UK program was terminated, credible sources suggest the work continues. The discussion touches upon the methodology of government investigations, including the use of radar, analysis of imagery by intelligence experts, and the potential for misidentification of advanced, undisclosed military technology.
The conversation delves into the possibility of governments testing classified technology that might resemble UAP sightings, particularly in populated areas, suggesting this could be a form of public reaction testing. Pope clarifies that while civilian research faces significant issues with hoaxes and misinformation, the government's internal processes had experts to discern fakes. He recounts his experience working within the Ministry of Defense, where the topic, despite its unusual nature, was treated as another government job, though it did attract curiosity and jokes.
Finally, the hosts and Pope explore the hypothetical scenario of alien contact, discussing how governments might respond and the potential societal impact, drawing parallels to public reactions during events like the COVID-19 pandemic. Pope emphasizes that governments approach such issues through the lens of threats and opportunities. He highlights the increasing scientific engagement with UAP, with academics like Avi Loeb now openly researching the topic, leading to more data but also more complex questions. The challenge of applying the scientific method to a field often lacking repeatability is noted, alongside the need for better critical thinking and source evaluation among the public and within the ufology community.