Hunting for the Mind-Breaking Plants of Project ARTICHOKE
In late 1952, a CIA scientist was quietly preparing for a multi-week research mission into the jungles and highlands of Mexico. His goal wasn’t academic. It was operational. He was tasked with locating, testing, and extracting specific narcotic and toxic plants...
Broadcast Station in Cyprus Reported Middle East Instability to CIA in 1948
A declassified document dated September 1, 1948, from the Near East Broadcasting Station in Cyprus provides a rare snapshot of early CIA monitoring efforts in the Middle East-focused on radio transmissions, propaganda narratives, and regional public sentiment. The...
Inside the Expansion of Project BLUEBIRD
By the early 1950s, Project BLUEBIRD had evolved beyond theory. The CIA was actively building interrogation teams, exploring chemical and hypnotic control, and embedding psychological research inside foreign operations. This document proposed a sweeping expansion:...
The CIA and U.S. Congress Battled Over Oswald’s Mexico Files
In the wake of President Kennedy’s assassination, tensions quickly escalated between the CIA and Congressional investigators. A declassified 1977 CIA memo, written by Russell B. Holmes, reveals the depth of mistrust and institutional friction as the agency was accused...
CIA Analysts Review Psychic Intelligence Notes
A newly surfaced document reveals internal CIA commentary on what’s referred to as the "Black Notebook Materials"-a set of unconventional intelligence notes tied to the government’s experiments with psychic phenomena. This wasn’t speculative fiction. These materials...
