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Joe Rogan · 2026-05-07 · 2h 30m

Joe Rogan Experience #2495 - Tim Burchett

Congressman Tim Burchett tells Joe Rogan why he believes the UFO cover-up is real, plus insider trading, the Taliban cash pipeline, and MK Ultra.

Joe Rogan Experience #2495 - Tim Burchett
The guest

Tim Burchett — Republican U.S. Congressman from East Tennessee and former Knox County mayor, known as one of Congress's most outspoken advocates for UFO/UAP disclosure. Son of a WWII Marine, he also makes handmade skateboards.

The gist

Burchett walks Rogan through his years pushing for government disclosure on UFOs/UAPs, describing classified briefings, hostile intelligence officials, and pilots brought in to testify. The conversation widens into what he sees as systemic Washington corruption: congressional insider stock trading, dark money, and billions in cash flowing to the Taliban through NGOs and the UN. They dig into MK Ultra, the Kennedy and Trump assassination attempts, COVID and Big Pharma, and Trump's psychedelics executive order. Burchett repeatedly frames the throughline as powerful interests hiding the truth from ordinary Americans, while sharing personal stories about his WWII-veteran parents.

Big reveals

  • Burchett says he's being briefed by phone the next day at 3pm by an intelligence official about possible disclosure.
  • Reveals a former Trump staffer warned him to 'get some bodies around you' over his UFO push.
  • Argues the disclosure debate is partly a vehicle to grant amnesty for decades of misappropriated black-budget funds.
  • Claims assassination suspects like Thomas Crooks may be MK Ultra-style programmed and that crime scenes are professionally scrubbed.
  • States the Taliban receives roughly $40 million a week, routed via NGOs and UN cash shipments.
  • Says Elon Musk told him NGOs may have stolen over a trillion dollars in funneled federal money.
  • Credits Rick Perry and a veteran friend for converting him into a champion of Trump's psychedelics bill.
  • Recounts a federal employee telling him the President is on a 'need-to-know basis' regarding UFO information.

Things worth remembering

  • Rogan says his Bob Lazar episode is his most-viewed YouTube episode ever at roughly 65-66 million views.
  • Burchett illustrates UFO travel with his 1947 Indian Chief motorcycle taken back to Mayflower-era settlers.
  • Burchett cashed out his entire $11,000 mutual fund and backs a bill banning members from owning individual stocks.
  • More people have played professional baseball than have served in the U.S. Congress.
  • Burchett sleeps on the couch in his D.C. office and showers at the gym because housing there is unaffordable.
  • At a JFK hearing an ER doctor presented a poster arguing the bullets came from two different directions.
  • Burchett hand-makes skateboards from bamboo, oak, and banana fibers but is barred by ethics rules from selling them.
  • One of his handmade skateboards sold at auction for $5,200.
  • The UN reportedly transported at least $2.9 billion in U.S. cash to Afghanistan, with around 80 shipments.
  • Burchett relays the claim that President Jimmy Carter cried when briefed on UFO information.

Recommended in this episode

Books, products and media the guest or host genuinely endorsed here — with the buy link.

Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

RecommendedBook

Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties

Tom O'Neill

“There's a fantastic book called Chaos by Tom O'Neill. It's all about the Manson family. Have you ever read it? It's phenomenal. And it's mind-blowing.” — Joe Rogan 01:16:46
Find it on Amazon
RecommendedBook

Best Evidence: Disguise and Deception in the Assassination of John F. Kennedy

David Lifton

“And there's a great book on it called Best Evidence by David Lifton, and he was an accountant that was hired to go over the Warren Commission Report.” — Joe Rogan 01:22:28
Find it on Amazon
RecommendedMedia

The Age of Disclosure

Dan Farah (inferred)

“the documentary Age of Disclosure, yeah, and you're in that. Um it's really great. If you haven't seen it folks and you're interested in the UFO phenomenon” — Joe Rogan 00:52:55
Find it on Amazon
RecommendedMedia

Ancient Aliens

Prometheus Entertainment (inferred)

“Ancient Aliens. I'm sorry. It's great. that show. I love those guys. They're all great. I love it. I love it.” — Tim Burchett 00:59:14
Find it on Amazon
Guest’s ownProduct

Burchett Board (handmade skateboards)

Tim Burchett

“no, I make skateboards. So, I make this crazy skateboard ... made out of bamboo, oak, and banana fibers off the banana plant.” — Tim Burchett 01:33:51
Find it on Amazon