I'm the Devil's Advocate on the Trump Council Seeking Signs of Alien Life on Earth. Here's Why.
- Outlet
- The Boston Globe / Ideas
- Format
- Article
- By
- Michael Shermer
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Original source
The Boston Globe / Ideas. “I'm the Devil's Advocate on the Trump Council Seeking Signs of Alien Life on Earth. Here's Why.” October 8, 2026.
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Key points
Michael Shermer, a member of the UAP Science Advisory Council, writes that the council has found no verifiable evidence of extraterrestrial contact so far, explains how redactions limit its analysis of released videos, and ranks ordinary, foreign, and extraterrestrial explanations.
Why it is notable
It is a firsthand account from inside the advisory council, describing its weekly meetings and working limits, and it responds directly to David Grusch's claims on the Joe Rogan Experience.
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Excerpts from the source
“So far, in my opinion, we have found no verifiable evidence of contact with or discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence, although it is striking just how many anomalous phenomena have appeared in our skies (and maybe in our oceans).”
Michael Shermer; Paragraph 4 [source]. Verified against the source October 13, 2026.
“Unfortunately, there are significant practical hurdles to our work: The videos we’re working with are filled with redactions in the form of blacked-out rectangles that presumably contain information that would allow us to calculate distance, speed, location, and size of the UAPs.”
Michael Shermer; Paragraph 5 [source]. Verified against the source October 13, 2026.
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Editorial notes
- This is a council member's signed opinion, not a council finding. The council is advisory and has issued no formal conclusions.
- The 90 to 95 percent figure for ordinary explanations is quoted from Leslie Kean's book, not from council analysis.
- Shermer's summary of Grusch's Rogan claims matches the episode (about 40:11, 2:07:10, and 2:19:07).
Inclusion documents the public conversation. It does not imply endorsement of the source or its claims.