Jay Stratton and the Fight for UFO Transparency

Micha Verg

Hey everyone, welcome back to the UFO Timeline Project Podcast. I’m Micha Verg, and as always, I’m here with Victoria Bakken. Today’s episode is a big one—maybe the biggest name in government UFO investigation right now: Jay Stratton.

Victoria Bakken

Yeah, if you’ve been following the news, you’ve probably seen his name pop up everywhere lately. Stratton’s been called the most important government UFO investigator ever, and honestly, that’s not an exaggeration. He’s been at the center of AAWSAP, AATIP, and the UAP Task Force. That’s like, the trifecta of government UFO programs.

Micha Verg

And what’s wild is, for years, he was totally behind the scenes. But now, he’s finally stepped into the spotlight with that Weaponized podcast interview—Jeremy Corbell and George Knapp, those guys always get the big scoops. Stratton’s story is just... it’s a game changer for the whole UFO community.

Victoria Bakken

Let’s talk about his work for a second. Stratton led investigations into some of the most famous cases, like the “Tic Tac” incident off the USS Nimitz. And he’s the guy who helped push the shift from “UFO” to “UAP”—which, I mean, that’s the term everyone uses now, even in Congress.

Micha Verg

Yeah, and that wasn’t just a rebranding for the sake of it. The whole “UAP” thing made it easier for officials to talk about these cases without all the flying saucer baggage. It’s like, suddenly, you could have a serious conversation about this stuff in the Pentagon. Stratton was right at the heart of that change.

Micha Verg

And, you know, it reminds me of something my dad told me—he was an airline pilot and a World War Two vet. Back in the 1950s, he had his own close encounter. He always said, “It’s not about what you want to believe, it’s about what you saw.” That’s why credible witnesses, like the Navy pilots in the Tic Tac case, matter so much. Stratton gets that. He’s all about the evidence, not just the stories.

Victoria Bakken

That’s such a good point. And it’s kind of a theme we keep coming back to on this podcast, right? Like with the Boianai case or even Roswell—credible witnesses change everything. Stratton’s work is built on that foundation.

Victoria Bakken

But with all that visibility comes, well, controversy. Stratton’s role has been questioned by some insiders and skeptics. There’s this whole narrative that government UFO programs are just elaborate disinformation campaigns. Corbell and Knapp really dug into that in their Weaponized interview with him.

Micha Verg

Yeah, and it’s not just about Stratton personally. There’s this bigger fight over transparency. Some of these attacks on him, they’re not just about him—they’re about casting doubt on all UFO cases, all witnesses, even future whistleblowers. It’s like, if you can muddy the waters enough, nobody knows what to believe anymore.

Victoria Bakken

Exactly. And it’s not the first time we’ve seen this. Remember when we talked about the Cash-Landrum case? The witnesses there faced all kinds of pushback and skepticism, even though their story was so detailed and their health was affected. It’s almost like there’s a playbook for discrediting people who come forward.

Micha Verg

Totally. And Stratton, in his interview, he talks about the internal struggle inside the Pentagon. Some people want to keep everything secret, others are pushing for disclosure. It’s not just black and white. He even said the process is slow and full of obstacles, which, I mean, that’s kind of the story of every government UFO investigation, right?

Victoria Bakken

And the attacks on his credibility—some of them come from former Defense Department insiders. It’s like, the more you try to bring things into the light, the more resistance you get. Stratton’s not the first to go through this, and he probably won’t be the last.

Micha Verg

Yeah, and it’s interesting, because as more whistleblowers come forward, the pushback just gets louder. But at the same time, the public is paying more attention than ever. It’s this weird tug-of-war between secrecy and the demand for answers.

Victoria Bakken

One thing I really appreciated in Stratton’s interview was how much he emphasized the need for credible evidence. He’s not about wild speculation—he wants sensor data, he wants reliable witness testimony. That’s what he’s fighting for, and honestly, that’s what the public deserves.

Micha Verg

Yeah, and he’s super clear about how frustrating the process is. The government is under more pressure than ever to release information, but it’s still slow, and there are so many roadblocks. Stratton’s story is a reminder that there are people on the inside who actually want transparency, even if the system is, well, kinda built to resist it.

Victoria Bakken

And you can see his influence in the way the conversation about UAPs has changed. Like, even just a few years ago, the media would have laughed this stuff off. Now, you’ve got Congress debating UAP legislation, and mainstream outlets actually taking it seriously. That’s partly because of people like Stratton pushing for credible evidence and public disclosure.

Micha Verg

It’s wild to think how far we’ve come, honestly. I mean, building on what we talked about in the K2-18b episode, the whole idea of what’s possible is shifting. But it’s only possible because people are demanding real data, not just stories. Stratton’s a big part of that shift.

Victoria Bakken

And the fight’s not over. Corbell and Knapp said it best—the hope is that as more insiders like Stratton come forward, the truth will finally break through all the noise. We’ll be here tracking it, as always.

Micha Verg

Alright, that’s gonna do it for today’s episode. If you haven’t checked out Stratton’s Weaponized interview, seriously, go listen to it. And let us know what you think—are we finally getting closer to real answers, or is it just more of the same?

Victoria Bakken

Thanks for joining us on the UFO Timeline Project Podcast. Don’t forget to subscribe, and keep the conversation going with us on social. Micha, always a pleasure.

Micha Verg

You too, Victoria. And to everyone out there—keep looking up. See you next time!