If you’re a fan of Joe Rogan’s podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, you know it’s the place where wild ideas collide with hard-hitting reality. Recently, former CIA officer Mike Baker dropped by, and the conversation took a sharp turn into one of America’s most enduring mysteries: the JFK assassination files. Buckle up, because this episode wasn’t just a casual chat—it was a dive into the murky waters of government secrets, conspiracy theories, and what might still be lurking in the shadows.
Who Is Mike Baker?
For the uninitiated, Mike Baker is a ex-CIA operative turned media personality. He’s not your stereotypical spook—think less James Bond and more “guy who’s seen some shit and isn’t afraid to talk about it.” Baker’s been on Rogan’s show before, bringing his insider perspective to topics ranging from intelligence ops to UFOs. But this time, the spotlight landed on the newly released JFK documents, and Baker didn’t disappoint.
The JFK Files: What’s New?
In early 2025, President Donald Trump ordered the release of previously classified files related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy—an event that’s spawned more conspiracy theories than Area 51. The FBI recently uncovered 2,400 new records, digitized and handed over to the National Archives. Historians are cautiously optimistic, but conspiracy buffs? They’re losing their minds—and for good reason.
Baker, with his CIA background, offered a skeptical take. On the podcast, he compared the document dumps to “throwing scraps to the dogs.” He suggested that while the releases might look like transparency, the really juicy stuff—the kind that could rewrite history—probably isn’t in there. “You don’t survive in the agency without knowing how to bury the lede,” he quipped to Rogan. Translation? The CIA’s had decades to sanitize anything that might point fingers at, say, their own involvement.
Conspiracy Corner: What’s Baker Hinting At?
Here’s where it gets fun. Rogan, never one to shy away from a good conspiracy, pressed Baker on the big question: Was the CIA complicit in JFK’s death? Baker didn’t bite—not fully—but he didn’t exactly shut it down either. He danced around it, saying, “The agency’s negligence is more likely than a smoking gun.” Negligence, huh? That’s a polite way of saying they might’ve known Oswald was a loose cannon and did nothing—or worse.
This isn’t new territory for conspiracy theorists. The CIA’s been a favorite scapegoat since the ’60s, with theories ranging from Kennedy’s fallout with the agency over the Bay of Pigs to his alleged plans to dismantle their power. Baker’s coy responses only fuel the fire. When Rogan asked if the files could reveal a second shooter or a grassy knoll cover-up, Baker shrugged: “If there’s a bombshell, it’s buried under so much red tape it’d take Mulder and Scully to find it.”
The Mike Baker Effect
What makes Baker compelling isn’t just his creds—it’s his vibe. He’s got that dry, seen-it-all humor that pairs perfectly with Rogan’s wide-eyed curiosity. When they riffed on the absurdity of Oswald drinking a Coca-Cola post-assassination (a detail some theorists link to a “sugar-drunk” mind-control plot), you could hear Baker’s smirk through the mic. “Yeah, Joe, the real killer was high fructose corn syrup,” he deadpanned. It’s moments like that where you realize he’s not here to preach—he’s here to poke holes and let you connect the dots.
Why the JFK Files Still Matter
Sixty-plus years after November 22, 1963, why are we still obsessed? Maybe it’s because the official story—lone gunman, magic bullet—feels like a script that doesn’t add up. The Zapruder film shows JFK’s head snapping back, hinting at a shot from the front. Witnesses swore they heard gunfire from the grassy knoll. And then there’s Jack Ruby conveniently silencing Oswald before he could talk. Baker didn’t confirm any of this, but he didn’t have to—his skepticism spoke volumes.
The new files might not name names, but they could shed light on Oswald’s Mexico City trip in ’63, where he met a Soviet KGB officer. Was he a pawn in a bigger game? Did the CIA fumble surveillance? Baker hinted that any embarrassing intel—like the agency missing a neon sign screaming “this guy’s trouble”—might be the real story here.
Final Thoughts: Trust No One
Mike Baker on Joe Rogan was a masterclass in saying a lot without saying too much. For conspiracy lovers, it’s catnip: a former CIA guy casting doubt on the establishment narrative, even if he’s not ready to spill the full tea. The JFK files are out there now, ripe for digging. Will they prove the Mob, the CIA, or even Lyndon Johnson had a hand in it? Probably not outright. But as Baker implied, the absence of a smoking gun doesn’t mean there’s no smoke.
So, grab your tinfoil hat, fire up the podcast, and start sifting through those files. Because if Mike Baker’s taught us anything, it’s that the truth isn’t handed to you—it’s something you chase.
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