A Lie Too Big to Fail: The Real History of the Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy

This episode features Lisa Pease, a longtime Kennedy researcher, discussing her book 'A Lie Too Big to Fail,' which presents a conspiracy theory regarding Robert F. Kennedy's 1968 assassination. Pease argues that the official narrative—that Sirhan Sirhan acted alone—is false, and that the Los Angeles Police Department deliberately silenced witnesses, altered evidence, and destroyed records to cover up a broader conspiracy. The episode claims the trial was a 'sham' and that the prosecution deliberately avoided following evidentiary leads. Pease contends that Sirhan may have been a 'mind-controlled assassin' rather than a willing participant, and asserts that independent researchers (rather than government bodies) must investigate such crimes because governments cannot objectively investigate themselves. The episode positions RFK's assassination within a broader pattern of high-profile murders and attempted murders of the era, suggesting overlaps between cases. Pease claims to identify who planned the assassination, who the assassination team members were, and why Kennedy was deemed a threat to those in power. The framing emphasizes that listeners should form their own theories based on the evidence presented, though the show notes suggest Pease has already reached firm conclusions about culpability and motive.

Verdict: This episode presents unverified conspiracy claims about RFK's assassination with confident assertions but limited transparent evidence, making it engaging for conspiracy enthusiasts but problematic for listeners seeking rigorous true crime analysis.

True Crime rubric

• Research depth 3/5 25%

  Pease is described as a 'longtime Kennedy researcher' with detailed claims about evidence alteration and witness silencing, but the show notes provide no specifics about primary sources, interviews conducted, or documentary evidence reviewe

• Storytelling n/a

  Show notes describe content and claims but provide no information about narrative structure, pacing, or how the episode is organized or presented.

• Respect for victims 2/5 19%

  The framing emphasizes conspiracy theories and speculation (mind control, hidden assassination teams) over respectful examination of RFK's death; the sensationalized language ('sham trial,' 'deemed such a threat he had to be taken out') sug

• Substance 3/5 19%

  The episode covers specific claims about evidence tampering, witness suppression, and conspiracy theory, but relies heavily on assertions without the show notes demonstrating concrete examples, documents, or corroborating sources.

• Delivers on its title 3/5 19%

  The title promises 'the real history' of RFK's assassination; the episode delivers alternative conspiracy claims but frames them as definitive truth rather than contested theory, which is a partial delivery on the promise.

• Value for time 3/5 19%

  At 57 minutes, the episode length is reasonable for a deep-dive interview, but without details on pacing or structure, it's difficult to assess whether the runtime is justified or contains padding.

How we score True Crime

Worth it if you're interested in alternative RFK assassination theories and don't require mainstream scholarly consensus, but skip it if you want evidence-based true crime with transparent sourcing.

Content flags

• Clickbait The title 'The Real History' implies definitive truth, but the content presents contested conspiracy theories as established fact without acknowledging mainstream historical consensus or the speculative nature of claims like 'mind-controlled assassin.'

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.