Siberia, USA
Listen to this episode and the rest of One Year: 1955 at Slate.com.
When Alaskans wanted their own mental-health facility, a rumor took hold all over America. I trace the origins of that far-right conspiracy theory: that the government was building a concentration camp where Americans would get imprisoned for their political beliefs. Get ready for a strange tale that involves a brainwashing manual, Scientology, and a vast network of Communist-hunting housewives.
September 21, 2023.