Conspiracy theory in the sense that the expression is universally used, is a misnomer. These are not theories. They are narratives that hook their targets by making this claim: the story you’ve been told is false; this is the real story. They entice their audience with the promise of unveiling secrets. They appeal to the vanity of their audience by offering access to secrets about which the rest of us have been fooled. They help outsiders feel like insiders.

A real conspiracy theory does something else. It presents a web of connections that warrant deeper investigation. It is inherently speculative, but doesn’t present these speculations as conclusions. It is a call for inquiry. Above all, it is an honest attempt to unearth the truth.

This is how I would characterize Zev Shalev’s ongoing effort to piece together the Epstein story.

If Shalev’s findings can be fleshed out and substantiated by additional investigative reporting, the Epstein story will turn out to have wider ramifications than Watergate as it exposes the extent to which American politics over the last several decades, has been shaped by Israel, Russia, intelligence agencies, and organized crime.