This is why the lead singer of Blink 182 is emailing Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager about UFOs

It’s 2016—everything is weird and nothing is shocking anymore. That is the unwritten rule of this election cycle, the year when every headline could potentially end with, “because, of course it is.”

And then this: a trove of emails released by Wikileaks recently revealed that Tom DeLonge, the former lead singer of Blink 182, has been emailing Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta, about secret UFO stuff, because, of course he has.

The emails, first reported on by the Wall Street Journal and picked up at the tech site Gizmodo appear to be a follow-up to some kind of ongoing conversation between DeLonge and Podesta, though it is not clear whether or not Podesta ever responded by email. At one point DeLonge attempts to set up meetings between Podesta and others in DC.

I would like to bring two very “important” people out to meet you in DC. I think you will find them very interesting, as they were principal leadership relating to our sensitive topic. Both were in charge of most fragile divisions, as it relates to Classified Science and DOD topics. Other words, these are A-Level officials. Worth our time, and as well the investment to bring all the way out to you. I just need 2 hours from you.

The rest of the email suggests that DeLonge is in the process of producing some sort of documentary on UFOs, for which he is trying to enlist Podesta’s help.

So why is the former lead singer of Blink 182 emailing the head of the Clinton campaign about his UFO movie?  Sadly the answer to that question is that this, just like everything else in 2016, is not only weird and dispiriting, but also something we should have seen coming.

For years John Podesta has been obsessed with UFO theories.  In 1998, when Podesta was deputy chief of staff in the Clinton administration, then-Press Secretary Mike McCurry gave an interview to the Washington Post, in which he said of Podesta, “He’s been known to pick up the phone to call the Air Force and ask them what’s going on in Area 51.”

After he left the Clinton White House, Podesta became an open advocate government transparency on the issue of UFOs.  He is even featured in the History Channel’s 2009 UFO documentary, I Know What I Saw. When Podesta left the Obama White House in 2014 he tweeted “[M]y biggest failure of 2014: Once again not securing the #disclosure of the UFO files.”

Podesta is also the reason that Hillary Clinton has pledged to “get the information out” on Area 51. She recently told talk show host Jimmy Kimmel that she would make whatever Area 51 records she could public so long as it does not pose a threat to “national security.”  Unfortunately, as former fictional president Bill Pullman can attest, even the president does not get to find out what the government is hiding there until it’s too late.

Editorial note: The author is aware that Tom DeLonge split the role of lead vocalist with fellow Blink 182 band member Mark Hoppus.  The author made an editorial decision to refer to DeLonge as the lead singer of the band on the grounds that, “lol, no one cares.” Please do not email him your corrections.