Summary
Tim Miller, Sam Stein, and investigative journalist Will Sommer from The Bulwark unpack a bizarre story connecting EESystem, a new-age healing technology, to right-wing media figures including Tucker Carlson, James O'Keefe, and RFK Jr. The episode traces how Jason Shurka, a self-proclaimed spokesperson for a spiritual group called "the Light System," partnered with Dr. Sandra Rose Michael and the EESystem business, generating $30-40 million annually before a bitter split led to competing products and a legal battle. Sommer personally visited an EESystem center in Vienna, Virginia for a two-hour session at $60. He describes the experience as sitting in a recliner-style chair in a room with six stacked monitors displaying gobbledygook text and colors, with wires over radiators and industrial office decor. He notes that three other people were in the room during his mid-morning Friday visit. The staff gave him a gift bag with earplugs, an eye mask, and bath salts, warning him to drink water and take a salt bath afterward. Sommer fell asleep and felt refreshed, but attributes that to the nap itself. James O'Keefe reportedly went in with a hidden camera to expose the system as a scam, but came out saying he felt energized and wanted to return as a real customer.
Key Points
- EESystem and Jason Shurka's Light System were clearing $30-40 million per year before their business relationship collapsed in January 2025
- Jason Shurka claims to be a spokesperson for a spiritual cabal called the Light System and built a media platform called Unified TV featuring Tucker Carlson and others
- Will Sommer visited an EESystem center in Vienna, Virginia — describes six stacked monitors with colored text in a strip mall office setting
- James O'Keefe went undercover to expose EESystem but came out saying he felt energized and wanted to return as a real customer
- RFK Jr. appeared with an EESystem unit that was gifted to him while he was Secretary of Health and Human Services
- The center charges about $60 for a two-hour session and provided bath salts, earplugs, and an eye mask
- Will Sommer fell asleep during his session and felt refreshed, but attributes it to the nap rather than the technology
- Court documents reveal significant money flowing to influencer promotions and a $30 million buyout attempt
Key Moments
EESystem described as recliners with TV screens that supposedly heal you
The hosts summarize the EESystem business model — selling recliners where you sit and watch a TV screen that supposedly heals you — and note it was clearing $30-40 million per year according to court records.
"Jason Shirka, who claims to be a spokesperson for the light system, a cabal of new AG spiritualists who want to make everyone vegan and send them to heaven, finds a potential cash cow in this company called EE Systems, which is selling recliners where you can basically sit back and watch a TV screen, and that supposedly is going to heal you."
James O'Keefe goes undercover at EESystem, ends up converted
James O'Keefe reportedly wore a hidden camera to an EESystem center planning to expose it as a scam, but came out saying he felt energized and wanted to return as a paying customer. RFK Jr. was also shown with an EESystem unit gifted to him.
"James O'Keefe had this incredible moment last year where he goes, you know, I'm James O'Keeffe. You know, I love my undercover stings. I'm going to wear a hidden camera in and blow the lid off this EE system scam. And he goes in and he goes, whoa, I'm energized. And he comes out and he says, I'm so much more anxious. I have to go back as a real customer this time."
Reporter's firsthand visit to an EESystem center
Will Sommer describes his visit to an EESystem center in a strip mall — they gave him a gift bag with earplugs, eye mask, and bath salts. He describes the setup as six relatively old TVs stacked in a corner with wires everywhere, in a room that looks like an office with drop ceiling tiles.
"So I went in and they give you a gift bag. So it's earplugs in case the other people in the room with you are snoring. It's an eye mask and bath salts. And the important part of the bath salts is because they think those are energy waves. So you're going to get blasted with the energy waves. And then they tell you, take a bath soon."
Reporter felt refreshed but credits the nap, not the technology
After his two-hour session, Sommer admits he felt a little better but attributes it entirely to having taken a nap. He describes the screens as displaying gobbledygook that looks like static.
"They said, did you feel energized? And I mean, yeah, but I mean, I had just taken a nap."
