It can all be traced back to June 28, 2006. That was the date conservative radio/blog pundit Jessica McBride had UW-Madison lecturer Kevin Barrett on her WTMJ 620 talk show. Barrett, as most know by now, holds the belief that the events of September 11, 2001 are part of a vast United States government conspiracy orchestrated by high ranking government officials (to get the gist of the theory Barrett is perpetuating you can visit his "Muslim-Jewish-Christian Alliance for 9-11 Truth" website). Since his appearance on that talk show Barrett has become a conspiracy theorist superstar. Prior to June 28 if an individual searched the name "Kevin Barrett" in Lexis-Nexis, any internet website or news search engine (such as yahoo or Google), or blog search engine Technorati an average of three to six references would come up per month. Now on Google blog search alone there are more than 200 references to Barrett and his theory during the past 15 days - and it shows no sign of subsiding.

Barrett, with the help of State Rep. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), Governor Jim Doyle, gubernatorial candidate Mark Green, the news media, and of course bloggers, has managed to ride a rising tide and keep his 9-11 conspiracy theory on the tips of tongues. Barrett even had an appearance earlier this week on the FOX show "Hannity and Colmes." The discussion reaches a new level this morning with the Isthmus running an excellent in-depth cover story on the topic of "9-11 Truthers."

Below we have put together a timeline of articles, letters and media references of Barrett. Next wee we will run a collection of some of the more interesting blog posts on the subject.

June 28, 2006
Jessica McBride hosts Kevin Barrett on her talk show - podcasts available on WTMJ website.

June 29, 2006
State Rep. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) issues a statement calling for the University of Wisconsin to fire Barrett. Nass writes, “The fact that Mr. Barrett uses his position at UW-Madison to add credibility to his outlandish claims is an unacceptable embarrassment to the people of Wisconsin and the UW System. Chancellor Wiley must act immediately to end any professional relationship between Barrett and the UW. He needs to be fired.”

Within hours UW Provost Patrick Farrell announces a 10-day review of Barrett's plans for teaching his course.

UW System board of Regents President David Walsh is quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as saying Barrett should allowed to express his views in the classroom.

June 30, 2006
While the pot starts boiling in Wisconsin, Aljazeera interviews Barrett concerning the release of a allegedly "verified" new Bin Laden tape. Barrett says the last truly authentic tape released by Bin Laden was shortly after 9-11 when he Bin laden said, "I stress that I have not carried out this act, which appears to have been carried out by individuals with their own motivation. … I have already said that I am not involved in the 11 September attacks in the United States. … I had no knowledge of these attacks."

In a statement, gubernatorial candidate Mark Green makes it a campaign issue calling for the ouster of Barrett and criticizing Walsh, "just when you thought Jim Doyle's UW Board of Regents couldn't get any more out-of-step with Wisconsin values, their president says in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Barrett should be able to share his views in the classroom. Kevin Barrett is free to say whatever he wants, but not in a Wisconsin lecture hall while being paid by the taxpayers of Wisconsin."

The story is briefly referenced by FOX News host Brit Hume in a report titled "Theories From the Ivory Tower."

Capital Times Letter to the Editor: Legislator is threat to academic freedom

July 1, 2006

Governor Jim Doyle tells reporters, "We all saw happened on September 11. To say what we saw wasn't true just defies common sense."

July 3, 2006
Inside Higher Ed draws a parallel to the resistance of Northwestern University to fire Holocaust-denier Arthur R. butz.

Captial Times Letter to the Editor: Allowing Barrett to teach Islam wrong

July 4, 2006
Scholars for 9/11 Truth issue statement saying Barrett's children have been threatened.

July 5, 2006
Appleton Post Crescent Letter to the Editor: Professor's teaching shames university

Cap Times Letter to the Editor: UW probe chills academic freedom

Cap Times Editorial: "State Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, is not very good at legislating. But that doesn't stop him from trying to tell everyone else how to do their jobs."

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Readers weigh-in.

After Barrett learns Doyle is seeking his ouster, Barrett sends a letter to Gov. Doyle saying, "You may be surprised when the 42% of the American people who believe the 9/11 Commission Report is a cover-up - and we may be over 50% in Wisconsin - decide to cast their votes for a candidate with more integrity. I understand that there are Green and Libertarian candidates running for governor, and I predict that the controlled demolition of our corrupt two-party system by the 9/11 truth movement may begin here in Wisconsin this fall, with you and Mr. Green serving as first victims."

July 6, 2006
Wisconsin State Journal: UW faculty members split on Barrett discussion.

Story hits the Associated Press newswire: UW instructor under fire basks in publicity for 9/11 view

Green continues to push to make Barrett a campaign issue releasing a second statement saying, "Jim Doyle should be embarrassed that his hand-picked Board of Regents president thinks it is okay to tell students it was the U.S. government that killed 2,819 people on September 11, 2001. Of course, Jim Doyle and his Board of Regents already thinks it is okay to raise in-state tuition by over 50% on Wisconsin students, while at the same time out-of-state tuition is lowered.”

July 7, 2006
Online Journal draws parallel to Ward Churchill writing: Barrett next to be burned at the stake.

Doyle releases Barrett's July 5 letter to the press. Doyle's spokesperson says, "This further highlights the governor's concerns about whether somebody who is touting these outlandish views is fit to teach in the classroom."

July 9, 2006
At the Midwest Social Forum in Milwaukee, Barrett responded to his detractors, "I've been teaching for 20 years. I dare say I know more about teaching than the governor of the state."

July 10, 2006
Green Party gubernatorial candidate Nelson Eisman says it is wrong for a governor to comment on the views of a professor.

Mark green starts the day denouncing the Board of Regents and the Midwest Social Forum, and calling for Barrett to be ejected, ""Jim Doyle should ask his hand-picked UW Board of Regents president - David Walsh - to apologize for defending Mr. Barrett's 'right' to teach his warped views. If Mr. Walsh refuses to apologize, Jim Doyle should ask for his resignation.

"Finally, it is unbelievable to me that university officials are using tuition and taxpayer dollars to pay for a forum that is nothing more than a political gathering for extreme left-wing fanatics. At a time when Jim Doyle's Regents have increased in-state tuition by over 50% in just four years, how on earth can they justify spending money on this kind of conference?

"Elect me governor, and we'll inject a heavy dose of Wisconsin values into the University of Wisconsin system."

Barrett is cleared by the University to teach.

ACLU applauds the decision.

Mark green doesn't.

Nass condemns Provost Farrell.

The Conservative FrontPageMag runs an editorial saying Nass is out of line in calling for Barrett's firing based on his making his opinion known in public. The editorial says what should be questioned is Barrett's desire to include those positions in his lecture.

In the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Eugene Kane questions Green and Doyle taking on an issue that he thinks should be settled within academia.

The Associated Press runs a story with the headline, "Wis. School Lets Radical Instructor Teach."

Barrett appears on Hannity and Colmes, watch the video here.

July 11, 2006
Green campaign takes discussion to school yard level by resorting to name calling in newsletter to supporters. Calls Barrett a "moonbat."

Brit Hume asks: "Is the University of Wisconsin taking freedom of speech too far?"

Cap Times Letter to the Editor: Counter, don't fire UW professor

MJS editorial: Ability to teach is the key

WTMJ takes a look at the 9-11 conspiracy theory movement.

July 12, 2006

WSJ's Bill Wineke: UW will chug along after Barrett ruling

Cap Times Letter to the Editor: Barrett crosses line separating teaching from proselytizing

Not content with the UW ruling - Rep. Nass now wants to use the legislature to fire Barrett... read the resolution here.

Doug Moe: Lecturer gets noteworthy defense

Legislature doesn't take up Nass resolution. Assembly Majority Leader Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) said, "On a day when we were really only here to deal with state contracts, it just didn't seem to be the day." Nass, not surprisingly, vowed to keep pursuing the issue.

July 13, 2006
Isthmus runs, "Why some people are convinced 9-11 was an inside job."

Man walks up to me outside of Fair trade Coffeehouse and says, "Did you see the Isthmus today? Looks like their may be some truth to the government's role in the World trade Center."

I don't ask, "Did you even read the article?"

State Rep. Mark Pocan says Nass is "way off base" and called his condemnation "fodder for someone who hasn't done anything this session."

UW-Madison Political Science Professor Donald Downs has the final word for the moment: