This type of thing is called spectacle. It is designed to titillate and distract people from real political action and prevent people who are easily fooled from applying their attention and effort to things that actually effect their lives. The ability to direct attention is an ability that creates pacification.

This UFO stuff seems to frequently break into my scope of attention when there are big things happening politically.

Authoritarians also love the "occult" and the idea of aliens fit that category. Occult beliefs legitimize irrational behavior.