I speak with Kevin Bass, an M.D./Ph.D. student, who recently wrote an opinion piece for Newsweek titled It’s Time for the Scientific Community to Admit We Were Wrong About COVID and It Cost Lives that has stirred up quite a bit of controversy.

We discuss the issue of trust between the scientific community and the public, that the temperature needs to be lowered, and that perhaps the scientific community should be more open to criticism in order to rebuild trust. Listen and you decide.

We explore the role of the media in amplifying outrage and how social media algorithms can create a culture of hype and division. We examine how these factors contributed to the politicization of science and the rise of misinformation. Bass emphasizes the need for the scientific community to be more transparent, open to criticism, and willing to engage in honest dialogue with those who hold differing viewpoints.

This episode raises important questions about the relationship between science, media, and the public. Can we bridge the gap between these groups and find a way to rebuild trust? How can we navigate the complexities of scientific information in an era of extreme political polarization and social media echo chambers?

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion about the importance of lowering the temperature, finding common ground, and fostering a more constructive dialogue around science and public health.

Key Themes:

• Media Outrage and Social Media Hype: How media narratives and social media algorithms shape public perception and amplify outrage.
• Erosion of Trust in Science: Examining the factors that have contributed to declining trust in the scientific community.
• Politicization of Science: The dangers of science becoming a "team sport" and the need for greater objectivity and transparency.
• The Role of Criticism: The importance of open dialogue and constructive criticism in scientific discourse.
• Bridging the Divide: Strategies for rebuilding trust between the scientific community and the public.

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Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C.

Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen.