Finding Genius Podcast Scientific Censorship & Public Health: Nathaniel Mead Ph.D. On Corporate Influence & Academic Freedom
Jan 6, 2025
Nathaniel Mead, an experienced epidemiologist and public health researcher, dives deep into the troubling world of scientific censorship. He highlights the retraction of research questioning COVID-19 vaccine safety, revealing the pharmaceutical pressures that can suppress dissent. Mead also discusses the psychological impacts of censorship on public discourse and advocates for a new publishing system to ensure scientific integrity. His insights shed light on the challenges researchers face and the critical need for transparency and reform in the scientific community.
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Early Censorship Experience
- Nathaniel Mead's first encounter with censorship was in 1990 while working as a newspaper editor.
- He was fired for criticizing the Gulf War, despite his column being labeled "OPINION".
COVID-19 Paper Retraction
- In 2024, a paper questioning the COVID-19 vaccine narrative, co-authored by Mead, was retracted.
- Despite having over 350,000 reads, the journal retracted it 30 days after publishing.
Weaponized Retractions
- Retractions, while legitimate for addressing fraud or misconduct, became weaponized after 2020.
- They're now used to silence dissent and protect the prevailing narrative, particularly regarding COVID-19.