The Brian Lehrer Show Joining Forces to Fight Anti-Science
Sep 9, 2025
Peter Hotez, a leading advocate for vaccines, and Michael Mann, a climate science expert, team up to tackle the ongoing war against anti-science movements. They discuss how wealthy individuals and corporations distort public understanding of vital issues like vaccines and climate change. The duo highlights the dire consequences of misinformation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and emphasize the need for grassroots activism to push back against these anti-science forces. Their insights shed light on the urgent call for public engagement in scientific discourse.
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Plutocrats Fuel An Anti-Science Machine
- Wealthy individuals and media moguls fund and amplify anti-science networks that erode public trust in vaccines and climate science.
- These plutocrats provide the financial 'gasoline' powering disinformation and institutional influence.
Professionals Monetize And Legitimize Disinformation
- 'Pros' include wellness influencers and some media figures who monetize and legitimize false medical claims during the pandemic.
- Hotez estimates anti-vaccine disinformation contributed to roughly 200,000 needless American COVID deaths.
Texas Versus Canada: A Tale Of Two Outcomes
- Peter Hotez contrasted Texas and Canada: Texas saw 100,000 COVID deaths while Canada (similar population) had about 50,000.
- He attributed the excess Texas deaths to lower vaccine uptake driven by disinformation.
