I think the flimsy science behind RFK Jr.'s theory is less interesting than what it says about the modern conspiratorial mindset, and how people on both sides of the political aisle can get sucked into it.
Those folks are so distrustful of the establishment that they'll buy into any conspiracy theory, no matter how distasteful or crazy. It has a radicalizing effect. Once you believe something as outlandish as QAnon, suddenly "COVID is a racial bioweapon that spares the Jews" doesn't seem so crazy.
Rebuilding faith in democratic institutions has to be a generational project, and it starts with each of us learning to identify reliable sources of information and tune out the garbage. If RFK Jr. can't do that, he's not the president we need.
Totally true, but don't forget about the flip side of that coin.
The media has deservedly lost the trust of so many of its users, that the don't -- and shouldn't -- believe them when they take what's indeed flimsy science and don't even point that out, but immediately jump into "racist conspiracy!" mode. It's easy to believe anything when the gatekeepers of information have largely abdicated that role.
I looked through over a dozen articles and couldn't find one that actually did what I did, which was to look at what he actually said and evaluate it fairly.
It's vital that we rebuild faith in our institutions, but the first, necessary step for that is for the institutions to act in trustworthy ways.
Loss of trust in the media doesn't mean the media deserves to be mistrusted. I'll grant that the tone of some of the coverage (like on CNN) was too shrill during the Trump years. But the media isn't one monolithic entity, and the sins of the few shouldn't blot out the virtues of the vast majority of journalists who did and continue to do yeoman's work.
The media faces some tough questions in an era when public figures are constantly spouting false information. Do you sit back, stenographer style, and just report what's said? Do you call them lies? Mistruths? If somebody says snakes from Venus are infiltrating people's brains, do you collect quotes from prominent herpetologists or do you just say, "Come on..."?
Not every news outlet is going to settle on the same tactics, but as long as they're making clear what's true and what's false, they're on the side of the angels and they don't deserve to be discredited.
Why don’t we just ask Anthony Faucci
I think the flimsy science behind RFK Jr.'s theory is less interesting than what it says about the modern conspiratorial mindset, and how people on both sides of the political aisle can get sucked into it.
Those folks are so distrustful of the establishment that they'll buy into any conspiracy theory, no matter how distasteful or crazy. It has a radicalizing effect. Once you believe something as outlandish as QAnon, suddenly "COVID is a racial bioweapon that spares the Jews" doesn't seem so crazy.
Rebuilding faith in democratic institutions has to be a generational project, and it starts with each of us learning to identify reliable sources of information and tune out the garbage. If RFK Jr. can't do that, he's not the president we need.
Totally true, but don't forget about the flip side of that coin.
The media has deservedly lost the trust of so many of its users, that the don't -- and shouldn't -- believe them when they take what's indeed flimsy science and don't even point that out, but immediately jump into "racist conspiracy!" mode. It's easy to believe anything when the gatekeepers of information have largely abdicated that role.
I looked through over a dozen articles and couldn't find one that actually did what I did, which was to look at what he actually said and evaluate it fairly.
It's vital that we rebuild faith in our institutions, but the first, necessary step for that is for the institutions to act in trustworthy ways.
Loss of trust in the media doesn't mean the media deserves to be mistrusted. I'll grant that the tone of some of the coverage (like on CNN) was too shrill during the Trump years. But the media isn't one monolithic entity, and the sins of the few shouldn't blot out the virtues of the vast majority of journalists who did and continue to do yeoman's work.
The media faces some tough questions in an era when public figures are constantly spouting false information. Do you sit back, stenographer style, and just report what's said? Do you call them lies? Mistruths? If somebody says snakes from Venus are infiltrating people's brains, do you collect quotes from prominent herpetologists or do you just say, "Come on..."?
Not every news outlet is going to settle on the same tactics, but as long as they're making clear what's true and what's false, they're on the side of the angels and they don't deserve to be discredited.
We know, whether intentionally or not, that it targeted the elderly.
I never got Wuhan/Covid day 1 , had shots needed then for mom
Never saw any race getting disease But always news on blacks etc with disease by economics
Some in family got Covid but I never did
No feel disease can strike anyone