Michael Shellenberger $10 / month

Michael Shellenberger's Substack explores controversies in science, politics, and society, with a focus on COVID-19 origins, critiques of progressive politics, free speech, trans activism, and government surveillance. It challenges mainstream narratives, advocating for transparency, rationalism, and the protection of civil liberties amidst shifting political landscapes.

COVID-19 Origins Political Ideology Gender and Society Freedom of Speech Government Surveillance Trans Activism Science and Misinformation

Top posts of the year

And their main takeaways

The End Of The Transgender Craze Is Near

2186 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Politics
  1. Many people believe supporting "gender-affirming care" and transgender rights is being on the right side of history.
  2. There is a growing backlash against gender-affirming care, trans individuals in sports, and prisons.
  3. The belief that 'gender medicine' is on the wrong side of history is gaining traction.

What Happened to the Left?

2137 implied HN points • 14 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ideology
  1. The ideology of the left may have shifted over time.
  2. Critics of state power can now come from unexpected political affiliations.
  3. Current political landscape is undergoing significant shifts and realignments.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

World On Cusp Of Woke Totalitarianism As Governments Act To End Freedom Of Speech

1653 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🌍 World Politics Censorship Freedom of Speech Government Control Totalitarianism
  1. Governments worldwide are passing or considering laws to censor citizens on social media platforms.
  2. These laws claim to prevent harm but have vague definitions that may lead to abuse.
  3. The rise of these censorship laws poses a threat to freedom of speech and can establish a powerful form of totalitarianism.

FBI Claim That Alleged January 6 Pipe Bomb Was Left At Republican Headquarters Is False, New Evidence Suggests

1555 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Investigation Capitol Riot Allegations
  1. New evidence suggests that the FBI's claim of a pipe bomb being left at the Republican Headquarters on January 6 is false due to discrepancies in location and suspicious behavior of the discoverer.
  2. There are doubts about the FBI's investigation, including corrupted cell phone data, missing evidence, and questionable actions by security personnel.
  3. The person who claimed to discover the alleged bomb at the Republican National Committee headquarters had suspiciously calm behavior, raising concerns about the narrative presented by the FBI.

Biden Should Follow UK Government Lead And Ban Puberty Blockers

1370 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🏥 Health Politics Gender identity Puberty Blockers Legislation
  1. The UK's National Health Service stopped prescribing puberty blockers to children, leading the way in reevaluating medical treatments for gender dysphoria
  2. There is a lack of long-term evidence for the safety and effectiveness of puberty blockers in children, as per the independent review commissioned by NHS England
  3. Advocates are calling for the US, including President Biden, to ban puberty blockers for children and follow the UK's lead

First People Sickened By COVID-19 Were Chinese Scientists At Wuhan Institute Of Virology, Say US Government Sources

685 HN points • 13 Jun 23
📰 News Investigative Journalism Global Health Government Virology
  1. The first people sickened by COVID-19 were Chinese scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
  2. They were engaged in 'gain-of-function' research on SARS-like coronaviruses when they fell ill.
  3. Significant evidence points towards the accidental escape of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the Wuhan lab.

Why Republicans and Democrats in Congress Are Working Together to Lift 400,000 Kids out of Poverty

563 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Bipartisanship Congress Legislation
  1. Republicans and Democrats in Congress worked together to lift 400,000 kids out of poverty through a new deal on the Child Tax Credit.
  2. Missouri Republican Congressman Jason Smith and Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden collaborated on this new tax credit package.
  3. The tax deal received significant Republican support in the House of Representatives and is expected to pass through the Senate as well.

CIA Had Foreign Allies Spy On Trump Team, Triggering Russia Collusion Hoax, Sources Say

7 HN points • 13 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Investigation Intelligence Scandal Surveillance
  1. The United States Intelligence Community, including the CIA, used foreign spy agencies to target Trump advisors before the alleged collusion with Russia.
  2. The FBI should not have begun its investigation into Trump and Russia collusion in 2016, according to a special prosecutor for the Department of Justice.
  3. The Five Eyes intelligence alliance was used to surveil Trump's associates, with 26 of them specifically targeted for contact and manipulation.