The hottest Public Trust Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

Don't Squander Public Trust on Bullshit

Win-Win • 222 HN points • 04 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Emergency alerts should only be sent for serious situations, like natural disasters or threats. Using them for less important news can make people ignore future alerts.
  2. Trust in government systems is very fragile. If people stop paying attention to alerts, it could lead to dangerous situations when real emergencies happen.
  3. Misusing alerts can have real-life consequences, like health issues from sleep disruption and increased accidents on the road. It’s important for officials to think carefully before sending out alerts.

The Government Will Not Save You

Erick Erickson's Confessions of a Political Junkie • 3736 implied HN points • 04 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. The government isn't always quick to respond in crises, so relying solely on them may not be the best choice. Local communities often step in to offer help before any federal aid arrives.
  2. FEMA and other federal agencies aren't usually first responders during disasters. Regular people and local organizations often provide the most effective assistance when things get tough.
  3. It's important to trust your community and neighbors during hard times. They are the ones who will offer real support, rather than waiting for government help.

Are These 50 Experts Real People?

The Honest Broker • 8178 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
📰 News Public Trust
  1. Journalists tried to verify 50 experts who were cited over a thousand times but couldn’t find them, and many of the accompanying photos look AI‑generated.
  2. These apparently fake or untraceable experts are appearing in prestigious newspapers and major online platforms, not just fringe outlets.
  3. This may be just the tip of the iceberg and could signal a dangerous erosion of trust in expertise and journalism, with no obvious path back to safety.

FEMA Is A Scandal, But Also Not A Solution

Erick Erickson's Confessions of a Political Junkie • 1598 implied HN points • 05 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. FEMA has lost the trust of the American people due to its poor management and possible corruption. Many believe the organization is not doing its job properly.
  2. Cities in need might wait a long time, up to three or four years, to receive FEMA funds, which doesn’t seem fair. Sometimes, help may prioritize certain communities over others.
  3. In times of crisis, individuals should step up and help each other, as the government may not respond quickly enough. People should be ready to take action before official help arrives.

🧬 The FDA's Moderna mRNA reversal

Faster, Please! • 1645 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Trust
  1. The FDA reversed its halt and will review Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine. The episode shows political backlash can inject major regulatory uncertainty into vaccine approvals.
  2. Rising vaccine skepticism is chilling the mRNA field—venture funding, manufacturing plans, and federal contracts have been cut or canceled. This threatens not just flu shots but future work on cancer vaccines, autoimmune treatments, and pandemic preparedness.
  3. Without clearer funding and oversight, the U.S. vaccine enterprise risks being dismantled and important medical advances may be foreclosed. Congress may need to direct funds and set enforceable milestones to preserve vaccine R&D.
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Think Stabilized Spike is Bad? Meet Replicon mRNA Vaccines. They are So Bad, We Predict FDA Will Posture for Public Trust on These.

Popular Rationalism • 1069 implied HN points • 03 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Trust
  1. Replicon mRNA vaccines have the ability to replicate inside the body, which could lead to unknown risks and side effects. This uncontrolled replication raises concerns about overstimulating the immune system or causing mutations.
  2. Protests in Japan highlight public fear and skepticism surrounding self-replicating vaccines. Many people are worried about the lack of long-term safety data and want more transparency from health officials.
  3. How Japan handles this new vaccine could influence other countries' decisions. Regulatory bodies worldwide need to balance innovation with public safety and trust to avoid backlash and promote acceptance.

Are we the walking wounded?

Disaffected Newsletter • 2997 implied HN points • 24 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Many people in America are dealing with trauma from recent events, affecting everyone regardless of political beliefs. This trauma can change how we see the world and interact with others.
  2. The past few years have revealed many illusions about stability in our lives, leading to chaos, increased anger, and the breakdown of social norms.
  3. Personal losses from recent experiences have made it hard for many to trust others again, leaving them feeling scared and exhausted. This is true for a lot of people right now.

The new standard of scientific evidence: “Many Scientists Believe”

Heterodox STEM • 348 implied HN points • 22 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Public Trust
  1. Using 'many scientists believe' as proof is not the same as presenting hard evidence, and for issues like whether the polar jet stream is weakening the clear observational data is limited or inconclusive.
  2. Much climate reasoning depends on open-loop computer models that aren't validated the way engineering models are. Funding and media incentives can push scientists to emphasize more alarming model results.
  3. Political and funding pressures can distort scientific priorities and public messaging, so consensus and authority shouldn't replace testable evidence. Real scientific progress often overturns majority views, so skepticism and empirical testing must stay central.

How Trump Officials’ Rhetoric Backfired in Minnesota

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 421 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Top Trump administration officials immediately framed the shooting as a terrorist attack, using words like "assassinate" and "massacre."
  2. Video footage appeared to show Alex Pretti on the ground and surrounded by agents when he was shot, contradicting those initial official claims.
  3. Those rapid, inflammatory statements upset Republicans and former DHS officials and deepened distrust of the administration's immigration crackdown, with critics saying authorities should have let an investigation play out.

The executive order Trump should sign: AI watermarks

The Intrinsic Perspective • 15413 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. AI watermarks are important to ensure that AI outputs can be traced. This helps distinguish real content from that generated by bots, supporting the integrity of human communication.
  2. Watermarking can help prevent abuse of AI in areas like education and politics. It allows for accountability, so that if AI is used maliciously, it can be tracked back to its source.
  3. Implementing watermarking doesn't limit how AI companies work or their freedom. Instead, it promotes transparency and protects public trust in systems influenced by AI.

No plausible explanation given for the lack of symmetry in "rapid onset" autism cases

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 6 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Trust
  1. Thousands of parents report their child developed normally and then showed autistic behaviors within hours or days after a vaccination, while reports of regression before a vaccine appointment are said to be rare.
  2. The critique is that researchers and studies often do not collect exact calendar dates of symptom onset relative to vaccination, so analyses can’t reliably compare timing before versus after shots and may miss a temporal signal.
  3. The medical community is accused of not examining or sharing pediatric timing data that would compare week-before versus week-after cases, and proponents say a simple survey of those counts would quickly settle the question.

Truth, Trust, and the Case for Viewpoint Diversity

Unsafe Science • 106 implied HN points • 15 Feb 26
🚌 Education Public Trust
  1. Viewpoint diversity is essential for getting closer to the truth in unsettled or politicized areas because it encourages competing hypotheses, adversarial collaboration, and stronger tests of ideas.
  2. Framing calls for intellectual pluralism as merely a conservative or authoritarian plot is misleading; the case for viewpoint diversity predates modern politics and its advocates are not uniformly partisan.
  3. Many academic fields are heavily left-leaning, which fosters self-censorship and biased scholarship, so increasing ideological diversity would improve research, teaching, and public trust.

Too Big to Fail

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 2581 implied HN points • 15 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Public Trust
  1. A recent climate study published in *Nature* predicted large economic losses due to climate change, but it has been found to be seriously flawed. This could potentially mislead policymakers and the public.
  2. Experts discovered that correcting some mistakes in the original study greatly reduced the predicted damages, showing they might not be significant at all. This raises questions about the reliability of the findings.
  3. The flawed study has been widely accepted in important policy discussions, which could create serious consequences for global economic strategies and confidence in climate science.

Bill Clinton Has an Epstein Problem, and So Does America

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 533 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. New Justice Department photos show Bill Clinton socializing closely with Jeffrey Epstein, which clashes with claims that their relationship was very brief.
  2. The images — including scenes on Epstein’s plane, at celebrity dinners, and a hot tub photo with a woman — don’t prove sex with minors but do weaken Clinton’s earlier explanations.
  3. The photo release forces Clinton to answer more questions and intensifies the scandal’s political and public fallout nationwide.

Head of Infamous "Information Disorder" Commission Promoted at NPR

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 7954 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Ryan Merkley, known for his work on misinformation, has been named COO of NPR. His past roles include leading an Aspen Institute group focused on information control.
  2. The Aspen Institute's 'Information Disorder' Commission proposed strict measures against misinformation, aiming for accountability on tech platforms. Some recommendations were seen as extreme and provoked resignations.
  3. NPR has a history of aligning with the ideas promoted by the Aspen Institute, raising concerns about how it approaches controversial topics like misinformation and censorship.

WOW! More evidence of the government deceiving us about Epstein!

Michael Tracey • 111 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Senior DOJ/FBI officials used vague language and a broad "victim" list that included families and adults, which inflated the claim of "over 1,000 victims" and created the impression of mass child sex‑trafficking.
  2. Evidence from Epstein's devices was broadly labeled "responsive" using loose criteria, and most seized material was adult or age‑ambiguous; only a very small number of CSAM were found and reportedly were not produced by Epstein.
  3. Politicians and media widely repeated the sensational figures without sufficient scrutiny, fueling public hysteria, so official claims need clear definitions and corroborating evidence before being accepted.

Scientists Say

Doomberg • 6757 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🔬 Science Public Trust
  1. Predictions for the hurricane season this year were very alarming, with many experts expecting a lot of severe storms. But as the season progressed, there were fewer storms than anticipated.
  2. When hurricanes did occur, some were extremely powerful, but overall, the lack of activity puzzled scientists and led to discussions about climate change's role in future storm patterns.
  3. Trust in scientists and experts has declined, as many people feel unsure about their predictions and analyses, highlighting a disconnect between scientific findings and public perception.

Jen Gerson: Okay, but I don't trust you

The Line • 3655 implied HN points • 25 May 23
📰 News Public Trust
  1. Trust in authority needs to be earned, not demanded.
  2. Government's handling of reports can impact trust in public institutions.
  3. Communication and decision-making in Canadian government need improvement for better state capacity.

Democrats need a theory of power, but democracies need a theory of accountability

Can We Still Govern? • 311 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Authoritarian "move fast" tactics that break rules and purge experts are not efficient — they’re haphazard, erode institutions, and weaken the government’s ability to deliver public goods.
  2. Progressives need a clearer theory of power to overcome excessive proceduralism and get things done, but that power must be balanced by the rule of law and institutional safeguards rather than personalist authority.
  3. Broad measures of trust don’t reliably show government effectiveness because they’re driven by partisanship; people value procedural checks and participation, so accountability and targeted performance metrics matter more than generalized trust.

It's Time To Stop Blaming Misinformation for Cynicism and Mistrust

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 4072 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Misinformation doesn't change people's minds as much as we think. Most people don't consume or believe it that much.
  2. The ones who share misinformation are often driven by strong political beliefs, not ignorance. They want to support their views against the opposing party.
  3. Fighting misinformation online might not help restore trust in institutions. Instead, we should focus on the deeper reasons why people lose faith in them.

Here’s to the First Million Free Pressers—And the Next

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 4405 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
📰 News Public Trust
  1. The Free Press has grown to one million subscribers by focusing on delivering honest journalism. People are looking for trustworthy news that reflects reality.
  2. Instead of just rejecting old media, The Free Press aims to provide valuable content that people need. They emphasize the importance of pursuing truth in their reporting.
  3. The growth of The Free Press shows that many people still care about real journalism and want to support it. This gives hope for the future of journalism as a whole.

Political Psychology Links, 11/26/2025

In My Tribe • 288 implied HN points • 26 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. People tend to focus more on differences when they learn more about someone. This can make it easier to dislike them, especially on social media that encourages sharing personal details.
  2. Recent studies show that young people with various mental health issues may have similar brain changes. This supports the idea of a common factor in different mental illnesses.
  3. Some researchers believe that education systems should change to improve training quality. They suggest getting rid of outdated methods and emphasizing real-world feedback in training for fields like nursing and journalism.

The Epstein Files Tell the Institutional Story of Our Time

European Straits • 25 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. The Epstein files spotlight a system where powerful people often avoid accountability, and that lack of justice has eroded trust in courts, media, and elite networks.
  2. Economic and technological cycles reach maturity and create deep imbalances that make long-standing institutions brittle, so once they stop serving stability they can collapse quickly.
  3. When political leaders fail to deliver real systemic change, public anger turns to radical levers like scandals, using outrage to push for a sweeping institutional reset.

The politics of sociology

Just Emil Kirkegaard Things • 884 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Surveys reveal sociology as an extremely left-wing field compared to others in the social sciences.
  2. Around 25% of sociologists identified as Marxists, the highest percentage among surveyed fields.
  3. Leftist academics engage in a two-faced approach, seeking dominance in their fields while trying to appear as objective scientists to the public.

Who Is Burning Cars and Throwing Rocks in LA? Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1015 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Immigration has become a huge issue in today's society, affecting political views and actions. It's important to understand why it matters to so many people.
  2. Protests in places like LA can be very chaotic, and different sides have very different views on what's happening. Seeing things for yourself or trusting reliable sources is key.
  3. The media landscape is changing, and people often live in different realities based on what they believe. It's essential to look at the facts from multiple angles.

Chris Christie: Eric Adams and Equality Under the Law

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1683 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Corruption in politics happens on both sides, affecting all parties. It's essential to show that breaking public trust will not be ignored.
  2. The recent decision to dismiss a case against a public official raises serious concerns about fairness in the legal system. It's important to question why such dismissals happen.
  3. Resignation by a U.S. Attorney over an order to dismiss a case highlights the strain within the justice system. It shows that some people are willing to stand up for what they believe is right.

Partisan Professors

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 2129 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Most university professors in the U.S. lean politically to the left, showing a big shift from past diversity in beliefs. This can limit students' exposure to different viewpoints.
  2. The lack of political diversity among faculty may lead to a bias in research and teaching, which is bad for education. It can also prevent new ideas from being discussed and evaluated.
  3. Many people believe universities have become too political, which affects public trust in these institutions. This growing gap between academia and the general public is concerning.

How Universities Went Off Track

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 2051 implied HN points • 08 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Many people are losing trust in universities, especially conservatives and working-class folks. The political views of university staff are mostly leaning left, making this trust fall even more.
  2. Changes in society are pushing universities to be more politically involved. They need to show how their research benefits society, which can lead to more advocacy instead of just education.
  3. There is pressure within universities to support certain political ideas, which can stifle open discussions. A lot of people feel they can’t speak up if they don’t share the same views as the majority.

Trump Or No, Science Badly Needs To Look Inward And Heal Itself

Singal-Minded • 1406 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🔬 Science Public Trust
  1. There are serious problems in Alzheimer’s research, including fraud and negligence, which make it hard to trust the current science. Many studies are flawed, yet the same theories keep getting pushed.
  2. Public trust in science is declining, partly because people see failures in mainstream research. People need to question and hold science accountable instead of just believing it blindly.
  3. Scientific institutions must work harder to self-correct and ensure quality in research. If they don't, they risk losing more trust and could make it easier for anti-science forces to gain influence.

How Science Must Change

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1845 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🔬 Science Public Trust
  1. Science should focus on serving everyone, regardless of their political beliefs. This means making science accessible and relatable to all citizens.
  2. Many scientists in leadership are becoming too partisan, which creates a divide between science and the public. This partisanship can lead to mistrust and alienation among people with differing views.
  3. To regain trust, the scientific community needs to foster inclusivity and understand the diverse perspectives of the public. This includes recognizing that scientists should work to serve the interests of all Americans.

Fixing Universities

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1413 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🚌 Education Public Trust
  1. Universities need to focus more on their main jobs: teaching and research. It's important for them to prioritize these roles over sports and other activities.
  2. They should take institutional neutrality seriously, meaning universities shouldn't push political views. Instead, they should let students and faculty discuss and debate these issues freely.
  3. Expanding access to education for all kinds of students is crucial. Universities should aim to serve everyone in society and help improve American democracy.

Scientific American’s Purging of Laura Helmuth Is Only A Start

The DisInformation Chronicle • 1410 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🔬 Science Public Trust
  1. Leaving behind hate-filled comments can lead to serious consequences, like getting fired or resigning from a job.
  2. Many science writers may share extreme political views that can affect the credibility of their journalism.
  3. To regain trust, media outlets need to clean up their practices and focus on reporting accurately, without political bias.

Narcissistic Wounding Behind Media Disinformation On Liz Cheney, Trump Rally, And Vaccines

Michael Shellenberger • 1536 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. The media is increasingly deceptive, making false claims about events, like Trump's rally and vaccine issues. This creates distrust among the public.
  2. Legacy journalists seem angry about new voices on social media that challenge traditional narratives. They react negatively to this shift in authority.
  3. Accurate reporting is essential, but misinformation can spread quickly and impact public perception. It's important to verify facts before believing them.

Secrecy and Government Weaponization Behind Distrust Of FBI’s Investigation Into New Year’s Day Killings

Michael Shellenberger • 1108 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Transparency from the government is needed to rebuild trust with the public. When people feel kept in the dark, they start to doubt the investigations that are supposed to protect them.
  2. There is a serious issue with military veterans committing extremist acts. The number of former service members involved in such crimes has noticeably increased in recent years.
  3. The circumstances surrounding a recent tragic incident involving a veteran raise many questions. Discrepancies in the manifesto he allegedly wrote and his emails suggest that there may be more to the story than what officials have presented.

From the comments on Friedman vs. Huemer

In My Tribe • 394 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. It's important to trust experts who are open about their work and share their methods. If they don't show their reasoning, it's okay to be cautious.
  2. Science should work like a prestige hierarchy where we respect expertise, not out of fear, but because of skill and knowledge. If experts use intimidation instead, we might need to question their trustworthiness.
  3. Some experts are really good at thinking critically, even outside their field. So, if they use a smart approach to problems, I might trust their opinion on things they normally don’t deal with.

From Dollar Dominance to the Slop Machine

Kyla’s Newsletter • 364 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. The US economy is focused on extracting value rather than creating new things. This means we're taking from what we already have instead of building for the future.
  2. China is investing in infrastructure and technology, strengthening its economy while the US is stuck in old patterns. They're creating new systems, while we're just trying to make money from what's already there.
  3. To improve, we need to treat attention and information carefully, focusing on long-term growth instead of quick engagement. It's important to build trust and invest in real solutions rather than just trying to capture attention.

Britain's Chernobyl?

Wrong Side of History • 569 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. The current Labour Government is losing popularity quickly after taking office, which raises concerns about their planning and leadership vision. People are feeling uncertain about the economy and the political situation, leading to a crisis-like atmosphere.
  2. There's growing public distrust in institutions like the police and government, especially after the controversies over how grooming gangs were handled. This has deepened people's suspicions about the system and those in charge.
  3. Some commentators compare the situation in Britain to the Chernobyl disaster, suggesting that like the Soviet Union, the country is facing serious systemic issues that go unaddressed. This comparison highlights the failures in accountability and safety within political and bureaucratic structures.

We are failing to learn the lessons of COVID

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 34 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Trust
  1. We failed to learn from COVID because people on all sides refused to honestly examine their own mistakes, leaving us polarized and less prepared for the next pandemic.
  2. Both liberal scientists and conservative critics share blame: liberals often shut down dissent and controlled narratives, while conservatives reacted by grabbing power and excluding others, so neither side showed the humility and inclusion needed for good science policy.
  3. The real fix is rebuilding legitimacy and coalitions across divides — give people a voice, protect dissenting views, and use scientific and institutional power with humility so we can handle the next pandemic better.

The OpenAI-American Media Merger Is Now Complete

The Algorithmic Bridge • 254 implied HN points • 17 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. OpenAI has become deeply integrated into the American media landscape by forming partnerships with various news companies. This suggests that AI is playing a bigger role in how news is produced and shared.
  2. There's a concern about whether the mainstream media can remain unbiased now that they are closely tied to AI companies like OpenAI. This raises questions about the integrity of news coverage.
  3. Many major media outlets, including the New York Times, have made deals with AI companies, which could influence their reporting. This interconnectedness between media and tech could shape the future of both industries.

Fear and Loathing at AARO

ᴋʟᴀᵾs • 334 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Blatant withholding of information admitted to on live television, without media attention
  2. Concerns raised about the control of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)
  3. Power struggles and lack of transparency in handling UFO/UAP data within government agencies