The hottest Public Trust Substack posts right now

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

Pessimism As a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Phillips’s Newsletter • 140 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Pessimism can hurt society by making people feel defeated. When leaders are overly negative, it can lead to a loss of trust and hope among the public.
  2. People often rise to challenges better than expected. For example, many Ukrainians showed strong determination to defend their country when it was under threat.
  3. Leaders should inspire optimism and use imagination in planning. A positive outlook can help shape a better future and unlock people's potential.

DMED and CDC COVID Data Scandals

Who is Robert Malone • 16 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Trust
  1. Health data systems were retroactively altered to mask apparent spikes in illnesses, which eroded trust in military and public health records.
  2. Pressure to preserve institutional narratives, unchecked access to editable databases, and moral rationalizations combined into a self‑reinforcing 'fraud engine' that enabled systemic data manipulation until external scrutiny intervened.
  3. Preventing recurrence requires concrete reforms—immutable cryptographic data versioning, separation of analytics from communications, strong whistleblower protections, and real‑time access for independent review.

An Open Proposal to the CEO of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Trust
  1. A plan to fund multiple independent research teams to analyze the same public government vaccine data, aiming to answer vaccine safety questions transparently.
  2. The effort would use jointly designed study specs, pre-registered protocols, and require public release of data, code, and methods, with publication of results regardless of outcome.
  3. The purpose is to reduce polarization and increase public trust by letting objective, independently verified analyses speak for themselves and involving organizations with different perspectives.

Crazy people do crazy things

The Dossier • 237 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. People easily believe in big government conspiracies, but often these ideas come from bad reasoning and distrust. It's important to stay grounded and think clearly.
  2. Recent violent events show how crazy individuals can act for their own reasons, often connected to extremist views. Not every action is part of a broad conspiracy.
  3. It's smart to examine our assumptions and understand that not every crazy act is linked to a larger plot. Sometimes, troubled people just act out in unexpected ways.
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What's the Point of The New York Times?

JoeWrote • 196 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Many people don't trust traditional media like The New York Times anymore. They are turning to other sources like podcasts and blogs for news.
  2. Legacy media companies have lost readers because they often prioritize profits and sensational stories over accurate reporting.
  3. Even big newspapers can make mistakes, and if they don't admit them or improve their practices, they risk losing even more readers.

The NIH must make these 8 reforms right now

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 123 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Trust
  1. The NIH should reduce indirect costs because a lot of the money is not spent effectively. Instead of letting universities keep so much, more money could go directly to help research.
  2. We need to be careful with which studies get funding. Some research doesn't tell us anything useful, and it's a waste of taxpayer money.
  3. It's important to make sure that scientific research can be repeated and verified. If a lab can't replicate results, they should lose funding.

The Royal Society at a Crossroads: Scientific Merit versus Political Conformity

Heterodox STEM • 106 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🔬 Science Public Trust
  1. There is a debate about whether someone like Elon Musk should be kept as a Fellow of the Royal Society due to his political statements and actions. Some people believe his scientific achievements should matter more than his opinions.
  2. The discussion raises concerns about mixing politics with science. It highlights the importance of judging scientific work fairly, based on its merit, rather than personal beliefs.
  3. The Royal Society faces pressure to prioritize political views over scientific excellence. How they respond could set an important example for scientific communities everywhere.

Introspection Before Any Possible Course Correction

Heterodox STEM • 291 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🚌 Education Public Trust
  1. Listening to the Congressional testimony on free speech exposed a lack of consistent application of concepts at universities.
  2. Public trust in higher education has significantly declined based on surveys due to real or perceived failures of universities.
  3. Universities facing public backlash have responded defensively rather than engaging in introspection, potentially leading to further erosion of trust.

Letter #17: Coming soon -- Epstein

Charles Eisenstein • 1 implied HN point • 16 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Public Trust
  1. Intense focus on Epstein-related material has led to a recent pause in public writing and videos.
  2. There has been about two weeks of wrestling with the material and a clear intent to help collective sense-making while being careful about what is said.
  3. The situation is viewed as a critical, unusually significant moment for humanity, which explains the cautious and deliberate approach.

The Los Angeles Times’ Chief COVID Propagandist Is Back In Action

Unmasked • 73 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. The left-wing media has struggled to accept the reality of COVID after five years. Many people feel that the media should show some humility after being wrong about key issues.
  2. Experts like Anthony Fauci, who had significant influence during the pandemic, are seen as having caused harm without taking responsibility. There's a belief that these figures should be held accountable for their misleading advice.
  3. Research suggests that COVID restrictions did not effectively control the spread of the virus and resulted in significant financial and social damage. Many people are questioning the value of these measures.

To Paul Offit: An invitation to a public, evidence-bounded discussion

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 4 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Trust
  1. A focused public discussion is proposed to answer one narrow question: whether mRNA COVID-19 vaccines showed a clear net mortality benefit based on peer-reviewed studies.
  2. The discussion would be strictly evidence-bounded and structured: 60 minutes, only peer-reviewed papers (each side submits up to three in advance), materials shared 14 days before, equal talk time, and a method-focused review of assumptions and bias.
  3. To encourage participation and transparency, a charitable donation would be offered to the invited expert, the session and referenced materials would be made public, and an alternative expert is acceptable if the invitee declines.

The Counter-Disinformation Industry Promotes Left-wing Groupthink, Not Truth

Journal of Free Black Thought • 56 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. The counter-disinformation industry mainly promotes left-wing ideas instead of truth. This means they often dismiss or ignore viewpoints that don't align with their beliefs.
  2. Many people in this industry don't believe in objective truth, which makes it hard for them to identify misinformation properly. Their focus on agreement among like-minded people leads to groupthink.
  3. To avoid misinformation, it's important for people to seek diverse perspectives and think critically about the information they encounter. Engaging with a variety of views helps to better understand complex issues.

Audio version: UAPs and National Insecurity

Charles Eisenstein • 2 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. UAPs, or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, are a significant topic that raises questions about national security. People are curious about what these sightings mean for safety and military capabilities.
  2. There is a growing interest in understanding the technology behind UAPs. Many wonder if they represent advanced tech from foreign countries or something else entirely.
  3. The public debate around UAPs reflects a broader concern about transparency and truth in government. Everyone wants to know what authorities really know about these mysterious objects.

An Insider Perspective on the FDA: History and Role

Holodoxa • 39 implied HN points • 14 Oct 22
🏥 Health Politics Public Trust
  1. Understanding the FDA's approval process for drugs includes stages like drug discovery, preclinical studies, clinical trials, and regulatory approval.
  2. The FDA's accelerated approval program, initiated in the 1990s due to HIV/AIDS, aims to speed up bringing life-saving drugs to market for urgent conditions, but follow-up studies are crucial.
  3. FDA approval decisions hinge on expert clinical judgment, balancing benefits and risks for patient safety and efficacy, a process that involves multiple stakeholders and extensive data evaluation.

Learning from the Current Crisis

DruGroup • 59 implied HN points • 28 Sep 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. Crises compound rather than just add up. When multiple crises happen at once, it’s much harder to cope than when dealing with them one by one.
  2. Distrust in leaders spreads easily. When people start to distrust one authority figure, they often end up distrusting others too, which can damage organizations.
  3. Misinformation is a constant challenge. Leaders need to communicate clearly and consistently to combat false information, despite some people believing the wrong things.

Alessandro Strumia | The War on Science Interviews | Day 14

Critical Mass • 3 implied HN points • 07 Aug 25
🔬 Science Public Trust
  1. The series features 20 interviews with authors discussing the challenges facing science and scholarship today. They explore topics like academic integrity and how social justice activism can impact research.
  2. These dialogues aim to raise awareness about the damage being done to scientific progress and the importance of free speech in academia. The discussions are direct and thought-provoking.
  3. The project encourages public engagement and aims to restore trust in science and scholarship. It's a call for academics to unite and address the internal issues affecting universities.

Frances Widdowson | The War on Science Interviews | Day 10

Critical Mass • 3 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
🔬 Science Public Trust
  1. The interviews focus on serious issues affecting science and education today. They aim to encourage discussion about how to improve trust and integrity in academia.
  2. The authors discuss problems like cancel culture, ideological bias in science, and challenges to free speech in academic settings. These issues are seen as harmful to the progress of science.
  3. The goal is to raise awareness about current threats to scientific inquiry and scholarship. The hope is to unite people in restoring sound science and open conversation in universities.

Nyhetsbrev steigan.no 17.12.2024

steigan.no • 5 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. The U.S. government has granted Pfizer and Moderna legal protection from vaccine injury claims until 2029. This raises questions about the safety and effectiveness of their vaccines.
  2. Electricity prices in Norway have surged, reaching record highs despite the country's abundant hydroelectric power. This situation has caused public outrage and political consequences for the ruling parties.
  3. There is a growing concern among health professionals about engaging in public debates with alternative health practitioners. They stress the importance of maintaining credibility and structured discussions to avoid misinformation.

Karleen Gribble | The War on Science Interviews | Day 20

Critical Mass • 1 implied HN point • 14 Aug 25
🔬 Science Public Trust
  1. There will be 20 interviews released daily with authors from the book 'The War on Science,' starting from July 22. Each interview will cover various topics related to science and academia.
  2. The discussions will address issues like how ideology is affecting science, free speech in universities, and the challenges that current academic trends pose to genuine scholarship.
  3. The aim is to provoke a conversation about restoring trust and sound science in academia, emphasizing the importance of free inquiry and the negative effects of cancel culture and distortions in science.

Book Review: The Crisis of Expertise

Symbolic Capital(ism) • 19 implied HN points • 14 Apr 20
🔬 Science Public Trust
  1. Despite concerns about a 'war on science' or a 'death of expertise,' public trust in the scientific community remains relatively high in the US.
  2. Americans have significant faith in science compared to other countries, yet there is polarization around various scientific issues like climate change and vaccines.
  3. The crisis of expertise is not about doubting science, but rather about the struggles over defining who counts as an expert, how their findings are interpreted, and the socio-political implications of scientific discoveries.

Democracy's Crisis of Legitimacy

The Permanent Problem • 3 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Trust
  1. The crisis of legitimacy in democracy is due to a breakdown in public trust and the shift towards alternative forms of political authority.
  2. The legitimacy crisis stems from elite failures in governance, increased media scrutiny revealing these failures, and a decline in public trust in all forms of authority.
  3. Efforts to address the legitimacy crisis should focus on strengthening democracy's foundations by addressing public trust, elite failures, and media influences.