The Secret War on Experts w/ Jeet Heer

The Nation's Jeet Heer stops by for a conversation that centers on the potentially damaging consequences of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s approach to public health leadership, particularly his impact on agencies like the CDC and HHS. The hosts delve into the broader implications of dismantling civil service infrastructure, drawing parallels to historical figures like Lysenko under Stalin, and raising questions about America’s ability to respond to future crises. They also criticize the U.S. shift away from science and industrial policy, contrasting it with China's strategic investments in biomedical research and renewables. The conversation transitions to the Trump administration’s tariff policies, highlighting their inefficiency, unpredictability, and harm to global trade relations and domestic manufacturing. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes the need for a strong, competent government able to support scientific innovation, respond to emergencies, and maintain international leadership, while calling on Democrats to more clearly articulate a positive vision for public institutions and civil governance.

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