Does MAGA actually want science to win?

While you’re thinking about that, let’s stay with science. Does MAGA Actually Want American Science to Win? is the latest from Ari Shulman, writing in The New Atlantis. Shulman argues that MAGA’s critique of the failings of status quo American science are broadly on point (and part of a tradition that predates President Trump), but that the policy conclusions it draws from that critique will not make America stronger. Dramatic cuts to research budgets are not enough (I would add that restrictions to skilled immigration don’t help either). The positive vision for science that Shulman grapples most with is a revitalization of scientific ideals championed by NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, where there are no taboos, no appeals to authority, and free debate carries us to truth. My take? The deep challenge of organizing science is that only specialized knowledge can assess the quality of scientific work.1 That means peer approval is a fundamental part of the scientific process, and from there it’s not far from appeals to authority and deferring to experts. It’s tough! But that’s not to say the status quo was optimal and things can’t be better. Indeed, I’m a fan of some of the metascience innovation we’ve seen under this administration, from the NSF tech labs proposal to the streamlining of research bureaucracy.