Excellent article Paul. The covid experience has revealed the total corruption of health agencies. We need whistleblowers but after reading Carl Elliots book “The occasional human sacrifice,” whistleblowing is fraught with damaging the whistleblowers career and total ostracism. Whistleblowers need protection in order to advance correction. The fiefdoms made up of narcissists whose only concern is stroking their egos and ensuring continued power is disastrous to new ideas, the underlings who work for them and the benefits to humanity. I admire this whistleblower and hope the revelation encourages change.
Thanks so much for posting this!! I shared with a university researcher. Help has got to be on the way! There was a TCN interview with a Ray Dalio, who contends that a civil war is on the way in America. I stopped listening after hearing the list of causes, such as, disparity in income, loss of good jobs etc...I'm probably not giving a fair account, but I stopped listening because I believe it's the media reporting that is causing this 'civil war'. It's hard for folks to believe that the legacy media lies about 98% of the time. If the print, cable and public airwaves stations stopped lying, the 'civil war' would largely evaporate. Recently, I was treated to an impromptu vicious rant about RFK Jr in a professional Arts space - not recreation. It came from a seldom-seen, barely-an-acquaintance. This person offered this unsolicited diatribe, after his unsolicited statement that he was all updated on his shots (- as though he was a puppy; I've noticed now that old people, men & women, like to tell me about their shots, unsolicited). I responded that I was a "Kennedy Democrat", that I listen to RFK directly and read his books. This guy started in on the measles & RFK, and I told him it was all lies, (Samoa) and RFK has successfully sued for defamation, including against Fauci. I suggested he go to the primary source, RFK, for his information; in fact, listen to the other side, all sides, not just legacy media (which I had to define for him). The guy then started in on Trump, and again, I said, "listen to the man directly, don't go by what you're told he thinks, says, writes". The guy was startled, suggested I was all up in arms, which I wasn't. I must say, it's crazy what the legacy media has done, the years of propaganda. This retired executive though, has no excuse. What strikes me with the propagandized is their ability to in fact disrespect the majority of Americans who voted for Trump, who supported RFK Jr. They smear the intelligence of most Americans, proud in their own superior knowledge, which they mainline from CNN. I get that the answer to abuse of free speech with lies is more speech, but for the sake of our country, now and the future, I wish it would stop.
I get the RFK smears from a lot of people, but on further probing they've never actually *listened* to RFK himself, just what the media has to say about him. I encourage them to listen to a lengthy interview like with Joe Rogan or even the annoying-to-me Tucker Carlson (just ignore the interviewer if you don't like them; at least Rogan tends to let his subjects talk without too many interruptions).
There's nothing like listening to someone converse for two or three hours to get a feel for the quality of their thinking. I mean, RFK sprinkles footnotes in his conversation.
The first time I met and talked with RFK Jr, my immediate impression is that he's a thoughtful guy who in no way resembles the caricature of him in the media. I'm guessing that everyone who is not a DNC or Big Pharma political operative who has a negative impression of him have ever heard him talk.
I agree, completely! I am pleased with self that in a split-second after this total non-sequitur tirade, I recovered and responded as I did. Doesn’t always happen!!
Thanks for the snippet of insight into the workings of NIH. With the power cabal of Fauci and Tabak departed, perhaps there is hope for the future. RFK Jr said he knows who at NIH is responsible for the 20 year unrewarding thesis on amyloid plaques being the primary problem in Alzheimer’s. I hope that he can clear out that power cabal to do creative research on Alzheimer’s. The problem is that there are many false paradigms dominating the NIH disease research budget. It’s going to be a huge undertaking to muscle out all the grifter scientists. Here’s hoping for a new day for HHS and beyond.
That's one downside of peer review; it can act as dogma enforcement, as in the case of amyloid plaques or cholesterol and heart disease. In such a climate, paradigm-challenging ideas can't get a toehold. "Science" is turning into anti-science.
Funding is a major perverter. Even in the hard sciences: for example, no matter what you might think of the presenter here, what she describes as the hidebound funding, publishing, research practices, and careerism in theoretical physics is applicable to many if not most fields today https://youtu.be/LKiBlGDfRU8
'Most staff, including myself, are puzzled by the sudden change of attitude towards NIH, both by Congress and the public. How did an institution that was held in such high regard and that was blessed with bipartisan support for so long sink to this level of distrust and suspicion?'
I'm puzzled about the puzzlement. The big answer for me, and for many other people, lowly civilians as well as professionals, is the blatant lying and censorship that happened during Covid. It was like turning over a rock, revealing all the other creepy-crawlies underneath.
A great article; part of which I cut and paste and sent to my daughter. A few friends of hers, one being a new research scientist for infectious diseases @ UCSF completely disillusioned and pissed off about moving to SF. Apparently, the scientists are "scared" because of the uncertainty. She couldn't understand how I didn't feel the same way and then I went on to say what this article said; manufactured fear, research is not being stopped, media report it all wrong, and the Univ can no longer take a large chunk of the $ to do what they please. A huge thank you as the timing of this article couldn't be better and it's always good to have validation from the inside.
Research is not being stopped, but almost everyone is essentially being harassed and intimidated, punished, for the corruption, rather than the actual corrupt people being held accountable. If you want to see the real problem, look to the UC Regents. They should be directly attacked -- the majority of scientists are just trying to hold a relatively low-paying job and do their work. That's it. The "manufactured fear" is as much you cheering them on and not understanding how this works, or who is being threatened and intimidated, and why.
Do you see the UC Regents shaking in their pants (who are the ones grifting from the in-direct costs)? No. Instead, you see thousands of regular scientists being targeted because their research doesn't satisfy the whims of billionaires.
Obviously the media hypes it, but also the actions by the Whitehouse are totally tyrannical and blind.
I'm not cheering anyone on! I agree with a lot of your points. The UC Regents are nothing but corrupt. The NIH shakeup should expose them for who they are but unfortunately low level scientists are akin to slave labor. So the scientists should actually be showing their distain toward the unit they work for, not DOGE. But because of Media propaganda that's not happening and I'm sure those regants are celebrating in that fact. Why shine the lights on themselves if they don't have to.
I love the lack of licking Elon's ass that most ideologues seem to be engaging in. While it is correct the NIH has problems, that people think MAGA can fix it is frankly totally ignorant. These guys don't understand science or scientific culture at all. It is small dick energy all the way, with zero rationality and all projection behind it. That said, it doesn't mean the anger isn't warranted (the NIH _is_ profoundly corrupt -- and the corruption will not be held accountable, just enabled by the Elon approach, really), so they are harvesting the political will to accomplish essentially commercial capture of a historically non-profit effort. The point of the government, and the NIH, is to remove conflicts of interest so we're not just living in feudalism.
What I even more deeply appreciate about your article is the following:
"The word diversity is a big buzzword inside the NIH but I don't really think they care about hiring minorities and women as much as following guidelines, rules and regulations that tout diversity. Minority women and men across the campus are just not promoted. Yes, there have been initiatives, and diversity emails to read, and classes to take, but NIH has long been a male dominated environment.
It’s a Woke culture that isn’t really woke."
Very astute observation. These are ideology wars, ultimately. It is unfortunate that the response from most people on this thread is more ideology. Meanwhile, regular scientists are being punished by ideologues. First it was from the left (during covid) and now it's from the right. Either way, it's all ideology with little connection to the everyday work of real people. This is how capture works, and it is unfortunate that most of the commenters on this thread are still in a state of capture because they don't understand the real consequences that these things have on working people (who are also scientists).
Excellent article Paul. The covid experience has revealed the total corruption of health agencies. We need whistleblowers but after reading Carl Elliots book “The occasional human sacrifice,” whistleblowing is fraught with damaging the whistleblowers career and total ostracism. Whistleblowers need protection in order to advance correction. The fiefdoms made up of narcissists whose only concern is stroking their egos and ensuring continued power is disastrous to new ideas, the underlings who work for them and the benefits to humanity. I admire this whistleblower and hope the revelation encourages change.
One of my first disillusionments about Obama was his broken promise to honor whistleblowers—instead, he prosecuted more than any previous president.
Pretty much every administration does this, though.
Well, yeah. But he promised Hope ;)
Thank you! Restacking. Everyone knows I want Tabak's job. I know how to turn $hit into manure. Keep your fingers crossed!
Thanks so much for posting this!! I shared with a university researcher. Help has got to be on the way! There was a TCN interview with a Ray Dalio, who contends that a civil war is on the way in America. I stopped listening after hearing the list of causes, such as, disparity in income, loss of good jobs etc...I'm probably not giving a fair account, but I stopped listening because I believe it's the media reporting that is causing this 'civil war'. It's hard for folks to believe that the legacy media lies about 98% of the time. If the print, cable and public airwaves stations stopped lying, the 'civil war' would largely evaporate. Recently, I was treated to an impromptu vicious rant about RFK Jr in a professional Arts space - not recreation. It came from a seldom-seen, barely-an-acquaintance. This person offered this unsolicited diatribe, after his unsolicited statement that he was all updated on his shots (- as though he was a puppy; I've noticed now that old people, men & women, like to tell me about their shots, unsolicited). I responded that I was a "Kennedy Democrat", that I listen to RFK directly and read his books. This guy started in on the measles & RFK, and I told him it was all lies, (Samoa) and RFK has successfully sued for defamation, including against Fauci. I suggested he go to the primary source, RFK, for his information; in fact, listen to the other side, all sides, not just legacy media (which I had to define for him). The guy then started in on Trump, and again, I said, "listen to the man directly, don't go by what you're told he thinks, says, writes". The guy was startled, suggested I was all up in arms, which I wasn't. I must say, it's crazy what the legacy media has done, the years of propaganda. This retired executive though, has no excuse. What strikes me with the propagandized is their ability to in fact disrespect the majority of Americans who voted for Trump, who supported RFK Jr. They smear the intelligence of most Americans, proud in their own superior knowledge, which they mainline from CNN. I get that the answer to abuse of free speech with lies is more speech, but for the sake of our country, now and the future, I wish it would stop.
I get the RFK smears from a lot of people, but on further probing they've never actually *listened* to RFK himself, just what the media has to say about him. I encourage them to listen to a lengthy interview like with Joe Rogan or even the annoying-to-me Tucker Carlson (just ignore the interviewer if you don't like them; at least Rogan tends to let his subjects talk without too many interruptions).
There's nothing like listening to someone converse for two or three hours to get a feel for the quality of their thinking. I mean, RFK sprinkles footnotes in his conversation.
The first time I met and talked with RFK Jr, my immediate impression is that he's a thoughtful guy who in no way resembles the caricature of him in the media. I'm guessing that everyone who is not a DNC or Big Pharma political operative who has a negative impression of him have ever heard him talk.
I agree, completely! I am pleased with self that in a split-second after this total non-sequitur tirade, I recovered and responded as I did. Doesn’t always happen!!
Thanks for the snippet of insight into the workings of NIH. With the power cabal of Fauci and Tabak departed, perhaps there is hope for the future. RFK Jr said he knows who at NIH is responsible for the 20 year unrewarding thesis on amyloid plaques being the primary problem in Alzheimer’s. I hope that he can clear out that power cabal to do creative research on Alzheimer’s. The problem is that there are many false paradigms dominating the NIH disease research budget. It’s going to be a huge undertaking to muscle out all the grifter scientists. Here’s hoping for a new day for HHS and beyond.
That's one downside of peer review; it can act as dogma enforcement, as in the case of amyloid plaques or cholesterol and heart disease. In such a climate, paradigm-challenging ideas can't get a toehold. "Science" is turning into anti-science.
Funding is a major perverter. Even in the hard sciences: for example, no matter what you might think of the presenter here, what she describes as the hidebound funding, publishing, research practices, and careerism in theoretical physics is applicable to many if not most fields today https://youtu.be/LKiBlGDfRU8
Breathless. Thank you, Thacker.
'Most staff, including myself, are puzzled by the sudden change of attitude towards NIH, both by Congress and the public. How did an institution that was held in such high regard and that was blessed with bipartisan support for so long sink to this level of distrust and suspicion?'
I'm puzzled about the puzzlement. The big answer for me, and for many other people, lowly civilians as well as professionals, is the blatant lying and censorship that happened during Covid. It was like turning over a rock, revealing all the other creepy-crawlies underneath.
A great article; part of which I cut and paste and sent to my daughter. A few friends of hers, one being a new research scientist for infectious diseases @ UCSF completely disillusioned and pissed off about moving to SF. Apparently, the scientists are "scared" because of the uncertainty. She couldn't understand how I didn't feel the same way and then I went on to say what this article said; manufactured fear, research is not being stopped, media report it all wrong, and the Univ can no longer take a large chunk of the $ to do what they please. A huge thank you as the timing of this article couldn't be better and it's always good to have validation from the inside.
Research is not being stopped, but almost everyone is essentially being harassed and intimidated, punished, for the corruption, rather than the actual corrupt people being held accountable. If you want to see the real problem, look to the UC Regents. They should be directly attacked -- the majority of scientists are just trying to hold a relatively low-paying job and do their work. That's it. The "manufactured fear" is as much you cheering them on and not understanding how this works, or who is being threatened and intimidated, and why.
Do you see the UC Regents shaking in their pants (who are the ones grifting from the in-direct costs)? No. Instead, you see thousands of regular scientists being targeted because their research doesn't satisfy the whims of billionaires.
Obviously the media hypes it, but also the actions by the Whitehouse are totally tyrannical and blind.
I'm not cheering anyone on! I agree with a lot of your points. The UC Regents are nothing but corrupt. The NIH shakeup should expose them for who they are but unfortunately low level scientists are akin to slave labor. So the scientists should actually be showing their distain toward the unit they work for, not DOGE. But because of Media propaganda that's not happening and I'm sure those regants are celebrating in that fact. Why shine the lights on themselves if they don't have to.
I love the lack of licking Elon's ass that most ideologues seem to be engaging in. While it is correct the NIH has problems, that people think MAGA can fix it is frankly totally ignorant. These guys don't understand science or scientific culture at all. It is small dick energy all the way, with zero rationality and all projection behind it. That said, it doesn't mean the anger isn't warranted (the NIH _is_ profoundly corrupt -- and the corruption will not be held accountable, just enabled by the Elon approach, really), so they are harvesting the political will to accomplish essentially commercial capture of a historically non-profit effort. The point of the government, and the NIH, is to remove conflicts of interest so we're not just living in feudalism.
What I even more deeply appreciate about your article is the following:
"The word diversity is a big buzzword inside the NIH but I don't really think they care about hiring minorities and women as much as following guidelines, rules and regulations that tout diversity. Minority women and men across the campus are just not promoted. Yes, there have been initiatives, and diversity emails to read, and classes to take, but NIH has long been a male dominated environment.
It’s a Woke culture that isn’t really woke."
Very astute observation. These are ideology wars, ultimately. It is unfortunate that the response from most people on this thread is more ideology. Meanwhile, regular scientists are being punished by ideologues. First it was from the left (during covid) and now it's from the right. Either way, it's all ideology with little connection to the everyday work of real people. This is how capture works, and it is unfortunate that most of the commenters on this thread are still in a state of capture because they don't understand the real consequences that these things have on working people (who are also scientists).