Where's the middle gone? - the politicising of science.
I need help. At first it was only every now and then, or subtly implied but now it's explicit and it's all the time.
I have had to unsubscribe from the New Scientist and Wired UK podcasts and both for the same reason. Far from giving unbiased neutral reporting on technology or scientific discoveries, these shows seem to have become a soapbox for the presenters to compete against each other to see who the most "woke" is.
The reason I subscribe to both magazines is because I am interested in science and technology, both fields being free of any political affiliation or spin. Sure there are politics in the funding of various projects but the technology or science itself doesn't care who is funding the study, even if the results are taken and rearranged, the study or tech itself has no bias.
So with publications that provide interesting insight into the cutting edge of science and tech what has gone wrong with their podcasts?
I don't mind a bit of balanced debate and consuming media that goes against my own views, in fact I think it's important that I am exposed to different opinions so I don't cultivate an echo chamber that leaves me perplexed when something happens that was clear as day to anyone looking at the issue in the round. The problem is the dogmatic approach everyone on both these shows [and countless other "balanced" news outlets] seems to have to anything on the right of centre.
Over the past few months it has gotten so much worse, with "the government" being blamed for everything from the Coronavirus pandemic [and the response], to the impending demise of museums in the country. One advert midway through the New Scientist podcast was promoting a news show purporting to be "refreshingly balanced", right before they played a clip of someone attacking the prime minister on [insert anything here] and announcing guests including David Lammy [extremely left wing and extremely anti the current government]. It sounded like a joke, but sadly this seems to be what constitutes reasoned debate.
It would be one thing if there were relevant stories that you would expect a view on the government's approach to e.g. funding, etc. but now there isn't a single story or item in these shows that doesn't contain a snide or glib comment deriding the government. Now I'm not a tribal supporter of everything the government does; there are plenty of things I disagree with and plenty of characters within the ruling party I have no trust in, but if I wanted a left leaning political commentary I would just tune into radio 4.
Is it so much to as for a show to stick to its own subject? Or if it *must* bring politics into the discussion to have equal representation or at least a modicum of accountability for the poorly thought through comments that seem to litter their broadcasts?
What is most bizarre is that the magazines themselves have none of this bias. They remain impartial, well researched and written and any political elements balanced and backed with references. So why is it that the audio shows are getting it so wrong? Well, there's plenty to say on the reasons for this, but as that isn't my area I'm going to leave it well alone.
What I will say is what I started with; I need help. Can anyone recommend any science and/or technology podcasts that give politic-free coverage or at least a balanced debate?
What are some of your favourites and why?
A few podcasts I listen to that remain uncorrupted [at least for now!] include;
The Joe Rogan Experience
The Tim Ferriss Show
Our Ludicrous Future
The Gem of all Mechanisms
