Why Don't We Trust the Experts? Science and the Crisis of Authority

Physicist and astronomer Dr. Todd Timberlake joins the conversation to explore the modern crisis of expertise. What does it mean to trust science when experts sometimes get things wrong? How do peer review, replication, and the broader scientific community create self-correcting systems that still move knowledge forward, even through mistakes? And why has public trust in institutions—including science and medicine—eroded so dramatically in recent years?

Together with our angsty leader, Michael Bailey, Todd unpacks why skepticism toward expertise has shifted from a fringe view to a mainstream force shaping policy and public life. They consider the dangers of dismissing experts altogether, the tension between democracy and authority, and the challenges citizens face in discerning credible evidence from persuasive rhetoric. The conversation also raises a crucial question: what responsibilities do experts themselves bear in making their work transparent and trustworthy?

To end on a lighter note, we close with “Dear Michael Bailey—Give Us a List.” Michael shares his three favorite things about physics, from the vast scales of the universe to the counterintuitive truths revealed by math. Then Todd returns the favor with his list of the three most angsty things about government—highlighting complexity, the problem of uninformed decision-making, and the limitations of what government can realistically achieve.

Hosted by Dale McConkey.

The views expressed on American Angst are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.