[newsbinator]

> Public confidence in scientists fell from 87 percent in April 2000 to a low of 73 percent in October 2023

It's incredible public confidence in scientists is still that high.

When the public turned to scientists with valid questions, they were met with "just trust me bro" and mockery for "doing your own research" in response to being dismissed.

Even worse: the "just trust me bro" people kept being wrong about one thing after another, then pretending a year later the opposite position was their position all along.

The general public isn't smart, but most people can remember life-and-death information they were given a year back.