Scientific American Endorses Kamala Harris in Second Historic Move Opposing Trump

Sep 16, 2024, 09:29 PM

Scientific American has endorsed a presidential candidate for the first time in its 179-year history, supporting Kamala Harris. This move marks the magazine's second political endorsement, with the first being in 2020. The endorsement has sparked a debate among the scientific community and general public. Some argue that the endorsement could harm the perception of the scientific establishment and reduce trust in scientific institutions. Critics point out that previous endorsements by scientific publications, such as Nature in 2020, did not influence election outcomes but did damage the publications' reputations. A survey found that Nature's endorsement harmed its perception. Supporters of the endorsement believe it aligns with evidence-based and scientific principles, though others argue that political endorsements by scientific magazines are inherently normative and may not be wise. The endorsement appears to be more about opposing Trump than supporting Harris.