Every day we wake up to news about another White House assault on experts and reason. The systematic dismantling of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the work and proven policies of most other science based institutions are under full scale attack right now. There’s pushback from the competing political party, and from activists and some members of the public, but the results have so far been somewhat flaccid. Polling suggests that not enough people are concerned, and research also points to a broad public mistrust of science. 

Understanding why this has happened is the first step in getting us to a fix, and taking the steps and time to adopt trust (re)building behavior will put real science and expertise back where humanity needs it to be. Let me suggest a place to start.

Almost all institutions are suffering from mistrust, especially previously trusted legacy news and information sources (i.e., traditional journalism). (Fox Nooz, which admitted to spreading bull$hit in a court of law while trying to defend themselves, but then losing a $788-million lawsuit two years ago, is now the most watched television source in the country.) But, there are very specific behaviors – strategies, if you prefer – that we know from research, empirical evidence and a boatload of experience and ground-truthing that move people from afraid, angry and mistrusting, to trusting. 

Teaching, coaching and connecting institutions to these behaviors is what we do. And, one of the most effective behaviors, authentic engagement, is one of the reasons for the success of the Joe Rogans of the online universe. Let’s let Harvard’s Kennedy Center explain; you can connect the dots in this deeper dive.