Michael Shermer
Author Giving the Devil His Due, Host Science Salon Podcast, Publisher Skeptic Magazine, Presidential Fellow Chapman University.
Thought Leader
#11 The New Center
Last synced from Twitter 88d ago
Michael Shermer with Rebecca Wragg Sykes — Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art
Michael Shermer - Skeptic 90d 2 tweets
In Science Salon podcast # 140, Michael Shermer speaks with Rebecca Wragg Sykes about her new book Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art.
Michael Shermer Need a distraction from the current craziness? Transport back in time 400,000 years and meet the relatives... SCIENCE SALON # 140 Rebecca Wragg Sykes Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art —and their bodies, brains, minds, tools, religion etc. 90d
Michael Shermer ICYMI my conversation with Rebecca Wragg Sykes, one of the world's leading archaeologists of Neanderthals, is up. She is a model scientist cautiously deducing deep insights from mountains of bones & artifacts about their lives & minds. 88d
Bruce Springsteen and the Art of Aging Well
The Atlantic 94d 20 tweets
What the happiest Springsteen album in decades can teach us about Joe Biden, the wisdom of maturity, and the meaning of life
Michael Shermer Words to live by and wisdom from The Boss... 90d
Which Party Would Be Better for the Economy? Here’s How Biden and Trump’s Plans Stack Up.
Barrons.com 90d 1 tweets
Barron’s looked at the analysis from a variety of research firms and think tanks that have scored the tax proposals. Biden’s plan is considerably more detailed than Trump’s and could lead to a stronger economic recovery.
Michael Shermer Barron's analysis comparing Trump's & Biden's tax plans & economic forecast includes this depressing conclusion: "Both Trump & Biden would substantially boost federal debt, by $4.9 trillion & $5.6 trillion, respectively, by 2030." 90d
How The Epoch Times Created a Giant Influence Machine
Kevin Roose - Nytimes.com 92d 16 tweets
Since 2016, the Falun Gong-backed newspaper has used aggressive Facebook tactics and right-wing misinformation to create an anti-China, pro-Trump media empire.
Michael Shermer If you've noticed commercials popping up everywhere for Epoch Times, promising to let you in on "what's really going on" (always pro-Trump/conservative) it started as an anti-Communist pub in China & run by the Falun Gong movement (cult some call it). 90d
James Randi in Memoriam, 1928–2020
Michael Shermer - Skeptic 92d 1 tweets
In loving memory of our friend James Randi who passed away at the age of 92 on October 20, 2020 we present a classic lecture on skepticism given at Caltech by James Randi on March 22, 1992 at the inaugural session of the Distinguished Science...
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Michael Shermer James Randi in Memoriam, 1928–2020 Michael Shermer: James Randi & the Skeptical Movement Daniel Loxton: James Randi, Skeptic Extraordinaire James Randi inaugural Skeptics Society Caltech Lecture: "A Report from the Paranormal Trenches" (March 22, 1992) 92d
How to Read the Political Mind
Shepherd Express - Shepherd Express 93d 1 tweets
This isn’t just an election about Biden or Trump, Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative. It’s a referendum on us.
Michael Shermer I said that? Well yes I did. In The Believing Brain... 93d
NASA teases ‘exciting new discovery’ coming about the moon next week
New York Post 94d 1 tweets
NASA scientists will announce an “exciting new discovery” about the moon in a virtual press conference on Monday, the agency said Wednesday. The news will be announced by NASA in a 12 p…
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Michael Shermer "NASA teases ‘exciting new discovery’ coming about the moon next week" Wouldn't it be wild if it turned out to be this? 94d
Divided We Stand | by Mark W. Moffett - Project Syndicate
Project Syndicate 94d 1 tweets
With America heading for one of the most fraught and potentially disastrous presidential elections in its history, it is difficult to see how such a deeply polarized country could ever be made whole again. In fact, today's divide is between two...
Michael Shermer The difference between patriots & nationalists why we evolved the characteristics of each for self-preservation, protection from outsiders, & group loyalty for internal cohesion. Good analysis by evolutionist from his book The Human Swarm 94d
Francis becomes 1st pope to endorse same-sex civil unions
ABC News 95d 1 tweets
Pope Francis has become the first pontiff to endorse same-sex civil unions
Michael Shermer I called it in my 2015 book The Moral Arc: Christians condemning same-sex marriage would come around to accepting it, then endorsing it, eventually taking credit for another moral revolution (like the abolition of slavery). Civil union acceptance 1st step. 95d
Archaeologists unearth 'huge number' of sealed Egyptian sarcophagi
CNN 97d 6 tweets
A large collection of unopened sarcophagi has been found in Saqqara, adding to the trove of almost 60 coffins recently discovered at the ancient Egyptian necropolis.
Michael Shermer My prediction for what they will find: —Trump's tax returns —Biden's Ukraine dealings —Hilary's emails —Nixon's missing 18-minutes of tape —Whereabouts of Jimmy Hoffa's body —What happened to Amelia Earhart 96d
When in Doubt - Teaser
Vimeo 97d 4 tweets
This is "When in Doubt - Teaser" by The Signal Productions on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
Michael Shermer When in Doubt... —be humble When certain... —be in doubt This doc on having difficult conversations with and looks good 96d
Michael Shermer with Shelby Steele — Shame: How America’s Past Sins Have Polarized Our Country & the film What Killed Michael Brown?
Michael Shermer - Skeptic 97d 2 tweets
In Science Salon podcast # 139, Michael Shermer speaks with Shelby Steele about his book Shame: How America’s Past Sins Have Polarized Our Country and about his new film What Killed Michael Brown?
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Michael Shermer Just cancel me now and get it over with... Science Salon #139 My conversation with Shelby Steele on: —black families & fatherless homes —white guilt —race fatigue —reparations —anti-racism —achievement gap —BLM —race, IQ, SATs —race training programs 97d
Michael Shermer ICYMI... SCIENCE SALON #139 Shelby Steele Shame: How America’s Past Sins Have Polarized Our Country What Killed Michael Brown? 91d
When does the left go too far? Better Left Unsaid
Mysite 321d 4 tweets
The only documentary exploring the ideological line between the left and the extreme left.
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Michael Shermer I was pleased to be part of this film on free speech and censorship (especially of the self-censor sort) & now it is coming soon to an online platform near you. From Curt Jaimungal & Trailer: 97d
2+2 Never Equals 5
New Discourses 174d 10 tweets
“Freedom is the freedom to say that 2+2=4. If that is granted, all else follows” -George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-four
Michael Shermer If you're wondering how this sentence can even be written, much less understood, here's an article that attempts it. "The 'of course math is neutral because 2+2 = 4 'trope'... 'reeks of white supremacy patriarchy'." Trope. Sure. 98d
Why Is Wokeness Winning?
Andrewsullivan.substack.com 100d 22 tweets
The astonishing and continuing success of left illiberalism
Michael Shermer "Where liberalism allows neutrality or doubt or indifference, CRT demands an absolute & immediate choice between racism & anti-racism (defined by CRT)—and no one wants to be a racist do they?" Can I be an anti-anti-racist w/out being a racist? 98d
Largest ever free speech survey of college students ranks top campuses for expression
FIRE 117d 12 tweets
The findings from the first-ever rankings of the free speech climates at 55 of America’s largest and most prestigious college campuses.
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Michael Shermer "Students identifying as extremely liberal said violence to stop a speech or event from occurring on campus was “always” or “sometimes” acceptable at a rate double than students identifying as extremely conservative—13% to 6%" It should be 0% 98d
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Michael Shermer Important but disturbing findings These stats alone should send a chill down the spine of free speech defenders everywhere: 98d
Suicide Accounts for Most Gun Deaths. A Libertarian Approach Could Help.
WSJ 102d 5 tweets
Making it easier for individuals to opt for giving up their gun rights could greatly cut suicides—the most common type of gun fatality in the U.S.
Michael Shermer THREAD Donna's Law is a great idea: people w/ suicidal ideation can confidentially add their name to an FBI background check list prohibiting sale of guns to them. Conservatives & liberals should support it: Voluntary, no 2a issues, reduces gun carnage. 99d
The Long Shadow of the Pandemic: 2024 and Beyond
WSJ 100d 24 tweets
Even when the world returns to ‘normal,’ the legacy of Covid-19 will transform everything from wages and health care to political attitudes and global supply chains.
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Michael Shermer The great has the cover story in today's Saturday Review section in the WSJ. Well worth reading. Excerpted from his forthcoming book, which I'm looking forward to reading and speaking with him about. Looks like we're in for a long haul ahead. 99d
Ep. 57: Michael Shermer - Talking Beats with Daniel Lelchuk
Spotify 99d 1 tweets
“All culture is appropriation. No culture invents their culture and says ‘this is ours’ and silos it off from everybody else. Everybody borrows everything." Science historian and best-selling writer Michael Shermer is here. Free speech and free...
Michael Shermer Talking free speech & censorship on with . Available here: and here: Give it a listen if you're so inclined! 99d
‎Talking Beats with Daniel Lelchuk: Ep. 57: Michael Shermer on Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts 99d 1 tweets
‎Show Talking Beats with Daniel Lelchuk, Ep Ep. 57: Michael Shermer - Oct 15, 2020
Michael Shermer Talking free speech & censorship on with . Available here: and here: Give it a listen if you're so inclined! 99d