Eric Topol

So any comments about how the media, that's part of your five Ps.

I think the problem, of course, is China has never been transparent.

They could provide the evidence that it wasn't a lab leak, they never have, and that just leaves us hanging perhaps forever.

It's so unfortunate now.

Yeah, now, let's go towards the, as you run through in the book, the path forward.

You know, you've made it very clear that

You know, just better communication isn't enough.

I mean, it is important to be respectful of alternate views.

And I think some of that was not seen in the height of the pandemic.

But the invisibility of scientists, you know, there are not many who are out there.

who are trying to stand up for the science, what if they all did?

What if a large proportion of them did?

You know, it's a rarity for most of scientists, whether it's climate scientists or life science, medical researchers to get involved in, whether it's op-eds and, you know, social media, whatnot.

Is this, isn't this an area that we could improve going forward?

Absolutely.

Well, I want to finish up with two quotes that you have in the book with Michael and get your reactions or amplification of them.

And that's, of course, beyond in this path forward where you call for political action, because that's obviously that what we're in the midst of is that it is a politicized issue.

But one quote is, this book is a warning, but it is also a call to arms.

While there is urgency, unlike any we've ever known, there is still agency.

We can still avert disaster if we can understand the nature of the mounting anti-science threat and formulate a strategy to counter it.