Trump's Science Czar on Anti-Science Claims, DEI Cuts, and the China Race

Chapters

1. 0:00 Policy and regulation

   Is the administration anti-science?

   Kratsios defends the Trump administration against anti-science accusations, citing a new report 'Science: A New Golden Age'. He argues the scientific community lost its way during COVID, when dissent was labeled anti-science, pointing to Fauci as a symbol of dogma. A Nature poll shows 86% of scientists supported Harris, but Kratsios says the community is politicized and must return to the scientific method.

2. 4:40 Science

   Reforming R&D budgets and slashing DEI

   Kratsios says the government must apply the scientific method to its own $200B annual S&T budget, questioning whether funding drives breakthroughs. He cites a Ted Cruz analysis finding 25% of NSF grants under Biden went to DEI-related 'science'—about $8B over four years. He defends the termination of $3B in unspent grants as cutting waste and redirecting funds to gold-standard research.

3. 8:17 Science

   Climate change: emergency or not?

   Kratsios rejects the climate emergency narrative, pointing to the removal of the RCP8.5 worst-case scenario by scientists. He argues the media fixated on extremes while China's carbon output dwarfs the US. He advocates for technology-led solutions like fusion and nuclear energy, and claims harsh policy hurts developing nations reliant on cheap fossil fuels.

4. 13:28 Science

   Science stagnation and NIH inefficiency

   Host notes NIH funding tripled from $14B in 1998 to $47B in 2024 without proportional breakthroughs, citing Eroom's law—outcomes per dollar down 80-fold since 1950, halving every 9 years. Kratsios agrees science has stagnated, citing slower air travel. He introduces meta-science units at NSF and NIH to run experiments on funding, including 'golden tickets' and flexible grant durations.

5. 20:13 Science

   Funding scientists, not just ideas

   They discuss venture-style funding of individuals over projects, using Slack's Stewart Butterfield as example. Kratsios mentions portable GRFP fellowships for PhDs. He outlines big federal bets: moon landing by 2028, nuclear reactor in space by 2028, quantum computer by 2028, fusion by 2035, and the Genesis mission to double scientific output via AI.

6. 24:54 Policy and regulation

   Public vs private R&D and the Vannevar Bush legacy

   Kratsios argues the 70-year-old Vannevar Bush model—government funding university basic research—needs refresh as private sector now does 70% of R&D. He rejects consolidating science agencies, saying competition like DARPA is a feature, not a bug. He stresses government should fund pre-competitive basic research and gaps where markets and philanthropy don't.

7. 34:14 Policy and regulation

   China's scientific rise and IP threats

   Host cites China's R&D spending from $33B in 2000 to $670B in 2021, a 19x increase, and notes China now publishes 50% more papers than the US. Kratsios acknowledges China's IP theft and dumping, and critical minerals threat. He argues free-market science outperforms central planning, citing China's failure in EUV lithography despite export controls.

8. 38:57 Policy and regulation

   STEM pipeline and immigration gaps

   Kratsios laments that only 30% of US computer science PhDs are native-born, down from 70% 30 years ago. He advocates restarting gifted-student programs and supporting young scientists. Host pushes for retaining foreign PhDs; Kratsios says both are compatible. They criticize removal of algebra and SAT requirements, harming STEM pipeline.

9. 44:06 Science

   Restoring trust in science and Fauci's damage

   They discuss whether scientists lost celebrity status. Kratsios says Fauci did more disservice to science than anyone, citing mask mandates and contradictions. Host notes that uniform consensus without empiricism destroyed trust. Kratsios says science must return to inquiry. They also mention median age 71 of NIH intramural researchers, urging young scientists.