Merchants of Doubt

Great message. Not so great execution.

Kenner is right in connecting the largely defeated tobacco lobby with climate change denialism, a corporate ruse that is still alive and kicking; but since he's supposed to be taking on anti-science, he plays it very safe by singling out the right while ignoring the left's anti-biotech hysteria (anti-vax and GMO alarmism). The best parts are where he baits Bill O'Keefe and Marc Morano into admitting their cynical lies, and the inspirational Bob Inglis part near the end.

A stellar breakdown of the anti-science industrial complex foundation and flourishing. It could stand to be longer, given the stability of the complex over time, and how scientific advances that demand government action are almost always met with well-funded private-sector opposition, and have been for a century now. It's still a must-watch, though.

Nicely built document that ousts plenty of scam artists but as it came out two years ago and nothing's really changed, do we even have hope? Turns a bit too much into just another climate change movie near the end.

excellently produced piece of documentary. a must see for anyone who watches the political debates in mainstream media. nice to see the bullshitters get exposed like this.

And... plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose, as the French say. Seeing this 6 years after it came out, in the time of COVID, the playbook remains the same, and it's being applied to more and more issues. It's presented in a fairly entertaining way, an it's all not TOO relentlessly depressing...until you start to really think about it, that is.

Man America is fucked up