Review of The Michael Shermer Show - Finally had to speak up.

Finally had to speak up.

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“’ve been a Michael Shermer fan for years, a Skeptic subscriber, and more recently a podcast listener. But…these past couple of years I’ve noticed him *not* challenging unsubstantiated statements made by guests, most notably those leaning conservative. I thought, maybe he’s just being polite. Not exactly demonstrating critical thinking, but it’s his podcast, maybe that isn’t the point? Now, though, I hear him parodying things said by the *far left* noisemakers and presenting them as if they represent the core beliefs of *all* liberals. That’s not cool. (Presenting far right noisemakers as representing all conservatives: equally not cool.) This is *not* the critical thinking approach to “news” in the media that drew me to the Skeptics world in the first place. But *I* still subscribe to critical thinking, which means listening to both sides, so I’ve continued to listen to Shermer’s guests. I rarely agree with everything they say - sometimes with nothing they say - but you can’t evaluate what you don’t hear. Today, though, Shermer made one more misleading, bordering on non-factual statement, and I just couldn’t stay quiet any more. It wasn’t a terribly important fact, just the proverbial straw. He said, “In California here, we have to have all electric cars by 2030. No more gas-powered cars. If you want to drive an old muscle car like a Camaro or a Mustang with the big (makes rumble noise), you have to go to a track.” Well, I’ve heard exactly this point being made on Fox “News”. Is that where you’re getting your “facts” now, Shermer? Because the *actual* facts - because Facts Matter - are these: 1) Beginning in 2035 (not 2030), no more **new** gas-powered cars can be sold in California. 2) You can still drive your muscle car as you always have, on public roads. 3) You can even *buy* a used muscle car, and drive it on public roads. Just not a *new* one. 4) If your vehicle doesn’t pass its smog test, then you can’t drive it on public roads…but that’s true *now* and has nothing to do with the switch to electric cars. That’s been the law for decades. But Shermer’s comment presented a very different message, one that seemed deliberately deceptive. Not necessarily by Shermer, but definitely by whatever media he got that message from. (Mr. Shermer, if this statement was entirely yours, then shame on you.) There have been many other such mis-statements that rang familiar from Fox messages, but this is one where I had reason to *know* the truth. I am very saddened today to have my perception that Shermer is no longer practicing critical thinking and objective evaluation proven true. My heart is broken.”

nevertoolate2018 via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 02/28/23

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Time to unsubscribe.

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“I’ve been listening for a while. This podcast has become simple biased diatribe, uninformed opinion, and poor interviews. Sad to say goodbye. But this podcast has become a waste of time.”

voodoospydr via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 05/12/20

Awesome

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“I am really enjoying your podcast!!! Thank you. I will be buying your book soon. Awesome stuff🤙”

alwpzmhd via Apple Podcasts · Mongolia · 09/23/18

Really Disappointing

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“I used to see Shermer as one of my ‘go to’ guys for objective, skeptical content but he is hopelessly biased and partisan now. Opinion is fine, but it should never be cloaked as fact, something that Shermer does more and more these days.”

Moodini1 via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 05/06/20

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