Bret Weinstein speaks with Michael Shermer, the publisher of Skeptic magazine, the executive director of the Skeptics Society, and the host of the popular podcast The Michael Shermer Show on the subject of truth.

Find Michael Shermer on X at https://x.com/MichaelShermer and “Truth: What It Is, How to Find It, and Why It Still Matters” on Amazon at https://amzn.to/4qLfojC (commission earned).

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Theme Music: Thank you to Martin Molin of Wintergatan for providing us the rights to use their excellent music.

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Mentioned on this Episode:

Paul Offit on Covid immunity: https://x.com/kevinnbass/status/1891856265292169570

Reasonable Dowd: Ed Dowd on DarkHorse https://youtu.be/Trjv7-eUqt4

Unsafe at Any Speed: Dr. Toby Rogers on DarkHorse https://youtu.be/QQfIo75KHII

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On this, our 308th Evolutionary Lens livestream, we discuss glyphosate, Roundup, Monsanto, and how science and the law are done. A benchmark scientific review paper from 2000, which established the safety of glyphosate for humans, has been retracted by the publisher, on the basis that a) the paper did not actually review the available evidence, b) the stated authors did not actually write (much of) the paper, and c) employees of Monsanto, which makes Roundup, cryptically contributed substantively to the paper. This paper never should have been published, and its retraction should prompt the EPA to revamp guidelines for the use of glyphosate. Also: peer review and scientific culture are widely gamed. And: punitive damages to injured plaintiffs, awarded by juries against corporations, are being reduced by appellate courts due to a misapplication of the 14th Amendment.

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Caraway: Non-toxic, highly functional & beautiful cookware and bakeware. Save with Caraway’s cookware set, and visit http://Carawayhome.com/DH10 to for an additional 10% off your next purchase.

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Join us on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com

Heather’s newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com

Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AGANGg (commission earned)

Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://darkhorsestore.org

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Mentioned in this episode:

NYT on glyphosate article retraction: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/climate/glyphosate-roundup-retracted-study.html

Williams, Kroes, and Munro 2000. Safety evaluation and risk assessment of the herbicide Roundup and its active ingredient, glyphosate, for humans. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 31(2), pp.117-165:https://www.cbs17.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2019/06/Safety-Evaluation-and-Risk-Assessment-of-the-Herbicide-Roundup-and-its-Active-Ingredient-Glyphosate-for-Humans.pdf

Retraction: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230025002387

Journal Aims and Scope: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/regulatory-toxicology-and-pharmacology/about/aims-and-scope

Johnson v Monsanto (2018): https://www.wisnerbaum.com/toxic-tort-law/monsanto-roundup-lawsuit/johnson-trial-2018/

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On this, our 307th Evolutionary Lens livestream, we discuss short form video (SFV), advertisers coming for our dreams, and a review of where we are, and where we are headed. Short form video has negative impacts on both cognitive capacity and mental health in youth and adults; in the context of recent research, we discuss laugh track, philosophy of science, and how tiny actions that appear to have no harm can be very harmful in the aggregate. Then: humans have a long history of accessing our hypnogogic states—between waking and sleep—for creative or spiritual purposes. Now, most companies surveyed are looking into “targeted dream incubation” as a way to change consumer behavior, including Burger King with their 2018 green-bunned “Nightmare King” burger. How do we resist? Finally: an intercalary period is when the absence of an even number of days in the year catches up with our calendars, and we add things like leap days. The mismatch between the solstice, Christmas, and new year’s may point to this reality, and we seem to be living in a metaphorical one. We can’t predict what comes next; the political landscape is in chaotic motion; Silver’s rise in price may set off market collapse—so what can you do? Spend time in person with real people; develop real relationship; and become comfortable in solitude. Treasure your privacy, and both time alone, and time together.

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SaunaSpace: deep radiant heat from red and infrared incandescence—detox and decrease pain, reverse screen fatigue and improve your mood. http://Sauna.Space/DarkHorse for 10% off sitewide.

Masa Chips: Delicious chips made with corn, salt, and beef tallow—nothing else—in loads of great flavors. Go to http://masachips.com/DarkHorse, use code DarkHorse, for 25% off.

Prima: Ancestral high-protein bars, easy and delicious, now in four great flavors. 20% off at http://EatPrima.com/DarkHorse.

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Join us on Locals! Get access to our Discord server, exclusive live streams, live chats for all streams, and early access to many podcasts: https://darkhorse.locals.com

Heather’s newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com

Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AGANGg (commission earned)

Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://darkhorsestore.org

*****

Mentioned in this episode:

Nguyen et al 2025. Feeds, feelings, and focus: A systematic review and meta-analysis examining the cognitive and mental health correlates of short-form video use. Psych Bull 151(9):1125: https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2026-89350-001.pdf

Marlan 2023. The Nightmare of Dream Advertising. Wm & Mary Law Rev 65: 259: https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmlr/vol65/iss2/2/

Crawford 2016. The World Beyond Your Head: https://amzn.to/3MSKI1n (commission earned)

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