Evan Bernstein Resigns from SGU

[angrysoba]

This seems to be a big event in Skeptics Guide to the Universe news.

One of the long-time hosts, the longest who wasn't a Novella, Evan Bernstein, has resigned from SGU, apparently after making some comments on Twitter to the effect of cheering on the Iran War and calling for the US to bomb the Iranian electricity grid. From what I can see a number of people were upset with him for these comments, and also for apparently paying to be on Twitter, and while the SGU were in conclave figuring out what to do about these "radicalized" views of his, he initially apologized, deleted his Tweet (s?) and resigned from the podcast.

I don't know the full details, maybe others who are more familiar can fill them in. This is a note that Steve Novella apparently put up on Patreon which someone has copied to the sub-Reddit about SGU:

All,

We wanted to update you on the situation regarding Evan. For those who don’t know, it recently came to our attention that Evan has been posting on X/Twitter making comments that are frankly unskeptical, dehumanizing, and completely unacceptable. We, of course, condemn and disagree with those statements, but also had to consider the implications for the podcast and the SGU community.

While we were actively discussing the best path forward for all concerned, Evan called me to let us know that he decided to resign from the SGU. He did this after extensive thought and consideration and expressed deep regret that his poor judgement has caused intense distress for the SGU and its listeners. He concluded that he wanted to do the right thing to hopefully limit this damage and help the SGU and our listeners move forward.

While we do not condone any of Evan’s radicalized comments on X/Twitter, he is still our friend and we will all miss his contributions to the show, his witty humor and his unique style. That said, we all agree this was the right decision for him.

We will be discussing this in more detail on the show this week but wanted to give you, our most loyal listeners, this news first.

While this is a sad episode in the history of the SGU, we all also look at this as an opportunity to better ourselves and the show. Evan's decision will help us move forward more definitively.

Thanks for your patience over the past week and a half as we worked through all of this.

Kind Regards,

Steve and the SGU Crew

link

My own take: why not just let him discuss it on the podcast and go on from there?

 

[arthwollipot]

My own take: why not just let him discuss it on the podcast and go on from there?

They talk about it in the first ten minutes or so of the latest episode (good if you don't want to listen to a whole show). The basic answer is that he never talked about it, except on the Twitter account that none of the rest of them knew he had. He seemed extremely uncomfortable talking about the situation even with his best friends, even though he apparently felt very strongly about it.

 

[John Albert]

OMG what an a-hole.

I sure am going to miss his dopey dad jokes and puns.

 

[alfaniner]

Well, it seems like a BIG EVENT to me, considering I've listened to every single one of their podcasts, going back 20 years or so. I think people should be allowed to have their strong opinions. But I can see how it would bother some fans and would disrupt the show. But it already has, now. There have been very few cast changes in the two decades of podcasting, so of course this is going to hit majorly. (But to tell the truth, I can't tell them apart except for Steve and Kara.)
I'm going to miss his always-last introduction "...and Evan Bernstein. 'Good evening, folks!'"

 

[arthwollipot]

I am continually surprised when people say they can't tell Bob, Jay and Evan apart. Their voices are totally different in tone, timbre, and idiom. But it's something I've heard from several different people so .

 

[angrysoba]

They talk about it in the first ten minutes or so of the latest episode (good if you don't want to listen to a whole show). The basic answer is that he never talked about it, except on the Twitter account that none of the rest of them knew he had. He seemed extremely uncomfortable talking about the situation even with his best friends, even though he apparently felt very strongly about it.

Is this episode only available to Patrons at the moment? I can't seem to find it. The latest one I found was them talking for five minutes about Cara's colonoscopy, and then sharing their own similar stories.

 

[angrysoba]

I am continually surprised when people say they can't tell Bob, Jay and Evan apart. Their voices are totally different in tone, timbre, and idiom. But it's something I've heard from several different people so .

Bob and Jay I find difficult to tell apart. They may actually have very different voices, but I think it comes down to the fact that they are supporting cast members, really. Steve's voice, Cara's voice (obvs) and Evan's I could tell apart.

 

[arthwollipot]

Is this episode only available to Patrons at the moment? I can't seem to find it.

That's possible. Since Steve retired it has been coming out earlier in the week, but I don't know what it's like for non-Patrons since I've been a subscriber for many years.

 

[John Albert]

I wonder if they're going to replace Evan, or just keep it to the Novella brothers plus Cara.

 

[arthwollipot]

I wonder if they're going to replace Evan, or just keep it to the Novella brothers plus Cara.

They talked about this on the show, which has now dropped for all.

Episode #1094 | The Skeptics Guide to the Universe

News Items Paying Attention How Queen Bees are Made Canceling Wind Goodbye International Space Station US Military Restores Flu Vaccine Special Segment Evan resigns from SGU

www.theskepticsguide.org

 

[John Albert]

My own take: why not just let him discuss it on the podcast and go on from there?

1. They're not a political podcast

2. Why should a high-profile pro-humanist science program platform a genocidal bigot?
.

 

[angrysoba]

1. They're not a political podcast

2. Why should a high-profile pro-humanist science program platform a genocidal bigot?
.

Sounds like Steven Novella wanted Bernstein to stay on and even to discuss it on the pod.

So the answer to 2 is, because they wanted him to.

As for 1, yes, it is not a political podcast but that doesn't mean they haven't discussed the ways in which political views can influence issues that relate to skepticism one way or another.

I think that Cara, in particular, has made arguments which were much less to do with science and skepticism and much more to do with politics. As an example, after the George Floyd killing, Cara some speech about how it is not for white people to talk about these issues but rather their job to listen, which is not at all a scientific or skeptical stance.

 

[Ron Obvious]

1. They're not a political podcast

2. Why should a high-profile pro-humanist science program platform a
genocidal bigot?
.

 

[lionking]

Well it is difficult for Steve to claim the podcast is not political when he jumped head first into the transgender issue and dismissed the Cass Report. Which is absolutely political. It seems that some views expressed by the SGU are beyond criticism.

I will remain a weekly listener, but sometimes Steve in particular needs to look in the mirror.

 

[arthwollipot]

Steve and the SGU will absolutely discuss situations where politics impacts on science. A few weeks ago they discussed the creeping Lysenkoism of American science, where science has to be approved to align with the Regime's political opinions before it can get funding. Last week they discussed the Trump administration cancelling offshore wind projects in favour of funding new fossil fuel plants. And yes, they discussed the Cass Report, and correctly identified it as a politically motivated attack on transgender rights, but we'll say no more about that one in this thread, will we?

To criticise the SGU's editorial priorities on the basis that they "won't talk about politics" simply misrepresents the truth, and quite frankly it strikes me as looking for anyone except Evan to blame for the current situation.

 

[John Albert]

1. They're not a political podcast

2. Why should a high-profile pro-humanist science program platform a
genocidal bigot?
.

Did you actually read the things he wrote on twitter?

He literally said he wanted the Palestinian people wiped out, and "driven back into their caves."

Evan Bernstein is a fascist.
.

 

[John Albert]

Well it is difficult for Steve to claim the podcast is not political when he jumped head first into the transgender issue and dismissed the Cass Report. Which is absolutely political. It seems that some views expressed by the SGU are beyond criticism.

I will remain a weekly listener, but sometimes Steve in particular needs to look in the mirror.

You are not a credible, impartial, or skeptical person on the issue of medical care or transgender rights, so your opinion on that matter is irrelevant.
.

 

[Elaedith]

Steve and the SGU will absolutely discuss situations where politics impacts on science. A few weeks ago they discussed the creeping Lysenkoism of American science, where science has to be approved to align with the Regime's political opinions before it can get funding. Last week they discussed the Trump administration cancelling offshore wind projects in favour of funding new fossil fuel plants. And yes, they discussed the Cass Report, and correctly identified it as a politically motivated attack on transgender rights, but we'll say no more about that one in this thread, will we?

To criticise the SGU's editorial priorities on the basis that they "won't talk about politics" simply misrepresents the truth, and quite frankly it strikes me as looking for anyone except Evan to blame for the current situation.

They spread objectively false information about the Cass report as well you know. You did not even deny this in the thread about it.

 

[John Albert]

They spread objectively false information about the Cass report as well you know. You did not even deny this in the thread about it.

They did not spread objectively false information about it.

I addressed that issue of the Cass Report.

Are you another one of the bigots? Good to know.
.

 

[Elaedith]

They did not spread objectively false information about it.

I addressed that issue of the Cass Report.

Are you another one of the bigots? Good to know.
.

Yes, they did spread objectively false information about it, and this easily confirmed with basic fact checking. Your definition of a bigot is somebody who objects to so-called 'skeptics' trumpeting misinformation that supports a particular ideological position, apparently.