An open letter to Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong – Surprised?

Excerpted from “Legal Insurrection”

Leslie Eastman

Dear Dr. Song Xiang:

I write to you, scientist to scientist, to address a long-standing problem with the American media and the scientific community. Los Angeles Times: Use less qualified authors to analyze important topics of scientific relevance.

Maybe if you hired reporters who weren't climate fanatics and racists who wanted to “get Trump,” a major American city wouldn't have been burned to the ground…perhaps by arson by terrorists or foreign street gangs. A healthy country needs a healthy media…

— Leslie Eastman ☥ (@Mutnodjmet) January 10, 2025

A great example is when social justice extremist Sammy Roth was allowed to publish a “scientific” article about air pollution in the Los Angeles area… linking it to racism.

IMHO, social justice extremists are talking about “science”. You need to have people with scientific backgrounds willing to debate the data. For example: The Los Angeles Times made racist remarks, saying white drivers “polluted the air of 'people of color'” https://t.co/OPHkUrRXon

— Leslie Eastman ☥ (@Mutnodjmet) January 17, 2025

Ross is your newspaper's “energy reporter.”

There is a lot of misinformation in this book to unpack, so I'll start by pointing out that this is a classic example of ideological capture of science through a “scientific” writer with no traditional science background.

A quick check of Roth's LinkedIn profile shows that he graduated from Columbia University with a . . sustainable development.

I majored in Sustainability, minored in American Studies, and graduated with honors. My courses include environmental law, urban studies, energy development, geographic information systems, and environmental economics. I report and edit for the Columbia Daily Observer and work on water conservation projects for Columbia Aquarium, an interdisciplinary water club.

Certain elements would not be considered without a stronger context for questioning assertions and challenging assumptions. For example, are highway usage patterns driven more by socioeconomic factors than by race?

this Los Angeles TimesUnder your ownership there is no room for legitimate debate or the publication of information contrary to the preferred political narrative on climate and energy issues.

Good public policy must be based on reliable, trustworthy information. The public does not yet receive complete information about climate, climate influencing factors, science-related topics involving climatology, energy efficiency or any other science-related topics that have a significant impact on regulations.

I assert that the ideological capture of science was a contributing factor to the historic fires in the greater Los Angeles area. I think if you reflect on my hypothesis, you'll agree.

I’d like to offer you a solution: Diversify your workforce by incorporating alternative scientific perspectives. For example, you can consult with the CO2 Alliance, who can connect you with serious and experienced people who can perform an accurate analysis.

You can contact people like geologist and climate expert Dr. Matthew M. Wielicki for guidance.

You can make the same data look completely different. pic.twitter.com/n9oTBYVn5q

–PhD. Matthew Wielicki (@MatthewWielicki) January 17, 2025

There are many other brilliant scientists who are derided or ridiculed as “tools of fossil fuels” by those who want to ensure that their misinformation is the only information available to the public. The louder the complaints, the more effective researchers become. If you would like a list of other examples, please contact me.

As we look forward to Inauguration Day 2024, one last thought.

“However, while respecting scientific research and discovery, we must also be wary of the equal and opposite danger that public policy itself can become a captive of the technological elite.

Dr. Chanson: Please free your publications from the shackles of ideology. Los Angeles is better. This is better for California. It's better for the country.

With respect,

Leslie Eastman, MS, CHMM, SDSRP…wife, mother, and Californian.