Federal funding for research from the National Science Foundation is being awarded at the slowest rate in 35 years, according to an investigation from the New York Times.

Since the start of Trump’s second term, cuts to National Institutes of Health and NSF grants have totaled more than 1.5 billion, according to the research publication Science. 

Republicans have justified these cuts by claiming the administration is rooting out wasteful spending, or left-wing ideology run amok.  

And these attacks, along with threats of funding freezes for universities, have reportedly created a culture of fear for researchers. It’s left scientists wondering: do I speak up about what’s happening? Or do I stay quiet, in hopes my funding might be restored?

One Seattle researcher with a lot of experience in political communication and information systems is saying: speak up.

Guest:


Kate Starbird is the co-founder of the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public. She’s also a professor at the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE).

Related stories:
Trump’s ‘fear factor’: Scientists go silent as funding cuts escalate - Science
Trump Has Cut Science Funding to Its Lowest Level in Decades - NYT
To understand right-wing media’s power, study improv and theater of influencers - Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Federal funding for research from the National Science Foundation is being awarded at the slowest rate in 35 years, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/22/upshot/nsf-grants-trump-cuts.html">according to an investigation</a> from the New York Times.
Since the start of Trump&rsquo;s second term, cuts to National Institutes of Health and NSF grants have totaled more than 1.5 billion, <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-s-fear-factor-scientists-go-silent-funding-cuts-escalate?utm_source=sfmc&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=alert&amp;utm_campaign=DailyLatestNews&amp;et_cid=5613473">according to the research publication Science</a>.&nbsp;
Republicans have justified these cuts by claiming the administration is rooting out wasteful spending, or left-wing ideology run amok.&nbsp;&nbsp;
And these attacks, along with threats of funding freezes for universities, have reportedly created a culture of fear for researchers. It&rsquo;s left scientists wondering: do I speak up about what&rsquo;s happening? Or do I stay quiet, in hopes my funding might be restored?
One Seattle researcher with a lot of experience in political communication and information systems is saying: speak up.
Guest:
<ul>
<li>
Kate Starbird is the co-founder of the University of Washington&rsquo;s Center for an Informed Public. She&rsquo;s also a professor at the Department of Human Centered Design &amp; Engineering (HCDE).
</li>
</ul>
Related stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-s-fear-factor-scientists-go-silent-funding-cuts-escalate?utm_source=sfmc&amp;amp;utm_medium=email&amp;amp;utm_content=alert&amp;amp;utm_campaign=DailyLatestNews&amp;amp;et_cid=5613473">Trump&rsquo;s &lsquo;fear factor&rsquo;: Scientists go silent as funding cuts escalate - Science</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/22/upshot/nsf-grants-trump-cuts.html">Trump Has Cut Science Funding to Its Lowest Level in Decades - NYT</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/to-understand-right-wing-medias-power-study-improv-and-theater-of-influencers/">To understand right-wing media&rsquo;s power, study improv and theater of influencers - Seattle Times</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Extensive funding cuts have reportedly created a culture of fear for researchers. It’s left scientists wondering: do I speak up about what’s happening? Or do I stay quiet, in hopes my funding might be restored?

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