Scientific American Editor Resigns Over Trump Comments

Laura Helmuth, the editor-in-chief of Scientific American, resigned following backlash from a series of provocative social media posts criticizing Trump voters after the election. Helmuth's posts, made on the platform Bluesky, included derogatory comments about Trump supporters, labeling them as 'fascists' and criticizing her own generation and home state of Indiana. The posts were deleted, and Helmuth issued an apology, stating they were a 'mistaken expression of shock and confusion' and did not reflect her beliefs or the magazine's position. Despite the apology, widespread criticism, including from notable figures like Elon Musk, led to her resignation. Helmuth had previously overseen the magazine's unprecedented endorsement of Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in the recent election, which some critics argue signals a shift towards political activism in the publication. Following her departure, Helmuth plans to reflect on her next steps and pursue personal interests such as birdwatching.