The United States of Pseudoscience

Nick Tiller argues that the United States is not uniquely prone to pseudoscience overall but is instead unusually divided into polarized subgroups, each with its own beliefs, trust levels, and susceptibility to misinformation. These divisions—combined with capitalism and the rapid spread of ideas in the attention economy—create ideal conditions for pseudoscience to thrive and spread globally, even as organized skepticism continues to push back against it. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/04/the-united-states-of-pseudoscience/ About the Author: Nick Tiller is an exercise scientist and writer covering health, performance, and wellness misinformation. He's the author of The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science (Taylor & Francis, 2020) and The Health and Wellness Lie (Bloomsbury/Hopkins Press, 2026). He's been a Skeptical Inquirer columnist since 2021 and is an elected Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. www.nbtiller.com Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/