Carl Sagan’s “Baloney detection kit” is arguably more important now than ever. His 9 rules for critical thinking work for science and they can work to detect political baloney, too.

Arguments from authority carry little weight — “authorities” have made mistakes in the past. They will do so again in the future. Perhaps a better way to say it is that in science there are no authorities; at most, there are experts.

Question: when was the last time you heard Trump provide an evidence-based argument for anything? He relies on the argument from authority in every sphere. He deliberately seeks out people on the basis of charisma rather than expertise - the mark of an amateur.