Scientific American Editor-in-Chief Laura Helmuth Resigns After Controversial Election Night Posts

Laura Helmuth, the editor-in-chief of Scientific American, has announced her resignation from the magazine following a backlash over her controversial social media posts made on the night of the presidential election. Helmuth, who has been at the helm of Scientific American since April 2020, faced widespread criticism for her expletive-laced comments targeting supporters of President-elect Donald Trump[1][3].

In her posts, Helmuth referred to Trump supporters as “meanest, dumbest, most bigoted high-school classmates” and described her own Generation X as “so full of fucking fascists.” She also expressed disdain for her home state of Indiana, calling it racist and sexist. These comments were widely condemned, leading to calls for her resignation[1][3].

Helmuth apologized for her posts, stating that they were “a mistaken expression of shock and confusion about the election results” and did not reflect her true beliefs or the stance of Scientific American. Despite her apology, the backlash was severe, with many questioning her ability to maintain editorial objectivity[1][3].

In her resignation announcement on the Bluesky social media platform, Helmuth reflected on her time at Scientific American and expressed her commitment to long-term thinking, research, and civil communication. She also mentioned her plans to take time off and engage in birdwatching[1][3].

During her tenure, Scientific American under Helmuth’s leadership made unprecedented forays into political endorsements, supporting Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in the recent election. The magazine’s editorial stance has been a subject of debate, with some criticizing the blurring of lines between scientific research and political activism.