Here is the latest example of what I like to call “political junk science“–a paper published a few days ago in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and whose hyperbolic conclusion is that, and I quote, “substantial numbers of Republicans endorse statements contemplating violations of key democratic norms, including respect for the law and for the outcomes of elections …” blah, blah, blah. (For my readers overseas, the reference to “Republicans” in this paper is to the second-oldest political party in the United States–the one founded by Abraham Lincoln!) The author of this bullshit, Larry M. Bartels, holds the “May Werthan Shayne Chair of Public Policy and Social Science” at Vanderbilt University. We have but two words for you, Dr Bartels: OK, Boomer!