Laura Helmuth announced her departure on Thursday.

By  Leif Le Mahieu – Nov 15, 2024   DailyWire.com

The editor-in-chief of Scientific American announced Thursday that she would leave the publication days after facing backlash for profanity-laced social media posts about President-elect Donald Trump’s supporters. 

Laura Helmuth, who claimed that Generation X was “full of f***ing fascists” as Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris last week, said she would be moving on from the publication. Helmuth previously apologized for the comments, which she said did not reflect the views of Scientific American, the nation’s oldest continuously published magazine. 

“I’ve decided to leave Scientific American after an exciting 4.5 years as editor in chief,” Helmuth posted on the social media site Bluesky. “I’m going to take some time to think about what comes next (and go birdwatching).”

Under her post announcing her resignation, Helmuth posted links to several articles published under her leadership, including one that claimed “gender-affirming care for trans kids is good health care.”

Exit polls showed that Trump performed best with Generation X, generally considered those between the ages of 45 and 64. One exit poll from NBC showed that Trump defeated Harris 54%-44% in that age range. Polling from ABC showed that Trump defeated Harris 50%-48% among those ages 40-49 and 56%-43% among those ages 50-64.

Her resignation comes after she posted on Bluesky asking for “advice for what workplaces can do to help people who are devastated by the election.”

In other posts, she said, “I apologize to younger voters that my Gen X is so full of f***ing fascists” and “Solidarity to everybody whose meanest, dumbest, most bigoted high-school classmates are celebrating early results because f*** them to the moon and back.”

“Every four years I remember why I left Indiana (where I grew up) and remember why I respect the people who stayed and are trying to make it less racist and sexist. The Moral arc of the universe isn’t going to bend itself,” she said in another post. 

On November 7, Helmuth posted an apology for the posts after criticism from figures like Tesla CEO Elon Musk, commentator Lex Fridman, and historian Michael Shermer.

“I made a series of offensive and inappropriate posts on my personal Bluesky account on election night, and I am sorry. I respect and value people across the political spectrum,” she posted. “These posts, which I have deleted, do not reflect my beliefs; they were a mistaken expression of shock and confusion about the election results.”

Scientific American President Kimberly Lau thanked Helmuth in a statement to The Washington Post. 

“We thank Laura for her four years leading Scientific American during which time the magazine won major science communications awards and saw the establishment of a reimagined digital newsroom,” Lau said in a statement. “We wish her well for the future.”

Readers’ comments:

BRADBANKO: Now do NPR & PBS.

Peregrinus: Cultist American?

EmmaWalz: Do people subscribe to Scientific American? It’s full of nonsense.

PoloVentura728: “I respect and value people across the political spectrum,” she posted. Yeah, right. The Headline should read, “Left Wing Bird Brain Goes Bird Watching.”

HitEmHard:

Rising Star

Good riddance! And I’ll bet this resignation wasn’t a voluntary one no matter what she says.Reply

4 hours ago2

FugDatChit

Conversation Starter

And people wonder why “science” is in it’s current state.Reply

5 hours ago1

yakk0

Rising Star

She’s not sorry, those are an accurate reflection of her inner most opinions. She’s just not happy that they were exposed to the light of day for everyone to see as they now know the exact person they are dealing with.Reply

6 hours ago3

SherryHarris

Rising Star

She only apologized cause she got caughtReply

6 hours ago2

collie1529

Recruit

I keep looking for the joy and love these people supposedly have. Rather ironic how they have these hate filled rants calling over half the country nazis while claiming to be filled with love. They don’t even know the definition of fascism or love for that matter. Apparently the destruction of democracy is letting the people choose, an actual definition of democracy.Reply

7 hours ago4

donnachaotuathai

Top Commenter

Congratulations to the board of SA. Would have loved to have listened to the firing of that knucklehead. Watching birds for the rest of her life might teach her something, who knows.Reply

8 hours ago1

FJBSUCKS

Trailblazer

FJB

FKH

FBO

FNPReply

9 hours ago1

PullmyPhinger

Top Commenter

Getting real thin on you f’s publishing stories about rat f*&ks insulting me and my family without a retort. WTF!Reply

10 hours ago

PullmyPhinger

Top Commenter

Oh more of the name calling, huh DW, wel I got a few names you can block……for this sad fing sod. But the tyrants here at DW won’t let me speak and address because their AI has sensibilities.Reply

10 hours ago

Hankster1959

Top Commenter

Maybe the magazine can figure out what happened to 14 million biden voters and why they did not voteReply

14 hours ago2

leekreitz1272

Rising Star

Always so sorry after they get caughtReply

15 hours ago2

BaconandEggs

Top Commenter

It would seem these libs are going to have difficulty facing the new reality that no one wants to hear their childish cultish tantrums.Reply

16 hours ago  •  Edited4

RebeccaLaunt

Conversation Starter

Leave the USA. Bye!Reply

18 hours ago1

the1sg8246

Conversation Starter

And BUH! Bye!Reply

19 hours ago

Tex57

Conversation Starter

She blamed her outburst on “shock” over the results of the election. I submit its due to mental derangement and an unwillingness to face reality. Oh, and she’s an idiot.Reply

20 hours ago

RuthGrumpy

Rising Star

Congratulations on your “retirement”. There will be no gold watch BUT we will take a collection for a one way trip to Haiti.Reply

23 hours ago1

dirtyelectricwtf

VIP

As Laura Helmuth caused unwanted and unneeded grief to the scientific community she will not be missed. Leave her to go bird watching. Sadly however, the once venerated magazine has lost its way and is no longer at the forefront of the field.Reply

1 day ago1 reply

EmmaWalz

Top Commenter

@dirtyelectricwtf 

It lost its way a long time ago.Reply

3 hours ago11 reply

dirtyelectricwtf

VIP

@EmmaWalz 

… Sadly, you are right. As a boy I recall it being the go to magazine trusted for the reliability found in its reporting. The scientific community sought to publish articles in it, and were rewarded with grants and funding for having done so. Now, quite the opposite is true.Reply

1 hour ago

Mansini77

Conversation Starter

Generation X and Trump voter. I’m glad to disappoint you.Reply

1 day ago1

flyerschic627377

Trailblazer

Poor Laura Helmuth only apologized after being scolded by others. If she is so upset over Trump’s election, she’s not as smart as she thinks. Maybe move to another country with the Hollywierdos.Reply

1 day ago2

Severian

Conversation Starter

“Science” – Imagine what these fools would do with a proper scientific study whose results were counter to their radical belief system. People like this have killed true science in the name of political ideologies.Reply

1 day ago6

dmwingard8392

Conversation Starter

I wonder how these places even think. At no point when Biden won was I like how can my workplace or me deal with this? I just said well we have to get a better game, stronger candidates, a better plan and then we should be able to get over the finish. Funny enough God had a plan I could never imagine and Trump now is back with the full Republican congress behind him. To quote Jurassic Park “Life always finds a way”.