My friendship with National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya began when he was a professor of medicine, economics, and health research policy at Stanford University, and I was a staff writer at Salon.
To understand how this friendship works—between a democratic socialist and a key figure in President Donald Trump's second administration—consider one of Bhattacharya's favorite films, 12 Angry Men. The 1957 courtroom drama (based on an acclaimed 1954 teleplay) celebrates reasoned dissent, open debate, and the power of a single voice challenging consensus, principles Bhattacharya values deeply, especially in science. It is the respect for such principles that has been the foundation of many friendships I have with individuals whom I disagree with politically, such as libertarian commentator Austin Petersen, conservative writer Joe Silverstein (who I befriended after he skewered me in a Fox News article for comparing President Joe Biden to America's founding fathers) and the late Sen. Joe Lieberman (D–Conn.)
I strongly oppose almost every major aspect of Trump's agenda, but I refuse to abandon my relationships with those who disagree with me in good faith. In part, this is a sentimental choice, as I value my friendship with Bhattacharya, but it is also a rational one. I recognize that I am fallible, and therefore, like all human beings, I need to listen to intelligent people who will tell me when they think I'm wrong.
