Eisenhower warned us about the ‘scientific elite’

In his iconic 1961 farewell address, President Dwight D. Eisenhower famously warned Americans about the military-industrial complex—but that wasn’t all. He also cautioned against a growing “scientific, technological elite” dominating national policy through federal funding. What happens when science becomes politicized? When peer review rewards conformity, not discovery? And when government grants replace private innovation? This video dives into the hidden costs of federally funded science—and explores how private labs, bold inventors, and decentralized innovation have historically led to the biggest breakthroughs, from Edison and the Wright Brothers to Silicon Valley and AI labs today.