For decades, the American debate about how to respond to climate change has been complicated by a seemingly more fundamental debate — is climate change real? For some Americans acting in good faith, if climate change isn’t real then we don’t need to focus our attention on finding climate change solutions. But it turns out that one reason so many Americans doubt the science is not because the science is in dispute but because certain industries have spent millions of dollars on a hidden campaign to make it seem like the science is in question. Hired “Merchants of Doubt” have muddied the waters to the extent that people start to believe in good conscience that maybe the problems aren’t real.

Sound too unbelievable to be real? In this searing and insightful documentary, based on Naomi Oreskes’ book of the same title, you’ll discover that it’s a playbook that has been used before by American industries, from cigarette companies to flame retardant manufacturers–often hiring the exact same “experts” as hired guns to lobby lawmakers and obfuscate the truth in public hearings. You’ll hear from scientists who have been directly targeted by hate mail campaigns and see politicians who are ousted from office, merely for believing the real science.

Are we doomed? There may be a way out–but it requires us to make a concerted, collective effort to build trust in our institutions, science, and each other. Following the film, we will have a panel discussion hosted by the 2025-26 “Our Common Purpose” initiative, which is examining how we envision a more truthful, trusting, and collective future that works for all Americans as we approach the 250th anniversary of the country and the Declaration of Independence.

As always, all films in the Intersections film series are free and open to all. Pre-registration is required at this link: https://intersections.psu.edu/merchants/