If you speak to any academic working in a "controversial" field, it becomes readily apparent that a lot of meritless papers are getting through peer review because their conclusions agree with a particular orthodoxy and vice-versa. The measure we're discussing is crude, heavy-handed and likely quite destructive, but I can't help but see it as a counter-reaction to an equally destructive opposing trend. Numerous academics have had their careers abruptly ended in recent years because they discovered the "wrong" facts; a vastly larger number have self-censored for fear of being targeted by a partisan campaign.

Sadly, the politicisation of academia is so acute that I expect it will take many decades of wild over-correction and counter-correction to remedy, if it is in fact possible to remedy.

https://iopenshell.usc.edu/pubs/pdf/pnas-scientific_censorsh...