Trust is a behavior, not a credential – and that explains the Rodgers-Fauci divide

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers called Dr. Anthony Fauci an 'absolute coward' and a 'criminal' after Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment rights more than one hundred times at a congressional hearing on pandemic-era policies. The Conversation (US) uses the exchange to explore how trust works, arguing that trust is a behavior, not a credential, and that athletes and podcast hosts often have more chances to build rapport with audiences than experts do. The piece advises scientists to actively demonstrate their motivations and protect their integrity, because those trustworthiness beliefs are built long before a moment like Fauci's testimony.

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