CNN reporter Devan Cole created a stir last week when he said “It’s not possible to know a person’s gender identity at birth, and there is no consensus criteria for assigning sex at birth.” Really? It’s not possible to know male or female at birth? And does objective fact really depend upon consensus? There’s a lot of talk about science deniers these days, but Cole’s assertions fly in the face of science. So what gives? When journalists question basic truths it’s clear that our culture is in trouble. But truth doesn’t shift on its own. It is chiseled away one word, one court ruling, one journalist’s opinion at a time. Which means that if truth will stand in the public arena, its up to each of us to help shore it up.