 This section discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has led to challenges in the relationship between science, politics, and society, with three main dimensions being explored, science-related populism, platformization of science communication, and lay expertise contesting scientific authority. The authors use various theoretical frameworks from STS studies, media studies, and legal science to challenge the surface of this multi-layered phenomenon. This article was authored by Paulo Borey, Stefano Crabu, Barbara Morcello, and others.