This WaPo journalist does something that is rare in science journalism - she investigates and reports what she found even if it was not what she expected
All of this led me to conclude that it’s not the worst thing if water fluoridation were to end in the United States.
This was not an easy decision to reach. It went against my preconceptions and, frankly, I felt very uncomfortable disagreeing with major medical associations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association, which continue to affirm the safety of community water fluoridation. I also expected some readers to be angry that I am seemingly taking the side of a notorious anti-vaccine activist.
At the end of the day, I decided to write my column, and this newsletter, because I have to follow the science. As unexpected as the conclusions might be, my duty to readers is to report what I’ve found. Something isn’t automatically wrong because I didn’t know about it before or because it’s espoused by people with whom I have other disagreements.
(my emphasis)