> the idea that the universe started from an arbitrarily small size and expanded was once considered stupidity.

So was an idea that it was created by some supernatural being in 7 days. If you present theory without hard data - it's very rightly to call it stupidity.

Scientific process isn't free pass to throw random theories, without data backing them.

If by "agenda" you mean this:

> dire implications for the Covid-19 pandemic if it’s not brought under control soon through vaccination

then I propose a different target for the head-check.