The Heritage Foundation today hosted a speech by John G. West of the Discovery Institute, a group founded to promote Intelligent Design, undermine the teaching of evolution in public schools and raise the alarm about the purported persecution of people who do not believe in evolution.

While promoting his book “Darwin Day in America,” West told the audience that proponents of evolution seek to “muzzle” and “silence” Intelligent Design supporters.

West, who concedes that he is not a scientist, also lashed out at Neil deGrasse Tyson’s reboot of the television program “Cosmos.” He criticized President Obama for filming an introduction for the first episode of the series, claiming that the Obama administration has joined scientists in promoting “totalitarian science.”