After this gem, I doubt the rest is worth reading:
Well, what do you know? It's our favorite sociologist at it again.
Honestly I didn't even read it, the headline looked good but there was a paywall. Was hoping someone would copy/paste.
No paywall when I clicked, though when I went back to c/p it was. Like Lurker said, it's not worth it anyway. It's basically a diatribe about how there are two Chabads - Shluchim, who are more like Modern Orthodox and pluralistic, and "heartland" Lubavitchers who are fundamentalist extremist nutcases. (my word, his implication) Covid proves his thesis because based on the Nishmas research Crown Heightsers were hit harder by covid but don't trust the science and won't get vaccinated. Whereas outside of Crown Heights the shluchim didn't get hit as hard and are more likely to get vaccinated. This is in line with the split between Chassidic communities and MO.
This guy has authored some of the most senseless drivel about Chabad over the years. It's not that I'm a Lubavitcher and his stuff offends me, it is riddled with an abundance of objective falsehoods that it is surprising editors publish the garbage.