if I had to guess, they're likely talking about what they consider to be authoritative sources that they assume comes from deep assessments and is rigorously fact checked by a prestigious and honorable group of highly intelligent and wise individuals, for which there are consequences if they turn out to be lying.

The first and only required red pill is that all of the above is a lie. Nothing is fact checked, there are no consequences for printing lies almost at all, and every story that has gains traction has gained it because someone either paid for it or a political organization benefits from it. Additionally, academia is one giant circle jerk and any pursuit of the actual truth has long been abandoned.