Blocked and Reported

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Episode 38: Bari Weiss Is Right, Part II: Philosophy Schmosiphy Nov 14, 2020

Show notes

After Katie talks about her new dog-testicles-centered newsletter, the hosts discuss the latest events in the ongoing saga of Helen Lewis's voice getting erased by Ubisoft. Now that Rock Paper Shotgun has sacked a 13-year freelancer for the crime of being sympathetic to Lewis in the site's comments section, it's fair to ask: Does it make sense to fire people for expressing majority opinions? (No. No it doesn't.) Then Katie and Jesse discuss an article in New York Magazine about the internal tumult at The New York Times that, like everything else which happens in this crazy world of ours, simply proves the hosts were right all along. Plus: Jesse is triggered by a leaked screenshot from the Times' #diversity slack channel in which he is denounced for wrongthink.

Moose Nuggets: https://moosenuggets.substack.com/

Rock Paper Shotgun: Watch Dogs Legion is booting a journalist off its fictional radio - https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/11/06/watch-dogs-legion-is-booting-a-journalist-off-its-fictional-radio

Tim Stone disagrees in the comments: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/11/06/watch-dogs-legion-is-booting-a-journalist-off-its-fictional-radio/#comment-3120763

RPS announces his sacking: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot/status/1326211540689821698

New York Magazine: Inside the New York Times' Heated Reckoning With Itself - https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/11/inside-the-new-york-times-heated-reckoning-with-itself.html

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

Episode 37: Democracy Is For Stupid Jerks Nov 07, 2020

Show notes

In a very special episode, Katie and Jesse discuss a long, stupid week in which democracy had its way with the American people, vigorously and repeatedly. What should we make of the fact that, while Joe Biden is on the brink of victory, the election was closer than many expected and the Democrats were denied their "blue wave"? Is it because of the patriarchy? White supremacy? Wokeness? Minorities who cling annoyingly to 'agency' and "interpreting the world through their own values, rather than the media's?" Also: Jesse dissects Donald Trump's incredibly lazy, half-assed meltdown, and the hosts debate whether "Voter fraud stole the election for Biden!" is the new "The Russians stole the election for Trump!"

(Quick note to patrons: This is the first episode we're doing with an ad break in the middle. Near the top, you'll hear us explain our general ad policy, just so it's clear, but you won't hear the ad itself, during this or any other episode. At the very, very bottom of the Patreon show notes of every episode with an ad, we'll put a one-line link to any applicable promo codes, simply because this is an easy way to support the podcast if you're already in the market for (to take this week's example) dental products. But other than that, you'll be completely unmolested by ads.)

Show notes/Links:

Katie's new newsletter: http://moosenuggets.substack.com

The Week: The left just got crushed - https://theweek.com/articles/947824/left-just-got-crushed

Chaos and recriminations on a Democratic caucus conference call: https://twitter.com/ericawerner/status/1324439295847968768

The New York Times: Exit Polls Point to the Power of White Patriarchy - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/opinion/election-2020-exit-polls.html

Advertising link:

http://getquip.com/BARPOD for $15 off dental-product refills with a purchase from the Quip online store

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

Episode 36: Glenn Greenwald Leaves The Intercept And The Section 230 Saber-Rattling Continues Oct 31, 2020

Show notes

After Jesse tells Katie a harrowing story about his recent journey into the heart of 'Manhattan,' the hosts discuss Glenn Greenwald's departure from The Intercept, an outlet he helped found back in 2014. Was this a case of censorship, as Greenwald argues, or did he overreact to standard editorial input? Then they turn their attention to Section 230, a law that made the internet what it is today (for better and for worse), and which seems to be attracting bipartisan ire of late, especially among people who don't really understand technology.

Greenwald's posts on this controversy:

My Resignation From The Intercept - https://greenwald.substack.com/p/my-resignation-from-the-intercept

Article on Joe and Hunter Biden Censored By The Intercept - https://greenwald.substack.com/p/article-on-joe-and-hunter-biden-censored

Emails With Intercept Editors Showing Censorship of My Joe Biden Article - https://greenwald.substack.com/p/emails-with-intercept-editors-showing

The Intercept: Glenn Greenwald Resigns From The Intercept (pushing back on some of GG's claims) - https://theintercept.com/2020/10/29/glenn-greenwald-resigns-the-intercept/

Reason's coverage of Section 230: https://reason.com/tag/section-230/

Slate: Revising the Law That Lets Platforms Moderate Content Will Silence Marginalized Voices - https://slate.com/technology/2020/10/section-230-marignalized-groups-speech.html

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

Episode 35: The Problem With "Involuntary Conservatives" And With Accidentally Taking Your Dick Out At Work Oct 23, 2020

Show notes

Lotta dicks this week. After addressing some reader reactions to their The 1619 Project segment last week, Katie and Jesse critique the idea of "involuntary conservatives" so enraged by wokeness that they have to vote for Donald Trump. Then the hosts turn their attention to a salacious media story involving a certain New Yorker staff writer and, well, there's no more polite way to put this, but, um, his penis.

James Lindsay: "Frankly going to unhappily vote Republican, including Trump, until the left walks this s**t all the way back." - https://twitter.com/ConceptualJames/status/1318412252903604226

Eric Weinstein: "InCons are a force this year. Involuntary conservatives are real. As I’ve told you: the failure to condemn @MayorJenny & @tedwheeler, acknowledge ANTIFA, admit to media bias or to level about cognitive issues etc. in a near octogenarian has created the Never-Trump Trump voter."
https://twitter.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1318590052511854594

Dave Rubin: "Tyranny is here. Vote every Democrat out of office at every level everywhere. That is the only way to get things to start turning around. Or live like sheep going to slaughter, your call." - https://twitter.com/RubinReport/status/1318743358911574017

Vice: New Yorker Suspends Jeffrey Toobin for Masturbating on Zoom Call - https://www.vice.com/en/article/epdgm4/new-yorker-suspends-jeffrey-toobin-for-zoom-dick-incident

The Stranger: Seattle Times Reporter Mike Rosenberg Suspended over Twitter Messages - https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2019/05/06/40121238/seattle-times-reporter-mike-rosenberg-suspended-over-twitter-messages

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

Patrons Only: Is Ken Bone Right That Liberals Are Meaner Than Conservatives? Oct 19, 2020

Show notes

Well? Is he? Katie and Jesse discuss The Bone Man's recent, controversial tweet, revisit his glorious recent internet-history, talk about their own experiences with left- versus-right-wing haters and obsessives, and -- God help us all -- revisit certain aspects of GamerGate.

Ken Bone: "All morning the Trump supporters have been nice to me even though I don't like Trump. The Biden camp has been shitting all over me because I don't like Biden. Do these people really not see how much this behavior pushes bystanders toward the right?" - https://twitter.com/kenbone18/status/1313858537991401475

INSIDE JOKE CLUE: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/04/inside-the-near-meltdown-of-the-feminist-tour-in-australia.html

NY Mag: Gamergate May Have Just Won Its Most Disgraceful Scalp Yet (Updated) - https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2016/03/this-looks-like-a-disgraceful-gamergate-win.html

Jesse "behaves like a predator" because he tried to get comment for a story: https://twitter.com/jessesingal/status/724818516189261824/photo/1

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

Episode 34: The 1619 Project, Hunter Biden's Sweet Gig, And Facebook And Twitter's Panicky Incompetence Oct 17, 2020

Show notes

Katie and Jesse discuss the recent and not-so-recent controversy over The 1619 project, the reputational perils of getting in constant fights with idiots on Twitter, and the tangled story of Hunter Biden, a blind guy at a laptop-repair shop, and a controversial New York Post story. Along the way, Jesse engages in some shockingly casual anti-Ukrainianism.

The New York Times: The 1619 Project - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html

The New York Times: The 1619 Chronicles - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/09/opinion/nyt-1619-project-criticisms.html

The Washington Post: How the 1619 Project took over 2020 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/1619-project-took-over-2020-inside-story/2020/10/13/af537092-00df-11eb-897d-3a6201d6643f_story.html

The World Socialist Web Site's coverage of the controversy: https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Awsws.org+%221619+project%22&oq=site%3Awsws.org+%221619+project%22&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.5606j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

The New York Times: On Recent Criticism of The 1619 Project- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/16/magazine/criticism-1619-project.html (note: this one went up after we recorded the episode)

New York Post: Smoking-gun email reveals how Hunter Biden introduced Ukrainian businessman to VP dad - https://nypost.com/2020/10/14/email-reveals-how-hunter-biden-introduced-ukrainian-biz-man-to-dad/

PolitiFact: A look behind the NY Post headline about Joe Biden and a Ukraine meeting - https://www.politifact.com/article/2020/oct/15/look-behind-ny-post-headline-about-joe-biden-and-u/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

Episode 33: Is Banning QAnon From Facebook Good And Is Katie Hill Bad? Oct 09, 2020

Show notes

[Update, 12:10 a.m.: For some reason the version I initially uploaded cut off before the actual ending. Apologies, but everything is fixed now. -J]

The hosts discuss the Katie Hill revenge-porn/throuple scandal, which has gotten yet more scandalous in light of a tweetstorm supposedly authored by her former staffers (who are not fans), as well as Facebook's decision to ban QAnon from that platform and Instagram.

The tweetstorm: https://twitter.com/RepKatieHill/status/1313703826646466562

Politico: Anonymous ‘former staff’ of Katie Hill slam film adaptation of ex-congresswoman’s book - https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/07/anonymous-former-katie-hill-staff-film-adaptation-427038

The New York Times: Facebook Amps Up Its Crackdown on QAnon - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/technology/facebook-qanon-crackdown.html

The New York Times: QAnon Believers Say Being Banned From Facebook Is Proof of the Conspiracy - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/07/technology/qanon-believers-say-being-banned-from-facebook-is-proof-of-the-conspiracy.html

Reply All: County of Liars - https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/llhe5nm

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

Episode 32: Himpathy For The Bitcoiner Oct 03, 2020

Show notes

After a brief and sober discussion about President Trump's coronavirus diagnosis, the hosts devote most of the episode to two stories: a controversy surrounding a partially anonymous Arc Digital review of Kate Manne's new book Entitled that has led to accusations of obsession and WAR, and the blowup that ensued -- complete with a gleeful threat of mass executions in the streets! -- after the head of Coinbase took the radical stance that his company's purpose is to make money, not do progressive politics. Also: Katie sticks up for Jesse on Twitter without Jesse's awareness, New York Times staffers fail to revolt after a column that could Literally Endanger Lives is published, Jesse tries to get into the impressions game and almost commits a war crime in the process, and more.

Show notes/Links:

Arc Digital: Mannesplaining - https://arcdigital.media/mannesplaining-87d1cbf3f7ab

Some of the relevant tweets: Jill Filipovic on the anonymity, Arc responds, Arc on the blocking, Jason Stanley on the 'war' (Arc, um, responds again), and Stanley on the 'obsession.'

Arc Digital: Don’t Publish Personal Attacks Based on Misinformation - https://arcdigital.media/dont-publish-personal-attacks-based-on-misinformation-54cd66f7278c

Coinbase is a mission focused company: https://blog.coinbase.com/coinbase-is-a-mission-focused-company-af882df8804

Forbes: Some Business Leaders Should Face A Firing Squad, Former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo Suggests In Angry Tweet - https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2020/10/01/some-business-leader-should-face-a-firing-squad-former-twitter-ceo-dick-costolo-suggests-in-angry-tweet/#247301c97b94

Coindesk: Relief and Regret: Crypto Twitter Reacts as Coinbase Says ‘No’ to Corporate Activism - https://www.coindesk.com/crypto-twitter-coinbase-corporate-activism

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

Episode 31: Mitch McConnell, J.K. Rowling, Incels, And Other Search-Engine Optimization Gold Sep 26, 2020

Show notes

After Katie tells the story of her 12-hour banishment from Twitter for a biting piece of political commentary, the hosts discus "TFW No GF," a controversial documentary about losers who post too much online, some of whom are so-called incels, or involuntary celibates. When should we have empathy for people who disgust us (like podcasters)? Then they turn their attention to the controversy over J.K. Rowling's newest mystery novel, which, depending on who you ask, is either horrifically transphobic or not transphobic at all. As usual, the only two moral arbiters with enough integrity to cut through the online noise are on the case, telling you exactly what to think. (Minor correction: In the episode, Jesse refers to Ray Blanchard as 'Canadian,' but he was born in New Jersey and settled in Canada later on.)

TFW No GF: https://www.amazon.com/TFW-No-Alex-Lee-Moyer/dp/B087N4632Q

Jacobin: A Portrait of the Breakdown of Hope and Meaning in America - https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/09/tfw-no-gf-incel-moyer-documentary

Jill Filipovic's tweet: https://twitter.com/JillFilipovic/status/1307725535561293824

Glenn Greenwald's rejoinder: https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1307761101979910145

The Telegraph: Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith, review: JK Rowling fails to Strike again - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/troubled-blood-robert-galbraith-review-jk-rowling-fails-strike/

The Daily Beast: How Transphobic Is J.K. Rowling’s New Novel, ‘Troubled Blood?’ Very. - https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-transphobic-is-jk-rowlings-new-novel-troubled-blood-very

The Spectator: JK Rowling’s latest novel isn’t ‘transphobic’ - https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/j-k-rowling-s-latest-novel-isn-t-transphobic-

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

Episode 30: Pedo-File This One Under 'Outrage' Sep 19, 2020

Show notes

Katie and Jesse discuss the online outrage surrounding the French film 'Cuties,' which has slightly more underage twerking than most 2020 cinematic releases. How did this film come to unite such a broad swath of people in disgust? What is Ted Cruz's strategy for getting the American government to investigate a French filmmaker? Then the hosts speak with Reason's Elizabeth Nolan Brown about the broader American sex-trafficking panic that seems to partly explain the reaction to 'Cuties.' Plus: the science of pedophilia. It's a light episode, top to bottom.

YouTube: Cuties | Official Trailer | Netflix - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0O7lLe4SmA&ab_channel=Netflix

KXXV: Sen. Ted Cruz calls for a criminal investigation into Netflix film 'Cuties' - https://www.abcactionnews.com/entertainment/sen-ted-cruz-calls-for-a-criminal-investigation-into-netflix-film-cuties

YouTube: 'Cuties' Movie: Deconstructing The Culture w/Ben Shapiro - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asxBUrx-Wfg&ab_channel=TheDailyWire

Reason: The War on Sex Trafficking Is the New War on Drugs - https://reason.com/2015/09/30/the-war-on-sex-trafficking-is/

Reason: Enough Stranger Danger! Children Rarely Abducted by Those They Don't Know - https://reason.com/2017/03/31/kidnapping-stats/

Reason (on YouTube): Ashton Kutcher Helped Promote a Bogus Sex Trafficking Claim. Will We Ever Shake It? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKnWByMs4DQ&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=ReasonTV

Reason: Secret Memos Show the Government Has Been Lying About Backpage All Along - https://reason.com/2019/08/26/secret-memos-show-the-government-has-been-lying-about-backpage/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

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