Behind the Bastards Part One: The Zizians: How Harry Potter Fanfic Inspired a Death Cult
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Mar 11, 2025 
David Boree, co-host of 'My Mama Told Me', joins to dive into the dark tale of the Zizians, a group tied to bizarre occurrences and violence. They trace how fandom, particularly Harry Potter fanfic, intersects with real-life tragedy, specifically the killing of a Border Patrol officer. The conversation goes deeper into how online communities can evolve into dangerous cults, the absurdity of celebrity politics, and the unsettling philosophies influencing rationalist ideologies surrounding AI, showcasing the thin line between fiction and reality.
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Vermont Shooting
- A Border Patrol agent and a German immigrant were killed in a shootout in Coventry, Vermont.
- The immigrant, a trans woman, was with another person and had guns, but they weren't breaking any laws.
Zizian Profile
- The individuals involved were linked to a group described as trans women, anarchists, and rationalists.
- They were high-achieving individuals in tech and science, not typical of those involved in shootouts.
Zizians and Cults
- The group, called "Zizians" after a member named Ziz, are not a traditional cult but exhibit cult-like dynamics.
- Mainstream media coverage often misrepresents them as a "trans vegan AI death cult."