27. Trash-Talking the Boss (and Other Questionable Strategies)

A New Yorker employee slags the company for lack of diversity on Twitter, and things get messy from there. Nancy and Sarah try to untangle the strange case of Erin Overbey, who was fired by the magazine earlier this week, following accusations that editor-in-chief David Remnick inserted errors into her own work. Nancy looks at a few other recent cases where attempts to oust the higher-ups have backfired, and we talk about how so many attempts at instant justice turn into circular firing squads.

Also on deck: Is Twitter the new Gawker? Is the word “cocky” demeaning? Why does Sarah find middle names so interesting? And what up with all the last names ending in “-ola”? Sarah HepOLA shares her confused delight over Nathan Fielder’s “The Rehearsal” on HBO and Nancy ANN Rommelmann explains why baseball is America’s sport forever and always amen. But before we go, we must get to the bottom of why Adam Driver gets us so hot.

Adam - we call him Adam - says he’ll buy you a drink if you become a paid or free Smoke ‘Em subscriber

Episode Notes:

A list of Finnish last names, including many ending in “ola”

Wilcox Park in Dutchess County, New York, also the site of Paloma Media north, a site you should peruse and subscribe to!

“Small Business Owners Sound Off on Crushing Inflation,” by Nancy Rommelmann (Common Sense)

“Hulk Hogan's Gawker lawsuit bankrolled by Silicon Valley billionaire” (CBS News)

Nobody Speak official trailer

Some corroboration that Twitter is the new Gawker, from Freddie deBoer

“Rest in Power, White Ladies,” Sarah Hagi on the death of Joan Didion (Gawker)

“Bloodbath at the New York Times,” Nancy Rommelmann on the defenestration of Donald McNeil Jr.

“The New York Times Succumbed to Another Mob. Journalism Is Unrecognizable” and “Kids and Cowards: What Really Happened to Donald McNeil at the New York Times” by Nancy Rommelmann (Newsweek)

“Words as Weapons: How Activist Journalists are Changing the New York Times,” by Nancy Rommelmann (The Dispatch)

Erin Overbey June 19 tweet thread

David Remnick, editor-in-chief of The New Yorker

Erin Overbey June 25 tweet thread

Politico follow-up on Overbey story confirms there were emails with Remnick that contained the two errors she was later dinged for

“The NYT Enters The Youth Gender Fray And Philadelphia's Mina's World Coffee Shop Melts Down Spectacularly,” Blocked and Reported podcast

Doc Marie’s bar in Portland closes in less than a week after employees demand owners turn over the business to them

“The Rehearsal” official trailer

Nathan Fielder has job interview using 7-year-old's answers: 

“Why Baseball Fans Might Find the Hall of Fame Interesting!” Matt Welch and Nancy Rommelmann on Paloma Media YouTube

Underworld and White Noise by Don DeLillo

A robot-voiced trailer for White Noise film that features many images of Adam Driver

Outro song: “Blue,” by The Jayhawks

And speaking of! Wonderful listener Dorothy made a Smoke ‘Em Spotify playlist!

Share the Smoke with your peeps

Studies show you are at least 75% more likely to be a free or paid subscriber if you sign up to be one

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