Special Episode! Suzy Weiss on Dating While Problematic
Feb 15, 2024
01:22:13
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Suzy Weiss, journalist and host of Blocked and Reported, discusses dating while problematic and the spread of polyamory on this episode. They also explore the controversy surrounding the eviction of a black family in Portland and the racial reckoning in the city. Additionally, they cover the lack of support for small businesses and the mysterious case of the occupied house during the Black Lives Matter protests.
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Quick takeaways
The Red House occupation in Portland sparked discussions about gentrification, racial justice, and the complexities of property ownership.
The involvement of a family member associated with the sovereign citizen movement complicated the narrative of the Red House occupation and led to disillusionment among some supporters.
Deep dives
The Red House on Mississippi: A Battle for Eviction
The story unfolds in Portland, Oregon, during the summer of 2020, a period marked by protests, political upheaval, and wildfires. The Red House on Mississippi, an old Victorian home, becomes the focal point of a highly publicized eviction case. The Kenny family, who had owned the house for four generations, claimed they were unfairly targeted during the pandemic and evicted without prior notice. This sparked an occupation of the property by supporters, who aimed to reclaim the house and hold the land. The situation garnered widespread media attention, with the family presenting their version of events that involved alleged predatory lending and fraudulent mortgage practices. The occupation included community programming, such as free meals and healing-centered activities. While the family and their supporters garnered significant media coverage and sympathy, the story also prompted discussions about gentrification, racial justice, and the complexities of property ownership.
The Red House occupation in Portland and the involvement of sovereign citizen movement
The Red House occupation in Portland involved a family, the Kenny family, who faced eviction from their property. Supporters, including many Portland locals, rallied around the family in what seemed to be a fight against eviction and racial injustice. However, it was later revealed that one member of the family, William Nietzsche, is associated with the sovereign citizen movement. Sovereign citizens believe they are not bound by laws and regulations and often engage in legal battles as a result. The family's involvement with this movement complicated the narrative and led to disillusionment among some supporters.
The complex history and ownership of the Red House
The Red House in Portland, which was at the center of the occupation, has a long and convoluted history. The Kenny family, who originally owned the house, sold it to their son in 1995. In 2018, the house was sold at auction to Roman Azaruga, but some family members continued to occupy it and refused to participate in foreclosure mediation. It was later discovered that the Kenny family owned another home in Portland, which contradicted the narrative that they would be left homeless if evicted. Ultimately, the family negotiated with the owner to buy the house back, but it remains unclear who currently owns the property and its future is uncertain.
Today, we’re thrilled to bring you not Honestlywith Bari Weiss, but maybe something even better: Blocked and Reported with Suzy Weiss!
If you haven’t heard of Blocked and Reported, it’s one of my very favorite shows hosted by two of my favorite journalists, Katie Herzog and Jesse Singal. The tagline for the show is “a podcast about internet nonsense,” but that undersells it. Katie and Jesse do a lot of good journalism on this show—it’s just swathed in humor and irreverence.
This week, Free Press reporter (and yes, my little sister) Suzy Weiss filled in for Jesse. You’ll remember Suzy from the Oberlin episode she reported for Honestly a while back or, more recently, from the 2024 Predictions episode she was on a few weeks ago, where she told us 2024 is going to be the year of “porridge food” and cheating. I’m biased, but anyone familiar with Suzy’s work knows that it’s funny, gonzo, and feels like something you used to read in an excellent magazine but don’t anymore. You’ll learn a lot more about her on today’s episode, including that she was the subject of controversy when she was a teenager and the freedom that experience gave her down the road.
The title of this episode of Blocked and Reported is The Red House on Mississippi—in this case, the Mississippi isn’t the river, but a road in Portland. The house has been part of a movement to prevent a black family from eviction. Katie and Suzy also talk about dating while problematic and the spread of polyamory, and Suzy argues in favor of good, old-fashioned cheating—the perfect Valentine’s week topics.