Episode 247: The Zizians' Reign of Terror (with Tracing Woodgrains)
Feb 10, 2025
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This week, guest Jack Despain Zhou, a former producer turned law student and educational advocate, dives into some controversial topics. He shares insights on the troubling dynamics of the Zizians cult, led by the enigmatic trans figure Ziz, and explores the implications of prioritizing diversity over merit in hiring practices at the FAA. The discussion extends to the failures of the education system and the need for accountability. Zhou also critiques the challenges within the rationalist community, revealing how extreme ideologies can take root even in progressive spaces.
The podcast introduces Jack Despain Zhou's Center for Educational Progress, aimed at enhancing educational excellence and reforming education policy.
It critiques the FAA's diversity initiatives that prioritized hiring practices over traditional aptitude tests, linking them to potential safety issues in air traffic control.
The discussion delves into the violent actions and radical beliefs of the Zizians, raising questions about media biases in reporting their crimes.
Deep dives
Announcement of a New Education Think Tank
Jack Despain Zo announces the establishment of the Center for Educational Progress, which he is co-founding with fellow graduates from Harvard Education School. The think tank aims to focus on promoting excellence within education, a subject that has been a lifelong passion for Zo. His previous work, including a viral paper on education policy, has fueled his desire to create impactful solutions for issues he perceives within the education system. This initiative marks an exciting new chapter in his career as he transitions from journalism to education policy.
FAA Hiring Controversy
An investigation into the FAA revealed that a significant overhaul in their hiring practices in 2014 prioritized diversity over traditional aptitude tests. This change was intended to increase the number of black air traffic controllers but resulted in disqualifying over 85% of applicants without proper validation of the new assessment methods. Critics argue that this shift undermined a previously successful pipeline that primarily drew from community colleges, inadvertently compromising the merit-based selection for air traffic controllers. The relevance of this controversy gained further attention following a tragic midair collision, where accusations arose linking the FAA's DEI initiatives to potential mistakes made in air traffic control staffing.
Zizians Cult and Triggering Violence
The podcast discusses the emergence of a cult-like group known as the Zizians, led by a trans woman named Ziz, and their association with a history of violence. Ziz, who originated from the rationalist community in the Bay Area, espoused controversial beliefs involving complex decision theories and moral frameworks that rationalized extreme actions, including murder. Over the years, the group has been linked to multiple violent incidents, culminating in the deaths of various members, including those involved in a recent tragic shootout. Their ideology appears to blend elements of rationalist thought with extreme anarchist beliefs, leading to troubling outcomes and a noticeable body count.
Connections Among Violent Incidents
The discussion highlights a disturbing pattern of violence associated with the Zizians, linking them to multiple tragedies and legal issues. After a series of events including a protest leading to arrests, two members of the group were later implicated in violent altercations, while others faced murder charges related to events surrounding their interactions with an elderly landlord. Notably, the deaths of several associates, including Ziz herself, contribute to a complex narrative of betrayal, manipulation, and murder within the group. The intertwining of these events suggests a chilling escalation of violence, possibly influenced by their radicalized beliefs.
Media Coverage and Cultural Commentary
The podcast critiques the media's response to the violent saga of the Zizians, questioning whether a similar story would receive more attention if it involved a right-wing or white nationalist group. The hosts note a perceived hesitance among mainstream outlets to treat the actions of the Zizians as a serious crime wave due to their left-leaning identity. Additionally, they discuss the importance of accurately representing the biological sex of certain individuals involved in the story, suggesting that the lack of this detail may obscure crucial information for the audience. The conversation reflects broader societal challenges in addressing complex narratives surrounding identity and ideology in crime reporting.
This week on Blocked and Reported, Jesse is joined by our furry friend Tracing Woodgrains/Jack Despain Zhou to discuss the rationalist trans murder cult. Plus, revisiting the DEI scandal at the FAA.
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