Backyard Chicken Hypocrisy: From Fancy Hens to the ‘Agency’ to Kill | Rising Anxieties

This episode of Rising Anxieties dissects a New York Review of Books article that acknowledges factory farm horrors while stopping short of the obvious conclusion: stop eating chickens. Mariann cuts through the nonsense of backyard chicken enthusiasts who claim moral superiority while perpetuating exploitation; eye-rolls at legislators who prioritize wolf delisting and “official chicken wing flavors” over meaningful change; and questions the absurdity of addressing cattle methane with band-aid solutions rather than systemic transformation.

This episode explores:

• How cute narratives about “humane” backyard egg production do nothing to change the fact that billions of chickens suffer horrifically to produce eggs 
• The contradictory messaging of books that acknowledge factory farming horrors while avoiding advocating for veganism
• Recent legislation targeting cultivated meat with prison sentences while failing to address animal welfare concerns
• How bipartisan efforts to delist Mexican wolves, gray wolves, and grizzly bears prioritize cattle industry profits over wildlife protection
• Industry’s desperate attempts to mitigate methane emissions from cattle rather than addressing the root problem of animal agriculture

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