The Comedy Cellar: Live from the Table James Lindsay: How the WOKE RIGHT Is Leading Conservatism Toward Collapse
Dec 14, 2025
James Lindsay, an insightful author and cultural critic renowned for the Grievance Studies Affair, dives deep into the rise of 'wokeness' on the right. He argues this new strain promotes victimhood and conspiratorial thinking, undermining truth-seeking. Lindsay discusses provocative topics like antisemitism, fringe beliefs gaining traction, and the dangers of narcissistic leadership. He warns that these dynamics could lead conservatism toward collapse, ultimately resulting in electoral defeats and fractured coalitions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Academic Hoaxes Revealed Publication Weaknesses
- James Lindsay recounts the Grievance Studies Affair where he and collaborators submitted hoax papers to expose weak academic standards.
- Four papers published and seven accepted before exposure showed systemic problems in certain journals.
The Dog-Park Paper That Backfired
- Lindsay describes the most notorious hoax paper about 'rape culture' at dog parks which earned an award before being exposed.
- He also mentions other satirical pieces like proposing 'fat bodybuilding' to illustrate extremes.
Woke As An Epistemic Framework
- Lindsay defines 'woke' as an epistemology that favors marginalized knowledge and assumes power structures corrupt mainstream truth.
- That worldview treats excluded claims as inherently more legitimate because they challenge entrenched power.
