* How Jamie ended up writing about Armie Hammer* So what *is* the Hammer story anyway?* How the motivated reasoning media ignores inconvenient inconsistencies* Is there a path back from an utterly destroyed reputation?* How Jamie’s book Secret City informed his reporting* Heroes and homophobia* So is it true what they say about James Webb?* The Lavender Scare and Joe McCarthy* Who was worse, JFK or RFK?* Would anyone care about Larry Craig in 2023?* Why was Moynihan at a political event in Florida? * SMDH at the FUBAR SOTU* A bit about those Twitter hearings…* And so much more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Discover the triumph and sorrow of the gay experience in Washington DC, from the red scare to the closet opening, examining the impact of the national security state, progress in politics, and the lasting legacy of the gay rights movement.

Jamie Kirchick, author and staunch defender of liberal values, discusses his book 'The Secret City' which explores the gay history of Washington D.C. and the shift towards cultural acceptance. They also debate the pros and cons of the word 'queer' and the 'queer movement.' The podcast explores the treatment of homosexuality in the U.S. government and the evolution of the gay rights movement. They also discuss pronoun usage, the dangers of finding excitement in politics, and blind spots in both the left and right.