Where There's Woke

Bill Maher decided to bless us all with his sage advice on our country's fascism problem - why don't we all just stop doing the things that the fascists use as their excuse to do the fascism they already were going to do anyway? How did we not think of that??? Are we all the dumbest bunch of idiots?

After the release of our PragerU videos (WTW88 & WTW89), we received a comment in the Facebook group from a listener pushing back on the characterization we made regarding a one sentence bit from Ben Shapiro's commencement speech video. This feedback emboldened Thomas to dig into the story further to see if we owed an apology to Ben. Was this a unique instance in which the anti-woke were right and there truly was a miscarriage of justice? **If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com.**

Kaiser issued the most infuriating statement last month announcing that they were "pausing" their gender-affirming surgeries for patients 19 and under. Why in the world did they do this when the majority of Kaiser members are in California - a protective state for the transgender community and one of the most likely states to stand up to the Trump administration? Lydia breaks down what happened, who has been speaking out, and a particular theory about why Kaiser Permanente might have made this decision. Massachusetts et al v. Trump et al (8/1/2025) If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com. Please pretty please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/wherethereswoke!

Part 2 of 2. Now that we're Oklahoma-certified teachers, it's time to learn more about PragerU. Who are they, where does their money come from, and are they really going to be the new PBS? We break down one of their PragerU Kids videos, and end with a pretty unhinged video presented by a WTW frenemy. If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com. Please pretty please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/wherethereswoke!

Oklahoma is partnering with PragerU to create a controversial test for incoming teachers, focusing on ideological alignment. The hosts take the test and uncover its simplistic, biased questions about civics and social issues. They critique the rhetoric used against critics, labeling them as 'enemies of America's children.' Discussion extends to PragerU's wider influence and questionable content. The episode highlights concerns over privacy and legal implications while also mocking the test's basic civics knowledge requirements.

Andrew Sullivan's controversial views on queer issues are put to the test, sparking a spirited debate over generational differences and the term 'queer'. The hosts discuss the critical importance of acceptance for trans rights while unpacking media narratives around gender-affirming care. Lydia shares her exhilarating first experience at San Francisco Pride, emphasizing the joy and community it fosters. They reflect on the significance of public celebrations in enriching LGBTQ life and push back against harmful portrayals of dissent and misinformation.

In a heated critique, the hosts take on a controversial New York Times op-ed by Andrew Sullivan, arguing that it undermines LGBTQ+ rights during Pride Month. They highlight the selective use of legal victories and the ongoing threats to marriage equality. The discussion delves into Project 2025's conservative agenda and its implications for the community. They challenge misconceptions about funding in LGBTQ+ organizations and mock Sullivan's grievances about identity labels. The hosts celebrate the beauty of Pride and preview more personal reflections.

An unsurprising figure is involved in the current battle between Harvard University and the federal government, and he has come out to EXPOSE Harvard's racist and discriminatory practices by sharing a "trove" of internal documents they don't want you to see. Lydia walks us through what these documents are, how things escalated to this point, and what Christopher Rufo wants us to think it all means - which The New York Times helped platform on an episode of The Daily. Cool. Best Practices for Conducting Faculty Searches Rufo's smoking gun that makes no sense: Harvard's "Placement Goals" - HELP US FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS IS! **If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com.** Please pretty please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/wherethereswoke! This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.

Dr. Jenessa Seymour, an expert in debunking anti-vaccine claims, dives into the alarming choice of David Geier to lead a controversial autism study. She details Geier's troubling history of unethical practices, including illegal treatments and forged documents that misled parents. The discussion highlights the dangerous implications for autistic communities and critiques how RFK Jr. has manipulated legal outcomes to support his narrative. Jenessa emphasizes the need for public awareness and action against such misleading figures.

Karen Attiah, columnist with The Washington Post, was looking forward to teaching her second iteration of the Race, Media, and International Affairs course she developed for Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, when it was abruptly cancelled - with no explanation as to why. We chat with her about the inaugural session of the course in an environment where the Israel-Palestine protests were happening on campus and the President was called into Congress to answer Elise Stefanik's "questions," what the media twisted about what was actually happening in those encampments, how she felt when Columbia cancelled her course, and the eventual decision she made to teach it anyway. If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com. Please pretty please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/wherethereswoke! This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.