Quillette Narrated

Dive into the world of generative AI and its role in flooding the internet with disinformation. Explore how regulations aimed at combating misinformation might lead to harmful censorship. Discover Australia's controversial social media ban for those under 16, and the unintended consequences on teen safety. Delve into privacy risks from strict verification laws in the UK. Finally, consider the importance of transparency, civic education, and open debate in preserving democracy amid these technological challenges.

Modern trans activists reframed transsexualism/transgenderism as a political problem rather than a clinical problem.

While the nuclear breakout clock ticks, time may also be expiring on the Ayatollah regime’s grip on the region. The two countdowns are interconnected.

Explore the complex origins of yoga as modern practices trace back to a 1924 Danish gymnastics manual. Hear personal stories of a guru hunt in Goa, and examine the influence of colonialism on Hatha Yoga. Discover how Krishnamacharya blended traditional methods with Western physical culture. The episode raises questions about cultural exchange, examines the debunked Yoga Kurunta myth, and reflects on how asanas evolved into a global phenomenon. Uncover the tensions between ancient roots and modern adaptations in today's yoga practices.

Criminal-justice reformers like to say that it is better to be ‘smart on crime’ than ‘tough on crime.’ But sometimes being tough is the smart choice. By ⁠Andrew Bushnell⁠

Easy Rider is an important movie—much more important than a simple measure of its quality would suggest—which is probably why the American Film Institute, among others, continues to rate it so highly.

⁠Jukka Savolainen⁠ 's article "The Murder of Iryna Zarutska — Why did this particular crime cut through the daily background noise of American violence?" on Quillette explores the reasons behind the heightened attention the murder of Iryna Zarutska received in conservative circles and the muted response from mainstream media. Iryna Zarutska, a young Ukrainian refugee, was killed in Charlotte, North Carolina, in a crime caught on CCTV, sparking outrage primarily among conservatives. The article posits that this response is due to three interrelated concerns: media bias, urban disorder, and the victim's characteristics. It argues that mainstream media often report crimes through a racial lens that can distort public perception, amplifying cases where victims are from minority communities while neglecting others. The murder was seen as emblematic of urban disorder in the post-George Floyd era, highlighting issues of leniency and the decline in policing standards. Zarutska's story resonated because she was perceived as an innocent, industrious immigrant whose murder by a repeat offender epitomized a failure of the judicial and social system. The article contrasts media and societal responses to different victim profiles based on ideological lines, highlighting differences in moral priorities between conservatives and progressives. It suggests that the coverage of Zarutska's murder exposes broader cultural divides, with conservatives emphasizing fairness and justice, while progressives focus more on care and liberation, often for marginalized groups.

The discussion highlights Laurence Krauss's admiration for Darwin, favoring him over Einstein. Darwin's blend of sharp observation and theoretical insight is celebrated, particularly in his literary masterpiece, The Voyage of the Beagle. Krauss shares Darwin's vivid experiences in the Brazilian rainforest and his moral outrage against slavery. The exploration of the Galapagos Islands reveals Darwin's geological observations and the enigma of island species. Ultimately, the conversation underscores the beauty of Darwin's writing and the foundational ideas of evolutionary theory.

The list of violent criminals who imagine they were ‘born in the wrong body’ is growing. By Forest Romm, Kevin Waldman

The situation of South African “whites” is worse than Donald Trump's critics are willing to acknowledge.