Binchtopia

This week, the girlies tackle rage bait: the content that’s engineered to make you mad and keep you scrolling. From gutting historic homes to incendiary Republican rhetoric, they explore how anger became a content strategy and why we keep falling for it. They trace the long history of provocation, once a way to challenge power and now just another feature of your FYP, breaking down how rage bait works, who benefits from it, and why nothing feels shocking anymore. Digressions include the beauty of riding a train, knowing conservative content creators in real life, and the age-old question: does being a woman count as rage bait? We’re going on tour!!!! Find tickets at https://linktr.ee/binchtopia This episode was produced by Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb and edited by Allison Hagan. Research assistance from Kylie Finnigan. To support the podcast on Patreon and access 50+ bonus episodes, mediasodes, zoom hangouts and more, visit patreon.com/binchtopia and become a patron today. SOURCES $5.2m for a duct-taped banana: has the buyer of Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork slipped up? 10 Works of Art That Made People Really Mad  100 years later Duchamp’s ‘Fountain’ still influential Against Empathy by Paul Bloom Anger is an approach-related affect: Evidence and implications.  Antisocial Behavior in Online Discussion Communities Ape and Human Cognition: What's the Difference? Chris Ofili: Can art still shock us? Chris Ofili, The Holy Virgin Mary  Emotion Shapes the Diffusion of Moral Content Facebook Manipulated User News Feeds To Create Emotional Responses  How A Urinal Changed Art History: The Duchamp Fountain How Upton Sinclair’s ‘The Jungle’ Led to US Food Safety Reforms How (and where) does moral judgment work? How the Shock Jock Became the Outrage Jock Marcel Duchamp: The Forefather of Conceptual Art More Transparency and Less Spin Movement, Affect, Sensation Musk’s Political Posts Online hate speech victimization: consequences for victims’ feelings of insecurity Piss Christ by Andres Serrano  Social Influence Bias: A Randomized Experiment Still Amusing Ourselves The Art of Absurdity: Resurgence of Dadaism through Gen-Z memes. The Attention Merchants: The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind By Gustave Le Bon   The Cultural Politics of Emotion by Sara Ahmed The Dada Era of Internet Memes The Disinformation Dozen The Emotional Dog and Its Rational Tail: A Social Intuitionist Approach to Moral Judgment  “The Great Moon Hoax” is published in the “New York Sun” The Shock Of The New: Art And The Century Of Change  The urinal that changed how we think These Influencers Are Making Content to Make You Angry — And It’s Working  Understanding Media - The Extensions of Man  Walter Lippmann and Public Opinion What is rage-baiting and why is it profitable?  Yellow Journalism  YouTube, the Great Radicalizer

The transmissions have arrived, and the girlies have their predictions: joy as resistance, psychosis over dissociation, and delusional optimism in the face of collapse. They also respond to some of your predictions (pigtails, the death of espresso martinis, lemonade stands) and stress the importance of embracing the childlike joy of summer while we still can. This is a teaser for a Patreon-exclusive episode. To listen to the full episode and access over 50 bonus episodes, mediasodes, and monthly zoom hangs visit patreon.com/binchtopia and become a patron today. We’re going on tour!!!! Find tickets at https://linktr.ee/binchtopia

The girlies are back for part two of the immigration series to unpack our modern-day McCarthyism. Starting with a recap of current events (aka The Horrible Things Update), they pick up where they left off in history, discussing Japanese internment, the second Red Scare, post-9/11 surveillance, and how fear of the 'other' has always justified oppression. Digressions include Khloe Kardashian’s venture into protein dust and the comforting fact that, as of today, sunlight is still legal to experience. We’re going on tour!!!! Find tickets at https://linktr.ee/binchtopia  This episode was produced by Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb and edited by Allison Hagan. Research assistance from Kylie Finnigan. To support the podcast on Patreon and access 50+ bonus episodes, mediasodes, zoom hangouts and more, visit patreon.com/binchtopia and become a patron today. SOURCES:  ‘He is not a gang member’: outrage as US deports makeup artist to El Salvador prison for crown tattoos At $5 Million Each, 1000 ‘Gold Card’ Visas Have Been Sold. Could This Pay Off The US Debt? Ask a Historian: How Many Japanese Americans Were Incarcerated During WWII? Columbia University agrees to policy changes after Trump administration funding threats Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians Counterintelligence and Access to Transactional Records: A Practical History of USA PATRIOT Act Section 215 Eighty Years After the U.S. Incarcerated 120,000 Japanese Americans, Trauma and Scars Still Remain  Edward Snowden: the whistleblower behind the NSA surveillance revelations Edward Snowden Speaks Out: 'I Haven't And I Won't' Cooperate With Russia Fact check: Is Tren de Aragua invading the US, as Trump says? Florida lawmakers push legislation to weaken child labor laws  Forced to live in horse stalls. How one of America’s worst injustices played out at Santa Anita Harvard Renames Diversity Office As Trump Demands Dismantling of DEI Harvard, Under Pressure, Revamps D.E.I. Office Harvard Will Not Fund Affinity Group Graduation Celebrations Following Ed Department Warning  Higher education, federal government ‘intimately connected’ History of the Certificate of Citizenship, 1790–1956 Hollywood Ten How U.S. immigration laws and rules have changed through history HUAC   ICE Arrests Nearly 800 in Florida in Operation With Local Officers ICE deported 3 children who are U.S. citizens, their families’ lawyers say   Immigration and Naturalization in the Western Tradition Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of The United States by Tren De Aragua Japanese Internment Camps Judge Blocks Deportations of Venezuelans Under Wartime Law Law from the 1950s may play role in Columbia University student deportation case   Maryland judge orders return of second man deported to El Salvador in violation of court order  McCarran Internal Security Act of 1950 (1950) McCarthyism / The "Red Scare"  McCarthyism and the Red Scare Memorializing Incarceration: The Japanese American Experience in World War II and Beyondlocked National Security Entry-Exit Registration System Of Spies and G-Men: How the U.S. Government Turned Japanese Americans into Enemies of the State PATRIOT Act    Redress and Reparations for Japanese American Incarceration The Alien Enemies Act, Explained The Alien Enemies Act Is a Weak Argument for Deportation The Alien Enemies Act Paved the Way for Japanese American Incarceration. Let’s Keep It in the Past. The Alien Enemies Act: The One Alien and Sedition Act Still on the Books The case of Edward Snowden This Is What Detention Under the Alien Enemies Act Looked Like in World War II Truman’s Loyalty Program Trump is promising deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. What is it? Trump May Seek Judicial Oversight of Columbia, Potentially for Years  Trump officials issue quotas to ICE officers to ramp up arrests U.S. Immigration Timeline Venezuela minister says no Tren de Aragua members among US deportees When John Adams Signed a Law to Authorize Deportations and Jail Critics World War II Japanese Americans Incarceration: Justice Denied

This week, the girlies dig into a sprawling Q&A full of life’s greatest questions: Should you get a prenup? How do you move on from a soulmate? Do you owe someone oral if they go down on you first? And, most importantly, which cheese reigns supreme? Digressions include conclave lore, the Bernie Sanders x Clairo collab at Coachella, and giving Addison Rae her kudos. We’re going on tour!!!! Find tickets at https://linktr.ee/binchtopia  This is a teaser for a Patreon-exclusive episode. To listen to the full episode and access over 50 bonus episodes, mediasodes, and monthly zoom hangs visit patreon.com/binchtopia and become a patron today.  

The girlies dive into some of Hollywood’s most infamous celebrity feuds — Joan Didion vs Eve Babitz, Joan Crawford vs Bette Devis, Kim Cattrall vs Sarah Jessica Parker, and the recent lawsuits between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively. Digressions include Kim Cattrall’s scatting, Ryan Murphy being a constant threat to society, and the age-old pattern of women fighting over the worst man you’ve ever heard of. We’re going on tour!!!! Find tickets at (https://linktr.ee/binchtopia) This episode was originally released on January 22, 2025 as a Patreon exclusive, and we’re unlocking it for you to make the most of the extra week in April. Become a patron today to support the show, keep us ad-free and unlock our backlog of over 50 bonus episodes at patreon.com/binchtopia. SOURCES Didion and Babitz by Lili Anolik Why Gossip Is Fatal to Good Writing  Joan Didion, Eve Babitz, and the Biographer Who Missed the Point  Joan Didion and Eve Babitz Shared an Unlikely, Uneasy Friendship—One That Shaped Their Worlds and Work Forever Everything You Need To Know About Kim Cattrall And Sarah Jessica Parker’s Famous Feud  Inside Joan Didion And Eve Babitz’s Rivalry.  Joan Didion vs Eve Babitz  A Timeline of Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker's Rumored Sex and the City Feud  ‘Sex and the City’ Director Details Kim Cattrall Drama, Tension Began Over Parity You Truly Won't Believe How Much Money the Cast of 'And Just Like That...' Is Making The Sex and the City Cast Salary Explains SJP & Kim Cattrall’s Feud  ‘Sex and the City’ Salaries: How Much Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon and Kim Cattrall Made From the Show, Movies and Revival  The Story Behind Joan Crawford and Bette Davis’s Storied Feud  Feud: The Craziest Joan Crawford and Bette Davis Stories That Didn’t Make the Show What “Feud” Misses About Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and the Art of Movies Bette Davis v. Joan Crawford: The Hateful History Behind Old Hollywood's Nastiest Feud Joan Crawford Quotes About Bette Davis Are Savage    A Timeline of the Real Feud Between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford   Behind Hollywood’s biggest feud  

In the first installment of a two-part series on immigration, the girlies ask an important question: what gives someone the right to call a place home — and who gets to decide? Is citizenship a moral construct, or just a legal one? If borders are made up, why do they control so much of our lives? In light of the ongoing deportation horrors and increasingly aggressive border enforcement, we’re looking back to figure out how we got here. From early immigration through World War I, we trace the long, messy history of who’s been allowed in, who’s been shut out, and how the U.S. has used immigration as a tool for control, exclusion, and scapegoating. Everyone, regardless of immigration status, has rights under the U.S. Constitution. You have the right to remain silent, the right to refuse a search without a warrant, and the right to speak to a lawyer. For more information and resources, visit ilrc.org & aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights.  This episode was produced by Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb and edited by Allison Hagan. Research assistance from Kylie Finnigan. To support the podcast on Patreon and access 50+ bonus episodes, mediasodes, zoom hangouts and more, visit patreon.com/binchtopia and become a patron today. SOURCES:  4 things to know about the Alien Enemies Act and Trump's efforts to use it A Brief History of U.S. Immigration Policy from the Colonial Period to the Present Day A History of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 A Letter to Columbia   American Immigration Policy in Historical Perspective Americans’ Views of Deportations Chinese Immigration and the Chinese Exclusion Acts Federal Government Detains International Student at Tufts Historical Context: The Post-World War I Red Scare How does deportation work, and how much does it cost? We break it down Immigration History Timeline Immigration judge denies bond for Tufts University student from Turkey, her lawyers say   International students are being told by email that their visas are revoked and that they must ‘self-deport.’ What to know Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of The United States by Tren De Aragua Isolationism and U.S. Foreign Policy After World War I Mahmoud Khalil arrest: Can the US deport a green card holder? Newly Declassified Documents Reveal the Untold Stories of the Red Scare, a Hunt for Communists in Postwar America Red Scare Refugee Timeline   Reported: Administration officials direct ICE to increase arrests to meet daily quotas Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Press Targeting of Tufts Student for Deportation Stuns Friends and Teachers The Alien and Sedition Acts The Alien Enemies Act Is Outdated, Dangerous, and Ripe for Abuse The Alien Enemies Act, Explained The Alien Enemies Act: The One Alien and Sedition Act Still on the Books    The Alien Enemies Act: What to know about a 1798 law that Trump has invoked for deportations The First Red Scare The Immigrant Army: Immigrant Service Members in World War I The Industrial Immigrant in the United States, 1783-1812 The National Constitution Center’s Founders’ Library    The Sedition and Espionage Acts Were Designed to Quash Dissent During WWI The U.S. Confiscated Half a Billion Dollars in Private Property During WWI To my husband, Mahmoud Khalil: I can’t wait to tell our son of his father’s bravery Trump is promising deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. What is it? Trump officials issue quotas to ICE officers to ramp up arrests Tufts University student can’t be deported to Turkiye without court order   U.S. Immigration Timeline What WW1 civilian internment can teach us about today When John Adams Signed a Law to Authorize Deportations and Jail Critics Who is Mahmoud Khalil? Palestinian activist detained by ICE over Columbia University protests ​​‘Where’s Alex?’ A Beloved Caregiver Is Swept Up in Trump’s Green Card Crackdown

The girlies uncover the bizarre origins of The Baldwins, America’s most cursed family. Join them as they tell the tragic tale of Alec and Hilaria, a classic love story where (middle aged) boy meets (faking Spanish) girl! Digressions include the horrifying reality of AI robots, the stonk market collapse, and the necessary evil of privacy guards. This is a teaser for a Patreon-exclusive episode. To listen to the full episode and access over 50 bonus episodes, mediasodes, and monthly zoom hangs visit patreon.com/binchtopia and become a patron today.  

In part two of our no contact series, the girlies zero in on the emotional and psychological fallout of cutting family ties, discussing the rise of no contact as a cultural norm, the complicated path to reconciliation, and the intra-polarization of the American family. Digressions include the stunning foresight of Kim Kardashian, a cursed image of Justin Timberlake, and how the right bra can truly change your life. If you're currently no contact with family or considering this step, you're not alone; connect with Stand Alone, Together Estranged, and Family Support Resources for community and support. This episode was produced by Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb and edited by Allison Hagan. Research assistance from Kylie Finnigan. SOURCES What abolishing the family would not do Estrangement is never easy or straightforward. Psychologists can help Pillemer: Family estrangement a problem ‘hiding in plain sight’ The Causes of Estrangement, and How Families Heal   How Estrangement Has Become an Epidemic in America Nearing holiday season, Americans weigh family estrangement What Does It Mean to Be Wired for Love? The Science of Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect How Relationships Change your Brain – Heal Attachment | Dr. Arielle Schwartz Early Attachment Relationships and Their Impact on the Brain’s Wiring.   A Psychologist Weighs In On The Post-Breakup ‘No-Contact’ Rule Can you still be close to someone whose politics you despise? The Long-Term Stability of Affective Bonds After Romantic Separation: Do Attachments Simply Fade Away? Speaking of Psychology: Coping with family estrangement, with Lucy Blake, PhD Family Estrangement and the COVID-19 Crisis.  A Shift in American Family Values Is Fueling Estrangement Parental Estrangement: Can the Family Heal After Adult Children Divorce Their Parents? What Research Tells Us About Family Estrangement Why So Many People Are Going “No Contact” with Their Parents No, Parent-Child Estrangement Isn't Just a Fad HIDDEN VOICES Family EstrangementIn Adulthood   Prevalence of adults who are the targets of parental alienating behaviors and their impact Family Dynamics

The girlies return to Reddit’s darkest corners for another round of harrowing tales—a therapist casually feasting on a seafood boil mid-session, a husband cursed with chronic baby talk, and a haunting handmade puppet of someone’s boyfriend. Tough questions are tackled: Is pocket cheese ever acceptable? Can Utah’s altitude turn you gay? And what exactly is he doing with the salad dressing? Digressions include updates on The Baldwin Show, Charles Manson being a rizzler and our ongoing mission to get Vivian Jenna Wilson on the pod. This is a teaser for a Patreon-exclusive episode. To listen to the full episode and access over 50 bonus episodes, mediasodes, and monthly zoom hangs visit patreon.com/binchtopia and become a patron today.  

The girlies explore the increasingly popular act of going “no contact.” In the first of two episodes, they break down the history of severing ties, how the nuclear family is ultimately an economic trap, and why Sophie Lewis argues we should abolish the family altogether. Digressions include our banishment from the Delta Lounge, the wholesomeness of r/fearofflying and whether we’ve officially run out of names for medications. If you're currently no contact with family or considering this step, you're not alone; connect with Stand Alone, Together Estranged, and Family Support Resources for community and support. This episode was produced by Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb and edited by Allison Hagan. Research assistance from Kylie Finnigan. To support the podcast on Patreon and access 50+ bonus episodes, mediasodes, zoom hangouts and more, visit patreon.com/binchtopia and become a patron today. SOURCES Abolish the Family by Sophie Lewis All our Kin: Strategies for Survival in a Black Community by Carol B. Stack Parental Alienation: A Disputed Theory With Big Implications Why So Many People Are Going “No Contact” with Their Parents Parent–adult child estrangement in the United States by gender, race/ethnicity, and sexuality Developmental Estrangement and the Re-emergence of Love Family estrangement is on the rise. A psychologist offers ways to cope Blocking your mom: why adult children are going no contact Why So Many People (Myself Included) Are Experiencing Family Estrangement How Estrangement Has Become an Epidemic in America       No, Parent-Child Estrangement Isn't Just a Fad Estrangement is never easy or straightforward. Psychologists can help Conceptualizing “Family” and the Role of “Chosen Family” within the LGBTQ+ Refugee Community: A Text Network Graph Analysis Pillemer: Family estrangement a problem ‘hiding in plain sight’ Nearing holiday season, Americans weigh family estrangement A Shift in American Family Values Is Fueling Estrangement A Family Therapist Looks to Historians for Insight on the Changing Forms of Family Estrangement The Causes of Estrangement, and How Families Heal A Psychologist Shares How A ‘Chosen Family’ Can Help Fight Loneliness What abolishing the family would not do The Power of Chosen Family Finding Connection Through "Chosen Family" The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake Parent–adult child estrangement in the United States by gender, race/ethnicity, and sexuality       Developmental Estrangement and the Re-emergence of Love The Pain of Family Estrangement What Research Tells Us About Family Estrangement