In Bed With The Right

2024's hottest awards show is THE SECOND ANNUAL CURSTIES. Conjured up by Adrian, Moira and special returning guest Michael Hobbes, this all-gay gabfest has everything. Rapid onset transphobia! How to divorce Matt Walsh! The White Lotus! That thing where a heterosexual is so heterosexual it ... seems kind of gay? Stay tuned for the second half of this episode (and for another Episode Note referencing an SNL skit that's so old it can now legally apply for a learner's permit) next week!

Moira walks Adrian through the right wing fixation on trans kids and the way it is reshaping our politics. In early December, the US Supreme Court heard US v. Skrmetti, and is almost certain to uphold a Tennessee law banning most forms of gender-affirming care for minors. In 2016, a trans bathroom ban in North Carolina led to a nationwide outcry and boycotts. Eight years later, laws like Tennessee's SB1 have passed in a majority of US States, and the outcry is comparatively muted. What happened?

Back in September, Adrian and Moira did an event at San Francisco's legendary City Lights Bookstore for an event launching Adrian's new book The Cancel Culture Panic: How an American Obsession went Global. It was a memorable, energized and often delightfully weird evening that we're thrilled to bring you (slightly edited) as a special episode of In Bed with the Right.

As a special holiday treat, podcaster extraordinaire Matt Bernstein (A Bit Fruity) joins Moira and Adrian to talk about the right wing grift machine. It's a tough world out there, so here's your step by step guide to completely selling your soul for some sweet, sweet reactionary billionaire cash! Detours include: Candace Owens, Oli London, Riley Gaines, Chaya Raichik, and various Twinks for Tr**p.Speaking of grifting: If you like the show, consider supporting it via its brand new Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/InBedWiththeRight! It may or may not also a perfect gift for the red-pilled anti-wokester in your life!

Moira and Adrian dive into the chaotic aftermath of the recent presidential election, humorously comparing their shock to coping mechanisms like indulging in pudding. They tackle post-election identity politics and split ticket voting, highlighting how voters are increasingly separating cultural from economic issues. The duo also examines Trump’s appeal beyond policy, discussing the overlooked gender dynamics in political loyalty and behavior. Plus, they explore how online narratives shape voter engagement and the populist focus on safety over societal improvement.

In this engaging discussion, Becca Lewis, a Stanford researcher specializing in right-wing influences in Silicon Valley, delves into the intriguing evolution of George Gilder from an anti-feminist critic to a tech evangelist. She highlights the complex ideological landscape of Silicon Valley leaders, contrasting their progressive public personas with reactionary beliefs. The conversation explores Gilder's entrepreneurial vision during the Reagan era, the emergence of conservative voices in tech, and how this legacy shapes today's culture, especially concerning gender politics.

In Bed With the Right has an announcement: the show is coming to Patreon! You can sign up for extra content (2 episodes per month!) here! But our main feed (meaning episodes wherever you have been listening to us) will not be affected -- in fact, there's a new episode coming Tuesday. But if you'd like to hear Moira and Adrian talk their way through some weirder, wilder, more niche topics -- such as conservative fixations on Precious Bodily Fluids --, well, then check out the Patreon!

Journalist Morgan Sung (who hosts the terrific podcast Close All Tabs ) talks Moira and Adrian through the memes, stan armies, influencers, hatewatchers, bots and trolls of the 2024 election. How has digital campaigning changed since 2016? How do the platforms influence our politics?

The podcast dives into the critical role of gender in the upcoming presidential election. It discusses how shifting masculinities and declining support for Democrats among men of color are reshaping campaign strategies. The hosts analyze cultural representations of masculinity and critique the chaotic influence of media on political narratives. They also examine the evolving perceptions of female candidates and the implications of the Supreme Court on women’s rights, emphasizing the urgency for inclusive voter representation.

In conversation with Moira and Adrian, Irin Carmon, a New York writer and CNN contributor, delves into the life of Usha Vance, a figure navigating complex gender politics. They explore the contrast between public personas and personal struggles of ambitious women like Usha and Ivanka Trump. Topics include the fallout from sexual harassment allegations at Yale Law, the balancing act of ambition and family life, and the evolving narratives around gender roles. Carmon challenges listeners to rethink how political influences shape personal identities and relationships.