In Bed With The Right

2023 was a year rich in truly cursed discourses, In Bed With the Right has already analyzed many of them. In this episode — our first annual CURSTIES — your able hosts (with guest Michael Hobbes) analyze a few that have fallen through the cracks, and vote for the most cursed discourse of the year!

Prof. Saida Grundy discusses gender conservatism, Black masculinity, and the politics of respectability at Morehouse College, an elite HBCU. Topics explored include the impact of gender conservatism on black male identity, the influence of HBCUs on black communities, the history and significance of Morehouse College, misconceptions about working in predominantly white environments, and the pressure to conform to the Morehouse man prototype.

Together with their guest, historian Samuel Hueneke, Moira and Adrian delve into the history of the homocons. Gay (and sometimes, very sometimes, lesbian) conservatives. Toggling between the beginnings of the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, the gay marriage fracas of the early aughts and today's anti-trans panics, they ask: is this an invariant of queer public life? Or is there a history and tradition here?

Moira and Adrian continue their earlier discussion of the thought and influence of Friedrich Nietzsche — morality and the critique of metaphysics, antisemitism and anti-feminism.

Every few years, it seems, a set of academics and pundits discovers marriage as a panacea for a host of social ills — poverty, unhappiness, social cohesion, research assistants. Moira, Adrian and their guest, New York Magazine writer Rebecca Traister, are less-than-excited to report it’s back and just as threadbare as ever. But this time — since this is the 2020s — with a dollop of “this is something the woke left doesn’t want us to talk about”. A long conversation about feminism, capitalism, anti-feminism, the neocons, data and vibes.

Friedrich Nietzsche, a versatile 19th century thinker known for his ironic style, is discussed in relation to his influence on feminist and reactionary gender movements. The podcast explores Nietzsche's contradictions, his interaction with the feminist movement, and his negative views on women. It also touches on the misinterpretations of his work and the relevance of his ideas in the present moment.

Often considered the ur-text of trans-exclusionary feminism, Janice Raymond’s “The Transsexual Empire” came out in 1979, but rehearses a bunch of tropes you could just as well get off JK Rowling’s Twitter feed. In their conversation with historian Susan Stryker, Moira and Adrian explore the very specific milieu from which Raymond and her book emerged — a radical lesbian feminist theology deeply disappointed with the Catholic Church.

This podcast dives deep into the crisis of masculinity, exploring archetypes like the preacher, creep, and pervert. It discusses how these figures manifest in society and their implications for gender dynamics. The conversation critiques conservative ideologies and examines how patriarchy influences political movements. Insights into the relationship between masculinity and religion reveal complex truths about faith and authority. Finally, provocative literary figures remind us how societal perceptions of masculinity continue to evolve, shaping personal and collective identities.

A deep dive into the so-called 'crisis of masculinity' reveals its roots in historical ideologies and modern implications. From Silicon Valley's 'creep masculinity' to the struggles of men in education and economics, discussions challenge stereotypes and seek deeper understanding. The conversation touches on the complexities of gender dynamics, racial disparities, and the mental health implications of these societal shifts. Ultimately, it pushes for a nuanced reevaluation of what it means to be a man in today's world.

Ever since the 1960s, the figure of the “fag hag” — a (mostly) straight woman hanging around gay men — has been a mainstay in and around queer spaces. As a woman who refused heterosexuality she aroused the ire of social conservatives, but also critiques from within the community. In this episode, Moira and Adrian investigate: why did conservatives hate the hag? How radical was this figure really? And is she still a thing?