Blocked and Reported

Alex Aster’s YA novel Lightlark was rejected by 16 publishers – until she posted it on TikTok. Then she got hundreds of thousands of likes, a six-figure publishing contract, a plethora of glowing reviews, and praise from the legacy media… until the book actually came out. To make things worse, she may not have been downtrodden enough. Now, vastly superi… To hear more, visit www.blockedandreported.org

Come see us in Arlington, Virginia on October 29th!https://www.arlingtondrafthouse.com/shows/186960Culture war drama hits a new low when a podcasting convention issues an apology for letting Ben Shapiro show up and… actually, that’s about it. Then, Jesse Singal regales us with the story of the American Historical Association’s president, James H. Sweet, and how his attack on presentism got him canceled. Thankfully, Katie Herzog intervenes to soothe us with some nice drawings of dinosaurs and – no, nevermind, turns out there’s drama here, too: paleoartist and behavioral geneticist Emily Willoughby has been exposed for sending black elementary schoolers to jail. Somehow.IntroBen Shapiro causes a firestorm by standing, also breathingCoverage in Reasonhttps://reason.com/2022/08/25/ben-shapiro-podcast-movement-harm-done-twitter/PresentismSweet’s credentials (Jesse forgot to mention he’s the president of the AHA)https://history.wisc.edu/people/sweet-james/His article in questionhttps://www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/september-2022/is-history-history-identity-politics-and-teleologies-of-the-presentThe AHA’s tweet of the article, which likely kicked things offTwitter doing what it does bestThe Tattooed Prof’s response to Sweet’s piecehttps://thetattooedprof.com/2022/08/19/on-presentism-and-history-or-were-doing-this-again-are-we/The World Socialist Web Site jumps inhttps://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/08/24/ogzj-a24.htmlPhil Magness also comes to the defense of Sweet’s essayhttps://www.realclearpolitics.com/2022/08/22/the_suicide_of_the_american_historical_association_577652.htmlNazi DinosaursSome paleo art, to cleanse the palatehttp://www.charlesrknight.com/Gallery/Knight/Prehistoric/AMNH/Leaping_Laelops.jpghttp://21essays.blogspot.com/2012/03/kongs-debt-to-charles-r-knight.htmlSurprise! Not even paleo art is free of dramahttps://www.vice.com/en/article/vvb8kj/why-paleontologists-get-riled-up-over-this-heretical-pterosaur-concept-artPaleo artist Emily Willoughby has some works on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Gods-Word-Human-Reason-Perspective/dp/1629016381https://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Painting-Dinosaurs-Using-Science/dp/1785009559/She also has some on FurAffinity (SFW, astoundingly)https://www.furaffinity.net/view/3856285/https://www.furaffinity.net/view/5274416/Prehistorica_CM’s attack on WilloughbyZoologist Derren Nash’s subsequent disavowal of WilloughbyDinoDJ accuses Willougby of promoting eugenics and racismHistory illustrator Midiaou Diallo ties Willougby to the foundations of white supremacyWilloughby’s drawing for Everyone Draw Mohammed Dayhttps://media.discordapp.net/attachments/957957987673186344/1011361260463460432/unknown.pngPEN America Charlie Hebdo insanityhttps://pen.org/pen-receives-letter-from-members-about-charlie-hebdo-award/University of Washington trans study comes to bizarre conclusion, unsupported by its own datahttps://mynorthwest.com/3602854/rantz-despite-concerning-trans-study-uw-kept-quiet-because-of-positive-coverage/Jesse’s original article critiquing the studyImage: Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur - stock illustration via Getty This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

In life, there are two offensive questions: “Where are you from?” and “Do you have rapid-onset gender dysphoria?” In this episode, Jesse and Katie spend a bit of time discussing the first and then do a deep dive into the second. Is ROGD a full-on “myth” that was debunked? Of course not. To understand why, you need to understand how much junk science is … To hear more, visit www.blockedandreported.org

Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses, has spent decades in hiding as radical Muslims have hunted and killed many others involved with the controversial novel. Recently, he reemerged in New York, only to be stabbed near-fatally as he took the stage. But are others wrong to draw parallels between the rhetoric used by his attackers and the rhetoric we see increasingly in the West?Plus, Substack writer Sam Thielman had his contract unfairly terminated, but Jesse uncovers events in his past that suggest he may not be quite as fair to others. Then, enjoy the chaos as internet insanity bleeds over into the opera scene once again, this time with an abolitionist twist.Salman RushdieThe attack on Rushdiehttps://www.cnn.com/2022/08/15/us/salman-rushdie-attack-monday/index.htmlBari Weiss’s history of the fatwa against himJesse’s review of Helen Joyce’s bookhttps://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/07/books/review/trans-helen-joyce.htmlThe MacLachlan assaulthttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2017/09/trans-rights-terfs-and-a-bruised-60-year-old-what-happened-at-speakers-cornerThe outcome of the casehttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5613057/Model-punched-feminist-smashed-120-camera-violent-brawl-walks-free-court.htmlThe Julie Bindel casehttps://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/feminist-speaker-julie-bindel-attacked-transgender-person-edinburgh-university-after-talk-545841Sam ThielmanAckerman’s post mildly criticizing Substack (note Thielman credit)https://foreverwars.ghost.io/forever-wars-off-substack-on-ghost/Thielman details how Substack punished him for editing the posthttps://foreverwars.ghost.io/substack-retaliates-against-forever-wars-editor/Substack backpedalsOur episode on the Gist controversyPesca’s suspensionhttps://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/22/business/media/slate-mike-pesca-suspended.htmlThielman isn’t happy how things turned outJesse’s responseThielman digs himself deeper re: Donald MacNeil Jr.Sam’s devastating response, a masterpiece of polemics thoroughly discrediting Jesse and dishonoring his descendants for centuries to comeTheater BlowupPlaywrights Ensemble resigns collectivelyhttps://medium.com/@ofvictorygardensplaywrights/letter-from-the-playwrights-of-victory-gardens-theater-fcbd3e1d1840A list of demands for white american theater, invoking, of all things, the 13th Amendmenthttps://www.weseeyouwat.com/The results of the protest outside the theaterhttps://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/18/theater/ken-matt-martin-victory-gardens.htmlThe internal conflict at Victory Gardenshttps://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/01/theater/victory-gardens-theater-chicago.html?smtyp=curKen-Matt’s statementhttp://www.kenmatt.com/blog/2022/7/18/for-those-doing-the-work This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

PhD scientist James Lindsay and PhD researcher Karl Anderssen discuss culture warring and violating social norms. Topics include Lindsay's famous hoax paper blaming penises for climate change, the backlash to Anderssen's controversial research, the banning of Lindsay from Twitter, and Lindsay's controversial views on gender identity and homosexuality in the military.

Jesse Singal has disappeared off the face of the Earth. Trace’s investigation leads straight to “Stonewall,” a shadowy LGBT charity that is said to have infiltrated the highest levels of the British government. Katie leaks the news to Gawker Media, resulting in deadly riots erupting across New York over remaining supplies of Blocked And Reported. In an attempt to quell the chaos spreading across the nation, President Biden invites Katie to join him on a nationwide broadcast to announce that strategic reserves of Blocked And Reported have been deployed. (He then forgot to show up.)Just when all seems lost, an old friend of the pod makes a triumphant return. Can Helen Lewis provide the nation with its weekly dose of internet insanity before it’s too late? Or has the Pax Americana finally come to an end?Links:Helen Lewis:Lewis’ Difficult Women: A History of Feminism in 11 Fightshttps://www.amazon.com/Difficult-Women-History-Feminism-Fights-ebook/dp/B07WVXHFM9/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Difficult-Women-History-Feminism-Fights/dp/1784709735/Lewis on the TikTok Tourette’s epidemic:https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/02/social-media-illness-teen-girls/622916/We did an episode on this!More B&R lore: the time Watch Dogs: Legion got a little too meta and canceled Lewis both IRL and in-game:Her article ushering in Trans Issues Week:https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/01/introducing-trans-issues-weekSarah Ditum on Laverne Cox: “A hot woman on a magazine cover” [ARCHIVE]:https://web.archive.org/web/20140629035908/https://sarahditum.com/2014/06/24/a-hot-woman-on-a-magazine-cover/Lewis’ article on trans women in prisons:https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2016/01/deciding-which-jail-send-trans-prisoner-isn-t-always-clear-cut-and-accusationsWould you let your child change their gender?https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2016/10/would-you-let-your-child-change-their-genderHelen Lewis vs. Jordan Peterson:https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/helen-lewis-jordan-petersonWhat happened to Jordan Peterson?https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/04/what-happened-to-jordan-peterson/618082/The judgment in Allison Bailey’s case against Stonewall:https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Bailey-judgment.pdfThe Cass Review’s interim report on treating trans children in England:https://cass.independent-review.uk/publications/interim-report/Just how much influence does Stonewall have in the UK?https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09yjp0d This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

Gawker is (still) back and (still) worse than ever — just ask Thomas Chatterton Williams. And you may not know the name “Andy Signore,” but if you do it’s probably because he was rather comprehensively #MeTooed back in 2017. Except he provided a lot of evidence to suggest he was innocent — evidence all the media outlets that piled on him seem to have ignored. Links:Gawker: Oldest available version of the article (already updated)https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161823/https://www.gawker.com/media/losers-pal-around-at-alex-jones-film-premiereThomas Chatterton Williams denies, claims he wasn’t even in the same city at the timeWhat remains of the article nowhttps://www.gawker.com/media/losers-pal-around-at-alex-jones-film-premiereWhat’s going on at Reveal?https://www.gawker.com/media/whats-going-on-at-revealFoot-dragging on a Jesse-related correction:https://www.gawker.com/media/oh-no-the-anti-trans-bigotry-we-loved-is-starting-to-feel-homophobicAndy Signore:The allegations against himhttps://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/04/business/sexual-harassment-whisper-network.htmlAndy’s subsequent firingApril Dawn’s public accusationsEmma Bowers’ allegationsAndy Signore’s video, giving his version of eventsThe texts released by SignoreOther articles — not the absence of exculpatory evidence once it was available:https://mashable.com/article/screen-junkies-andy-signore-sexual-harassmenthttps://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/04/business/sexual-harassment-whisper-network.htmlhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/honest-trailers-creator-andy-signore-accused-sexual-abuse-1046574https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/honest-trailers-creator-andy-signore-fired-sexual-abuse-claims-1046756/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/honest-trailers-creator-andy-signore-sues-defy-media-reckless-firing-1136849/https://deadline.com/2017/10/defy-media-andy-signore-sexual-abuse-screen-junkies-honest-trailers-1202184634/https://deadline.com/2018/08/honest-trailers-creator-andy-signore-sues-defy-media-over-sexual-harassment-firing-1202450855/https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/honest-trailers-creator-andy-signore-fired-for-egregious-and-intolerable-sexual-behavior-1202583996/https://variety.com/2017/digital/features/sexual-harassment-new-media-silicon-valley-1202589890/https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/defy-media-reforms-andy-signore-fired-sexual-misconduct-1202601273/https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/andy-signore-sues-sexual-harassment-firing-1202914917/https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/andy-signore-defy-media-settlement-1203252975 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

Poor Karlyn Borysenko just can’t catch a break. First, she was a Democrat…until she was forced out of the movement by a gang of roving far-left knitters.Then she joined the Republicans…until they turned their back on her for repeatedly trying to “align” her “chakras'' with a (very uncomfortable) male cowriter, and saying that a certain Austrian painter went to heaven. Now she’s a Libertarian… and the Greens are looking nervously her way.Links:Jesse on Leon County:Mises Caucus ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL:https://reason.com/2022/05/29/mises-caucus-takes-control-of-libertarian-party/Brandon Straka, #WalkAway founder, sentenced to 3 years probation and 3 months home detention for his role in the January 6th riots:https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/jan6-brandon-straka-sentenced-b2000384.htmlThe boss where Karlyn Borysenko used to work stepped down following an internal investigation:https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2018-10-01/gardellas-exit-from-nhpr-follows-investigation-into-management-issuesHostile takeover of the knitting community leads Borysenko to to break with the left:https://gen.medium.com/ive-been-a-democrat-for-20-years-here-s-what-i-experienced-at-trump-s-rally-in-new-hampshire-c69ddaaf6d07Borysenko is asked to wear wristband pass in hotel waterpark, decides to go sicko mode and get kicked out rather than comply:https://web.archive.org/web/20201116002257/https://www.theinglesidehotel.com/guest-eviction-statementBorysenko explains how the Austrian Painter went to heaven, gets her PragerU video privated:She claims it was the other way around, actually:https://twitter.com/search?q=%40drkarlynB%20kieran&src=typed_queryBorysenko’s Town Hall Putsch (note body language, which is on-point):https://kb.locals.com/post/1507701/never-before-seen-footage-of-me-yelling-we-know-where-you-live-at-a-school-board-meeting-before-gewww.Karlynlovesnh.comShe’s also volunteering for Jeremy Kauffmann’s Libertarian Senate campaign in NH, describes him as “[James Lindsay] level smart”: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

Katie’s true reason for dressing up as a horse all those years ago is finally revealed. An old friend of the pod returns for his revenge. A heart-wrenching story involving a 10-year-old rape victim seeking an abortion turns out to be fake, but then turns out to be real anyway. Jesse discusses a viral internet rumor involving trans kids in Leon County, Florida schools and explains how indignant he is he had to do one of his least favorite things — “work” — in order to debunk it.Links:IntroKatie has a crush on Jesse confirmed:https://www.reddit.com/r/BlockedAndReported/comments/vyb507/katie_has_a_crush_on_jesse/Katie’s initial attempt to seduce Jesse, c. 2010:Prof. Stuart Reges sues University of Washington with FIRE’s backing:https://www.thefire.org/lawsuit-professor-sues-university-of-washington-after-admins-punish-him-for-inappropriate-opinion/Last episode on Reges’ case (skip to 3:48):The Victim That Was(n’t?)Indiana Star story about the 10-year-old:https://www.indystar.com/story/news/health/2022/07/01/indiana-abortion-law-roe-v-wade-overturned-travel/7779936001/Indiana’s new abortion law:https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2919.192Megan Fox (no, not that one) expresses skepticism, does some digging:The WSJ is incredulous:https://www.wsj.com/articles/an-abortion-story-too-good-to-confirm-joe-biden-ten-year-old-girl-indiana-ohio-caitlin-bernard-11657648618The Washington Post’s semi-skeptical column (paywalled, but only on desktop for some reason):https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/07/09/one-source-story-about-10-year-old-an-abortion-goes-viral/Ladies and gentlemen, we got him:https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2022/07/13/columbus-man-charged-rape-10-year-old-led-abortion-in-indiana/10046625002/Rebecca Fishbein uses this to dunk on her political outgroup:Mike Daisy, who QRT’d this tweet, was himself caught fabricating a story:https://www.thisamericanlife.org/460/retractionFox grabs the political football, scores some political points for the right:https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ohio-10-year-olds-alleged-rapist-guatemalan-illegal-immigrant-ice-sourceBethany Bruner was the only one in the courtroom as the perp was arraigned.Asheville Watchdog:https://avlwatchdog.org/Leon County:Jesse’s story:The Tallahassee Democrat story that it linked to:https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/education/2022/06/29/leon-county-school-board-approves-lgbtq-guide-dont-say-gay-moms-for-liberty-parental-rights/7765205001/Kaitlyn Greenridge, features director of Harper’s Bazaar, on how this may represent an irreversible step towards fascism:Leon County School District’s LGBTQ Inclusive guide with amendments — old version before the final amendments that was linked to in the Democrat piece:https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22074439-the-leon-county-school-districts-lgbtq-inclusive-guide-with-amendmentsChase Anderson, child and adolescent psychiatrist, on this policy (deleted):NBC repeats the claim from Twitter:https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/floridas-dont-say-gay-law-takes-effect-schools-roll-lgbtq-restrictions-rcna36143Vanity Fair then repeats the claim from NBC from Twitter:https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/07/ron-desantis-florida-dont-say-gay-goes-into-effectTurns out the guide was actually written by a PFLAG activist:https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/leon-county-schools-board-to-finalize-lgbtq-guidanceIn Leon County, even the Republicans are liberal:https://tallahasseereports.com/2017/05/03/school-board-member-alva-striplin-becomes-a-democrat/The lawsuit that got this policy rewritten:https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2021/11/16/leon-county-schools-sued-over-lgbtq-guide-transgender-lgbtq-guide/6342695001/Leon County’s reaction to the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill:https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2022/03/29/leon-county-schools-lawsuit-spurred-florida-desantis-dont-say-gay-bill/7202254001/Previously, Leon County school board got their salaries withheld by the state gov’t over their mask policy:https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2021/10/15/leon-county-school-board-loses-salaries-over-mask-policy/8473965002/The journalist fact-checking this story:https://www.tallahassee.com/staff/7775150002/ana-goi-lessan/Image: DAYTON, OHIO, UNITED STATES - 2022/05/14: Protesters hold placards expressing their opinion at a pro abortion rights rally. People from many different cities gathered to support and rally for abortion rights. In light of the Supreme Court decision that could overturn Roe v. Wade that leaked roughly two weeks ago, hundreds of people in Dayton, spoke and marched for abortion access. (Photo by Whitney Saleski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe

Katie gets deceived by the Daily Kos, a leftist coffee shop suffers an expected fate, and Jesse explains how Buddhists ruined summer camp for everyone.Links:Rebekah’s sneakily-worded post on the Daily Kos:https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/6/2/2101940/-Rebekah-makes-national-headlines-in-Whistleblower-win-joins-Crist-Fried-in-Orlando-in-major-speechLibs of TikTok weighs in on the Mina’s Cafe situation:Doc Marie’s website (WARNING: pointless)https://docmaries.com/Hidden Villa:https://www.hiddenvilla.org/about-us/Hidden Villa’s Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hiddenvillaHidden Villa’s swastika statement:https://htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/files/letter-to-the-community-6-8-22-1654978228.pdfHow the world loved the swastika - until Hitler stole it:https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-29644591Here, have some Jewish swastikas:https://www.tod.org.il/en/blog-holocaust-dayThe swastikas that started it all (note left-facing orientation):The Palo Alto Online article explaining the situation:https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2022/06/13/hate-symbol-or-buddhist-emblem-hidden-villa-cancels-summer-camps-for-1000-kids-after-staffers-resign-over-swastika-tilesLos Altos Town Crier article:https://www.losaltosonline.com/news/updated-hidden-villa-cancels-all-camps-after-key-staff-quit-citing-structural-racism/article_a0c7129a-e788-11ec-a721-d3ca305b4938.html“What a stupid f*cking way to have a really important conversation”:Facebook comment highlights:https://imgur.com/a/DzBvawmNoah Smith weighs in:Wes Yang chimes in:Ryan Grim’s take:The title: Image: Women dance together at WildRose, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017. WildRose, which opened in 1984, is the only remaining lesbian bar in Seattle. (Genna Martin, seattlepi.com) (Photo by GENNA MARTIN/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)" This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blockedandreported.org/subscribe