Blocked and Reported

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

After the hosts discuss Katie’s trip to L.A. to go on Real Time with Bill Maher, they talk about the stories of two liberal darlings who face accusations of professional wrongdoing: Kevin Kruse and Rebekah Jones. To discuss this episode with other BARPod premium subscribers go here.Show notes/Links:Kevin Kruse, history’s attack dog: https://www.chronicle.com/article/how-kevin-kruse-became-historys-attack-dog/An example of one of his in-depth threads, on the history of racism in the GOP: And another, again responding to Dinesh D’Souza: And here’s a finely aged take on Jussie Smollett: Is Twitter-Famous Princeton Historian Kevin Kruse a Plagiarist?: https://reason.com/2022/06/14/twitter-famous-princeton-historian-kevin-kruse-plagiarist/Comparison:Kevin Kruse, plagiarism disliker: More plagiarism idsliking:Chronicle coverage: https://www.chronicle.com/article/this-historian-doesnt-shy-away-from-fights-online-now-hes-on-the-defensivePlagiarism Today coverage: https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2022/06/27/kevin-kruse-and-the-peak-political-plagiarism-scandal/Magness’s anti-1619 book: https://www.amazon.com/1619-Project-Critique-Phillip-Magness/dp/1630692018Magness harshly criticizing Kruse’s scholarship: https://www.independent.org/publications/tir/article.asp?id=1512Responses/Responses to the responses/Other background and fighting:https://loradawnburnett.medium.com/is-it-plagiarism-9daa44a24057(background on Burnett: https://www.thefire.org/lawsuit-fired-for-criticizing-mike-pence-and-campus-covid-19-response-a-collin-college-history-professor-sues-to-protect-faculty-rights/)https://philmagness.com/2022/06/when-activist-historians-redefine-plagiarism-to-protect-their-own/Rebekah Jones:Jones’ op-ed: https://www.miamiherald.com/article247897180.htmlTimes: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/florida-coronavirus-data-rebekah-jones.htmlNot great: https://www.wuft.org/news/2020/07/22/criminal-stalking-case-against-fired-florida-health-data-scientist-to-drag-into-august/The Covid whistleblower who wasn’t: https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/05/rebekah-jones-the-covid-whistleblower-who-wasnt/Suspended from Twitter: https://www.forbes.com/sites/augustinefou/2021/06/07/the-curious-case-of-rebekah-jones-suspension-from-twitter/Andy Signore: 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

After dissecting their experiences doing a live show at the Heterodox Academy conference in Denver, the hosts talk about Emily Bazelon’s “controversial” New York Times Magazine article about youth gender transition and a mind-melting controversy over a West Philly coffee shop. To discuss this episode with other premium subscribers, click here.Show notes/Links:Bazelon’s article: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/15/magazine/gender-therapy.htmlThank you to all the Dave Robertses: Mina’s World:https://www.instagram.com/mwworkers/https://www.instagram.com/minasworld4you/Eater profile: https://philly.eater.com/22517795/minas-world-west-philly-sonam-parikh-kate-egghartHostage Video 1: Hostage Video 2: Accountability Video: 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

It finally happened! A BARPod live show. It was very very fun. If you’d like to talk about it with other BARPod premium subscribers, click here. (MANY thanks to Andy Mills for whipping the audio into publishable form — there was a recording error and it was a mess at first.)Show notes/Links:Heterodox Academy: https://heterodoxacademy.org/Katie on Stuart Reges: https://www.thestranger.com/tech/2018/06/26/28210971/university-of-washington-computer-science-lecturer-explains-why-why-women-dont-code-chaos-ensuesJesse on the CUNY controvery: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/09/a-cuny-student-was-investigated-for-criticizing-israel.htmlJesse on the Lake Washington Institute of Technology controversy: https://reason.com/2021/04/05/a-professor-pushed-back-against-white-fragility-training-the-college-investigated-her-for-9-months/ Erec Smith: https://www.ycp.edu/academics/school-of-the-arts-communication-and-global-studies/faculty/smith-erec.php And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rhetors_of_yorkFree Black Thought: https://www.freeblackthought.com/Image: “Elevated perspective of the Denver metro area and downtown skyline with The Rocky Mountains as a backdrop” 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

The podcast discusses controversial history of journalists, lawsuits against Washington Post, complexities of consent and retrospective accusations, consequences of allegations and controversies, court cases involving first amendment rights, controversy over a misogynistic joke, firing controversy at the Washington Post, and upcoming events.

There are a lot of opinions about the verdict in the Depp-Heard case, and also on whether humans are sexually dimorphic. To discuss this episode with other BARPod premium subscribers, click here.Show notes/Links:Elon Musk’s Elden Ring build: https://kotaku.com/elon-musk-elden-ring-mage-worst-magic-build-twitter-bil-1848912000“Amber Heard Verdict Sends A Message To Black Women Everywhere”: https://www.theroot.com/amber-heard-verdict-sends-a-message-to-black-women-ever-1849004234A public orgy of misogyny: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/01/amber-heard-johnny-depp-trial-metoo-backlashUh:We failed her: https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7vm3b/weve-all-failed-amber-heardHerzog on Elliott: https://www.thestranger.com/news/2018/10/09/33615110/anonymous-uw-students-publish-rape-accusations-online-what-could-go-wrongThe List: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kelseyweekman/johnny-depps-instagram-statement-liked-by-celebritiesFilipovic: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/02/the-depp-defamation-suit-should-outrage-and-appall-youDoes biological science, in fact, “reject the binary”: https://www.sapiens.org/biology/biological-science-rejects-the-sex-binary-and-thats-good-for-humanity/Was women’s sports, in fact, created because men were threatened by women competing with them?: Madison Barch: https://fanbuzz.com/college-football/madison-barch-kicker/Two and a half years later: https://hornets.kzoo.edu/sports/fball/2021-22/players/madisonbarchp94mMatt Walsh and the tribesmen: 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