Blocked and Reported

After Jesse tells Katie a touching story about shoveling food into his face-hole, and the hosts discuss his latest Twitter-feud -- this one with a noted New Yorker food critic (not staff writer) -- the hosts discuss a Slate article about detransition that seems geared at painting that communtiy in a particularly negative and reactionary light. But Cary Callahan, a detransitioner, therapist, and activist (who, to be fair, Katie and Jesse already knew before this all popped up), doesn't think this is a fair assessment, so she joins the pod for a conversation about her own experiences and what she thinks the Slate article misses.Show notes/Links:Jesse criticizes Helen: https://twitter.com/jessesingal/status/1354851768090439684 Helen's thoughtful response forces Jesse to reconsider his position: https://twitter.com/jessesingal/status/1355200463029874693 https://twitter.com/jessesingal/status/1355974150129655813 The Slate article about detransitioners: https://slate.com/human-interest/2021/02/detransition-movement-star-ex-gay-explained.html Katie's detrans article: https://www.thestranger.com/features/2017/06/28/25252342/the-detransitioners-they-were-transgender-until-they-werent Jesse's detrans article: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/07/when-a-child-says-shes-trans/561749/ Carey Callahan's excellent stuff:Twitter: https://twitter.com/CareyCallsBS The Economist: https://www.economist.com/open-future/2019/12/03/gender-identity-is-hard-but-jumping-to-medical-solutions-is-worse Medium:https://medium.com/@mariacatt42/in-which-i-fail-to-find-you-any-gate-keeping-622c447a835f https://medium.com/@mariacatt42/how-to-do-your-own-differential-diagnosis-and-why-its-total-b******t-that-you-would-have-to-461077985659  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 Katie tells Jesse about a very disturbing dream she had about him, the hosts perform some valuable service journalism by explaining to listeners the nature of stonks and bons and hedge funs. Then they turn their attention to the story of Lauren Wolfe, a New York Times gig-editor who was fired after tweeting that watching Joe Biden's plane land gave her the 'chills.' Fair? Unfair? Inconsistently applied standards? Lot to unpack.Show notes/Links:STONKS:https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/stonks https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/01/the-complete-morons-guide-to-gamestops-stock-roller-coaster/Lauren Wolfe:Yashar Ali's thread: https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1352471654425743361 Josh Shahryar's thread: https://twitter.com/JShahryar/status/1353142366656372741 Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/01/25/lauren-wolfe-tweet-nyt-dismissal/ Vanity Fair: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/01/inside-the-new-york-times-firing-of-lauren-wolfe Yascha Mounk on the firing of David Shor: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/06/stop-firing-innocent/613615/ Katie on Jack Smith IV: https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2018/09/28/33049349/a-progressive-writer-was-bad-boyfriend-and-then-he-was-fired-for-it  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 and Jesse bring on Ethan Watters, an author and freelance journalist who helped debunk the recovered-memory craze back in the 1990s, to discuss the most recent development in that area: an article in The Cut that Watters does not think does a good and accurate job relating the (scant) scientific evidence for recovered memories. The hosts and Watters also discuss certain arguable therapeutic parallels between the recovered-memory movement and treatment for youth gender dysphoria, as well as the general tendency of liberals to violate their "We <3 Science" stance fairly regulary when moral outrage is afoot.Show notes/Links:The Cut article in question: https://www.thecut.com/article/false-memory-syndrome-controversy.htmlAnd the podcast: https://www.thecut.com/2021/01/the-cut-podcast-the-truth-about-false-memories.htmlEthan's books:Making Monsters: False Memories, Psychotherapy, And Sexual Hysteria: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Monsters-Memories-Psychotherapy-Hysteria/dp/0520205839 Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Crazy-Like-Us/Ethan-Watters/9781416587095 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 Jesse addresses the totally baseless rumor that he went to Yale Law School, the best law school in the country, where (in this false scenario) he got very good grades, the hosts talk a bit more about online content moderation and then discuss two recent stories about controversial right-wing media figures: the backfired attempt to deplatform Andy Ngo's book, and the widespread outrage among Politico employees that Ben Shapiro was allowed to author an edition of the Playbook newsletter.Please pre-preorder Jesse's book, The Quick Fix, if you can: https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Fix-Psychology-Cant-Social/dp/0374239800/Show Notes/Links:NY Mag: Why Deplatforming Might Be Useless — Or Worse — When It Comes to Preventing Right-Wing Violence - https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/01/why-deplatforming-might-be-bad-answer-to-right-wing-violence.htmlABC News: Powell's Books says Andy Ngo's book will not be in store - https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/powells-books-andy-ngos-book-store-75239210NY Post: Inside The Suspicious Rise Of Gay Hate Crimes In Portland - https://nypost.com/2019/03/30/inside-the-suspicious-rise-of-gay-hate-crimes-in-portland/UnHerd: The Antifa thugs shame America - https://unherd.com/2021/01/the-antifa-thugs-shame-america/NY Times: The Events Leading to the Shooting of Trayvon Martin - http://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/04/02/us/the-events-leading-to-the-shooting-of-trayvon-martin.htmlBen Shapiro's Politico Playbook: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2021/01/14/the-real-reason-most-republicans-opposed-impeachment-491399NY Times: Politico Staff Objects After Right-Wing Star Ben Shapiro Writes Newsletter - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/business/media/politico-playbook-ben-shapiro.htmlWashington Post: Politico’s revolt over Ben Shapiro guest-hosting Playbook went too far - https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/01/15/politicos-revolt-over-ben-shapiro-guest-hosting-playbook-went-too-far/ 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 discussing whether Blocked and Reported led directly to the siege on the Capitol, the hosts discuss that strange, terrifying event. They debate whether it can be safely examined in something of a vaccuum, or should be put in the broader context of what appears to be a rise in political violence in the U.S. They also discuss some of the most unhinged responses. Then they talk about Bean Dad. Remember Bean Dad? We yearn for a world in which Bean Dad is the day's most important story on Twitter.Show notes/Links:Arthur Chu is normal: https://twitter.com/jessesingal/status/1347381484584316929 Clymer backstory (refers to her as male because pre-transition): https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/06/14/living-by-the-sword/ Hawley book no more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/books/simon-schuster-josh-hawley-b BEAN DAD basic rundown: https://heavy.com/news/john-roderick-bean-dad/ Lit-uh-rull abuse: https://twitter.com/a_queer_ius/status/1345665171390394368 https://twitter.com/timaree_leigh/status/1345623027074142210 Bean Dad's problematic tweets:https://twitter.com/Laura_Nowlin/status/1345831569806733314/photo/1https://twitter.com/flore_rhea/status/1345846499121324032https://twitter.com/CatKnitty/status/1345840464595800064His apology: http://www.johnroderick.com/an-apology 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 reflecting on what a great year 2020 was, except for the many serious hardships Katie endured, the hosts start 2021 with a bang: specifically, a bang that sounds a lot like a racial slur neither of them can say. A white teenager in Virginia didn't get the memo, though -- what should the punishment be, if any? Then Jesse and Katie turn their attention to a story that is rather 'picante': Hilaria Baldwin's attempt at identity-forgery. What an estupido time to be alive!Show notes/Links:The New York Times: A Racial Slur, a Viral Video, and a Reckoning: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/26/us/mimi-groves-jimmy-galligan-racial-slurs.html Reason: The New York Times Helped a Vindictive Teen Destroy a Classmate Who Uttered a Racial Slur When She Was 15 - https://reason.com/2020/12/28/new-york-times-racial-slur-teen-jimmy-galligan-mimi-groves/ The New York Times: The Hilaria Baldwin Story: ‘I’m Living My Life’ - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/30/style/hilaria-baldwin-interview.html Aura Bogado's tweetstorm: https://twitter.com/aurabogado/status/1342554505880064000  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 a very special holiday episode, Jesse relates the story of Hanukkah to Katie, his ignorant Gentile friend, with stunning 100% accuracy. Then Jesse makes a fun announcement and an angry announcement. Then the hosts throw to a lengthy interview they did with Aella (@aella_girl on Twitter), a sex worker, OnlyFans one-percenter, and occasional rationalist provocateur who has lived a very interesting life. They talk about drugs and sex and life and online controversy. Plus, Julie Bindel pops in to raise issues with certain contemporary understandings of sex work.Show notes/Links:Aella on Twitter: @aella_girl Playboy: When Camming Is The Family Business: https://www.playboy.com/read/when-camming-is-the-family-business-1 Grace Lavery's 'response' to Jesse: https://twitter.com/graceelavery/status/1340001379998416903 She admits part of it was wrong but won't retract and then nukes the account she admitted that with: https://twitter.com/jessesingal/status/1340355044433137667 Oh and Grace threatens to sue Jesse: https://twitter.com/jessesingal/status/1340073029544636424 James Palmer does not like Jesse but his magazine looks set to do the right thing regardless: https://twitter.com/jessesingal/status/1342167962803965953  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 a true sign that anything is possible in this crazy universe of ours, the hosts note that there were some errors in the previous episode and explain exactly what they were (to see them explained in written form, check out that episode's show notes). Then they discuss some mental-health-talk from Jesse that rubbed one reader the wrong way and continue on to the show's main event: a major court decision on youth gender dysphoria in England and an incredibly shoddy article in Foreign Policy about it.(Corrections 10:10 pm 12/18/2020: In the course of correcting last week's episode, we managed to introduce not one but two new errors, and just uploaded a new version in which Jesse breaks in twice to explain them. First, Timnit Gebru's PhD is not in computer science, but rather in electrical engineering. This was just plain sloppiness on someone's part, possibly Jéssé's. Second, Gebru started at Google in 2018, not 2019. In this case, our excuse is that both The New York Times and Columbia Journalism Review wrote that she was hired "last year." This is false, and thank you to the Google employee who reached out to correct us and pointed us to a 2018 tweet in which Gebru talks about her early days at Google. Wired has this right.)Show notes/Links:Bell v Tavistock, the ruling at issue: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bell-v-Tavistock-Judgment.pdf A High Court Decision in Britain Puts Trans People Everywhere at Risk: https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/12/15/uk-transphobia-transgender-court-ruling-puberty-blockers/ Jesse's newsletter posts on key aspects of this controversy:A Response To Foreign Policy's Deeply Misleading Article, "A High Court Decision in Britain Puts Trans People Everywhere at Risk": https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/a-response-to-foreign-policys-deeply No, desistance hasn't been debunked, and no, there's no evidence it's all that rare:Part: 1 https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/how-science-vs-made-two-gender-dysphoria Part 2: https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/how-science-vs-accidentally-invented  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

For thousands of years, a small cabal of middle-aged lesbians known as 'TERFs' has been quietly pulling the strings behind the scenes, dictating the outcomes of major world events. They have one goal, and one goal alone: harming gender-nonconforming people. And unlike other political groups, who express their views with patience, reason, nuance, and logic, and who never harass anyone online, TERFs play dirty -- always. In this episode, Katie and Jesse applaud a brave expose in The Atlantic that finally pulls the curtain back on this dastardly coven of unhinged she-devils.The Atlantic: The Secret Internet Of TERFs - https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/12/reddit-ovarit-the-donald/617320/4W: My Whole Conversation With Kaitlyn Tiffany Of The Atlantic - https://4w.pub/my-whole-conversation-with-kaitlyn-tiffany-for-the-atlantic4W: Fired For Feminism - https://4w.pub/fired-for-feminism/4W: Non-Binary Is the New “Not Like Other Girls,” and it’s Deeply Rooted in Misogyny - https://4w.pub/non-binary-is-the-new-not-like-other-girls-and-its-deeply-rooted-in-misogyny/ 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

A major blowup at at Google led to the firing or resignation (depending on who you ask) of Timnit Gebru and accusations that the company's social-justice efforts are performative at best. But behind the scenes, some Googlers are telling a different, slightly more complicated story. Who's right? Katie and Jesse bring on Jon Stokes, an Ars Technica founder who is much better connected in the tech world than they are, to help explain this tangled controversy. (Correction: In the original version of this episode we posted for our patrons, our guest, Jon Stokes, wrongly described Timnit Gebru's academic background as being in sociology, with her having also done some work in computer science. That should have been flipped: She has a PhD from the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, but has done plenty of work that intersects with sociology. Jon also said she was educated at M.I.T., but all her degrees are from Stanford. Whenever an error makes it into the final show, that is 100% the fault of hosts, and we apologize. We've snipped out the audio containing the errors and added a link to Gebru's Stanford page to the top of the show notes.)  (More corrections, 12/18/2020: In the original versions of this pocast, both free and patrons-only, Jon also said at approximately 20:40 that Gebru had been at Google since 2016, though he hedged this with an "I think.". She had actually only been at Google since 2019 [YIKES -- actually 2018. Listen to the updated episode for a correction of the correction]. At about 56:30 [free version timestamp], he laid out a storyline, which he presented as informed speculation, in which Jeffrey Dean, head of Google AI, had promised Gebru and some of her allies in 2016 that they could do ethical work. Then, in this telling, Google pivoted to AI, and as a result Gebru and her colleagues' work was seen as a liability and came under more scrutiny. But that storyline doesn’t quite work, as Jon presented it, given that Gebru only arrived at Google in 2019, well after Sundar Pichai announced the company would be “AI first” in 2016. We've snipped out the audio containing these errors and will be discussing all of this episode's errors on the free episode of the podcast set to go live 12/21/2020, and earlier for patrons.)Show notes/Links:Timnit Gebru's background: https://ai.stanford.edu/~tgebru/ Jon Stokes: https://twitter.com/jonst0kes His site, The Prepared: http://www.theprepared.com The New York Times: Google Chief Apologizes for A.I. Researcher’s Dismissal - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/technology/timnit-gebru-google-pichai.html The New York Times: Google Researcher Says She Was Fired Over Paper Highlighting Bias in A.I. - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/03/technology/google-researcher-timnit-gebru.html Wired: Behind the Paper That Led to a Google Researcher’s Firing - https://www.wired.com/story/behind-paper-led-google-researchers-firing/ Platformer: The withering email that got an ethical AI researcher fired at Google - https://www.platformer.news/p/the-withering-email-that-got-an-ethical MIT Technology Review: We read the paper that forced Timnit Gebru out of Google. Here’s what it says. - https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/12/04/1013294/google-ai-ethics-research-paper-forced-out-timnit-gebru/ Twitter: Yann LeCun on the data problem - https://twitter.com/ylecun/status/1274782757907030016 Twitter: Gebru disagrees - https://twitter.com/timnitGebru/status/1274808654227619840 (Note: As of 10:45 a.m. on Saturday I'm having trouble finding the throaway Reddit posts we mention, but when I do I'll add those as well. Update: Thanks, John, for posting this in the comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/MachineLearning/comments/k77sxz/d_timnit_gebru_and_google_megathread/gepq3u8/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) 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