A podcast discussing, culture/'Culture Wars', religion, politics, sexuality...from a progressive, ex-muslim perspective.
Jul 24, 2024
Linguist, noted ‘Pinkerologist’ and friend of the show Dr. Caitlin Green (@Caitlinmoriah) joins me to analyze and discuss the Extremely Rational thoughts of one Steven Pinker.
In pt 2 we discuss Pinker’s constant downplaying of r*pe statistics and the inadequate, cherry-picked sources he uses to support his flawed arguments.
——
If you have experienced sexual assault or violence here are some helpful resources:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safe-campuses-bc/what-is-consent
https://www.brown.edu/campus-life/health/services/promotion/sexual-health-sex-101-sexual-assault-dating-violence-learn-more-alcohol-other-drugs-learn-more
Brown University: Yes, it is possible to establish consent if you and/or your partner(s) have been drinking or using other drugs. Consent cannot be obtained through the use of coercion or force or by taking advantage of the incapacitation of another individual. If anyone is incapacitated for any reason, they cannot give consent.
If someone has been using alcohol or other drugs and you are thinking about having any kind of sexual interaction with them, it is your responsibility to check in, ask, and make sure they consent to what is going on. Being intoxicated yourself does not absolve you of the responsibility of obtaining consent. If you are unsure whether you can establish consent, don’t have sex.
https://endingviolencecanada.org/sexual-assault-centres-crisis-lines-and-support-services/
https://www.wannatalkaboutit.com/ca/sexual-violence/
https://www.rainn.org/international-sexual-assault-resources
——
Links:
Great thread by Kate Manne which came up in the episode https://x.com/kate_manne/status/1149902823200632833?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Detailed thread on Pinker’s discussion on R*pe in Better Angels of our Nature https://x.com/magi_jay/status/972958282125062144?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw!
If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos
01:00:28
Jul 19, 2024
This is a public SAMPLE of an upcoming episode. Please subscribe via patreon.com to hear the full episode. Part 2 is available via Patreon.com/nicemangos
——-
Linguist, noted ‘Pinkerologist’ and friend of the show Dr. Caitlin Green (@Caitlinmoriah) joins me to analyze and discuss the Extremely Rational thoughts of one Steven Pinker.
In pt 2 we discuss Pinker’s constant downplaying of r*pe statistics and the inadequate, cherry-picked sources he uses to support his flawed arguments.
——
If you have experienced sexual assault or violence here are some helpful resources: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safe-campuses-bc/what-is-consent
https://www.brown.edu/campus-life/health/services/promotion/sexual-health-sex-101-sexual-assault-dating-violence-learn-more-alcohol-other-drugs-learn-more
Brown University: Yes, it is possible to establish consent if you and/or your partner(s) have been drinking or using other drugs. Consent cannot be obtained through the use of coercion or force or by taking advantage of the incapacitation of another individual. If anyone is incapacitated for any reason, they cannot give consent.
If someone has been using alcohol or other drugs and you are thinking about having any kind of sexual interaction with them, it is your responsibility to check in, ask, and make sure they consent to what is going on. Being intoxicated yourself does not absolve you of the responsibility of obtaining consent. If you are unsure whether you can establish consent, don’t have sex.
https://endingviolencecanada.org/sexual-assault-centres-crisis-lines-and-support-services/
https://www.wannatalkaboutit.com/ca/sexual-violence/
https://www.rainn.org/international-sexual-assault-resources
——
Links:
Great thread by Kate Manne which came up in the episode https://x.com/kate_manne/status/1149902823200632833?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Detailed thread on Pinker’s discussion on R*pe in Better Angels of our Nature https://x.com/magi_jay/status/972958282125062144?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw!
00:12:20
Jul 15, 2024
Linguist, noted ‘Pinkerologist’ and friend of the show Dr. Caitlin Green joins me to analyze and discuss the Extremely Rational thoughts of one Steven Pinker.
In part 1 we discuss hats, gloves, rationality, hypocrisy, Pinker’s special brand of ‘positivity P 0rn’ and more!
Links:
Steven Pinker's aid in Jeffrey Epstein's legal defense renews criticism of an increasingly divisive public intellectual.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/07/17/steven-pinkers-aid-jeffrey-epsteins-legal-defense-renews-criticism-increasingly
A thread on the ironically named organization FAIR (Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism) - a who’s who of some of the most intolerant and racist rightwing hacks around https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1367585945160146947?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
The Harvard Crimson:
Pinker is often willing to defend his colleagues — even when it attracts controversy. In 2012, the University of Miami philosopher Colin McGinn was accused of sexual harassment by a graduate student. When the matter became public, Pinker wrote in an open letter that McGinn was a “brilliant and distinguished scholar” and that if the University of Miami pursued disciplinary action against McGinn for “exchanging sexual banter with a graduate student,” it would “put a chill on communication between faculty and graduate students and on the openness and informality on which scholarship depends.”
In our conversation, Pinker often brings up “The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature,” which, even two decades after its release, illustrates core aspects of his thinking today.
The book argues that our individual behaviors — our intelligence, our sociability, our tendencies toward violence — are rooted in our genes, not just the environment in which we are raised.
“.. in 2006 Pinker published a favorable review of a scientific paper which argued that Ashkenazi Jews may have evolved to have higher IQs than other racial and ethnic groups.”
One of the first academics to be canceled, Pinker says, was E. O. Wilson. Wilson was a biologist and professor of evolutionary biology at Harvard. Today, he is known for two things: his award-winning work on biodiversity and his public branding as a racist.
In 1975, Wilson published a book called “Sociobiology: The New Synthesis,” which argues that behaviors result from genes — “very much in the strain of work that I wrote about on human nature,” Pinker says — and stepped into a debate about scientific racism. In his book, Wilson writes that there should be a “discipline of anthropological genetics” to explore whether cultural differences are biological.
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/10/27/steven-pinker-scrut/
Pinker currently serves on the E. O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation’s board of advisers
https://eowilsonfoundation.org/about-us/our-team/
Screenshot, Pinker upset at anti-scientism and historians ‘historicizing’
https://x.com/mccormick_ted/status/1182645627169263616?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Pinker smears anti-genocide students as ‘Pro-Hamas’
https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1810472709580570796?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Pinker’s video about how ‘Political Correctness is redpilling America’
https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1138497096569540609?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Pinker Publishes response about associations with Epstein on Jerry Coyne’s blog which has also done the Just Asking Questions routine about whether convicted child r*pist Jerry Sandusky was truly guilty or not. https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1150216005114912769?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
——
Pls subscribe via patreon.com/nicemangos to support the show
Pt 2 available early to patrons
01:17:33
Jul 12, 2024
*This is a public sample of an upcoming episode. Please subscribe via patreon.com to hear the full episode. Part 2 is available via the Premium tiers on Patreon.*
——
Linguist, noted ‘Pinkerologist’ and friend of the show Dr. Caitlin Green joins me to analyze and discuss the Extremely Rational thoughts of one Steven Pinker.
In part 1 we discuss hats, gloves, rationality, hypocrisy, Pinker’s special brand of ‘positivity P 0rn’ and more!
——
Links:
Steven Pinker's aid in Jeffrey Epstein's legal defense renews criticism of an increasingly divisive public intellectual.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/07/17/steven-pinkers-aid-jeffrey-epsteins-legal-defense-renews-criticism-increasingly
A thread on the ironically named organization FAIR (Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism) - a who’s who of some of the most intolerant and racist rightwing hacks around https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1367585945160146947?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
The Harvard Crimson:
Pinker is often willing to defend his colleagues — even when it attracts controversy. In 2012, the University of Miami philosopher Colin McGinn was accused of sexual harassment by a graduate student. When the matter became public, Pinker wrote in an open letter that McGinn was a “brilliant and distinguished scholar” and that if the University of Miami pursued disciplinary action against McGinn for “exchanging sexual banter with a graduate student,” it would “put a chill on communication between faculty and graduate students and on the openness and informality on which scholarship depends.”
In our conversation, Pinker often brings up “The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature,” which, even two decades after its release, illustrates core aspects of his thinking today.
The book argues that our individual behaviors — our intelligence, our sociability, our tendencies toward violence — are rooted in our genes, not just the environment in which we are raised.
“.. in 2006 Pinker published a favorable review of a scientific paper which argued that Ashkenazi Jews may have evolved to have higher IQs than other racial and ethnic groups.”
One of the first academics to be canceled, Pinker says, was E. O. Wilson. Wilson was a biologist and professor of evolutionary biology at Harvard. Today, he is known for two things: his award-winning work on biodiversity and his public branding as a racist.
In 1975, Wilson published a book called “Sociobiology: The New Synthesis,” which argues that behaviors result from genes — “very much in the strain of work that I wrote about on human nature,” Pinker says — and stepped into a debate about scientific racism. In his book, Wilson writes that there should be a “discipline of anthropological genetics” to explore whether cultural differences are biological.
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/10/27/steven-pinker-scrut/
Pinker currently serves on the E. O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation’s board of advisers
https://eowilsonfoundation.org/about-us/our-team/
Screenshot, Pinker upset at anti-scientism and historians ‘historicizing’
https://x.com/mccormick_ted/status/1182645627169263616?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Pinker smears anti-genocide students as ‘Pro-Hamas’
https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1810472709580570796?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Pinker’s video about how ‘Political Correctness is redpilling America’
https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1138497096569540609?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Pinker Publishes response about associations with Epstein on Jerry Coyne’s blog which has also done the Just Asking Questions routine about whether convicted child r*pist Jerry Sandusky was truly guilty or not. https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1150216005114912769?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
00:20:37
Jun 25, 2024
I’m writing a series over on my patreon…on something thats pretty personal to me - the Ex-Mus to TradFash pipeline. It’s a path I’ve seen too many go down and completely descend into blatant far right f*ckery.
I’ve dedicated a fair bit of time this month to unpacking this phenomenon more broadly and to documenting the far right trajectory of one Ex-Muslim in particular, previously thought to be one of the better, more moderate ones by many who had followed the new atheist and Ex-Muslim scenes.
If you are interested in learning more about this particular form of radicalization, do check out the series on my patreon.
Parts 1 & 2 are up for all Patrons, Part 3 (the wildest ride of the series) coming soon.
***
Find part 1 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/106445369
Find Part 2 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/106501752
Once you’re a Patron you can also check out other Patreon Exclusive posts like “Black History Month with Sam Harris: https://www.patreon.com/posts/black-history-98603534?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
00:15:57
Jun 18, 2024
Researcher (from Political Research Associates) & co-author of Safety through Solidarity, Ben Lorber (@BenLorber8 on Twitter) Joins me for a conversation about the far right in both Israel and more broadly, the Jewish far right.
We discuss far-right Israeli ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich, the rhetoric we are seeing coming from so many Israeli officials, extremist anti-miscegenation groups like Lehava, and American-Israeli extremist rabbi Meir Kahane. We also discuss the ADL and the demonization of solidarity protests and encampments, as well as the concerning new pipelines for liberals to make common cause with the right on the topic of Israel. Christian Zionists, tokenization, and more, right here on episode 4 of The Global Far Right.
If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos
Thanks to Premium Patrons for making this miniseries possible!
——
Links:
Find Ben’s book, co-authored with Shane Burley, ‘Safety Through Solidarity’ here https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741043/safety-through-solidarity-by-shane-burley/
Ben’s article on Bronze Age Zionists https://x.com/benlorber8/status/1757871425925333192?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Ben’s thread on ADL’s inconsistent methodology for their antisemitism audit
https://x.com/benlorber8/status/1780623385971540469?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
CNN clip on tokenization that came up in our chat https://x.com/abbydphillip/status/1785147804668616941?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Jonathan Greenblatt of the ADL saying “we are not the Jews of trembling knees” https://x.com/benlorber8/status/1787536049465413921?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Greenblatt referring to students, including Jewish groups, as ‘Iranian proxies’ https://www.thedailybeast.com/cair-calls-on-msnbc-to-ban-adl-boss-over-iranian-proxies-remark
The Atlantic: The Golden Age of American Jews is Ending https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/04/us-anti-semitism-jewish-american-safety/677469/
Tom Cotton calls encampments ‘little Gazas’ https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/05/01/tom-cotton-campus-protests-gaza
Former US ambassador to Israel says students are marching in support of Hamas https://x.com/davidm_friedman/status/1719070572083040616?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Columbia Professor Shai Davidai refers to students as terrorists https://x.com/palmena_ic/status/1782361692900384969?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Ted Cruz saying these protests are antisemitic while perpetuating antisemitic tropes himself https://x.com/tedcruz/status/1785406268607287383?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Ben Shapiro tweet on antisemitism vs support for Israel: https://x.com/benshapiro/status/644505141299671041?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
“.@anncoulter tweets re: Jews awful, nonsensical. @anncoulter is also super pro-Israel, and has always been so, so I won't lose sleep.”
Christian Nationalist Sean Feucht enthusiastic about rising antisemitism
https://x.com/benlorber8/status/1783539026022006823?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Ben Gvir’s association with far right leader of extremist group Lehava https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-extremist-benzi-gopstein-said-advising-ben-gvir-on-police-issues/
Isaac Herzog referred to intermarriage as a ‘plague’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/incoming-jewish-agency-head-walks-back-calling-intermarriage-a-plague/
Meet Lehava, the Israeli Fascists Mounting a Vicious Crusade to Keep their Women Away from Arabs https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/meet-lehava-israeli-fascists-mounting-vicious-crusade-keep-their-women-away-arabs-1466584
Israel’s Far-right Finance Minister Says He's 'A Fascist Homophobe' but 'Won't Stone Gays' Israel’s Far-right Finance Minister Says He's 'A Fascist Homophobe' but 'Won't Stone Gays' - Israel News - Haaretz.com
Extremist Rabbi Meir Kahane’s Cousin drove into anti-genocide protesters in NYC https://www.huffpost.com/entry/reuven-kahane-arrested-columbia-gaza-protest-assault_n_663bbd77e4b0c38baf0eacd4
01:18:31
Jun 08, 2024
I was joined by the wonderful hosts of Left Reckoning for this episode, David Griscom (@DavidGriscom on Twitter) & Matt Lech (@Mattlech on Twitter), many of you may know Matt Lech from Majority Report too.
(Pls note this episode was recorded a couple of weeks ago, which is why you wont hear us mention more recent developments)
We chat about a lot of High Level Ideas; Free Speech, grifters like Dave Rubin, centrists like David Pakman, Texas, Gaza, the ICC, Leftists vs Democrats & more!
If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos
——
Links:
Find Left Reckoning here: https://www.youtube.com/@LeftReckoning
Check out our previous hang out on New Atheists finding god, here: https://youtu.be/Fywb4l0PcWM?si=TqyNnAH9xEp5YJLL
The threatening video to Ireland that the Israeli Foreign Ministry put out:
https://x.com/israelmfa/status/1792943282105848152?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
“An angry President Reagan described Israel's bombing of west Beirut as a 'holocaust' in an angry phone call to Menachem Begin, the Israeli prime minister said.” https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/08/30/Begin-Mr-President-I-know-what-is-a-holocaust/7292399528000/
My recent Technofascism episode that came up in our conversation: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0nPioIhFQt6Obo8rWqTBkO
01:39:30
May 31, 2024
[This is a SAMPLE of my new Premium Miniseries, pls subscribe to the premium tiers via patreon.com/nicemangos to access the full episode]
Researcher (from Political Research Associates) & co-author of Safety through Solidarity, Ben Lorber (@BenLorber8 on Twitter) Joins me for a conversation about the far right in both Israel and more broadly, the Jewish far right.
We discuss far right Israeli ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich, the rhetoric we are seeing coming from so many Israeli officials, extremist anti-miscegenation groups like Lehava, and American-Israeli extremist rabbi Meir Kahane. We also discuss the ADL and the demonization of solidarity protests and encampments, as well as the concerning new pipelines for liberals to make common cause with the right on the topic of Israel. Christian Zionists, tokenization, and more, right here on episode 4 of The Global Far Right.
If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos
Links:
Find Ben’s book, co-authored with Shane Burley, ‘Safety Through Solidarity’ here https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741043/safety-through-solidarity-by-shane-burley/
Ben’s article on Bronze Age Zionists https://x.com/benlorber8/status/1757871425925333192?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Ben’s thread on ADL’s inconsistent methodology for their antisemitism audit
https://x.com/benlorber8/status/1780623385971540469?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
CNN clip on tokenization that came up in our chat https://x.com/abbydphillip/status/1785147804668616941?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Jonathan Greenblatt of the ADL saying “we are not the Jews of trembling knees” https://x.com/benlorber8/status/1787536049465413921?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Greenblatt referring to students, including Jewish groups, as ‘Iranian proxies’ https://www.thedailybeast.com/cair-calls-on-msnbc-to-ban-adl-boss-over-iranian-proxies-remark
The Atlantic: The Golden Age of American Jews is Ending https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/04/us-anti-semitism-jewish-american-safety/677469/
Tom Cotton calls encampments ‘little Gazas’ https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/05/01/tom-cotton-campus-protests-gaza
Former US ambassador to Israel says students are marching in support of Hamas https://x.com/davidm_friedman/status/1719070572083040616?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Columbia Professor Shai Davidai refers to students as terrorists https://x.com/palmena_ic/status/1782361692900384969?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Ted Cruz saying these protests are antisemitic while perpetuating antisemitic tropes himself https://x.com/tedcruz/status/1785406268607287383?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Ben Shapiro tweet on antisemitism vs support for Israel: https://x.com/benshapiro/status/644505141299671041?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
“.@anncoulter tweets re: Jews awful, nonsensical. @anncoulter is also super pro-Israel, and has always been so, so I won't lose sleep.”
Christian Nationalist Sean Feucht enthusiastic about rising antisemitism
https://x.com/benlorber8/status/1783539026022006823?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Ben Gvir’s association with far right leader of extremist group Lehava https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-extremist-benzi-gopstein-said-advising-ben-gvir-on-police-issues/
Isaac Herzog referred to intermarriage as a ‘plague’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/incoming-jewish-agency-head-walks-back-calling-intermarriage-a-plague/
Meet Lehava, the Israeli Fascists Mounting a Vicious Crusade to Keep their Women Away from Arabs https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/meet-lehava-israeli-fascists-mounting-vicious-crusade-keep-their-women-away-arabs-1466584
Israel’s Far-right Finance Minister Says He's 'A Fascist Homophobe' but 'Won't Stone Gays' Israel’s Far-right Finance Minister Says He's 'A Fascist Homophobe' but 'Won't Stone Gays' - Israel News - Haaretz.com
00:22:20
May 27, 2024
Since we are around the 6 year anniversary of the IDW debut in the NYT, myself and political writer/podcaster (former rightwinger himself) Matthew Sheffield (@mattsheffield on Twitter) did a Twitter Space last week (14th May 2024) to honour this magnificent group of intellectual giants…
We took an in-depth look at the history of both the ‘Intellectual Dark Web’ and more broadly…the history of rightwing movements rebranding as new, exciting, different, transgressive or even ‘counter cultural’/ ‘heterodox’ while they continue to spout the same orthodoxies and viewpoints upholding the status quo.
You will never believe the SHOCKING conclusion …..are the IDW truly Heterodox or just another attempt at a rightwing movement rebranding themselves?
We also did a bit of a ‘where are they now’ segment, let me tell you dear listeners — they are not in the greatest intellectual shape, these Renegades of the Intellectual Dark Web…
Please note this is a live event, so the audio is not up to usual podcasting standards - apologies! We cleaned it up as best we could.
———
If you enjoy the show pls consider subscribing via patreon.com/nicemangos
Links:
Archived version of the original IDW article in the New York Times by Bari Weiss https://web.archive.org/web/20180508113210/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/opinion/intellectual-dark-web.html
Archived version of the ‘Sleek Website’ that Bari references in her ‘Meet the Renegades of the IDW’ piece which is essentially just a list of awful people https://web.archive.org/web/20180509020318/http://intellectualdark.website/
The IDWesque article from 1995 that Matthew was referring to, also from the NYT https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/12/magazine/the-counter-counterculture.html
A piece I wrote a couple of years ago on Harris’ rightwingery and how New Atheism in general has been useful for the Christian Right https://x.com/mattsheffield/status/1490457060307177472?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Eric Weinstein’s unhinged ‘to the victims go the spoils theory’ re: Palestinians https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1790462571537133925?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
The Evopsych episode mentioned in the Space: pt 1 https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jSFhcmT6xNJ4JOwbEkscE?si=By3wE6dxSs-oRRqHfyzYqQ
Pt 2 https://open.spotify.com/episode/5gvuP3xLyqKSpJgTjf43A3?si=jLKlykmWTj6tcu3dbW65ig
My recent ep on Dawkins mentioned in the Space https://open.spotify.com/episode/1uSIJRoF9LxkkNtRYBZvRV?si=1abadRJkRw-RK7O7nP1orA
Polite Conversations episode on the IDW in Pakistan & Saudi which also came up in the Space: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4OWPkudZ6zfH7p9swNXAtI?si=Ofpw6DuYReOjtX_AKzyCBw
01:53:44
May 22, 2024
Tech critic Paris Marx (@parismarx on Twitter) of the excellent ‘Tech Won’t Save us’ Podcast joins me for a fascinating & frightening discussion about the intersection of Tech & Fascism.
Tech Won’t Save Us is a podcast that critically examines the tech industry.
———
Links:
Find Tech Won’t Save us Here:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3UhsI7s4bkH1FcMZI5u9iD?si=15c68cd79657412d
Find Paris’ newsletter Disconnect here: https://disconnect.blog
The Tech Won’t Save us Miniseries on Musk is available here:
Pt 1 https://open.spotify.com/episode/7M6jMwkb9cJ0kOrMTqzQDi?si=tHJgsAnQTlKVUlmOEYKTwg
Pt 2 https://open.spotify.com/episode/3g9zikUskeQYeCxVV8ut58?si=TCiCPTB2TVGOkANlSUN8BA
Pt 3 https://open.spotify.com/episode/1VQboA8VgR7UD9fXEHhDoy?si=sQnRVnZjQ36TGa-dZ1_BVw
Pt 4 https://open.spotify.com/episode/3DwZUo59Qm7MFJ2cHvVWj0 si=2U0BQ4X9SLm2LmXd9h_JAA
My Miniseries on Harris ‘Woking Up’ is available here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1caIpbHnvDjKu0Ph4DA0Nb?si=66ec707de5ec4fd9
Polite Conversations Food & Fascism ep: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ESZbJst9wpaEaEGziGSFo?si=scsteHS7QbaIi7XbFcEI1Q
———
More about Balaji & his ‘Tech Zionism’ https://x.com/veenadubal/status/1783896103823585538?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
The New York Times instructed journalists covering Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip to restrict the use of the terms “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing” and to “avoid” using the phrase “occupied territory” when describing Palestinian land, according to a copy of an internal memo obtained by The Intercept.
The memo also instructs reporters not to use the word Palestine “except in very rare cases” and to steer clear of the term “refugee camps” to describe areas of Gaza historically settled by displaced Palestinians expelled from other parts of Palestine during previous Israeli–Arab wars.
https://theintercept.com/2024/04/15/nyt-israel-gaza-genocide-palestine-coverage/
Australian PM has called Elon Musk an "arrogant billionaire" in an escalating feud over X's reluctance to remove footage of a church stabbing. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-68878967
Meta has apologised for adding "terrorist" to the biographies of some Instagram users describing themselves as Palestinian. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67169228
Meta censors pro-Palestinian views on a global scale, report claims:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/dec/21/meta-facebook-instagram-pro-palestine-censorship-human-rights-watch-report
Twitter Removes BBC Doc Criticizing Indian PM Narendra Modi:
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/twitter-elon-musk-bbc-india-modi-1234667887/
Jerry Coyne accused of spitting on pro Palestinian protester: https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/05/01/credentialed-leftist-at-work/
https://x.com/yumcoconutmilk/status/1785638690678620577?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Coyne saying the more minorities u let into a school the less quality you have: https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1725166190945833392?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
‘Lavender’: The AI machine directing Israel’s bombing spree in Gaza
The Israeli army has marked tens of thousands of Gazans as suspects for assassination, using an AI targeting system with little human oversight and a permissive policy for casualties:
https://www.972mag.com/lavender-ai-israeli-army-gaza/
CNN Political & Foreign Policy Analyst, Barak Ravid, shares what he heard from IDF soldiers - “The orders are basically just shoot every man of fighting age":
https://x.com/abierkhatib/status/1775778192608931922?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
——
If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos - the show is entirely listener funded.
01:48:59
May 21, 2024
Since we are around the 6 year anniversary of the IDW debut in the NYT, myself and political writer/podcaster (former rightwinger himself) Matthew Sheffield (@mattsheffield on Twitter) did a Twitter Space last week (14th May 2024) to honour this magnificent group of intellectual giants…
We took an in-depth look at the history of both the ‘Intellectual Dark Web’ and more broadly…the history of rightwing movements rebranding as new, exciting, different, transgressive or even ‘counter cultural’/ ‘heterodox’ while they continue to spout the same orthodoxies and viewpoints upholding the status quo.
You will never believe the SHOCKING conclusion …..are the IDW truly Heterodox or just another attempt at a rightwing movement rebranding themselves?
We also did a bit of a ‘where are they now’ segment, let me tell you dear listeners — they are not in the greatest intellectual shape, these Renegades of the Intellectual Dark Web…
Please note this is a live event, so the audio is not up to usual podcasting standards - apologies! We cleaned it up as best we could.
———
If you enjoy the show pls consider subscribing via patreon.com/nicemangos
Links:
Archived version of the original IDW article in the New York Times by Bari Weiss https://web.archive.org/web/20180508113210/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/opinion/intellectual-dark-web.html
Archived version of the ‘Sleek Website’ that Bari references in her ‘Meet the Renegades of the IDW’ piece which is essentially just a list of awful people https://web.archive.org/web/20180509020318/http://intellectualdark.website/
The IDWesque article from 1995 that Matthew was referring to, also from the NYT https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/12/magazine/the-counter-counterculture.html
00:16:06
May 17, 2024
This is a SAMPLE version of the episode, access the full episode via patreon.com/nicemangos
——
Tech critic Paris Marx (@parismarx on Twitter) of the excellent ‘Tech Won’t Save us’ Podcast joins me for a fascinating & frightening discussion about the intersection of Tech & Fascism.
Tech Won’t Save Us is a podcast that critically examines the tech industry.
00:12:50
Apr 29, 2024
In part 2 of this conversation we get into more specific concerns - issues about responsible framing, softballing, etc.
At what point do we recognize and consciously not contribute to maintaining the perception of “reasonable intellectual” for someone as far gone (imo) as Harris? At what point has he crossed the line into being as embarrassing as say … Bret Weinstein? We explore all these questions and more.
——
If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos and by leaving an Apple Podcasts or Spotify review.
Links
NYT Investigation: Israel Used 'Most Destructive' Bombs in Areas Designated as Safe in South Gaza Strip:
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-12-22/ty-article/nyt-investigation-israel-used-one-ton-bombs-in-safe-zones-in-south-gaza/0000018c-91f4-d47c-a7fd-dbfcc0bb0000
During the first six weeks of the war in Gaza, Israel routinely used one of its biggest and most destructive bombs in areas it designated safe for civilians, according to an analysis of visual evidence by The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-bomb-investigation.html
Children 5-8, carried to the emergency room by their parents, all had single sniper shots to the head: https://x.com/latimes/status/1758587564397597168?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Rami Igra, previously head of the Captive & Missing Division in the Mossad, says there are no uninvolved civilians in Gaza over the age of four
https://x.com/ireallyhateyou/status/1757837275830907052?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Israel Created 'Kill Zones' in Gaza. Anyone Who Crosses Into Them Is Shot. The Israeli army says 9,000 terrorists have been killed since the Gaza war began. Defense officials and soldiers, however, tell Haaretz that these are often civilians whose only crime was to cross an invisible line drawn by the IDF
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-03-31/ty-article-magazine/.premium/israel-created-kill-zones-in-gaza-anyone-who-crosses-into-them-is-shot/0000018e-946c-d4de-afee-f46da9ee0000
01:28:08
Apr 23, 2024
This is part 1 of a 2 part conversation. Part 2 is available early via patreon.com/nicemangos.
Join me for a discussion with Chris Kavanagh of the Decoding the Gurus Podcast. In part one we chat more about the broader questions …like the eternal ‘litmus test’ question of “Is Sam Harris Rightwing?” and I try to get a sense of Chris’ own politics and positions.
On the surface Chris and I would probably vote the same, and we’re both critics of the heterodox/IDWsphere but our output is framed very differently, I think our motivations and goals with it are perhaps vastly different as well. We get into that and more in part 2.
——
If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify
Links:
Fastest decline in a population ever recorded https://x.com/medicalaidpal/status/1763172220900151317?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Biggest cohort of paediatric amputees https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-children-who-lost-limbs-in-gaza
Law for Palestine Releases Database with 500+ Instances of Israeli Incitement to Genocide – Continuously Updated https://law4palestine.org/law-for-palestine-releases-database-with-500-instances-of-israeli-incitement-to-genocide-continuously-updated/
IDF removing children without consent from Gaza https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-said-to-transport-gazan-orphans-to-west-bank-via-israel-without-cabinets-ok/
https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/1/2/israeli-soldier-brought-baby-back-to-israel-from-gaza
Israeli Cabinet Members Join Event Calling for Ethnic Cleansing & Resettlement of Gaza https://youtu.be/7J0_J3Qy6YY?si=clqZe5x8DH1rfCe4
Israeli Ministers attend conference calling for ‘voluntary migration’ of Palestinians https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/29/israeli-ministers-attend-conference-calling-for-voluntary-migration-of-palestinians
My miniseries on Sam Harris that Chris mentioned: Woking Up https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1caIpbHnvDjKu0Ph4DA0Nb?si=ab7b7bfcbfc14185
DTG’s recent conversation with Harris: https://open.spotify.com/episode/75PdQjoEnvfn6aHev5Xjuf?si=9RSwlQ4vS4qt1BzEk1Bjww
01:19:28
Apr 17, 2024
I joined my friend Daniel of the I Don’t Speak German Podcast for a chat recently, to quote their description of the episode; “to talk about Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and in particular about some questions that have come up around IDSG’s public response to it.”
Find IDSG here: https://idontspeakgerman.libsyn.com/public-bonus-talking-about-gaza-with-eiynah-mohammed-smith and @idsgpod on Twitter.
You can find the Twitter Space mentioned in the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1dYrfZKfFpdib1zbSnMtQZ?si=7MZzHfT1Qh6ZFnCyIsdw0w
01:13:10
Apr 10, 2024
My guest for this episode is Jason Lemieux, who formerly worked for The CFI (Center for Inquiry) A US secular non-profit organization where Richard Dawkins is a board member. The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science is a subsidiary of CFI.
Join us as we cover the bizarreness & bigotry of increasingly embarrassing Atheist public figure Richard Dawkins.
If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos or by leaving a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
———
Links:
Dawkins’ recent Cultural Christian clip: https://x.com/lbc/status/1774510715975368778?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Dawkins’ Church bells tweet: x.com/RichardDawkins/status/1018933359978909696?s=20
Dawkins’ non-entities tweet: x.com/RichardDawkins/status/1463750520603131907?s=20
Dawkins’ eugenics-y views on Down Syndrome: https://x.com/brokenbottleboy/status/1393882552264499202?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
CFI’s archived note re: Kavin Senapathy https://web.archive.org/web/20201030180906/https://centerforinquiry.org/reposting/ Vs the one they have up https://centerforinquiry.org/reposting/
Dawkins loses Humanist of the Year title https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/apr/20/richard-dawkins-loses-humanist-of-the-year-trans-comments
David Silverman fired after allegations: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/peteraldhous/david-silverman-atheist-fired-sexual-misconduct
Thread re: the whole merge-gate saga https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1406646731933167619?s=61&t=
Salon article that was mentioned in the conversation re: merge-gate -
Godless Grifters: How the New Atheists merged with the Far Right https://www.salon.com/2021/06/05/how-the-new-atheists-merged-with-the-far-right-a-story-of-intellectual-grift-and-abject-surrender/
Rolling stone article that was mentioned in the conversation: Study Shows How the ‘Intellectual Dark Web’ Is a Gateway to the Far Right https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/youtube-far-right-radicalization-study-877061/
My miniseries on Sam Harris, ‘Woking Up’ https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1caIpbHnvDjKu0Ph4DA0Nb?si=c3ef3e89db914464
01:59:06
Mar 19, 2024
This is a SAMPLE version of the episode, access the full episode via patreon.com/nicemangos
***
Join me for an unexpected but fascinating chat that arose from the previous panel episodes on Germany, Identity & Palestine. I knew that one of my panelists (Claus) had been raised far-right and since shed those beliefs, but I had no idea just *how* far-right …
Strap yourselves in for a very wild, rollercoaster of a conversation. Major CONTENT WARNING: There’s talk of bigotry, nazi cults, smuggling, murder, suicide, white supremacy, and more horrific stuff. So please proceed with caution.
We discuss the skeptic scene and how rapidly it’s devolved, Michael Shermer in particular comes up. I also try to gauge and assess just how fashy Claus’s upbringing was, was it overtly and explicitly fash, was it IDWesque in trying to mask the bigotry… or was it a bit of both?
Claus peels back the layers and helps us understand what got him out of that bigoted worldview, what kind of damage it did to the people around him, and how he sees echoes of it in present day culty, conspiracist circles.
——
Links
Eric Ludendorff:
“The Nazis distanced themselves from Ludendorff because of his eccentric conspiracy theories
In 1926, Ludendorff divorced Margarethe Schmidt and married his second wife Mathilde von Kemnitz (1877–1966). They published books and essays claiming that the world's problems were the result of Christianity, especially the Jesuits and Catholics, but also conspiracies by Jews and the Freemasons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Ludendorff
Claus briefly mentioned Derek Black’s story:
Derek Black is an American former white supremacist. He is the son of Don Black, founder of the Stormfront online community, and godson of former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke. He publicly renounced white nationalism and chronicled his personal journey away from his family's beliefs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Black
https://www.npr.org/2018/09/24/651052970/how-a-rising-star-of-white-nationalism-broke-free-from-the-movement
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/01/derek-black-new-college-desantis-plan.html
Claus Also mentioned Zundel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Zündel
Ernst Christof Friedrich Zündel (German: [ˈtsʏndl̩]; 24 April 1939 – 5 August 2017) was a German neo-Nazi publisher and pamphleteer of Holocaust denial literature. He was jailed several times: in Canada for publishing literature "likely to incite hatred against an identifiable group", and on charges of being a threat to national security; in the United States, for overstaying his visa; and in Germany for charges of "inciting racial hatred". He lived in Canada from 1958 to 2000.
David Silverman: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/peteraldhous/david-silverman-atheist-fired-sexual-misconduct
00:13:00
Feb 29, 2024
Join us for part 2 of this Panel on wtf is going on in Germany.
My German guests include Ilyas who is a German Muslim, Claus is a German who was raised with very right-wing views but has since shed them, and we also have John who has a Master’s degree in German Studies and lived there as an exchange student.
We discuss aspects of German identity, history, nationalism and the thinking behind some of the blind and bizarre support we see for Israel, the stifling of pro-Palestinian views - especially in the arts, the treatment of left leaning Jewish people who are critical of Israel, the Herero & Nama genocide, the ICJ, ex-muslims & ‘liberal’ Muslims in Germany becoming tools of the right, & more.
——
All guests on the Aftershow are Patrons of the Polite Conversations. Truly amazing to get to chat with fascinating patrons of the show from all around the world.
Subscribe via Patreon to access the full episode. If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos and/or leaving a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
_____
Links:
In case u are unfamiliar with trump-voting ‘liberal muslim’ Asra Nomani, here’s a book she wrote
https://x.com/ilyasibnkarim/status/1674447440785686530?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Masha Gessen: Hannah Arendt would not qualify for the Hannah Arendt prize in Germany today https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/18/hannah-arendt-prize-masha-gessen-israel-gaza-essay
Masha Gessen: In the Shadow of the Holocaust https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-weekend-essay/in-the-shadow-of-the-holocaust
Germany officially recognises colonial-era Namibia genocide: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57279008
Germany Officially Recognizes It Committed Genocide In Present-Day Namibia https://www.npr.org/2021/05/28/1001233776/germany-officially-recognizes-it-committed-genocide-in-present-day-namibia
How Germany’s colonial genocide shapes Namibia today https://x.com/ayakibrahim/status/1746289541097415017?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Germany Is Known for Its Heavily Funded, Thriving Art Scene. But a Slew of Cancellations Is Threatening That Reputation: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/germany-cancellations-2407316
We're starting to see Germans assert that they are sole arbiters of Holocaust memory and understand it on a deeper level than Jewish descendants https://x.com/davidgross_man/status/1735312154905981153?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Germany: checkpoints in Palestinian neighbourhood https://x.com/ruairi_casey/status/1741813613843640496?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
An association sponsored by the Federal Foreign Office calls for international law violations: https://x.com/hahauenstein/status/1747251240600506631?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Marione Ingram is an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor and peace activist who has been demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. She just had a series of talks canceled in Germany, for which she says she never got a real explanation. https://x.com/democracynow/status/1747983242186125383?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
On Candice Breitz - Germany smothering the Arts: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/22/germany-antisemitism-israel-gaza-arts-censorship/
Candice Breitz https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/dec/07/a-frenzy-of-judgement-artist-candice-breitz-on-her-german-show-being-pulled-over-gaza
On Adam Bromberg: Germany is Criminalising Palestinian Solidarity https://tribunemag.co.uk/2023/06/germany-is-criminalising-palestinian-solidarity
German official targets Jewish artist over alleged anti-Semitism for criticising Israel Occupation https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230202-german-official-targets-jewish-artist-over-alleged-anti-semitism-for-criticising-israel-occupation/
00:28:31
Feb 24, 2024
This is part 1 of a 2-part conversation. Join myself and my panel of German/Germany related guests for a fascinating discussion about Wtaf is going on in Germany these days. My German guests include Ilyas who is a German Muslim, Claus who is a German that was raised with very right-wing views but has since shed them, and we also have John who has a Master’s degree in German Studies and lived there as an exchange student.
We discuss aspects of German identity, history, nationalism and the thinking behind some of the blind and bizarre support we see for Israel, the stifling of pro-Palestinian views, the perception of Arabs and foreigners in general, the treatment of left leaning Jewish people who are critical of Israel & more.
——
All guests on the Aftershow are Patrons of the Polite Conversations. Truly amazing to get to chat with fascinating patrons of the show from all around the world.
——
If you enjoy the show and would like to access the full episode, pls subscribe via patreon.com/nicemangos
Links:
Thread about merge-gate which was briefly mentioned at the start of the episode
https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1406646731933167619?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Allegations against Andrew Torres (Thomas Smith’s former co-host): https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1620956911561764865?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
There were multiple people protecting, legitimizing and profiting from working with Andrew, they knew for years, but chose to do nothing and continued to profit. https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1755655557548069020?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
In case u are unfamiliar with trump-voting ‘liberal muslim’ Asra Nomani, here’s a book she wrote
https://x.com/ilyasibnkarim/status/1674447440785686530?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
In Berlin, schoolchildren have been banned from wearing the scarf https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/11/keffiyeh-scarf-fashion-history-palestine
How Palestine became a Forbidden word in German Highschools https://www.972mag.com/germany-education-israel-narrative-palestinians/
Karl Lagerfeld calls refugees enemies of Jews https://www.dw.com/en/karl-lagerfeld-evokes-holocaust-to-bash-germanys-angela-merkel-on-refugees/a-41368478
Palestinian rights and the IHRA definition of antisemitism https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/nov/29/palestinian-rights-and-the-ihra-definition-of-antisemitism
Will Politico 's New Owner Allow Criticism of Israel? https://jewishcurrents.org/will-politicos-new-owner-employ-journalists-who-criticize-israel
A clampdown on the arts in Germany https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/07/arts/design/germany-arts-cancellations-israel-palestinians.html
In Germany, a Witch Hunt Is Raging Against Critics of Israel https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2020-12-10/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/in-germany-a-witch-hunt-rages-against-israel-critics-many-have-had-enough/0000017f-db0d-df0f-a17f-df4fa21b0000
00:32:42
Feb 21, 2024
This is a Recording of my Twitter Space from Feb 20th 2024 with friends of the pod Jack Graham, Daniel Harper (of IDSG). Linguist Dr. Caitlin Green also makes an appearance.
Join us for a discussion about all the nightmarish content on social media these days, IDF influencers, thirst traps and TikTok War Crimes.
Horrific stuff. Proceed with caution.
—-
As always, if you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos
Links:
Propaganda images/memes we discussed in the beginning
https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1760143208766456133?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
T-Rex Costume, bombs and techno, dancing on a tank https://x.com/rachael_swindon/status/1748398198358507960?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Bill Maher’s poorly aged Burqa bit https://x.com/billmaher/status/1740866573655810131?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Contrasts: Fine dining scene vs. Starving population
https://x.com/brandyljensen/status/1754145731466723520?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
Lifestyle piece on IDF soldiers cooking in the kitchens of Gazans
https://x.com/gawanmac/status/1757500107912556767?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw
IDF using Human Shields: https://www.btselem.org/human_shields
01:25:01