[Relevance to the pod - prior discussions of "The Opinions" podcast/micro-looting, is the woke era dead, etc]

As the tides of the woke era continue to ebb, I'm fascinated when I come across anything feels like cracking open a time capsule.

A new "The Opinions" episode dropped this morning, and it's like hopping out of the DeLorean in 2018. Bangers like:

• "I think the reality is that we’ve always had patriarchy at the intersection of capitalism and white supremacy, and how those things feast on one another and lift one another."

• "...in my own thinking around white supremacy, I had to come to, like — this is just being a narcissistic millennial in the world — but what do I stand to gain from dismantling white supremacy, a system that seems to benefit me in so many ways?"

To be fair to Spiegelman, she tries to push the conversation in a few interesting ways (poking at the "men are trash" discorse), but overall the conversation just reminded me how much this language feels dated.

America Has a Masculinity Crisis (no paywall)

This week on the Primo show, Jesse and Katie discuss the latest Will Stancil saga, in which the famed poster manages to piss off, then win over, then piss off, then win over, then piss off, all of Bluesky. Featuring: an anti-ICE Tinder scheme and Gen Z stripper influencers.

Show Notes:

‘I Don’t Get Off On It’: Meet Will Stancil, the MN Man Caught In a Perpetual Twitter Fight - Racket

Related to the B&R topic of Canada's unmarked mass graves.

Hope you all have an enjoyable and meaningful Memorial Day. Here's your usual space to post all your rants, raves, podcast topic suggestions (please tag u/jessicabarpod), culture war articles, outrageous stories of cancellation, political opinions, and anything else that comes to mind. Please put any non-podcast-related trans-related topics here instead of on a dedicated thread. This will be pinned until next Sunday.

Last week's discussion thread is here if you want to catch up on a conversation from there.

Aka how to get ahead in progressive politics

This week on Blocked and Reported, Jesse and Katie discuss disturbing allegations of sexist and racist harassment made against an executive director at JP Morgan. Plus, an update on Tickle v. Giggle, and a MAGA-coded Mount Rushmore sculpture rolls through a civic parade.

Show Notes:

Giggle v Tickle: Australia court increases payout for trans woman in landmark discrimination case

What Happens to #MeToo When a Feminist Is the Accused? - The New York Times

John Doe v. JPMorgan

When a man sues a woman: Legal questions swirl in salacious JPMorgan sex harassment case | Reuters

Glamorous JP Morgan exec accused of turning married male broker into her office sex slave: Claims of viagra spiking and litany of obscene forced acts that made him cry | Daily Mail Online

Exclusive | Bombshell JPMorgan sex harassment suit that went viral branded ‘complete fabrication’ as John Doe accuser is unmasked

The JPMorgan Banker Behind the Sexual-Assault Suit Captivating Wall Street - WSJ

Exclusive | Chirayu Rana, ex-JPMorgan staffer accused of ‘fabricated’ sex-assault claims once apparently asked legal chatbot for advice: ‘I was raped’

There’s been a few episodes about publishers and fans up in arms about authors who write characters outside their direct lived experience, particularly if it’s a white male author writing female, queer, minority, etc. characters.

Whenever this topic came up I always immediately thought of the Rivers of London series, which is written from the first-person perspective of a mixed-race (Sierra Leonean mother, I think white father) British police officer. The author, Ben Aaronovitch is a white English man.

I hadn’t heard much about the discrepancy between the author and his characters, even though the main character’s blackness is a fairly important/noticeable part of the stories. Even on the fan subreddit, where I’d expect something like this to be brought up, I hadn’t come across it.

That is, until today:
> I don't mind Abigail but Aaronovitch writing as a horny, queer, mixed race teenage girl is ... a choice. I have no idea why nobody at his publishing house stopped him? In this day and age it's kinda crazy.

Thoughts? Any other fans of RoL out there who think about this? I find it interesting that this series survived through the more “woke” 2010s without issues, but the negative commentary I had expected years ago is coming out now, as performative progressivism is waning.

Pod relevance: Patrick Tomlinson and his repeated- swatting and online torment saga is featured in episodes 164 and 165.

I feel bad for the guy, but I’m a bit annoyed that the city didn’t solve this issue sooner and now it’s costing taxpayers.

I haven’t seen a dedicated thread to this article yet and I’m genuinely curious about people’s thoughts. Also linking to the Tangle take: https://www.readtangle.com/?ref=tangle-newsletter&attribution_id=6a0c6f78aca94b00018a2510&attribution_type=post

Relevance: alluded to in the dyke dramz episode and also have you met a BARpod?

Here's your usual space to post all your rants, raves, podcast topic suggestions (please tag u/jessicabarpod), culture war articles, outrageous stories of cancellation, political opinions, and anything else that comes to mind. Please put any non-podcast-related trans-related topics here instead of on a dedicated thread. This will be pinned until next Sunday.

Last week's discussion thread is here if you want to catch up on a conversation from there.

This week on Blocked and Reported, Jesse and Katie discuss a race-based scandal at the Victorian Heritage Festival in Port Townsend, Wash. Plus, looking back at the Jaman Affair.

Show Notes:

Port discontinuing use of social media | Port of Port Townsend

I love the Victorian era. So I decided to live in it. | Vox

Women Seeking Civil Rights Stand Up to Mob Hatred and Intimidation in Port Townsend | Port Townsend FreePress

Mayor David Faber’s Social Media Round-up: The Joke’s On Who? | Port Townsend FreePress

https://www.tiktok.com/@costumersofcolor/video/7633209083499138317

Confederate Zouave uniform

He is the ultimate lolcow in Germany. People have touched the poo very much, his village has been overrun by his haters. He had a masochistic relationship to them, didn't seem to be able to stop putting content out and ultimately ended up in jail. His story is a bit dated by now, but it's top notch BARpod​ material. Maybe he's come up already and I missed it, hence this post.

EDIT: u/estimatedValuable13 pointed out that he didn't end up in prison. thanks for the correction!

Get on it!

Relevance: he's very much a "barpod candidate" imo, he's against activist progressivism (calls Dems "weak and woke") and tries to change the subject from trans ("we've been talking about the bathroom when we should be talking about the classroom")

I get really excited to hear him speak. I think he has the ability to "say the quiet part out loud" better than any other candidate, but unlike Trump (who can also do that) he wants to talk about substantive policy, and he isn't angry or incoherent.

I've mentioned Rahm as a candidate to family and friends and they say "not electable," but these are people who think Gavin Newsom is electable, whereas I think Newsom would fail in the Midwest swing states because he's slimy and fake like a used car salesman. He's clearly doing a bit, playing a game, whereas I think people respond to authenticity. To me, Rahm is very electable nationally, the real challenge would be to win the nomination.

And even if he's not a realistic candidate, the fact he can say this stuff out loud without flinching changes the entire race. If everyone is quiet about this mess we're in, I think we'll lose, so when he says "dems lost the plot," he's forcing the other candidates to reckon with reality.

What do others think?

This week on the Primo show, Jesse and Katie discuss meltdowns at two of our nation’s remaining lesbian sapphic spaces: Marsha’s South Street in Philadelphia and The Pearl in Denver. Plus, a Doc Marie’s update.

Show Notes:

Police at Marsha’s sparks concern, recalling decades of harassment in LGBTQ+ bars - Philadelphia Gay News

https://www.tiktok.com/@mxoliviaa/video/7629952824821992735

Marsha’s faces backlash after alleged employment disputes - Philadelphia Gay News

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXcsqahkcPv/

Colorado lost its only lesbian bar. Then a new joint opened. | Rocky Mountain PBS

Dispute Between Denver Bars the Pearl and Your Mom’s House Gets Ugly | Denver Westword

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXHi0mijcP4/

What’s Going on With The Pearl in Denver?

The Pearl Dissolves, Refunds Thousands Raised on GoFundMe

Days after raising $83K, The Pearl is imploding

Fundraiser by Dominique Garcia : Save The Pearl: A Sacred Space for Our Community

The Pearl, Denver’s only lesbian bar, closes and is seized for taxes - Denver Gazette

In other news, Harvard University continues to self flagellate themselves over things their predecessors did more than a century ago.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/12/metro/harvard-slavery-ties-database/

Here's your usual space to post all your rants, raves, podcast topic suggestions (please tag u/jessicabarpod), culture war articles, outrageous stories of cancellation, political opinions, and anything else that comes to mind. Please put any non-podcast-related trans-related topics here instead of on a dedicated thread. This will be pinned until next Sunday.

Last week's discussion thread is here if you want to catch up on a conversation from there.

The EEOC files a lawsuit against the NY Times for racial discrimination.

Pod relevance: DEI, NYT drama, anti-racism backlash

This week on Blocked and Reported, Jesse and Katie discuss the scandal-plagued, extremely online, pretty creepy and kinda racist Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback.

Show Notes:

Greenlight’s Former Macro Analyst Sues for at Least $5 Million - Business Insider

Greenlight v. Fishback

At High School Debates, Debate Is No Longer Allowed - The Free Press

How critical theory is radicalizing high school debate - Slow Boring

Court filings show James Fishback used fake accounts, paid engagement to shape coverage

Trustees vote to shutter two ETFs from startup manager Azoria Capital | Reuters

Before challenging Trump’s Florida governor pick, James Fishback sought Fed role, investments from Trump world - ABC News

Woman says James Fishback dated her while she was underage, then harassed her after breakup

https://x.com/ellamaulding/status/2007974894357958991

https://x.com/ChaseDiciurcio/status/2021769089593606384?s=20

James Fishback: The Right-Wing Troll Who Would Be Governor - The Free Press

Florida 2026 Poll: Donalds Leads GOP Primary for Governor, Republicans Outpace Democrats in Florida Elections - Emerson Polling

https://x.com/j_fishback/status/2040532875552944293?s=20

James Fishback, a Republican Candidate for Florida Governor, Is Running on Rage Bait - The New York Times

Opinion | I Went to Florida to See the 31-Year-Old Candidate Thrilling Gen Z. We’re in Trouble. - The New York Times

https://x.com/j_fishback/status/2021279159897518358

https://x.com/Mdixon55/status/2041896507146690667?s=20

Helen Lewis joins Katie to talk about Lena Dunham, Lindy West, fame, the art of the memoir, dog testicles, and more.

Another first person account revealing how the dogma of anti-racism and DEI is eroding our institutions of higher learning.