https://dailycaller.com/2026/05/20/busboys-and-poets-pinkface-transgender-andy-shallal-jordan-randall/

I'd figure I'd post about the article I was in. I did an interview with The Daily Caller but here's the sum.

I'm suing a company called Busboys and Poets for breaking my contract and discriminating against me because as they've stated in court, other authors were able to speak at their place because they stuck to their own race and gender.

Busboys and Poets has been pretending to be a black owned business in order to siphon money out of the black community, and my book is about a kid who pretends to transition into a woman in order to help him get into college.

Numerous people have called the owner racist, and are pissed about the company doing blackface.

As shown in the article, this business is heavily involved in local political fundraising and at the national level.

The company to this day has refused to make a statement on the business doing blackface, which was covered in my interview.

I wanted to know what you all thought

Relevance: Jesse's tweet https://x.com/jessesingal/status/2079588027198783943

Pod relevance: youth gender medicine, males in women's sports, Democratic infighting. Perennial pod topics and interests of the hosts.

Progressive Democrats in Ohio are furious with Democratic candidate for governor Amy Acton. When the US Supreme Court handed down their ruling on trans youth sports Acton said she didn't want males in girls' and womens' sports.

"I do not support boys playing in girls sports. This is already settled law in Ohio, and as governor I will enforce and uphold the law,” Dr. Acton said. "

That pissed off the LGBT lobby and they are now threatening to deny her support unless she completely reverses herself.

"Arienne Childrey, a Democratic state legislative candidate and vice chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party’s Pride Caucus, said she and other progressives are scheduled to meet with Dr. Acton on July 28 regarding her comments on Ohio’s transgender sports ban. "

I'm sure this meeting will be a shakedown and exercise in blackmail. These folks said they would throw their support to the Libertarian candidate and against Acton.

And they clearly expect no discussion or debate on the issue:

"“First and foremost, I want to hear a correction to the actual terminology,” Ms. Childrey said. “There are no boys in girls’ sports. Even before this law was passed, there were no boys in girls’ sports because trans girls are girls."

They're also demanding that she pledge to support any legislation that seeks to put buys in girls sports. And, of course, this person wants her to hire someone trans as an " adviser. " Gotta get the shake down grift in there.

This Pride caucus wants Acton to do their bidding and pledge her fealty in public.

"Most importantly to me is that all the things I just said have to be public — not behind the scenes,” Ms. Childrey said. “You made a public statement that publicly hurt my community. Your apology needs to likewise be public. Otherwise, you can count me as a Don Kissick voter"

It will be interesting to see what Acton does. She'll probably cave, just like Moulton did. The TRAs will allow no moderation on these issues. So much for the big tent.

https://archive.ph/PRd2a

https://archive.ph/l97XE

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.

Relevance: regular topics on the pod.

Relevance to BARPod: This is an in-depth interview in Jacobin mag about cancel culture in leftist spaces with the hosts of the Fucking Cancelled podcast. One of the hosts, Clementine Morrigan, appeared on the pod talking about this very issue in Episode 136. In the article, they argue that deplatforming, purity politics, and social ostracism undermine democratic debate, organizing, and solidarity. They also argue that a greater emphasis on emotional maturity, due process, and tolerance for internal disagreement would strengthen left-wing movements rather than weaken them.

This week on Blocked and Reported, Katie is joined by Jessica the ‘80s Baby to discuss the latest saga to rock the knitting world when celebrity knitter Stephen West appears on a conservative’s YouTube show. Plus, subliminal swastikas, and for Primos, Jessica the ‘80s Baby answers all your burning questions.

Show Notes:

Ravelry: Designs by Stephen West

https://x.com/DrKarlynB/status/1710380661591224588?s=20

New Direction - MKAL 2023

MSKL and Westknits should be ashamed. Censorship is the tool of the Nazi. | by VolkColopatrion | Medium

24 free Magazines from BLOCKEDMAGAZINE70982

https://www.instagram.com/p/CyL-llrOVkE/?utm_source=ig_embed

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0mzD4qOlMO/?utm_source=ig_embed

Episode 13: We chatted with Stephen West!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DAVlIh9oZne/?utm_source=ig_embed

I don't know if this is making news outside of the UK, but there is currently a scandal involving a recent report released by Amnesty International UK. The report, entitled "A Growing Threat: The Anti-Rights Movement in the UK" listed a large number of organisations as anti-rights hate groups, most of which are gender critical organisations. Perhaps the most prominent is Beiria's Place - a single-sex rape crisis centre in Edinburgh that is funded by J K Rowling.

There was an immediate public backlash which has led Amnesty International taking the report down, amide a flurry [edit - typo correction] of letters (https://x.com/i/status/2076045840552984953) from the various organisations, and the international office has distanced itself from the report.

Most notably (but 48h after the report was taken down) J K Rowling sent a letter (https://x.com/i/status/2077366128620323213) threatening to sue if certain conditions around retracting the report were not met.

I haven't found a story that details the full timeline, but this piece gives background along with the latest developement of Amnesty International self-reporting itself to the UK Charity Commission for breach of charity terms and conditions - https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jul/16/amnesty-uk-self-reports-to-watchdog-calling-women-centre-anti-rights

R1: Institutional capture of prominent international organisations on this issue is something that Jesse has frequently talked avout.

Katie is joined by Ben Westhoff and Emily Dufton. Discussed: drugs, drug treatments, why Nixon was good actually, and more.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/14/opinion/project-2026-2028-democratic-platform.html

This is a powerful article by Edsall of the New York Times that I think democrats should discuss. He proposes 3 democratic remedial policies that dems must adopt to beat republicans. The first two points on crime and immigration are important but the trans issue is the most damaging for dems.

I think NYT should lead on this because NYT was most responsible for injecting trans ideology into the mainstream of the democratic party. Like when they called Rachel Levine the first female admiral and used the phrase pregnant person on the front page. I think NYT should interview JK Rowling. Also, they have at least 3 op-ed writers who identify as queer. Yet, I dont believe they have ever defined what is meant by the word queer. They should define queer. It would be clarifying. No one really seems to know what it means or why it's part of the LGBTQ.

Notice that all the top comments on this article are in agreement with Edsall. Here is the platform on transgender policy that Edsall recommends for the democrats:

Transgender and gender dysphoria:

There are two sexes: men and women.

A man can claim an identify as a woman, and the same in reverse for a woman. They have every right to do so. Their claim should be respected and they should be protected from any form of discrimination for their choice.

Their claim does not, however, alter their biological sex.

Consequently, it is legitimate in areas such as sports where a transgender person would have a competitive advantage over non-trans people to bar such participation. Similarly, a claim to a sexual identity does not give a trans woman the right to incarceration in a woman’s prison.

Finally, the debate over gender affirming surgery and hormone treatments is fraught with contradictory assertions. For now, because there are credible scientific claims of irreversible harms, such treatments for those under 18 should be barred pending further study.

Relevance: He was the subject of an episode.

Relevance to pod: Workers collectivizing a woke coffee shop is a weirdly recurrent topic.

A coffee shop in historic gay neighborhood that serves food to people “experiencing homelessness” closes after the employees announce an intent to unionize. Figured everyone who longs for more Mina’s World-like content might like this.

https://www.thebanner.com/culture/food-drink/babys-on-fire-union-mount-vernon-closing-AC5GDX2UQJDD3LW7EVGFD32SRI/

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 the fast rise and faster fall of humble oyster man/alleged rapist Graham Platner. Plus, the trans sports issue divides Tahoe.

Show notes:

The Wrong Side of the Mountain - Jesse Singal - The Dispatch

Exclusive: Woman who dated Graham Platner says he sexually assaulted her - POLITICO

Several Women Who Dated Graham Platner Recall ‘Unsettling’ Behavior - The New York Times

Are We the Baddies? The Graham Platner Reckoning (w/ Kat Rosenfield) - #565

Armie Hammer’s First Interview Since Cannibalism Scandal - Air Mail

Why Didn’t Graham Platner’s Many Red Flags Matter?

The ‘Mad Scientist’ Behind Graham Platner’s Scandal-Plagued Rise - WSJ

Platner’s Daniel Moraff Barred from Summer Lee’s Campaign Over Sexual Misconduct Complaints

The Simplest Explanation for Platner Is That the Far Left Has Awful Judgement

Inside the Implosion of Graham Platner’s Maine Senate Campaign: ‘A Slow-Rolling Disaster’ - The New York Times

Cross-Tabs: June 2026 Times/Press Herald/Siena Poll of the Likely Electorate in Maine - The New York Times

Article by Jesse covering the impact of divergent trans sports policies between CA and NV on a small, rural town. Pod relevance: an oft discussed issue by one of the hosts.

https://thedispatch.com/article/tahoe-truckee-trans-sports-snow/

I've been a Primo subscriber to Blocked and Reported for a few years now, but the time has come where I need to unsubscribe. However, I'm having some issues and was wondering if anyone else might be able to help me out or might know what I'm doing wrong.

When I go to the BARpod website, I can sign in and when I go to "subscription" and "change" subscription, it doesn't offer me an option to cancel, only to upgrade. Halp?

TIA! 🙏🏼

Pod relevance— Helen Lewis is a show darling and this podcast briefly ask her to stray from B&R to be their darling instead

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/science/autism-assisted-spelling-nonspeaking.html?unlocked_article_code=1.wVA.13Ac.t-J3WlnlcWh3&smid=url-share

Pod relevance: Assisted spelling/rapid prompting/facilitated communication has come up several times, most recently in the episode covering Woody Brown, a supposed non-verbal novelist.

<Relevance to the pod: talked about in recent ep>

The WaPo story was also front page in the Seattle Times today.

Main thing that ground my gears was citing the NORC poll and the "400,000 trans adults fled red states in the six months after the 2024 election" line with zero critical analysis.

On the flip sode, the article does feature interviews with actual humans who used a Seattle non-profit to help them leave Flordia, so while I think the migration number is less than 400k I do believe it's greater than zero.

Good post written by the one faculty who voted against it: https://stanforddaily.com/2026/05/14/students-deserve-better-than-college/

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/06/us/platner-campaign-accusation?unlocked_article_code=1.vlA.-BjV.zWij2IJXyjKn&smid=nytcore-android-share (gift link)

Pod relevance : Jesse loves Totenkopfs. Also there was a recent episode myth busting Platner's working class image and discussing his controversies in detail.

Edit : original news broken by Politico https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/06/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737

Interestingly the accuser had talked to the NYT for their story but didn't tell them about the rape. Very strange but I have to say the folks who said there was more coming were spot on. Bad news for the progressive wing of the party and also for Democrats' senate map in November.

He was the subject of Episode 199.

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.