Rogan-Rufo Reality Check (Conspirituality podcast, episode #200)

This week we take stock of the full entrenchment of the Mirror World, where conspirituality influencers bask in the rays of confident delusion. After a little stage-setting on the heterodox mediasphere, we open with a snapshot of conspirituality Valhalla as we listen in on Joe Rogan and Chris Rufo talking about unhoused people as though they are children who haven’t been given good boundaries.

Then we’ll look at four instances in which the spectacle brokers meet reality. What happens when Chaya Raichik gets bodied by Taylor Lorenz? What happens when the Moms for Liberty have to explain themselves on 60 minutes? What happens when Destiny rejects Jordan Peterson’s bullshit? And what happens when the mack daddy of it all, Alex Jones, gets confronted by Sandy Hook parents, face to face? Does reality break through?
Interview: 

https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-6yg8d-1e0d2cab

Ron DeSantis ally Chris Rufo has close ties with ‘dissident right’ magazine

"Relationship with IM-1776 that praises dictators, racist ideologues and attacks liberal democracy is collaborative and supportive…" 

IM-1776, in turn, is funded by the Claremont Institute, a Leonard Leo group. Both Leo and Rufo, are renowned influential Catholics.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/21/chris-rufo-im-1776-far-right-desantis

Activist who led ouster of Harvard president linked to ‘scientific racism’ journal

Christopher Rufo recommends a newsletter to his readers that has published several supporters of discredited genetics theory… 

On Rufo's recommending the site to his readers, Bird said: "There's nothing legitimate on biology or evolution or genetics that's really been published by anyone at Aporia," adding: "Pointing people towards that is pointing them toward unambiguous white supremacist propaganda and nonsense…" 

(Let's not forget Rufo's ties to Leonard Leo and his popularity among prominent Catholics — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90apd-BBE7w)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/31/rightwing-activist-christopher-rufo-ties-scientific-racism-journal

‘No enemies to the right’: DeSantis ally hosts debate hedging white nationalism

Christopher Rufo's Twitter space discussed conservatives cooperating with extremists 'to destroy the power of the left'…

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/30/conservative-christopher-rufo-florida-twitter-debate

Who is Christopher Rufo? The right-wing activist launching an American "counter-revolution"

Dangerous fictions: The right’s leading culture warrior -- a Catholic -- has invented a leftist takeover of America to justify his very real power grabs.

https://www.vox.com/23811277/christopher-rufo-culture-wars-ron-desantis-florida-critical-race-theory-anti-wokeness

More on the Censorious Right’s Unconstitutional Quest to Cancel Knowledge (Opening Arguments podcast OA511)

In a dizzy euphoria at having had a single good interaction with a stranger on Facebook, Andrew decided to listen to an episode of Bari Weiss’s podcast featuring a debate between Chris Rufo and David French on Critical Race Theory. Apparently, Andrew has too much free time and not enough things to be mad at. But it inspired part 3 on Critical Race Theory and what the likely next Pokemon evolution of the moral panic will be.

Interview: 

https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-x2erb-f6243a9

Why Critical Race Theory is Indispensable (Opening Arguments podcast OA502)

This is a continuation of Episode 501's exploration of a rather arcane bit of legal jurisprudence that has somehow become the target du jour of the right wing, from Matt Gaetz to Newsmax to... well, Matt Gaetz again. That's right, it's an explanation of what critical race theory actually is, and whether it should be banned. (Hint: no)

In this episode, you'll learn more about the definitely NOT Marxist postmodern critique of language and legal textbooks, including an in-depth discussion of a case you probably have never heard of -- Johnson & Graham's Lessee v. M'Intosh, 21 U.S. 543 (1823). And if you have heard of the case, then a) you're probably a lawyer or law student, and b) you should thank a critical legal studies theorist!

We'll also get in depth with two of the founders of the CRT movement, Mari Matsuda and Kimberle Crenshaw. Learn what their unique contributions to legal scholarship were and are, and decide for yourself whether this is too dangerous for grad students to even read.

Finally, we'll delve back into the one-man astroturf unit that is Christopher F. Rufo and learn how he's deliberately misleading everyone about what CRT is in order to stoke a moral panic. This is an episode you don't want to miss & might want to share even with your Uncle Frank!

Finally, we do an Andrew Was Wrong on Arrow's Theorem as math professors rise up and storm our studio.
Interview: 

https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-zr4cm-f03fa22

Critical Legal Studies and Critical Race Theory (Opening Arguments podcast OA501)

If you've heard the buzz about Critical Race Theory lately, you... probably have absolutely no idea what it actually is because the people who have already passed laws in several states banning it don't even know. But if you've heard an informed person talk about it, you may have heard that it has its roots in the law. Well then, what better place to give you a deep dive than on a law show! So what is Critical Legal Studies? How did it pave the way for Critical Race Theory? OA is on the case.

Interview: 

https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-ny5yh-ef8de8c