Episode 260: The Genius Myth (with Helen Lewis)

This week on Blocked and Reported, Jesse and Katie discuss an attack on the manarchy at an anarchist book fair in Montreal. Plus, AI infiltrates Reddit, the sensitivity reader vs. the computer science professor, and Rebekah Jones has a thought.Keep Punching Manarchists zineResearchers Secretly Ran a Massive, Unauthorized AI Persuasi… To hear more, visit www.blockedandreported.org

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our live chat tonight. We had some great questions and also a few about basketball. For folks who missed it, or those who just want to relive the magic, you can check out the recording here. To hear more, visit www.blockedandreported.org

This week on Blocked and Reported: more clashes at Columbia, and the University of Austin strays from its mission. And for Primos: sovereign citizenry and the anatomy of a right-wing rumor.ChatGPT said:Report of the Task Force on Antisemitism (Columbia University) To hear more, visit www.blockedandreported.org

This week on the Primo episode, Jesse and Katie discuss an ongoing feud between gaming journalist/vore aficionado Ana Valens and VTuber Kirsche Verstahl.acvalens.netKirsche on TwitchThese VTubers Want You in Their Lewd Game. You Might Want to Pass (VICE) To hear more, visit www.blockedandreported.org

This week on Blocked and Reported, Jesse and Katie discuss the tragic death of a crypto king. Plus, the Trump administration’s report on youth gender medicine, Jason Stanley moves to Canada, and Stephen King makes a joke. Transgender Youth and the HHS Report (The Dispatch)Report to the President on Protecting Children From Surgical and Chemical Mutilation – Executive Summary (The White House)Trump’s Gender-Affirming Care Review Sparks Backlash (CNN)Researchers Slam HHS Report on Gender-Affirming Care for Youth (Science)Yale, Canada, and the Fascism Trap (The New York Times)Jeffy Yu on Legacoins, Part 1 Announcing $LLJEFFY, Part 2 Zerebro Creator Jeffy Yu Found Alive After Faking Death (Decrypt)How a San Francisco Meme Artist Faked His Death (SF Standard)Transgender Youth and the HHS Report (The Dispatch)Report to the President on Protecting Children From Surgical and Chemical Mutilation – Executive Summary (The White House)Trump’s Gender-Affirming Care Review Sparks Backlash (CNN)Researchers Slam HHS Report on Gender-Affirming Care for Youth (Science)Yale, Canada, and the Fascism Trap (The New York Times)Jeffy Yu on Legacoins, Part 1 Announcing $LLJEFFY, Part 2 Zerebro Creator Jeffy Yu Found Alive After Faking Death (Decrypt)How a San Francisco Meme Artist Faked His Death (SF Standard) 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

This week on Blocked and Reported, Katie is joined by fan favorite Helen Lewis to discuss her new book, The Genius Myth: A Curious History of a Dangerous Idea. Plus, updates from TERF Island, Joe Rogan, and the strange and sometimes dark world of high IQ societies. Pre-order Helen’s book Britain Rules on What a Woman Is - The AtlanticTrump Administration Releases Report on Youth Gender Dysphoria - The DispatchFinally, Someone Said It to Joe Rogan’s Face - The AtlanticThe group chats that changed America - SemaforHelen Lewis Has Left the Chat - The BBC 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

This week on the Primo episode, Jesse and Katie discuss the story of Daniel Greene, a BookTuber who faced allegations of coercion, manipulation, and assault. Plus, drama at the Montreal Anarchist Book Fair. To hear more, visit www.blockedandreported.org

This week on Blocked and Reported, Jesse and Katie discuss Gen Z influencer Dean Withers and the undoing of the Unf*ck America Tour. Plus, a playground racist makes bank, and a fight over public masturbation in Seattle. Neighbors report masturbation in Seattle park where children play (The Independent)Who was the anonymous donor behind the controversial kid playground at Seattle's Denny Blaine? (KUOW)Seattle Wants to Put a Playground Next to a Historically Queer Nude Beach (The Stranger)City Hall Is Back on Denny Blaine (The Stranger)The Photos Denny Blaine Donor Stuart Sloan Sent to Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell (The Stranger)https://jessesingal.substack.com/eventsThe Studies Show LIVE with Jesse Singal (Eventbrite)How Breitbart Is Fueling the Milo Yiannopoulos Campus Outrage Outrage Cycle (New York Magazine)Professor Watchlist (Turning Point USA)Hasan Piker Is Building a Media Empire on Twitch and YouTube (The New York Times) 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

This week on the Primo episode, Jesse and Katie decide which podcasters are blame for… all this. Plus, an ABDL medical supply store/sex shop goes to court. Young at Heart (The Stranger)The Anti-Woke's Inner Circle (New York Magazine / Intelligencer)The Dissident Right’s Next Move (The New York Times) To hear more, visit www.blockedandreported.org

This week on Blocked and Reported, Jesse and Katie discuss RFK Jr’s plan to find the cause of autism. Plus, Elon shadowbans his enemies, revisiting “Hinds Hall,” and Slam Frank, the musical. DIRECTIONS ON LOCKING IN THE CURRENT PRIMO PRICE HEREColumbia Campus Occupation Could Have Ended Without Police, Report Says (New York Times)The Sundial Report, 3.31.2025 (Columbia University Senate)Columbia Hamilton Hall Protests (New York Times)Police and University Officials Release Report of 13 Non-Affiliates Arrested in Hamilton Hall, Protesters Disagree (Columbia News Service)They Criticized Musk on X. Then Their Reach Collapsed. (New York Times)Trans Wikipedia Activists control the "facts" on Youth Gender Medicine (LGB Courage Coalition Substack)Research into trans medicine has been manipulated (The Economist)RFK Jr. and the Autism-Vaccine Debate (New York Times)Autism Data & Statistics (CDC)Telepathy Tapes: Families, Autism, KY Dickens (The Cut)Chasing the Intact Mind (Oxford University Press)RFK Was Right: Severe Autism Can Be (Persuasion Community)The Problematic Obsession With Curing Autism (The Cut) To hear more, visit www.blockedandreported.org