The Rittenhouse Rorschach Test

Ladies man or misogynist? Business mogul or human trafficker? Warrior or poser? To some, Andrew Tate is the ideal modern man, bending the rules of a broken system to suit his needs; to others, he is the living embodiment of toxic masculinity. We discuss the explosive rise of Andrew Tate, why he is so appealing to his male followers, and explore his particular archetype of masculinity.If you think Andrew Tate and Jordan Peterson have something in common, you’re right – and wrong. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokenworld.substack.com

Each year, thousands of troubled young children – most of them girls – are shunted on a path towards gender transition therapy and hormone blockers, often without the knowledge or consent of their parents. Puberty, already the most confusing period in a human being's life, is recast as a nightmare, nature's mistake, something to be fought or circumvented entirely if possible. This is happening with the full approval of teachers, therapists and the medical establishment. Against their efforts stands one man and a billboard, traveling around the world raising awareness, sounding the alarm, putting himself in harm's way. He has been shamed and spat on, assaulted and defamed, suffered broken bones and endless threats, and yet still he continues to stand tall. He goes by Billboard Chris, and we were honoured to speak with him. If you would like to support Billboard Chris’ cause, you can donate directly on his website here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokenworld.substack.com

Girls, we hear all the time, are the new benchmark for success. They’re succeeding in school, aiming ever higher in university, and out-earning their male peers in cities. But cracks are emerging in this success narrative, and they point to an overlooked and ignored mental health crisis in young girls. In this episode, we present the Lost Girls of our age. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokenworld.substack.com

The combination of the birth control pill and the sexual revolution have dramatically changed the way men and women interact. The promise was nothing short of total liberation: women freed from the animal reproductive cycle, marriages based on love and mutual respect between equals, and an end to loneliness and sexual jealousy. More than a half-century later, however, the voices of discontent are growing louder. In The Case Against the Sexual Revolution, journalist and anti-rape campaigner Louise Perry surveys a sorry landscape of discontented women, lonely, porn-obsessed young men, and abusers cloaking their misdeeds in the language of "sex positivity." On balance, has the sexual revolution been a positive or negative? We discuss.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokenworld.substack.com

Inspired by recent Twitter spats involving J.K. Rowling and Matt Walsh, we discuss the most controversial question of the moment: what is a woman? Competing definitions have split the center-left and center-right, allowing a fringe minority to radically alter laws, school curriculums, and even the English language. Is there some middle ground between the Handmaid's Tale and allowing biological males into women's prisons? We believe so, and finding it is a necessary first step. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokenworld.substack.com

We spoke with Canadian academic and writer Terry Newman about her "through the looking glass" experience of being a first-generation college student on a progressive campus, and how the biases and blindspots she witnessed first-hand, among students and teachers, have hurt our media's ability to understand average Canadians. As a proud member of Heterodox Academy, Terry is committed to returning viewpoint diversity and open debate to the classroom, and she shares her prescriptions for how to make that happen.As a friendly reminder, future interviews with guests will be paywalled, so this is a great time to consider becoming a subscriber. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokenworld.substack.com

After recent controversies involving high-profile women behaving badly, one of the shibboleths of the modern era looks increasingly suspicious: #BelieveAllWomen. After a short summary of the Amber Heard and Jada Pinkett Smith dramas, we discuss our ideological blindspots, and how group psychology and a complete lack of personal accountability are undermining the democratic process right in front of our eyes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokenworld.substack.com

TikTok: digital public diary meets modern dating cesspool. We examine two major trending videos from the last week – one lamenting a NYC lothario named Caleb, and another boasting of the good life working for Uber in Chicago. Both videos caused an explosion on the internet but a closer look reveals a dysfunctional cultural landscape bruising egos and breaking self-esteems. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokenworld.substack.com

What choices does a lost boy have when faced with total uncertainty? In Jethro Bronner's case, the call to the open road was strong enough to compel him to drive from South Africa to London, passing through countries in the midst of social and political turmoil. He shares what he learned along the way and how it transformed his outlook on the world. Subscribe to his YouTube to see what he's been up to in South Africa and follow him on Instagram @jethrojamesbronner. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokenworld.substack.com

At the time of this writing, a 17-year-old kid is being prosecuted for murder, and all of America awaits the verdict. But the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse is just another flashpoint in a culture war that so often turns on the innocence or villainy of a young white man. We discuss some of the psychic baggage burdening this trial and its representation in the national consciousness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokenworld.substack.com