Blocked and Reported Live with Katie Herzog & Ben Ryan
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Feb 6, 2026 Benjamin Ryan, an investigative reporter who covers transgender medicine and legal cases, joins for a live conversation. He outlines the first detransitioner malpractice lawsuit and how youth gender care has evolved. They discuss policy shifts, activist and agency roles, and the rapid transition and surgical timeline behind the plaintiff’s story.
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Personal Journey Led To The Beat
- Benjamin Ryan connects his prior reporting (monkeypox, personal surgery) to his interest in gender medicine coverage.
- A New York Magazine phalloplasty piece coincided with his post-op recovery and seeded further curiosity, he says.
Prioritize Research Into Detransitioning
- Investigate understudied areas like detransitioning to inform better care and policy.
- Don’t shy away from research because of political backlash, Benjamin Ryan urges from his experience.
Federal Pressure Cripples Pediatric Clinics
- The Trump administration has weaponized federal power to restrict pediatric gender care, prompting many children's hospitals to close clinics.
- Financial and regulatory threats (Medicaid cuts, DOJ/FTC actions) make legal defense untenable for many hospitals, Katie Herzog explains.