In Bed With The Right

Sam Huneke, historian of queer history and modern Germany, discusses research on queer women under Nazism. He traces Weimar visibility, Nazi suppression, legal ambiguity, surveillance, denunciations, and why female sexuality was treated differently. The conversation covers contested histories, memorial debates, trans persecution, and acts of agency and survival.

A deep dive into the media rise of Bari Weiss and the institutions she reshaped. They trace her shift from newsroom critic to media entrepreneur and fundraiser. The conversation examines Silicon Valley’s anti‑woke vibe, contentious Free Press reporting, and her messy tenure at CBS. They also explore the University of Austin saga and risks of right‑wing consolidation of mainstream outlets.

A deep-dive into a polarizing media figure's rise from campus activism to major newsrooms. They unpack her early life, Zionist roots, and Columbia controversies. Discussion covers her move through Jewish outlets, Wall Street Journal style, and high-profile New York Times departure. They also trace the creation of her Substack persona and how identity and victim narratives fuel her influence.

A sharp dive into a new film take on Wuthering Heights and why it matters now. They parse gender and race in the novel and its adaptation. Film style, casting choices, and altered plot points get close attention. The conversation flags how romance, violence, and eroticism are reshaped for modern audiences.

A deep dive into Leon Botstein’s long ties to Jeffrey Epstein and what those links reveal about elite campus culture. A former Bard student describes the college’s social makeup, administrative control, and gaps in student support. The conversation also examines Botstein’s views on adolescence and how they intersect with broader controversies in higher education.

A drive down Highway 101 becomes a tour of inscrutable Silicon Valley billboards and their insider messaging. The conversation decodes cryptic AI ads that signal dominance, exclusivity, and a bleak aesthetic. They trace how AI rhetoric reshapes labor hierarchies, elite political signaling, and the growing power of tech billionaires.

The Epstein files are many things: a study in elite impunity, a deep core sample of societal misogyny, a record of institutional failure. But they also give us a fascinating, if terrifying, alternate story of #MeToo and what came after. For this episode, Moira and Adrian take the recent drop of several million more pages of Epstein emails--and Moira's walk-on cameo in them--to think about networked antifeminism, #MeToo backlash, the traffic in women as social conduit, and the solidarity of (allegedly, allegedly, allegedly) predatory men.

A deep dive into a deadly Minneapolis shooting and how video and official accounts clashed. Conversations about gendered and masculine forms of resistance versus caregiving solidarity. Exploration of how whiteness and political fantasies shaped public reaction and anger. Coverage of protests, mutual aid networks, and the political fallout and performative accountability.

Abby Kluchin, psychoanalytic scholar and host of Ordinary Unhappiness, explores the romantasy boom. She traces its rise, fan-driven amplification on BookTok, and why pandemic reading found comfort in sweeping fantasy-romance mixes. Conversations cover formulaic heroine types, trauma-healing arcs, and how serial, sensual worldbuilding creates immersive, therapeutic reading experiences.

Moira and Adrian dive into the world of birth control misinformation, spotlighting the recent influencer-led surge against hormonal contraceptives. They discuss the dangers of misleading claims, including false narratives about infertility and libido changes. Historical abuses in reproductive health are examined, along with the politicization of women’s autonomy. The duo also critiques cycle-syncing trends and the commercialization of wellness advice, urging listeners to discern valid medical concerns from harmful ideology.