In Bed With The Right

A wide‑ranging tour of the natural law tradition, from Aristotle and Aquinas to Locke, Hobbes, and modern revivals. They trace how appeals to nature have justified gender roles, shaped jurisprudence, and been repurposed by both progressives and conservatives. The conversation flags risks of biological determinism, explores moral intuition versus reason, and shows why natural law remains politically potent.

In recent months, the call to repeal the 19th amendment and rescind American women's right to vote, has proliferated as a hashtag, meme and a shibboleth in certain far-right spaces. But how serious are those championing the cause? In this episode, Moira explains to Adrian that while we needn't worry that the 1920 amendment is going anywhere soon, this demand is about jockeying within the masculinist coalition that brought Donald Trump to power. While the supposed "arguments" for a repeal don't really bear engaging with, the history of the demand and its proliferation at this moment tells us a lot about gender and the (far) right: specifically about an alliance and a competition between tech bros and religious fundamentalists.

They debate Guy Fieri as a cartoonish performance of masculinity and his controversial public moments. They trace the rise of macho celebrity chefs and how cooking shifted from ethnic ambassadorship to white male explorer narratives. They compare Anthony Bourdain's world‑weary persona, Gordon Ramsay's baffling appeal, and reality cooking TV's move from conflict to gentler formats.

A deep dive into Elizabeth Cady Stanton's complex career, from Seneca Falls and suffrage leadership to her shift toward racist and anti-immigrant rhetoric. The conversation traces Reconstruction-era fights over voting rights, strategic splits in the movement, and how political disappointment reshaped a major feminist figure. It highlights contested legacies and the messy realities behind reformist icons.

A deep dive into the strange subculture of looksmaxxing and its bizarre rituals. A tour of practices from basic grooming to extreme procedures and dubious wellness fads. A look at how this scene ties into masculinity, sexual entitlement, and online attention economies. An exploration of performative male approval, influencer spectacle, and the darker roots in online manosphere movements.

They dig into Wagner's Parsifal: its odd reduced-opera form, male-centered themes, and the Grail Knights narrative. They unpack Amfortas's wound and sexual symbolism, Kundry's role as tempter and penitent, and the opera's tension between communal ritual and individuality. They also trace Wagner's late-life context and the rupture with Nietzsche.

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.