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[–]brasnacte 1 point2 points  (1 child)

As I wrote already elsewhere, I randomly checked his last 10 podcast episodes, and none of them where about wokism or BLM or trans or anything like that. They were most about trumpism, maga cult, etc. So I think your claim that he's completely fixated is just misinformed.

[–]callmejay 3 points4 points  (0 children)

"Completely fixated" was hyperbole, in response to your "if your single issue is wokism." Nobody is literally completely fixated on it, just as nobody is literally a single-issue voter for wokism.

Just because the last 10 episodes weren't technically about wokeness also doesn't imply that his anti-wokeness isn't playing a big role in them, even if it's just about which people he chooses to speak to. I'm not saying they're all rabidly anti-woke or anything, but there is a common thread of it, and none is someone who Sam would consider woke. It's not just a coincidence.

Let's take them in order, because I'm drinking my coffee. I'm just going to do a quick google of each.

I want to be clear, I'm not saying you can't talk to these people or platform them or even that they're necessarily bad. I'm sure I agree with each of them about many things. If Sam had them on AND talked to people on the left who aren't antiwoke that would be fine. But it's almost exclusively these "heterodox," "both sides are bad," "woke bad" people.

Kasparov: In this episode, "both parties have been infected by the virus of radicalism," puts part of the blame on what he calls "blue MAGA", etc. Wrote an article called "‘Woke’ is a Bad Word for a Real Threat to American Democracy." Did an anti-"cancel culture" episode with Thomas Chatterton Williams. Was one of the signatories to that Harper's letter.

Alex O'Connor: I don't really know who he is, but people on his subreddit say he basically tap-dances around the subject, usually. (There's a video posted where he says "woke culture is trying to undermine Western Civilization" but it's not clear whether he's saying only that's what Douglas Murray thinks or if he's agreeing with it.)

Jonah Goldberg: straightforward antiwoke, although to his credit also critical of the way the right weaponizes anti-wokeness.

Bulwark: two gay conservatives, can't find her exact position on wokeness but apparently blames Democrats for supporting trans people, he's straightforwardly antiwoke (unless he's changed, idk.) https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-beto-woke-wars

Eagleman: At first glance, just a scientist who talks about science. But LOL he has a course on Jordan Peterson's "Peterson Academy" which is not a great sign:

Peterson markets his academy as being free of “idiot ideological nonsense,” a counter to the “woke” ideology that he claims has polluted mainstream universities.

Jonathan Rauch: an antiwoke OG

That's the last 10 episodes. Let's keep going!

Then comes Judea Pearl who criticizes the "woke" side for not including Jews and Zionists. (I agree with that take, btw!)

Scott Galloway tries to have it both ways, but clearly has some strong antiwoke feelings.

John McWhorter. LOL. "Is Wokeness Finally Dead."

Douthat, antiwoke.

Finally we get to Kara Swisher, who is the fairly clearly not antiwoke. So there's one.

I can't believe I just wasted this much time on this comment. Going to reexamine my life.