Our editors tackle an unusual agenda on the podcast today, starting with a worrisome polling trend that spells concern for the GOP. Jack Butler, back on for his second episode, calls polling “pagan rituals.” “I always find it kind of funny in these periods of political campaigns and political seasons,” Jack said, “because we have a lot of people whose job it is to try to figure out and project what’s going to happen months from now. I’m sure they’re very good at their jobs, but to me, sometimes it seems almost like a kind of pagan ritual that they’re divining these granularities from Washington State special elections and whatnot.” The editors also discuss the races in various states, from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and weigh the merits of Liz Cheney’s unflinching stance that ended her career.
In some intra-media news, Brian Stelter got the boot from CNN. Our editors know not to kick a man when he’s down, but take the time to figure out why he fell from grace.
Finally, Rich asks Maddy to let loose on the abomination that is the transgender messaging coming out of the Boston Children’s Hospital, and she does not disappoint. “We do know that, across the country at gender clinics, these treatments are happening. . . .” Maddy said. “Puberty blockers happen to people who have not yet gone through puberty — so, by definition, under twelve. We know that cross-sex hormones are being given to people under 18, and we know that these radical, aggressive surgeries are also happening to children under the age of 18.”
She makes it clear that “this idea that they’re [Boston Children’s Hospital] the victim and that this is causing harassment of their staff — obviously there’s no excuse for people engaging in violence — but there’s not actually any evidence that that’s what people are doing. What people are doing is saying, ‘What on earth are you doing?’”
Listen below for the full conversation.