My guests for this episode include science ‘influencer’ Mr. @Evopsychgoogle, evolutionary biologist Kevin Bird @thebirdmaniac on Twitter and anthropologist Cathryn Townsend @cathryntownsend

On this part of the panel we discuss the panelists’ recent article in Stat News (linked below), on how this type of junk science continues to be legitimized to this day, despite glaring errors in the data. We discuss self-described ‘scientific racist’ Richard Lynn as well as E.O. Wilson, Steven Pinker, Sam Harris, Charles Murray and their contributions to race ‘science’.

We also talk more broadly about how the Intellectual Dark Web has played a major role in reviving it in recent years.

Links:

The Panelists’ article that we discussed in the beginning of the episode: Journals that published Richard Lynn’s racist ‘research’ articles should retract them https://www.statnews.com/2024/06/20/richard-lynn-racist-research-articles-journals-retractions/

My previous episodes with Mr. @evopsychgoogle: Pt 1 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jSFhcmT6xNJ4JOwbEkscE?si=JnGZZ36GTNSVYKr0dYz4Fg

Pt 2 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5gvuP3xLyqKSpJgTjf43A3?si=AenT06jVTuGNc-pd6W4BtA

My Miniseries on Sam Harris ‘Woking Up’ https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1caIpbHnvDjKu0Ph4DA0Nb?si=DxI59yjtRjuDV7rQSv9cEw&pi=u-kmAFEyuTRNiJ

If you’d like to support the show pls subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@politeconversationspodcast

——

Other Related articles:

Quinn Slobodian article about the Pioneer Fund and The Bell Curve: https://thebaffler.com/salvos/the-white-man-unburdened-slobodian-schrader

The Tainted Sources of The Bell Curve: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1994/12/01/the-tainted-sources-of-the-bell-curve/

Free book by William Tucker on The Bell Curve: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-41614-9

Primary research articles debunking Lynn:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104160801000035X?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1041608009001071?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886909003675?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289609001470?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289609000634?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886909002475?via%3Dihub

https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/tzr8c https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/26vfb https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1041608024000141?via%3Dihub

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Here’s the first part of my 3-part discussion on race ‘science’. In this part I talk about my own observations of the slimy tactics and talking points the IDW/Heterodox race ‘science’ fans tend to use. It’s a journey through some of the wildest IDW race ‘science’ clips I could find - From Molyneux and Rubin discussing brain size & race to Sam Harris platforming and defending Charles Murray.

The next 2 parts will be a panel featuring various scientists/academics. Including returning guest, Mr. @Evopsychgoogle from Twitter.

Consider this episode a primer for the panel discussion.

All parts are available early via patreon.com/nicemangos

If you enjoy the show please consider supporting via patreon and access all episodes before they are released.

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Here’s a recording of the Twitter Space from Friday Aug 2nd, ICYMI.

Joining me on this Space was political writer/podcaster (and former rightwinger) Matthew Sheffield. As always, please note, Twitter Spaces are live events, and unfortunately the sound is never as good as the usual podcast audio, since u can only functionally use Spaces on the mobile app.

If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

——

If the *bad* kind of weirdness was an Olympic sport, it would be hard to pick a winner. There are so many unhinged rightwing takes to choose from. We discussed a whole lot on this Space - Seems like years worth of stuff, but it really just covers the past couple of weeks; The assassination attempt on Trump, the weird culty prop bandages, JD Vance, couches & dolphins, Biden stepping down & endorsing Kamala (this was recorded pre Walz being picked, so that isn’t mentioned), the weird rightwing meltdowns about Kamala being both of Indian heritage and being black….the rightwing outrage about the Olympics, JK Rowling and others plunging to new levels of transphobic madness, the Olympics allowing genocidal war criminals to participate - all that and more, right here.

Links:

Police warned Secret Service of a suspicious person at Trump rally before gunman opened fire, source says https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/-police-warned-secret-service-suspicious-person-trump-rally-shooting-rcna161933 Diapers for Trump: https://news.sky.com/story/donald-trump-supporters-wear-nappies-13129050

Charlie Kirk’s TPUSA wearing diapers https://www.salon.com/2018/03/25/how-a-diaper-protest-led-to-the-implosion-of-a-conservative-student-group/

Rowling’ s horrendous tweet about Imane Khelif which is still up at the time of this writing https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1819488996356964754?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Khelif’s opponent apologizes https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/c2j3jg51rg4o

Loomer goes full birther about Kamala https://x.com/eyesontheright/status/1819240726003106181?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Loomer calls Kamala a ‘brain dead bimbo’ : https://x.com/eyesontheright/status/1815958476721369094?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Paris Olympics organisers apologise to Christians for unintentional Last Supper parody https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/28/paris-olympics-organisers-apologise-to-christians-for-last-supper-parody

Before Going MAGA, J.D. Vance Reportedly Brought Baked Goods to His Trans Friend: A former Yale classmate says Trump’s VP pick brought them treats while they recovered from top surgery. https://www.them.us/story/jd-vance-trans-friend-law-school-baked-goods-conservative-turn

Vance searching for woman + dolphin https://x.com/atrupar/status/1816849447407456694?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

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Linguist, noted ‘Pinkerologist’ and friend of the show Dr. Caitlin Green (@Caitlinmoriah) joins me to analyze and discuss the Extremely Rational thoughts of one Steven Pinker. In pt 2 we discuss Pinker’s constant downplaying of r*pe statistics and the inadequate, cherry-picked sources he uses to support his flawed arguments.

——

If you have experienced sexual assault or violence here are some helpful resources:

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safe-campuses-bc/what-is-consent

https://www.brown.edu/campus-life/health/services/promotion/sexual-health-sex-101-sexual-assault-dating-violence-learn-more-alcohol-other-drugs-learn-more

Brown University: Yes, it is possible to establish consent if you and/or your partner(s) have been drinking or using other drugs. Consent cannot be obtained through the use of coercion or force or by taking advantage of the incapacitation of another individual. If anyone is incapacitated for any reason, they cannot give consent. If someone has been using alcohol or other drugs and you are thinking about having any kind of sexual interaction with them, it is your responsibility to check in, ask, and make sure they consent to what is going on. Being intoxicated yourself does not absolve you of the responsibility of obtaining consent. If you are unsure whether you can establish consent, don’t have sex.

https://endingviolencecanada.org/sexual-assault-centres-crisis-lines-and-support-services/

https://www.wannatalkaboutit.com/ca/sexual-violence/

https://www.rainn.org/international-sexual-assault-resources

——

Links:

Great thread by Kate Manne which came up in the episode https://x.com/kate_manne/status/1149902823200632833?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Detailed thread on Pinker’s discussion on R*pe in Better Angels of our Nature https://x.com/magi_jay/status/972958282125062144?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw!

If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a public SAMPLE of an upcoming episode.

Please subscribe via patreon.com to hear the full episode. Part 2 is available via Patreon.com/nicemangos

——-

Linguist, noted ‘Pinkerologist’ and friend of the show Dr. Caitlin Green (@Caitlinmoriah) joins me to analyze and discuss the Extremely Rational thoughts of one Steven Pinker. In pt 2 we discuss Pinker’s constant downplaying of r*pe statistics and the inadequate, cherry-picked sources he uses to support his flawed arguments.

——

If you have experienced sexual assault or violence here are some helpful resources:

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safe-campuses-bc/what-is-consent

https://www.brown.edu/campus-life/health/services/promotion/sexual-health-sex-101-sexual-assault-dating-violence-learn-more-alcohol-other-drugs-learn-more

Brown University: Yes, it is possible to establish consent if you and/or your partner(s) have been drinking or using other drugs. Consent cannot be obtained through the use of coercion or force or by taking advantage of the incapacitation of another individual. If anyone is incapacitated for any reason, they cannot give consent. If someone has been using alcohol or other drugs and you are thinking about having any kind of sexual interaction with them, it is your responsibility to check in, ask, and make sure they consent to what is going on. Being intoxicated yourself does not absolve you of the responsibility of obtaining consent. If you are unsure whether you can establish consent, don’t have sex.

https://endingviolencecanada.org/sexual-assault-centres-crisis-lines-and-support-services/

https://www.wannatalkaboutit.com/ca/sexual-violence/

https://www.rainn.org/international-sexual-assault-resources

——

Links:

Great thread by Kate Manne which came up in the episode https://x.com/kate_manne/status/1149902823200632833?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Detailed thread on Pinker’s discussion on R*pe in Better Angels of our Nature https://x.com/magi_jay/status/972958282125062144?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Linguist, noted ‘Pinkerologist’ and friend of the show Dr. Caitlin Green joins me to analyze and discuss the Extremely Rational thoughts of one Steven Pinker.

In part 1 we discuss hats, gloves, rationality, hypocrisy, Pinker’s special brand of ‘positivity P 0rn’ and more!

Links:

Steven Pinker's aid in Jeffrey Epstein's legal defense renews criticism of an increasingly divisive public intellectual. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/07/17/steven-pinkers-aid-jeffrey-epsteins-legal-defense-renews-criticism-increasingly

A thread on the ironically named organization FAIR (Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism) - a who’s who of some of the most intolerant and racist rightwing hacks around https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1367585945160146947?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

The Harvard Crimson: Pinker is often willing to defend his colleagues — even when it attracts controversy.

In 2012, the University of Miami philosopher Colin McGinn was accused of sexual harassment by a graduate student. When the matter became public, Pinker wrote in an open letter that McGinn was a “brilliant and distinguished scholar” and that if the University of Miami pursued disciplinary action against McGinn for “exchanging sexual banter with a graduate student,” it would “put a chill on communication between faculty and graduate students and on the openness and informality on which scholarship depends.”

In our conversation, Pinker often brings up “The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature,” which, even two decades after its release, illustrates core aspects of his thinking today. The book argues that our individual behaviors — our intelligence, our sociability, our tendencies toward violence — are rooted in our genes, not just the environment in which we are raised. “.. in 2006 Pinker published a favorable review of a scientific paper which argued that Ashkenazi Jews may have evolved to have higher IQs than other racial and ethnic groups.”

One of the first academics to be canceled, Pinker says, was E. O. Wilson. Wilson was a biologist and professor of evolutionary biology at Harvard. Today, he is known for two things: his award-winning work on biodiversity and his public branding as a racist. In 1975, Wilson published a book called “Sociobiology: The New Synthesis,” which argues that behaviors result from genes — “very much in the strain of work that I wrote about on human nature,” Pinker says — and stepped into a debate about scientific racism. In his book, Wilson writes that there should be a “discipline of anthropological genetics” to explore whether cultural differences are biological. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/10/27/steven-pinker-scrut/ Pinker currently serves on the E. O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation’s board of advisers https://eowilsonfoundation.org/about-us/our-team/

Screenshot, Pinker upset at anti-scientism and historians ‘historicizing’ https://x.com/mccormick_ted/status/1182645627169263616?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Pinker smears anti-genocide students as ‘Pro-Hamas’ https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1810472709580570796?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Pinker’s video about how ‘Political Correctness is redpilling America’ https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1138497096569540609?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Pinker Publishes response about associations with Epstein on Jerry Coyne’s blog which has also done the Just Asking Questions routine about whether convicted child r*pist Jerry Sandusky was truly guilty or not. https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1150216005114912769?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

——

Pls subscribe via patreon.com/nicemangos to support the show Pt 2 available early to patrons

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*This is a public sample of an upcoming episode.

Please subscribe via patreon.com to hear the full episode. Part 2 is available via the Premium tiers on Patreon.*

——

Linguist, noted ‘Pinkerologist’ and friend of the show Dr. Caitlin Green joins me to analyze and discuss the Extremely Rational thoughts of one Steven Pinker. In part 1 we discuss hats, gloves, rationality, hypocrisy, Pinker’s special brand of ‘positivity P 0rn’ and more!

——

Links:

Steven Pinker's aid in Jeffrey Epstein's legal defense renews criticism of an increasingly divisive public intellectual. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/07/17/steven-pinkers-aid-jeffrey-epsteins-legal-defense-renews-criticism-increasingly

A thread on the ironically named organization FAIR (Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism) - a who’s who of some of the most intolerant and racist rightwing hacks around https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1367585945160146947?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

The Harvard Crimson: Pinker is often willing to defend his colleagues — even when it attracts controversy. In 2012, the University of Miami philosopher Colin McGinn was accused of sexual harassment by a graduate student. When the matter became public, Pinker wrote in an open letter that McGinn was a “brilliant and distinguished scholar” and that if the University of Miami pursued disciplinary action against McGinn for “exchanging sexual banter with a graduate student,” it would “put a chill on communication between faculty and graduate students and on the openness and informality on which scholarship depends.”

In our conversation, Pinker often brings up “The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature,” which, even two decades after its release, illustrates core aspects of his thinking today. The book argues that our individual behaviors — our intelligence, our sociability, our tendencies toward violence — are rooted in our genes, not just the environment in which we are raised.

“.. in 2006 Pinker published a favorable review of a scientific paper which argued that Ashkenazi Jews may have evolved to have higher IQs than other racial and ethnic groups.”

One of the first academics to be canceled, Pinker says, was E. O. Wilson. Wilson was a biologist and professor of evolutionary biology at Harvard. Today, he is known for two things: his award-winning work on biodiversity and his public branding as a racist.

In 1975, Wilson published a book called “Sociobiology: The New Synthesis,” which argues that behaviors result from genes — “very much in the strain of work that I wrote about on human nature,” Pinker says — and stepped into a debate about scientific racism. In his book, Wilson writes that there should be a “discipline of anthropological genetics” to explore whether cultural differences are biological. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/10/27/steven-pinker-scrut/

Pinker currently serves on the E. O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation’s board of advisers https://eowilsonfoundation.org/about-us/our-team/

Screenshot, Pinker upset at anti-scientism and historians ‘historicizing’ https://x.com/mccormick_ted/status/1182645627169263616?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Pinker smears anti-genocide students as ‘Pro-Hamas’ https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1810472709580570796?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Pinker’s video about how ‘Political Correctness is redpilling America’ https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1138497096569540609?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Pinker Publishes response about associations with Epstein on Jerry Coyne’s blog which has also done the Just Asking Questions routine about whether convicted child r*pist Jerry Sandusky was truly guilty or not. https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1150216005114912769?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

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I’m writing a series over on my patreon…on something thats pretty personal to me - the Ex-Mus to TradFash pipeline.

It’s a path I’ve seen too many go down and completely descend into blatant far right f*ckery. I’ve dedicated a fair bit of time this month to unpacking this phenomenon more broadly and to documenting the far right trajectory of one Ex-Muslim in particular, previously thought to be one of the better, more moderate ones by many who had followed the new atheist and Ex-Muslim scenes.

If you are interested in learning more about this particular form of radicalization, do check out the series on my patreon.

Parts 1 & 2 are up for all Patrons, Part 3 (the wildest ride of the series) coming soon.

***

Find part 1 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/106445369

Find Part 2 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/106501752

Once you’re a Patron you can also check out other Patreon Exclusive posts like “Black History Month with Sam Harris: https://www.patreon.com/posts/black-history-98603534?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

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Researcher (from Political Research Associates) & coauthor of Safety through Solidarity, Ben Lorber (@BenLorber8) joins me for a convo about the far right in both Israel & more broadly, the Jewish far right.

We discuss far-right Israeli ministers Ben Gvir/Smotrich, rhetoric we are seeing coming from so many Israeli officials, extremist anti-miscegenation groups like Lehava, & American-Israeli extremist rabbi Meir Kahane. We also discuss the ADL and the demonization of solidarity protests/encampments, as well as the concerning new pipelines for liberals to make common cause w the right on the topic of Israel. Christian Zionists, tokenization, & more.

If u enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos

——

Links: Ben’s book, co-authored w Shane Burley, ‘Safety Through Solidarity’ here https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741043/safety-through-solidarity-by-shane-burley/ Ben’s article on Bronze Age Zionists https://x.com/benlorber8/status/1757871425925333192?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

thread on ADL’s inconsistent methodology for antisemitism audit https://x.com/benlorber8/status/1780623385971540469?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

CNN clip on tokenization that came up in our chat https://x.com/abbydphillip/status/1785147804668616941?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Greenblatt of the ADL saying “we are not the Jews of trembling knees” https://x.com/benlorber8/status/1787536049465413921?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Greenblatt referring to students, incl Jewish groups, as ‘Iranian proxies’ https://www.thedailybeast.com/cair-calls-on-msnbc-to-ban-adl-boss-over-iranian-proxies-remark

The Golden Age of American Jews is Ending https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/04/us-anti-semitism-jewish-american-safety/677469/

Tom Cotton calls encampments ‘little Gazas’ https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/05/01/tom-cotton-campus-protests-gaza

Former US ambassador to Israel says students marching in support of Hamas https://x.com/davidm_friedman/status/1719070572083040616?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Columbia Prof Shai Davidai refers to students as terrorists https://x.com/palmena_ic/status/1782361692900384969?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Ted Cruz saying these protests are antisemitic while perpetuating antisemitic tropes https://x.com/tedcruz/status/1785406268607287383?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Ben Shapiro tweet on antisemitism vs support for Israel: https://x.com/benshapiro/status/644505141299671041?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Christian Nationalist Sean Feucht enthusiastic abt rising antisemitism https://x.com/benlorber8/status/1783539026022006823?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Ben Gvir’s association w extremist group Lehava https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-extremist-benzi-gopstein-said-advising-ben-gvir-on-police-issues/

Isaac Herzog referred to intermarriage as ‘plague’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/incoming-jewish-agency-head-walks-back-calling-intermarriage-a-plague/

Meet Lehava, the Israeli Fascists https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/meet-lehava-israeli-fascists-mounting-vicious-crusade-keep-their-women-away-arabs-1466584

Israel’s Finance Minister Says He's 'A Fascist Homophobe' https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-01-16/ty-article/.premium/israels-far-right-finance-minister-im-a-fascist-homophobe-but-i-wont-stone-gays/00000185-b921-de59-a98f-ff7f47c70000

Meir Kahane’s Cousin drove into anti-genocide protesters in NYC https://www.huffpost.com/entry/reuven-kahane-arrested-columbia-gaza-protest-assault_n_663bbd77e4b0c38baf0eacd4

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