#1553 The Nuremberg Trials of J.K. Rowling: Misogyny and Authoritarianism in the Bizarro World
Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
Jay Tomlinson
4.5 • 3.4K Ratings
🗓️ 17 April 2023
⏱️ 78 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Air Date 4/16/2023
Today, we take a look at some of the arguments of the anti-trans feminist movement, known by its most prominent proponent, J.K. Rowling, all in the shadow of the anti-trans fervor of the right wing which is checking off the stages of genocide like a to-do list.
Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content)
SHOW NOTES
Ch. 2: Understanding The 'Logic' Of TERFs - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder - Air Date 2-13-22
Why do TERFs think the way they do? The history of TERFs goes way back before JK Rowling. In the 1980s TERF Janice Raymond ran a successful campaign to push Sandy Stone out of Olivia Records.
Ch. 3: Comments 1: Introducing Authoritarianism
Ch. 5: Transphobia In A Suit - The Anti-Trans Hate Machine: A Plot Against Equality - Air Date 7-22-21
Imara investigates the influence the Heritage Foundation had in infusing anti-trans ideology into the government during Trump’s presidency—a legacy the Biden administration is still trying to unravel.
Ch. 6: Comments 2: Reasons for the extreme defense of trans rights
Ch. 8: American Fascism And The Groomer Panic Part 1 - Second Thought - Air Date 2-24-23
We've seen a number of moral panics over the decades, and this one is no different. Come learn how the same old tropes are being recycled to animate this latest strain
Ch. 9: Comments 3: Just asking questions
Ch. 11: American Fascism And The Groomer Panic Part 2 - Second Thought - Air Date 2-24-23
Ch. 12: Comments 4: Straw men and moderates
Ch. 14: Can We Stop the GOP From “Eradicating” Trans People? - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 3-8-23
Pastor Martin Niemöller’s famous poem begins, “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.” But, in fact, first they came for the queer people. A year before Nazis began attacking union leaders and socialists
Ch. 15: Comments 5: Who understands Harry Potter?
Ch. 16: Comments 6: Misogyny in the movement
Ch. 17: Comments 7: Fueling anger and emboldening action
Ch. 18: TERFs and the Fascist Roots of Anti-Trans Movements - Jessie Gender - Air Date 3-22-23
At a gender-critical TERF rally in Melbourne, Australia, Neo-Nazis showed up to support the anti-trans rhetoric... and this shouldn't surprise anyone.
Ch. 19: Comments 8: If nazis are supporting your movement...
FINAL COMMENTS
Ch. 20: Final comments on reimagining reality
MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions)
SHOW IMAGE
Description: The sentence “Trans Rights Are Human Rights” is repeated in alternating colors of the transgender pride flag. The UN Free & Equal logo is on the bottom right corner.
Credit: "#TransRightsAreHumanRights" UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) initiative UN Free & Equal (@free_equal)
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Welcome to this episode of the award-winning Best of the Left podcast in which we shall |
| 0:07.1 | take a look at the age-old tactic of weaponizing transphobia for political gain. |
| 0:13.2 | And also, I listen to a podcast about J.H. Rowling and her views recently that turned out |
| 0:18.3 | to be very relevant to this topic, so I'm going to break down a few elements of it. |
| 0:23.5 | The clips today are from Genocide Watch, the majority report, the anti-transhate machine, |
| 0:29.8 | a plot against equality, second thought, the Tom Hurtman program, and Jesse Gender. |
| 0:36.2 | But I'm going to start with a few thoughts about this podcast about Rowling. |
| 0:40.6 | The title of the podcast series is easily the worst part of it. |
| 0:44.6 | They set out to make a show that tried to explain both sides of the trans rights movement |
| 0:50.5 | and the so-called gender-critical feminists, also known as trans-exclusionary radical feminists |
| 0:56.4 | or TERFs, which they have actually decided is a slur against them. |
| 1:01.2 | Even though it's just sort of descriptive of their beliefs, it is often said with a lot |
| 1:05.7 | of hatred and anger, so it can sound like a slur, but you can say the same about a lot |
| 1:10.1 | of nouns to get used in anger. |
| 1:11.8 | Anyway, the title is The Witch Trials of J.H. Rowling. |
| 1:16.9 | Obviously, the idea of a witch trial or a witch hunt is the classic metaphor for an unjust accusation. |
| 1:24.7 | That's why Trump uses it all the time. |
| 1:26.9 | Part of the show references the religious rights criticism of the Harry Potter books back |
| 1:32.0 | in the 90s for spreading witchcraft. |
| 1:34.6 | That's a good use of the unjust accusation metaphor. |
| 1:38.0 | But it can't help but also refer to her more recent criticism from the trans rights advocates, |
| 1:43.3 | which honestly doesn't fit with the content of the show, which is far more even handed |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Jay Tomlinson, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Jay Tomlinson and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.