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Can you explain the RedScare podcast and the beliefs of the hosts?

Sure! I’ve gotten a lot of requests for this one so I took a lot of time to consume the content. And before answering this question, I of course, put all the information in. I’ll also provide my opinion. I was going to try to add a section for my thoughts separate from the other stuff. But my opinions won’t have a hyperlink under them, I’ll also make my opinions a different color from black or I’ll change the font. I haven’t decided but once I start you’ll see. I’ll pick 3 random podcast episodes and will talk about the topics that were discussed. If you want me to do more episodes i can.

1. “What is the red scare?”

The RedScare is a podcast hosted by Dasha Nekrasova and Anna Khachiyan. Both Russian, they have expressed skepticism towards concepts such as feminism, neoliberalism, identity politics, political correctness, and cancel culture. The hosts have been known to use controversial language and engage in provocative discussions, pushing the boundaries of what is considered acceptable discourse in the public sphere.

Some words like neoliberalism, political correctness, identity politics and etc. may be new to some people, so I’ll try my best to explain through the thread each category the hosts seem to be skeptical of. Keep in mind that views can evolve over time and may not be static.

2. “What’s the format of the red scare?”

Anna Khachiyan and Dasha Nekrasova often express their views through satire. Their podcast, “Red Scare,” is known for its irreverent and satirical approach to discussing cultural and political topics. Satire allows them to provide commentary and critique in a humorous and often exaggerated manner, challenging mainstream narratives and conventions. Their use of satire can be seen as a way to provoke thought, generate discussion, and offer a different perspective on issues. I don’t personally listen to their podcast but I am very aware of the content.

3. “What’s the appeal of red scare and should I listen to it?”

The appeal of Red Scare lies in its ability to resonate with those who feel disillusioned by or disconnected from mainstream feminist narratives. It offers an alternative perspective that rejects the constraints and expectations imposed by capitalist-feminist ideals, providing a sense of liberation and a space for unfiltered expression.

Some listeners find solace and validation in Red Scare because it provides an alternative space where they can engage in left-wing politics and work towards a better world without feeling obligated to participate in online outrage culture. One listener expressed that listening to the podcast reassured them that they are not alone in their concerns and interests regarding left politics. They appreciate that Red Scare offers a platform for discussing political issues and advocating for change without resorting to performative online activism.

Elizabeth Bruenig, an opinion columnist at the Washington Post believes the show is “really funny.” A pro-life leftist, Bruenig debated abortion on a bonus episode for Patreon subscribers; part of the reason that she did it, she says, is that even she knew they wouldn’t consider her “the worst person they had ever talked to or a complete idiot or malicious” for holding the view she does. “Red Scare doesn’t care to be outraged,” she explained. “That’s not the emotional response they choose to present, and in political theater that makes a world of difference.” In place of a firehose of outrage, “there’s this almost decadent, Baudelarian, reclining-on-a-divan-drinking-heavily-from-a-carafe-of-brandy vibe to the show.”

3. “What’s their views? What do they say?”

It will be very hard for me to list every single thing they’ve said as I’m not a frequent listener of the podcast. I’ve listened to 3 of their podcasts to provide you with more insight instead of copying and pasting bits of what articles have said. (I’ll name the podcast episodes of each stance I’ll list).

1. Bruenig Derangement Syndrome (podcast episode 241)

In the opening of this episode, the hosts acknowledge the prevailing sense of bleakness in current affairs. They specifically highlight the resurgence of the highly debated Israel and Palestine conflict as an example. They then delve into the stance of Andrew Yang, a former presidential candidate known for his varying views. It is mentioned that Yang expressed support for Israel. Which led to an activist confronting him on this stance. Yang responded by acknowledging the complexity of the issue and offered an apology to the individual and community.

Anna: “We're literally back to Israel-Palestine and gas prices spiking.”

Dasha: “We're stuck in a feedback loop.”

Anna: “a Fisherian feedback loop.”

Dasha (sarcastically): “But well, at least this time it's being sort of like amplified through social media activism.”

Anna: “yeah.”

Dasha: “And there's tons of infographics to look at. And people are really speaking out about it much more than they have in the past.”

Anna: “The digital intifada.”

Dasha: “exactly.”

Anna: “Yeah. I mean, I think like, I don't know if this is, that's gonna change anything for the better, probably not?”

Dasha: “Well, Andrew Yang made a statement in support of Israel and then he was confronted by some activists. And then he said that actually, you know, it's complicated and both sides are... *laughter*. He said something totally meaningless instead and apologized.

Anna: “Yeah.”

Dasha: “Yeah. I've had some impact, you know, on forcing Yang into taking a totally like lukewarm, pointless position.”

Anna: “Yeah. I mean, he followed up one like boiler plate stock position with another one. And I like Glenn's article today about AOC kind of condemning chastising Andrew Yang, who's relatively powerless in all of this while not pushing back against the powerful Democrats that actually have some influence over the...”

Dasha: “And who are vocal supporters of Israel”

Anna: “of Israel. Yeah”

Dasha: “Pelosi, Biden, all of them.”

Anna: “Yeah. So that I really recommend that article. It's on his sub-stack, obviously. (sarcastically)I don't know, I'm both an anti-Semite and an Islamophobe, so I figured I'd split the difference.”

Dasha: “A no state solution.”

Anna:”yeah a no state solution”

Dasha: “Yeah. I mean, instinctively, I'm pro-Palestine.”

Anna: “yeah I think it’s-“

Dasha cutting off Anna: “obviously. but I have no, like, I personally don't care if Israel exists because I'm not Jewish.. so I really... Obviously, I, you know, it's not complicated for me to be pro-Palestine, but if I really cared about Israel, then my position would be different. “

Anna: “Yeah, that's a fair position to have.”

Dasha: “but for where I'm sitting, it does seem like an apartheid state.

Anna: “well yeah i mean”

Dasha cutting off Anna (continuing previous statement): “Completely doing ethnic cleansing, and they totally shouldn't be over there because Palestine was there first.

Anna: “But I feel like this conflict, as someone said recently, has already been settled and, like, not in favor of the Palestinians, you know, unfortunately. Like, Israel is so powerful and so mighty and so bloated with American taxpayer money.”

Dasha: “Well, that's why when Israelis like Gal Gadot make, like, weepy, weird text posts about how they just want, like, peace and for the conflict to stop, it's like, what they want is for there to not be any Palestinians like that *laughter*”

Anna: “Yeah, they want it to be out of sight, out of mind.”

Dasha: “They would love to exterminate Palestine so that there could be peace. You know, it's not like they're really advocating for both sides at all.”

Anna: “Yeah, so they take a sip of their latte and engage in some good old fashioned both sideism.”

Dasha: *agreeing*

Anna: “no yeah it’s really despicable. I mean, and the Palestinians are going to continue to be backed into a corner, stopping short of outright genocide because that's bad for optics. But it is kind of like, you know, effectively, like, functionally, a genocidal policy. And to me, and the issue with this, I said, I wasn't going to say anything, but okay, the issue, the issue for me, the biggest issue is that Israel continues to pretend it's the victim when it's really the aggressor like that to me-“

Dasha: “That's exactly what I said earlier today. They’re the ultimate aggressor masquerading as victims.”

Anna: “Yeah. How Jewish of them. Just kidding. But like, it would be honestly, it wouldn't make it any better, but it would be much more honorable and honest if they just came out with it and we're just like, we hate these people. We don't think that they have a claim to this land and let alone should exist and we're going to pulverize them into oblivion. If they just like, stop doing this, like, (Anna starts to imitate Israel sounding self victimizing and weepy) “but they're throwing rocks.”

Dasha joins in making fun of Israel: “they’re attacking us!” *laughter*

Anna: “Yeah. I don't like that. I just find it dishonest and gross. Like every mainstream news network and every kind of establishment politician being like, well, we have to broker like a two sided piece because, you know, Israel, innocent civilians, they're the victim too.”

Dasha and Anna engage in a discussion highlighting the influence of media and American politicians in shaping a narrative that portrays Israel as the victim. They express frustration with the lack of sincere efforts to address the root causes of the conflict. Their conversation is laced with sarcasm and humor, which serve as outlets for their frustration and allow them to articulate their views. They emphasize the power imbalance and the tendency to prioritize Israel's perspective while disregarding the rights of Palestinians. Ultimately, they share a common viewpoint that leans towards supporting Palestine and offering criticism towards Israel and its supporters.

On the same episode the hosts discussed various topics related to body size, language, social issues, and potential future trends. The speakers during the beginning of this topic touch upon the challenges faced by overweight and obese individuals in terms of health outcomes. They also acknowledge that there’s a bias in the medical field.

Anna: “So these fat activists basically claim there's a bias among medical providers against overweight and obese people, which is true. And they claim that it kind of skews the data on obesity and COVID, which may be true. But I think like the spin I would put on that is that the bias is not really, again, it's not a moral one. It's an economic one because these medical providers are part of the medical, the healthcare industry, and they're just avoiding liability. They're minimizing liability. Like they don't want to be sued.”

Dasha: Right.”

Anna: “And they don't want to have kind of like a preventable death on their hand. So they would rather just like not treat fat people instead of like, you know, treat them and have them die on the table.”

Dasha: “Well, so the article ends with this quote from this woman who the biologist read it. “She put off being vaccinated because she was terrified of leaving the apartment. She has not taken public transportation more than a year. Righteous services are too expensive. She does not drive. No matter what she has gone to the doctor for, she said her physician would prescribe the same thing weight loss. She fears being diagnosed with COVID-19 and having to go to a hospital. “Are they going to give me the same treatment as a skinny person or even a white person?”Cruz asks, well, “will they have things that accommodate me a larger robe, seats without arms?””Will the bed be comfortable? These are the things we have to think about as larger people” (At this point Dasha ends the quote.) The things she said that felt like quote, “a punishment” for being fat. And that's incredibly sad. And like she clearly has developed some kind of like agoraphobia also due to being obese.”

Anna: “Yeah. Well, as a fat person, you're punished twice.”

Dasha: “It's kind of like the line. I mean, it's not a punishment. It's just, it's like when you deviate from the norm, you are punished by it, by like the circumstances of life, you know, but also, I mean, to the doctors who continually prescribe her weight loss, even when they, you know, maybe they could be treating her for other things. I do think that they are doing their like due diligence as doctors and giving her sound medical advice.”

Anna: “Yeah. I mean, unlike COVID or COVID vaccines or even birth control, I feel like there's plenty of evidence, well documented evidence that being overweight does cause that, you know, bodily inflammation and system failure. I'm sure that there are outliers of like overweight people who are healthy.”

Dasha: “Yeah. Well, that's what the fat acceptance movement is sort of advocating for, is that you can be healthy at any size.”

Anna: “but you can’t. you can’t.”

Dasha: “But I don't think that's a great rule of thumb. Yeah. It's a to organize. I don't think that's a good principle to be organizing around personally.”

Anna: “And I think, yeah, the bigger issue is that like, you know, I'm really like not interested in like fat shaming in terms of like frown, you know, looking down upon people for their personal choices. But of course, this is, you know, an epidemic of like late, like imperial decadence. It really is. It's not good to have kind of a captive population of overweight people who are medical perma clients.”

Dasha: *sighs* “well yeah”

Anna: “And I think like the COVID thing is especially-“

Dasha cutting her off: “ it's also inter-sectional. Because people in like poor communities don't often just don't have access to food.”

Anna: “or healthcare.”

Dasha: “yeah or healthcare exactly.”

Then Dasha sarcastically starts talking about how she lost weight and Anna retorts saying she would’ve lost weight if she hadn’t gotten pregnant.

Anna: “And it's like, I think the American kind of BMI tables are a little skewed in the caloric table.”

Dasha: “They're skewed all over the place too.”

Anna: “But no, I feel, I feel for obese people. I feel for all people, believe it or not, including Palestinians (joke) because it is an awful situation and it's probably very frightening and anxiety inducing situation to like not be able to move around no pun intended because you might be at a higher risk for complications from COVID. But, you know, as far as I'm concerned, this is- “

Dasha: “And people treat you with contempt because people do.”

Anna: “Yeah. I think, I think people do. I think people really do hate fat people, not as much as fat people hate themselves, by the way, but they do. (sarcastically)

Dasha: “I will maintain- I don't for the record.”

Anna: “Yeah. I mean, I don't hate anybody. It takes too much energy and I don't really have those calories to expend. But the, I think that like the healthcare industry, again, it's really not about personal animus or personal hatred. It's about, you know, again, minimizing liability, maximizing profit.”

Dasha: “A doctor has to tell you to lose weight. That’s his job.”

Anna: “Yeah. It's like, you know, it's, it's like when you go to the doctor, yeah, there's like a protocol of things that they do that”

Dasha: “That's how they tell you to quit smoking”

Anna: “Yeah, always.”

Dasha: “Even though they know it's really cool and I only do it sometimes.”

Anna: “like get the flu vaccine. There's like, you know, certain talking points that they have to hit with you.”

Further in the conversation regarding the same topic, they began to speak about the usage of language to describe fat people. I’m not going to post a transcript but I’ll list the things they basically said.

They believe that the issue of overweight and obesity is a healthcare crisis, not just a matter of personal preference or body positivity.

They criticize the focus on personal feelings and experiences of fat phobia rather than the material realities and health implications of being overweight or obese.

They question the use of euphemistic or politically correct language, such as “person of size,” and argue that the term “fat” is neutral and descriptive. They find the adaptation and assimilation of certain language patterns to be pathological and highlight the potential absurdity of new linguistic norms.

They express concern that current trends in lawnguage and social issues, which may initially seem confined to certain platforms (Twitter) or groups, could eventually spill over and create divisions within society.

They suggest that the acceptance movement surrounding body size issues is feminized and not necessarily led by fat men.

They predict that if polled, most people, including fat individuals who are not active on social media, would find terms like “person of size” laughable and prefer more straightforward descriptors.

I don’t perceive this discussion as ‘fatphobic.’ The hosts acknowledge the challenges faced by individuals who are overweight and recognize the biased treatment they may experience within the medical field. They also acknowledge the limitations of society in accommodating every individual’s needs. The term ‘fat’ itself is neutral; it is an adjective that describes a physical characteristic. While it has acquired negative connotations as an insult, I believe it is possible to reclaim the word and use it as a descriptive term without intending offense. It is important to acknowledge that obesity can have health consequences, and this is a widely accepted fact, even among individuals who are overweight. The participants in the conversation express empathy towards fat people and do not engage in bashing or criticizing them. They highlight the practical challenges faced by individuals of larger size, such as fitting comfortably in airplane seats. They also point out that even seats designed for average-sized individuals can be uncomfortable. Considering the practical limitations of modifying existing infrastructure, such as airplane seats, it may be unrealistic to expect airlines to make significant changes solely based on weight considerations. Instead of focusing solely on modifying physical spaces, it is important to foster an environment of empathy and understanding.

2. CNN Clown Hall

The hosts are discussing the incident involving Jordan Neely and Daniel Penny in the context of New York City. They express mixed views on the situation, touching on various topics such as race, empathy, the criminal justice system, drug addiction, and homelessness. Some of their viewpoints include:

1. They express frustration with the racialization of the incident and the cynical framing of it as a racial crime.

2. They question the narrative that three strangers would randomly band together to harm Neely on the train, suggesting that he may have posed a threat.

3. They mention the criminal history of Neely and his ongoing drug addiction, highlighting the complexities surrounding his life.

4. They criticize the left-leaning politicians and activists who condemned Penny, arguing that they create situations of lawlessness and then punish ordinary citizens for taking action.

5. They touch on the empathy and fear that women may experience in such situations and suggest that some people secretly desire individuals like Neely to be removed from sight or even dead.

6. They also mention the role of K2 (synthetic marijuana) in Neely’s behavior and its potential influence on the incident.

7. They express frustration with the prevailing leftist response, attributing it to a perceived identification and relatability between leftists and vagrants.

8. They believe that Jordan Neely didn’t deserve to die.

3. People that listen to the podcasts

Some of the views the hosts have seem to vary.

It’s worth mentioning that the beliefs of the hosts do not necessarily reflect the views of all listeners or supporters of the podcast. The Red Scare podcast has a diverse audience, and people engage with it for various reasons, including entertainment, thought-provoking discussions, or even to engage critically with the hosts’ viewpoints. Elizabeth Olsen, for an example has admitted to being a fan of the podcast (2:30 mark) Jonah Hill also listens, Sydney Sweeney listened to help prepare for her character in the white lotus.

In the case of Red Scare, as a satirical podcast, it is generally advisable to approach their content with an understanding of their satirical style and the intention behind it. Recognizing the satirical nature can help in interpreting their messages appropriately and appreciating the underlying commentary they may be aiming to convey.

In my personal perspective, I find it difficult to regard their viewpoints seriously. I don’t believe they offer genuine opinions rooted in thoughtful critical thinking. It often feels as though they express themselves merely to conform to certain expectations, rather than sharing authentic thoughts. While I do acknowledge that some of their statements may reflect their true beliefs, it remains challenging to ascertain the sincerity of their convictions. It’s unclear to what extent they genuinely believe in their own words, as opposed to seeking unnecessary controversy or simply being contrarian.

The people that listen to them frequently enough to be subscribed to their Reddit page seem to also agree with that take. Here’s a Reddit comment one made in regards to the host. Just in case it gets deleted I’ll quote it. The user “WhiteTrashJane” posted “On the other side of that, it’s weird that “the girls” are flirting with traditionalism but still have such depraved takes. They seem unable to commit to anything and try on ideologies like personalities. I don’t take their views seriously”

They say r*tarded and f*ggot a lot. However, the offensiveness of these words, particularly the first one, can be subjective and dependent on individual perspectives. It’s worth noting that some individuals within certain communities have reclaimed the second word, although I’m not aware of their specific sexual orientation. It’s been mentioned that they have dated men in the past.

Some of the things they say make me laugh here and there, it is humorous. But it seems like none of their fans even take them seriously. Overall, they don’t give off vibes as conservatives. They are more contrarian edge lords than anything else.

#matty healy #taylor swift #the 1975 #red scare #dasha nekrasova

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