The Anti-Trans Hate Machine: A Plot Against Equality

Disinformers ultimately want their narratives to filter into trusted sources where they can almost imperceptibly begin to shift public opinion. In this episode, Imara dives into how Christian Nationalists have successfully made The New York Times—arguably the world’s most powerful news organization—into an agent of their views. The fact that they have done so is a degree of success beyond what they could have hoped. And the way that anti-trans ideas have embedded themselves at the paper has wide ranging impacts on trans people as well American democracy overall. Join us as we learned how this happened through the voices and stories of former and current New York Times staff.

Various parts of the right wing disinformation machine effectively work in tandem to elevate junk science and platform people spreading anti-trans hate. In this episode, Imara takes a deep dive into the inner workings of this world by following the rise of Abigail Shrier, a woman who rose quickly from obscurity to become a so-called expert spreading the myth of social contagion. We'll explore how she packaged these concepts in ways that was ready made for Christian Nationalist media, especially Fox News. And how they were accompanied by a mainstream appeal that’s had a devastating impact on parents and kids.

Disinformation must spread in ways that are imperceptible and seemingly organic. Join us for a deep dive into the massive influence of the fringe blog 4th Wave Now, where parents who are hostile to their trans kids gather to spread conspiracy theories about the origins of gender identity. It has influenced liberal parents like Jeanne Ogden, who used ideas in the blog to help justify blocking her daughter Cam from receiving the care she needs. Learn how Jeanne and Cam are working to pick up the pieces, after being manipulated by this disinformation. And how, despite the harm, journalists like Jesse Singal grabbed the idea of trans social contagion and ran with it.

Every day, attacks on trans kids grow louder, and more anti-trans bills keep moving through state legislatures. How did this happen?  In this episode we tell you how lessons learned by Christian Nationalists twenty years ago, in the fight to undermine gay rights by preserving conversion therapy, set the stage for today. Join us as we show how the ability to manufacture pseudoscientific theories and push them out in the  mainstream across three decades led to today’s crisis. 

Day by day, the attacks on trans kids grow louder, and more anti-trans bills keep moving through state legislatures. In this season of The Anti-Trans Hate Machine, Imara Jones illuminates how the right wing has fueled these bills by generating a breathtaking and wide-ranging disinformation campaign. Christian Nationalists are manufacturing pseudoscientific theories and using the entire anti-trans hate machine to pipe them out into the mainstream to create a rationale for these bills. And it’s catching on. We will show you how their anti-trans propaganda is working and ultimately being laundered by some of the most powerful newsrooms in the world. Season 2 of The Anti-Trans Hate Machine premiers March 31st..

Over the past three episodes of our first ever mini-series, Imara has detailed the institutions that are the major components of the anti-trans hate machine. But in this episode we dive into the people funding this machine and why. We enter into the shadows of the anti-trans movement and unpack how their hate intersects with a larger, even darker agenda. You can connect with us on social media!Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Twitter (@imarajones) and Instagram (@imara_jones_)Follow our guests on social media:Andy Kroll: @andykroll (Twitter)Anne Nelson: @anelsona (Instagram) @anelsona (Twitter)Frederick Clarkson: @FredClarkson (Twitter)Heron Greenesmith: @herongio (Instagram) @herongio (Twitter)Organizations mentioned in this episode:Council For National PolicyNational Christian FoundationThe Dick and Betsy DeVos Family FoundationThe Prince FoundationThe Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation Podcast Credits: Executive Producer and host, Imara Jones; Oliver-Ash Kleine is Senior Producer.Tiler Wilson, Annie Ning and Ruby Fludzinski are our Associate Producers. Sydney Bauer is our Researcher. Audrey Quinn edited this series. Sound design and mixing by Alexander Charles Adams. Montana Thomas is our production coordinator. Audio engineering and production from Jaye McAuliffe. Sound editing and production from Callie Wright. Gillian Branstetter handles PR with additional support from Elle Communications. Digital strategy by Daniela Capistrano of DCAP MEDIA. Social media & production assistance by Yannick Eike Mirko. Justin Kloczko is our fact-checker. And our intern is Jordan Mirana.The music you heard was composed by Ben Draghi and also courtesy ZZK Records

In the third episode of the TransLash Media’s mini-series The Anti-Trans Hate Machine, 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. Through that investigation, Imara shares what she’s learned about one man who orchestrated many of those attacks on trans rights. Plus, we hear the stories of two brave women fighting against one of the most vicious attacks and suing the government to make sure trans people have equal access to healthcare. You can connect with us on social media!Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Twitter (@imarajones) and Instagram (@imara_jones_)Follow our guests on social media:Cecilia Gentili: @ceciliagentili72 (Instagram) @CeciliaGentili (Twitter)Jason Starr: @jasonestarr (Instagram) @jasonestarr (Twitter)Sharita Gruberg: @SharitaGruberg (Twitter)Tanya Asapansa Johnson-Walker:  @tanyaasapansa (Instagram) @tanyaasapansa63 (Twitter)Organizations mentioned in this episode:Heritage Foundation: @heritagefoundation (Instagram) @heritage (Twitter)Podcast Credits: Executive Producer and host, Imara Jones; Oliver-Ash Kleine is Senior Producer.Tiler Wilson, Annie Ning and Ruby Fludzinski are our Associate Producers. Sydney Bauer is our Researcher. Audrey Quinn edited this series. Sound design and mixing by Alexander Charles Adams. Montana Thomas is our production coordinator. Audio engineering and production from Jaye McAuliffe. Sound editing and production from Callie Wright. Gillian Branstetter handles PR with additional support from Elle Communications. Digital strategy by Daniela Capistrano of DCAP MEDIA. Social media & production assistance by Yannick Eike Mirko. Justin Kloczko is our fact-checker. And our intern is Jordan Mirana.The music you heard was composed by Ben Draghi and also courtesy ZZK Records

In episode 2 of 4 of The Anti-Trans Hate Machine mini-series, we investigate and uncover the forces and organizations responsible for the reinforcement of bills meant to ban trans youth from access to life-saving and equal healthcare - starting specifically with Alabama’s SB 219 (2020) - Prohibits Gender Affirming Care Bill. We hear from some of the youth and parents affected by these bills, and learn about their choices to fight back, despite the hardships it brings to do so. You can connect with us on social media!Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Twitter (@imarajones) and Instagram (@imara_jones_)Follow our guests on social media: Anne Nelson: @anelsona (Twitter)Dr. Shauna Lawlis: @smlawlis (Instagram)Garry Smith: @garryrsmith (Instagram) @garryrsmith (Twitter)Margaret Huang: @margaret.huang.usa (Instagram) @margaretlhuang (Twitter)Phineas Fleming-Smith: @sarcastic_entity (Instagram)Rep. Jacob Rosecrants: @reprosecrants (Instagram) @jacobrosecrants (Twitter)Tony Perkins: @tperkins (Twitter)Organizations mentioned in this episode: Family Research Council: @frcdc (Instagram) @frcdc (Twitter)Family Policy Alliance: @family_policy (Instagram) @family_policy (Twitter) Focus on the Family: @focusonthefamliy (Instagram) @focusfamily (Twitter)Southern Poverty Law Center:@splcenter (Instagram) @splcenter (Twitter)The Trevor Project: @trevorproject (Instagram) @trevorproject (Twitter)Podcast Credits: Executive Producer and host, Imara Jones; Oliver-Ash Kleine...