Free speech and contingent labor, with Jamie Lauren Keiles

This week, we’re joined by our friend Jamie Lauren Keiles, a former contributing writer at the New York Times Magazine who is working on a book about nonbinary identity in America and posting at the archival Instagram account @sexchange.tbt. [4:45] Jamie discusses his resignation from the Times Magazine, and why he signed the recent open letter by WAWOG (the Writers Against the War on Gaza) as well as an earlier letter criticizing NYT’s trans coverage. [47:40] We also talk about the process of unlearning pro-Israel propaganda and where a trans, anti-Zionist, observant Jew finds himself today, both institutionally and spiritually. 

In this episode, we ask: 

How is the presumed “objective” position within a media institution created and reinforced?

What good (if any) can an open letter do? And how much does it matter what an American Jew thinks about all of this? 

How do people’s minds actually get changed on Israel-Palestine? 

For more, see: 

* Jamie’s latest Substack post: Do I believe that there are questions that should never be asked? 

* Jamie and Jazmine Hughes on Democracy Now! discussing their resignations from the Times Magazine 

* Jay’s recent piece on the chilling of pro-Palestine speech within journalism 

* AP coverage of the Writers Bloc action in the New York Times building last week

[1:04:00] And a big announcement! Listen to the end to catch Tammy and Jay present a new phase for the podcast. (Spoiler: Tammy is moving on in early December; Jay is continuing and wants your feedback.) 

As always, subscribe on Patreon or Substack to join our Discord community, which we hope to continue cultivating into the future. Also: On Nov. 29, Tammy will host her last TTSG book club event with cartoonist, illustrator, and Discord OG Jillian Tamaki—on Jillian’s new graphic novel, Roaming! Check out the Discord for details and a book discount.

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