Informed Dissent

In this episode, Cori and Ben take the mic without their cohosts to reflect on two pressing stories shaping the gender debate. We begin with former Mermaids CEO Susie Green’s latest effort to advance the cause of medical transition for children. From there, we turn to the recent tragedy in Minneapolis, examining how quickly it has become a political football for competing ideological tribes. What does this moment reveal about the trans movement today? And how do these flashpoints illuminate the wider struggle over truth, narrative, and power in the culture war?* The Webberleys* Susie Green’s TEDx talk* Minneapolis shooting* “Tired of being trans”* Westman’s history This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

In this episode, we discuss the activist-led campaign to discredit systematic reviews conducted by researchers at McMaster University because they were funded by SEGM (the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine). We examine the researchers’ response, whether the campaign gained traction, and what it reveals about the politicization of evidence.From there, we step back to look at the broader landscape of systematic reviews on “gender-affirming care”—and whether the American public realizes just how weak the evidence base actually is. This naturally brings us to the University of Utah’s August 2024 review, which claimed that the evidence shows these interventions to be safe and effective. We break down what the Utah review got wrong and why its conclusions stand in sharp contrast to other systematic reviews.Links:McMaster statementGordon Guyatt“No pride in pseudoscience” op-edWPATH suppresses publication of Hopkins reviewsSEGM - Utah reportHandmaid’s Tale season 6The Human ScaleWardley mappingAlien Earth This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

Today, Corinna and Ben speak with the psychiatrist Dr. Lauren Schwartz. Dr. Schwartz is a senior fellow with Do No Harm, the lead author of a 2025 paper on the health risks of estrogen use in males, and the coauthor of a chapter in Lawrence Krauss’s new anthology, The War on Science (“Gender-Affirming Care: The Abandonment of Medical and Academic Standards”).* Arkansas ban stands* Air Force reneges on retirement benefits* DoE investigates Kansas* “Emerging and accumulating safety signals for the use of estrogenamong transgender women”* The War on Science This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

Today we talk about the latest gender clinic closures and “pauses” on pediatric transition services and speculate about what the future holds for the young people who’ve been harmed by these practices. Who’s going to help them? How will they help them? Will anyone be held accountable for harming them? We discuss the case of Avery Jackson, the trans-identified boy who at age nine appeared on the cover of National Geographic’s 2017 “Gender Revolution” issue. Avery, medicalized at 11, is now in his late teens and identifies as nonbinary.If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a paid subscriber!* Leor’s piece on Meredithe McNamara* Lisa’s piece on Avery Jackson* “Gender Identity 5 Years After Social Transition”* “I Transitioned My Child - I Regret It”* NY Times article on blue state closures* Chameleon’s Substack piece* Ken Zucker* My Mom Jayne* Sandpipers* Albion’s Seed: Four British Folkways in America* Kandinsky art* The End of October This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

Today the gang discusses the Trump Administration’s severing of its partnership with the Trevor Project, as well as California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show. Plus news headlines, announcements, and more!* Trump defunds the Trevor Project* TP’s 2023 fiscal report* Trump Admin cutting off federal funding to hospitals providing GAC for minors* Newsom on the Shawn Ryan Show* “Trans woman shares struggles from behind bars in Lorain County men’s prison”* PATHWAYS study* Cis White Gay: The Making of a Gender HereticThank you for your continued support! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

Cori, Jamie, and Sarah catch up on their gender-related travels, which took Jamie to Washington DC for the Federal Trade Commission workshop on consumer fraud in gender medicine and Cori and Sarah to France for the European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry conference. We also discuss new research on sexual satisfaction and whether or not it's possible to improve on the French man-on-the-street by adding cowboy boots.* Tune in to the full FTC workshop here* Glenna Goldis on consumer fraud in gender medicine* Hannah Barnes on problems with the UK's proposed puberty blocker trial* Cori Cohn on Missing Evidence: Why We Still Don’t Know What Surgery Does to Puberty-Blocked Boys* New preprint from the Dutch clinic: Sexual satisfaction and dysfunction in transgender adults following puberty suppression treatment during adolescence* LGB Courage Coalition at the Endocrine Society conference This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

Alex Byrne is the Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Philosophy at MIT and the author of the book Trouble with Gender: Sex Facts, Gender Fictions. Last week, Alex revealed in a Washington Post op-ed that he was one of the nine co-authors of the anonymous HHS report on pediatric gender medicine. He is married to the evolutionary biologist Carole Hooven.CORRECTIONS: UPenn is restoring titles and records and issuing apologies to female athletes. Not Penn State. And it’s Title IX, not Title X.* HHS report* Executive Order 14187* “In Defense of Transracialism,” Rebecca Tuvel* “A Defense of ‘Transracial’ Identity Roils Philosophy World,” NY Times* Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism, Kathleen Stock* “What Is It like to Have a Gender Identity?,” Florence Ashley* “Ashley on Gender Identity,” Alex Byrne* “The Deposition of Jack Turban,” Leor Sapir* The Man Who Would Be Queen, Michael Bailey* Ray Blanchard’s transsexualism typology This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

Maud Maron is running to be Manhattan’s next District Attorney “to restore safety and sanity to our streets and subways.” She’s also a mom of four children who are all NYC public school graduates or students.Maud worked as a public defender for over two decades at the Legal Aid Society in the Manhattan and the Bronx criminal courts. She taught criminal law at Cardozo Law School and has a long track record as an education advocate who champions public school education in New York City. She is a fierce champion of free speech, and won a 1st Amendment case against the NYC Dept. of Education just last year. She writes for the New York Post and other publications.* MaudforManhattan.com* Maud’s writing for the NY Post* “How I stood up for free speech — and won my case against NYC’s education censors”* CEC D2 meeting on gender ideology in NYC public schools (YouTube)* Ben’s Substack post about the CEC D2 meeting* Alaina Daniels* Mamdani’s “LGBTQIA+” platform* Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow* Russian & Turkish Baths* “How to Grow Leeks”* Jurassic World: RebirthThank you for listening! If you enjoyed this discussion, please consider becoming a paid subscriber! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

Today we’re joined by very good friend of the pod, Leor Sapir!Leor Sapir is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Boston College and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Program on Constitutional Government at Harvard University. Since joining MI, Sapir has become a widely recognized thought leader on topics related to pediatric gender medicine, education policy, and culture. Sapir is a regular contributor to City Journal, and he has co-authored amicus briefs for lawsuits on parental rights in education and is lead author of an important letter to the editor in the peer-reviewed academic journal, the Archives of Sexual Behavior, on “rapid onset gender dysphoria.”* United States vs. Skrmetti* Leor Sapir for City Journal* The lost history of Christmas nobody cares about anymore - but should* tomato cages* The Catastrophe Hour* Identity* Special Interest* Lost Christianities* The Gnostic New Age* Orthodoxy and Heresy in Early Christian Contexts* Fashionable Nonsense This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

We’ve decided to open up our polycule to guests! Today it’s Dr. Anna Hutchinson, the London-based clinical psychologist specializing in adolescent mental and physical health.From 2013 to 2017, Dr. Hutchinson worked at the Tavistock Clinic’s Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), where she observed first hand the significant shifts in patient demographics and referral rates. She raised concerns about the weak evidence base and clinical practices, contributing key insights to Time to Think by Hannah Barnes. Since leaving GIDS, Anna has continued to advocate for nuanced care for gender-distressed youth. She co-led the clinical induction training for Hilary Cass’s new Gender Hubs and is currently co-authoring a book with family therapist Anastassis Spiliadis on developmentally informed therapy for gender-related distress in children.CORRECTION: NH Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed the parental rights bill, but as of June 13 she has not yet signed the bills banning puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and chest surgeries for minors. Apologies!* NH GAC bills* NH parental rights bill* Gallup poll* DOJ investigating Minnesota over trans softball athlete* Riley and Simone* Zoe Saldaña’s trans Oscar* The Pissed Off Lawyer* LA Children’s gender clinic shutting down* The Protocol episode 5* The Protocol episode 6* “It feels like conversion therapy for gay children, say clinicians”* The Wide Wide Sea* Grillo’s Pickles* Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius* CIS WHITE GAY preorder links!Thank you for listening!If you appreciate our work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

On this special episode, we discuss part four of the New York Times’s six-part series about the history of pediatric gender medicine. Episode 4, “The Whistleblower,” is about Jamie Reed, who blew the whistle on the pediatric gender clinic at Washington University in St. Louis in 2023. Jamie tells us what the Times got right, what they left out, plus a whole lot more.* “The Whistleblower”* Jamie’s affidavit* Jamie’s 2023 testimony in The Free Press* Azeen’s 2023 NY Times piece about Jamie* LGB Courage Coalition’s Substack post on bicalutamide* “The Myth of Reliable Research”* “The Dutch Protocol for Juvenile Transsexuals: Origins and Evidence”* Cis White Gay: The Making of a Gender HereticThank you for listening!If you appreciate our work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

On Thursday evening, The New York Times released “The Protocol,” its highly anticipated podcast on the history of pediatric gender medicine. We do a deep-dive into the first two episodes of the six-part series: “The Beginning” and “The Gender Kids.”* Olson-Kennedy study* Olympus spa ruling* CA trans athlete wins* Loudon County update* The Protocol* Dept Q* The Golden Notebook* A Mother’s Reckoning* Bluejay omens This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

Today we answer some listeners’ questions and then discuss Jonathan Cowan’s op-ed for Politico. And Eliza comes out!* CMS investigates GAC hospitals* breast cancer study* Kansas lawsuit* CA sports rules changes* Democratic Arizona senator’s comments about sports* Politico op-ed* Leor Sapir’s thread about the op-ed* goblincore* cottagecore* Furry event at UC Irvine* The View from Somewhere: Undoing the Myth of Journalistic Objectivity* Secret Lives of Mormon Wives* Balatro* The Extinction of Experience* Being a parent This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

Today we discuss:* The 2016 CMS Report on Gender Dysphoria and Gender Reassignment Surgery.* NBC's reporting on the new bill prohibiting Medicaid from covering sex-trait modification procedures.* Jamie getting thrown out of the APA meeting, from which one gender session was leaked.* The FTC’s plan to investigate fraud in the gender-affirming care industry.* The MIT "Born in the Right Body" event, at which Jamie and Lisa spoke, and which drew protestors. And fun signs!* Planned Parenthood's puberty blocker video.Our non-gender recommendations for the week:* Gardening!* Coffee with a spoonful of tiramisu inside! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

Cori, Eliza, and Jamie revisit the HHS report, “Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices.” They talk about the libertarian case for age limits on hormonal and surgical interventions and the homophobia underlying the entire enterprise of transition.Health and Human Services ReportSunday event in Cambridge: Born in the Right Body.Montana judge finds trans care ban unconstitutionalHomophobia on my mind by Jamie ReedThe Ross Douthat column that changed Jamie's lifeBelieve: Why Everyone Should Be Religious by Ross Douthat This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

This week we discuss the MAGA look, the low-down dirty tactics of Maine legislators, the sophistry of psychotic professors, and the moral dilemma of patronizing businesses that use WPATH’s standards of care to inform their medical benefits policies.* MAGA aesthetics* The Psychology of Totalitarianism* An Abundance of Caution* Maine LD380* All of Us Strangers* Histories of the Transgender Child* Jules Gill-Peterson in NY Times* Transgender Studies Quarterly* TERF Industrial Complex* Starbucks trans insurance* availability heuristic* Chick-fil-A kale crunch salad* Meghan Daum and Richard Rushfield* Max Richter world tour* Nespresso Vertuo* Julia Mason in the Economist This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

Today we discuss the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ evidence review, “Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria Review of Evidence and Best Practices.” What did the review say? Is it unbiased and dispassionate? Was it a good idea for the HHS to withhold the authors’ names? Will it convince anyone on the other side of this debate? How have news outlets been reporting on it? All that and more, plus headlines.* HHS report* Biden admin suppresses reviews* Erin Reed coverage of report* Jamie in NBC News reporting* NY Times coverage of report* APA statement* WaPo coverage* Lawless book* Megyn Kelly NY Times interview* Thelma* Bitchin’ Sauce* Mistakes Were Made* Marcus Aurelius -Meditations audiobook* Unveiled* The Last Girl This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

Ben and Jamie are off planning puppy pride parades, so this week, Cori, Eliza and Lisa digest the Supreme Court case Mahmoud v. Taylor. We also talk about Pam Bondi’s directive, Nike’s funding of a study on trans athletes, and the doctor, Allan Josephson, who received $1.6 million settlement after his colleagues destroyed his career for speaking out about youth gender transition. A little background on I Am Jazz, and some read-alouds on YouTube of Uncle Bobby’s Wedding.Lisa’s non-gender suggestion of the week: Bo Burnham’s INSIDE, and Phoebe Bridgers’ cover of one of his songs from the album, That Funny Feeling. Cori’s: Harmonies board game.Eliza’s: Phyllis Rose’s Parallel Lives This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

The five of us discuss the outcome of the For Women Scotland case and how the situation across the pond compares to the US. Plus news headlines.* XX wrist bands are hate speech* Trump admin seeks to limit GAC coverage* Planned Parenthood Arizona* Trump admin sues Maine* World Pride might tell trans people “Do not come”* British newspaper front pages* Supreme Court decision coverage* third spaces* Pride is going broke… (LGB Courage Coalition)* Malcolm Clark’s thread on detransitioned Moroccan influencer* WaPo article about influencer* Sarah McBride Atlantic interview* Parallel Lives book* Satan’s Silence book* Lawrence Wright* The Looming Tower* My Trip to Al-Qaeda* Drawing flowers* Meghan Daum’s new book This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com

Today we discuss news headlines, a recent court decision in Australia, and the excruciatingly bad Last Week Tonight episode about trans athletes.* Colorado bills* Title IX investigation team* Female disc golfer protests* Ted Cruz opens investigation* UK pool tournament* Montana legislation* Maine sues* Trump admin pulls funding from Maine’s prison system* America First Legal refers Illinois school district to DOJ* Bernard Lane on Australian judge’s decision* Last Week Tonight* Nevada sports* Lisa’s piece on Last Week Tonight* White Lotus finale* Kemi hasn’t watched Adolescence* Julie Bindel tweet* Suzanne O’Sullivan - The Age of Diagnosis This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit informeddissentpodcast.substack.com