President Donald Trump was inaugurated on Monday, and he came out swinging. On his first day, he signed 26 executive orders and rolled back about 80 of former president Joe Biden’s executive actions. (For comparison, Biden signed nine executive orders on day one; in 2017, Trump signed one; in 2013, Obama signed zero, and in 2009, just two.)
Trump was making good on the promises he campaigned on. On immigration, he’s trying to end birthright citizenship. On diversity, equity, and inclusion, he’s saying, “You’re fired” to federal DEI employees. On trans issues, he signed an order that declares only two genders. And on “America First,” he’s saying goodbye to the “Gulf of Mexico” and hello to the “Gulf of America.”
Trump also announced Stargate, gave TikTok a second life, pardoned about 1,500 January 6 rioters, and pulled out of the Paris climate agreement.
Suffice it to say, there is much to discuss. Today, Bari Weiss is back with Batya Ungar-Sargon, Brianna Wu, and Free Press senior editor Peter Savodnik to unpack Trump’s first week in office and what they think about…Elon’s arm.
If you liked what you heard from Honestly, the best way to support us is to go to TheFP.com and become a Free Press subscriber today.
The first 500 listeners to sign up will get $10 for free when you trade $100+ with code HONESTLY at https://Kalshi.com/Honestly.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
jesus it is impossible to search for video moments I want to share (in this case the original promise from Batya to Brianna to stand with her in the event that real threats to her rights arose–or course that leaves open the question of what exactly are trans rights or really civil rights that extend to the trans aspect, and that was hardly fleshed out; but I do believe that the expression was a serious commitment to blunt the overswing of the pendulum that posed actual harm that Batya could take cognizance of, should that occur.)
it took me half hour going back and forth between youtube and thefp.com to even find an episode with batya-ungar sargon and brianna wu that still had an open comment thread.
when you search batya-ungar sargon you only get things she has written. you need a function to be able to choose the media you want to search and transcripts of video should be a choice. At least you sort of sort that stuff which Substack sucks at – apparently spending all their time tamping down young staffers offended by free speech and not making their platform very useable.
Still, after hours of searching election night coverage and other co-appearances i managed to find Brianna referring to the promise here:
https://youtu.be/n1ZCEsgpqmE?t=422
Here Brianna is beginning to question whether Batya was keeping the promise in the wake of executive orders dismantling various trans-friendly/affirming policies. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with that representation; but I want to find the original promise and it is unfindable. I know I heard it, but I cannot find it, if anyone recalls which occasion it was and where in the podcast and hopefully has a link I would appreciate it.
final digital bugbear, you need a share from or timestamp feature on your audio/video. it is inconceivable that your message will reach even other subscribers nevermind potential subscribers or open minded people if those of us who listen to entire episodes cannot easily share links that start at the relevant point. youtube has such a function. It is a little clunky but the best in the industry. what a sham that there is not simply a pop up to put in a time signature for sharing (or for that matter for restarting replay at the point you want to listen to instead of trying to use the useless sliders of the 15 or 30 second rewind.). lay off the politics long enough to get the platform right :-)
I want to respond to Brianna’s concern for social wellbeing of Trans people. First, an apology on behalf of my behavioral health colleagues who failed to develop a respectful and biologically honest language for Trans adults.
Second, as a biologist - I am comfortable with a person who says “I am Trans”. It is the statement that follows, that has been problematic. For example-“I am the opposite sex” or “I was born in the wrong body.” Instead of those biologically impossible statements, I propose “I was born male and I am Trans. I am mentally aligned with females and I want to surgically reduce the biological effect of my make sex at birth so as to embark on a journey to explore the female realm.” According to liberal principles; one can be male and explore femininity.