This weekly roundup thread is intended for all culture war posts. 'Culture war' is vaguely defined, but it basically means controversial issues that fall along set tribal lines. Arguments over culture war issues generate a lot of heat and little light, and few deeply entrenched people ever change their minds. This thread is for voicing opinions and analyzing the state of the discussion while trying to optimize for light over heat.
Optimistically, we think that engaging with people you disagree with is worth your time, and so is being nice! Pessimistically, there are many dynamics that can lead discussions on Culture War topics to become unproductive. There's a human tendency to divide along tribal lines, praising your ingroup and vilifying your outgroup - and if you think you find it easy to criticize your ingroup, then it may be that your outgroup is not who you think it is. Extremists with opposing positions can feed off each other, highlighting each other's worst points to justify their own angry rhetoric, which becomes in turn a new example of bad behavior for the other side to highlight.
We would like to avoid these negative dynamics. Accordingly, we ask that you do not use this thread for waging the Culture War. Examples of waging the Culture War:
-
Shaming.
-
Attempting to 'build consensus' or enforce ideological conformity.
-
Making sweeping generalizations to vilify a group you dislike.
-
Recruiting for a cause.
-
Posting links that could be summarized as 'Boo outgroup!' Basically, if your content is 'Can you believe what Those People did this week?' then you should either refrain from posting, or do some very patient work to contextualize and/or steel-man the relevant viewpoint.
In general, you should argue to understand, not to win. This thread is not territory to be claimed by one group or another; indeed, the aim is to have many different viewpoints represented here. Thus, we also ask that you follow some guidelines:
-
Speak plainly. Avoid sarcasm and mockery. When disagreeing with someone, state your objections explicitly.
-
Be as precise and charitable as you can. Don't paraphrase unflatteringly.
-
Don't imply that someone said something they did not say, even if you think it follows from what they said.
-
Write like everyone is reading and you want them to be included in the discussion.
On an ad hoc basis, the mods will try to compile a list of the best posts/comments from the previous week, posted in Quality Contribution threads and archived at /r/TheThread. You may nominate a comment for this list by clicking on 'report' at the bottom of the post and typing 'Actually a quality contribution' as the report reason.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
"Found a way". There's a very simple mechanism for the Trump admin to use that they refuse to, release the Epstein files as required by law and that they've been saying they would do since before they even won the election!
I didn't have to find a way, it's a giant glowing neon sign with a huge flashing arrow pointing at the way.
They were saying they would release the files almost a year before it was even passed. But even if we assume that no redaction work was being done during that and they were just blatantly lying about their plans during the first few months, they still had tons of time to prepare as it was being drafted and passed.
What objection could I possibly have against pimps and prostitutes? Trading "your girls" for favors or whatever else isn't reasonably different from direct payments.
The Trump administration is currently releasing the files. You can argue that they're being forced to so it doesn't really get them any credit. But in that case, nothing that's been revealed so far seems to justify all the hullabaloo.
I think you dramatically underestimate the work involved in releasing sensitive materials. Dozens of bored overworked lawyers combing through millions of files by hand navigating an impossible mandate to release everything, all at once, now, but also nothing that violates national security.
Yes, they are being forced to. We know this because the only reason the law even came about is became they double backed on their own promises to release the files to begin with.
Which is exactly a point I addressed, there's still tons of files left completely unreleased and even what was released is known to have tons of unnecessary redactions.
It is February 2026, Trump was elected in January 2025. While I understand it wasn't going to be an immediate priority, over a year is a pretty good length of time for them to fulfill their promise when it's one of the easiest to do. The only reason it needs to be rushed at all now is because they double backed and engaged in a coverup.
That's not exactly the own you think it is. It's hard act outraged about Trump only releasing them when he was forced to by his own promise, when the other party was in a position to release them for years, but didn't, and didn't even promise to.
Yeah, I don't think you'll find anyone who would argue the Biden admin released the files. They obviously didn't.
Doesn't that make it more interesting that both admins might apparently be trying to hide something? Massie made a similar point and just got responded to with insults
"You are responsible for this portion of it". No name calling nor deflection absolves them of their choices now.
More options
Context Copy link
Which gives Trump a golden opportunity to do what he loves most: look better than Biden. That he's not eager to seize on an obvious win is a little sus.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
In the UK it’s caused massive hullabaloo. I meant to write an effort-post but one of the most important figures in the 2008 government (Peter Mandelson) was being actively treasonous, explaining to Epstein and his banker friends that they needed to “threaten [the Chancellor] a little” to get what they wanted on bankers' bonuses. Epstein was getting serious details like the PM’s resignation or changes to banking law under the table.
It’s a scandal that has a good chance long-term of bringing down the current PM, who reinstated the man.
I was promised a pedophile sex cult new world, not elite insider trading. I don’t know I guess I don’t know much about this specifically, maybe you should elaborate. Because this sounds like the kind of scandal that’s happening everywhere all the time, except this involves Jeffrey Epstein, who we know is the new Hitler, which means it must be really bad.
I think it’s bad Bill Gates cheated on his wife then gave her an STD risk and wanted to sneak her antibiotics, but I’m not sure what public good is advanced by these files being exposed.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link