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Notes -
As some are already aware, Huff Po is attempting to cancel the controversial writer/pundit Richard Hanania over some far-right posts he wrote a decade ago under an alias, which has been tied to his real identity. This coincides with his release of his book by Harper Collins, with the intent to have the publisher cancel it. v
The Huffington Post article: https://archive.is/YbIpz
(it would have been a 'boss move' had Elon suspended Huff Po account over this, declaring 'cancel culture is over'. )
There is already a prediction market about it, with 80 percent 'yes' it will be published
https://manifold.markets/AnonPlz/will-harper-collins-publish-richard
I agree overall though that nothing bad will happen to him, as I discuss here on my own blog post. First, cancellation does not work that well on academics/pundits as it does on other professions/careers (such as tenure). Even top CEOs are easier to cancel than pundits. Second, the left's credibility has been eroded in recent years due to hoxes , fake news, and 'mission creep' (when everyone is a racist or other bad person, the term loses its meaning/potency).
It’s still too early to call it. We don’t know if the big guns at The New York Times and The Washington Post will open fire. Taylor Lorenz could be hunting down Hanania’s 2nd cousins as we speak.
NYT hit pieces change people. Any mass public scrutiny will. Scott Alexander, Louis CK, and Joe Rogan will spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulder before speaking. Even if he “survives”, the fun-loving Richard who loves owning the libs and trolling the cons may die.
Scott Alexander might be afraid of Taylor Lorenz. But the human race is not made up of Scott Alexanders.
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