In the past few years, “canceling” someone from prominent platforms or careers has become an increasingly controversial topic in today’s cultural and political circles. A comedian or other public figures says, Tweets or does offensive things and a public backlash, often fueled by politically progressive social media, ensues. It’s destroyed careers. It’s targeted people by mistake. How does cancel culture effect movement building projects on the left? Is it a form of leftist self-sabotage, misplaced priorities or a legit means of speaking truth to power?
We talk about all of it with Ben Burgis, author of the new book “Canceling Comedians While the World Burns.” We dive deep into the “cancel culture” wars on the left. But, also get into how it’s practiced by the right with attempts to “cancel” everything from Critical Race Theory to opponents of Israel, and use it to further the left-right culture war.
Plus, we discuss the biggest cancellation EVER- Trump canceled from Twitter!
Ben Burgis is a philosophy professor and the author of Give Them An Argument: Logic for the Left and “Canceling Comedians While the World Burns.” He is host of the podcast Give Them An Argument.
