“I didn’t know that, as a woman, I could say no, which sounds really stupid, but I didn’t know I had options. I thought sex was something that was done to you and that part of life as a woman was to make males feel included, because they’re the priority,” she says.

That day in her rape support group — her last day, it turned out — she realised none of this was true: she could say no. “This isn’t about money for me — I don’t care about the money. I just want a change of policy and for there to be female-only services, without taking away the mixed-sex services. Since I launched my case I’ve heard from so many women who say they stopped going to their groups for the same reason, but they didn’t want to say anything, and I thought about doing that — just going away and staying quiet. But I couldn’t do that anymore. It’s enough.”

The once-reputable [Scientific American] has adopted Alex "Esqueer" Caraballo's go-to (and misused) terminology of "stochastic terrorism" to forge a dubious connection between Chris Rufo ranting on Tucker Carlson about kids getting butchered by gender quacks, and Paul Pelosi getting beat to within an inch of his life. It essentially blames the public for feeling "disgust" when these, well, disgusting activities are exposed in their raw and honest form without sugarcoating. Also known as journalism.

Funny that, wasn't it "disgust" among the public seeing the bodies of kids come home in body bags that led to a widespread revulsion over the Vietnam War? Wasn't it "disgust" among the public seeing the bodies of black people getting brutalized by the likes of Bull Connor that led to a widespread revulsion over racial oppression? Wasn't it "disgust" among the public seeing birth defects from Thalidomide that led to a widespread outcry causing it to be pulled from the shelves? Wasn't it "disgust" over sexual abuse that led to the #MeToo movement that brought down predators like Spacey and Weinstein, or the "Spotlight" scandal within the Catholic Church, or Penn State and Jerry Sandusky, etc. etc. etc.? Perhaps "disgust" is exactly what's needed to force systemic change, and lo and behold, the ones who don't want change are disgusted!

It's kind of awful seeing all of this though, which source, which news do you actually trust? For me it's basically none, I don't know what is true anymore.

I found it most striking when the likes of Radio 4's Today or PM programme's anchor talked about a subject on which I was knowledgeable and you realised that they hadn't a clue. You start to think, "if they got that wrong, what else are they getting wrong?”

And the media storm begins. I must admit I expected something a little more “mainstream”; I could handle elbowing my way to work through a throng of news vans from the BBC, CTV and CNN. But instead all we seem to be getting are a trickle of independent, right-wing media with names like “The Truth Bullet” and “Freedom Offensive.” Some podcaster sipping a Monster energy drink cornered me in the parking lot and asked what I thought about Japanese kyonyuu fetishists. A 20-something in a Breton cap held up his phone camera to my face and asked me if bakunyū hentai was going to be added to the school curriculum.

Someone alleged that he was disciplined for "toxic masculinity" last year (no idea what he did), and that he's now trolling the school board in the knowledge that by claiming to be a member of the sacred caste, he is untouchable.

If this is true - and if it turns it was all a wind-up on his part - then those defending him and the school are going to look rather silly.

Side 1 = Smoke bombs, covered faces
Side 2 = Women having to wear body cameras in case they're attacked

What are the women doing to invite such a violent backlash?

Talking about women's rights. That's it. Our sex based, legal rights.

Frustrated angry chants, the theatrics of coloured flares, the ninja style black uniform and the arresting of two trans rights supporters (with three police knocking one small framed person to the ground) is easy to twist in the media as something fearful

Two men were arrested at around 2.45pm this afternoon. One was arrested on suspicion of assault. The other person was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a police officer.

[Later a third was arrested, on suspicion of sexual assault.]

It is unclear what group they were supporting.

Oh my word, and one of them is a 'diversity advisor'?

Oh, the irony.

'Emily (she/her) is DCA’s media manager. She works as part of a team to amplify DCA’s leading and trusted voice in workplace diversity and inclusion.

Emily is also a campaigner, communicator and organiser with a background working in social justice, workers’ rights, and gender equality.

Recognised for her trailblazing use of social media as a campaigning and organising medium, and her consent-based collective story-telling models, Emily builds relationships to tell complex stories in accessible, impactful and effective ways.’

I've always cordially loathed him without quite knowing why.

Comedians are in a business where you literally spend decades performing in a comedy persona while a) pretending it's you, b) performatively despising those who take the persona seriously and as if it's you and c) verbally abusing those who don't take the persona seriously and heckle them to come out of character.

Actually I don't mind any of that, it's a direct descent from the role of the licensed Fool etc (thoroughly recommend the Rest is History episode where Al Murray digs into comedy in history - v interesting). But it is a fact that they understand the vulnerability of mixing reality and performance in daily life, and how it 'working' depends on other people buying into it.

It's why it's predictable that Alastair Campbell would be publicly TWAW - whether or not he really believes it, his daughter is trying to make it as a comedian and she would be very brutally required to denounce him if he strayed, or suffer professional consequences. He loves his daughter.

...in the past, everyone was safe in the knowledge that all comedians were very left wing and had the correct opinions. So when they dropped a slur or made nasty comments about women it was fine, because they are being ironic, you just don’t have a sense of humour.

But now there are comedians who dare to disagree with Lee and his mates on a certain topic. Which means we can’t joke about anything in case we’re actually right wing and not just, you know, making a joke. So all comedy must become a boring, po-faced lecture without any actual jokes, and clapping replaces laughter.