Topic: Triggering

The hosts analyze the emotional rhetoric used in protests, specifically the focus on "killing babies." They argue that such claims, whether verified or not, are highly effective tools for political mobilization and public persuasion.

A discussion regarding host accents revealed that some German listeners find "Nazi-style" voices triggering or traumatizing due to historical context. One host defended the use of accents as a "work of art" while acknowledging the feedback from serious producers in Germany. The segment also touches on the lack of recent donations from Dutch listeners despite their active local meetup scene.

The U.S. Senate failed to pass legislation that would have codified abortion rights into federal law, with Senator Joe Manchin joining Republicans in opposition. Protests have escalated outside the homes of Supreme Court justices and lawmakers like Susan Collins following the leaked draft opinion. Several states are preparing trigger laws to restrict abortion access immediately if the 1973 landmark ruling is overturned.

A USC professor faced backlash after using a Chinese filler word that sounds similar to a racial slur in English. Separately, a professor at the University of New Mexico, Idris Robinson, delivered a controversial lecture using extreme metaphors to describe the dynamics of racism. These incidents highlight the increasing sensitivity and potential for "cancel culture" within higher education regarding language and racial discourse.

The show concludes its administrative segment with a birthday list and the official knighting of Sir Typealot, Sir Eric the Nightthrone Knight, and others. A new "triggered" jingle is introduced, and a millennial donor who discovered the show via Reddit is thanked for their first Associate Executive Producer contribution.

Commentator Angela Rye expressed being "triggered" by the sight of red Make America Great Again hats, suggesting the symbol represents policies that compromise friendships. The discussion posits that the media has successfully branded the color red and the MAGA hat as inherently racist. Comparisons are made to red souvenir hats from the Great Wall of China to illustrate the broad association of the color with controversial political themes.

A new Chrome extension called Soothe is designed to help users avoid malicious content and online harassment by blurring out specific triggers. Users can customize the types of content they wish to avoid, with the option to click and reveal blurred text. The hosts express skepticism regarding the professional design of the plugin and speculate about potential venture capital backing or ulterior motives behind the service.

A discussion on social dynamics with Millennials highlights how certain phrases can trigger immediate reactions. An anecdote describes a family member from East Oakland who frequently uses the phrase "that's racist" as a humorous or reflexive response to various statements, regardless of their actual content.

The Washington Post reported that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was banned from using seven specific words, including "transgender" and "science-based." The hosts argue the story is a "bogus" trigger designed to evoke George Carlin's "seven dirty words" bit. They discuss how modern students are "programmed" to react to specific trigger words as part of their Pavlovian education.

A musical parody critiques drone warfare in Afghanistan and Pakistan, highlighting the civilian costs of remote-controlled strikes under the Obama administration. The mix transitions into a satire of social media culture, featuring a song titled "No Rest for the Triggered." The lyrics mock online outrage, religious bliss, and the use of Patreon for crowdfunding.

The hosts tackle "The List," a collection of topics involving Millennial behavior. They discuss a trend of Millennials avoiding ultrasounds due to autism fears, while simultaneously taking up cigarette smoking (specifically American Spirits). Dvorak shares an anecdote about "triggering" his daughter by making snide remarks about people in public, leading to a discussion on over-socialization.

A satirical trigger warning is issued regarding an upcoming "mic drop" sound effect at the end of the program. Listeners on Facebook have reportedly complained about the frequency and volume of the sound. The utility of the fast-forward and pause buttons is suggested for those sensitive to specific audio elements.

The University of Chicago issued a letter to the class of 2020 stating that the institution does not support trigger warnings or intellectual safe spaces. This news is paired with a personal anecdote from Austin, Texas, involving a confrontation with a pedestrian who used academic terminology like "microaggression" to describe a sidewalk encounter.

The New York City Commission on Human Rights released a pamphlet detailing legal protections for gender identity and expression. The discussion also covers the rise of "trigger warnings" and "content warnings" in online groups, including the concept of "ableism" in language.

A viral video from the Chicago protests shows a female activist confronting a cameraman, demanding he "dismantle his privilege" and leave the area. The activist claims the cameraman's presence is unwelcome because he is "surrounded by privilege" while filming women of color. The hosts discuss the psychological impact of such confrontations and the difficulty of responding to "social justice" rhetoric in real-time.

Dr. Everett Piper, President of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, gains national attention for his response to a student who felt "victimized" by a sermon on love. Piper's letter tells students that the university is "not a daycare" and that feeling uncomfortable after a sermon is called a "conscience." He explicitly states that the school will not issue trigger warnings or coddle student narcissism.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the broadcast with a discussion on gender identity terms, specifically the definition of "cisgender." The conversation transitions into a satirical "trigger warning" regarding the repetitive use of the word trigger. This leads to a critique of pharmaceutical advertisements, specifically highlighting the common disclaimer of "anal leakage" as a side effect in drug marketing.

A discussion regarding "slave speak" and verbal fillers like "it is what it is" and "at the end of the day" leads to an analysis of language evolution. The conversation explores how modern communication through emojis and tablets may be reducing technical savvy in children.

The hosts briefly mention the recent Democratic primary debate, noting it ended early due to a lack of substantive material. Adam Curry then issues a satirical "trigger warning" for the audience, mocking modern sensitivities regarding gluten and dietary choices. This serves as a transition into the heavy news coverage of the Paris terrorist events.

The show opens with a series of satirical trigger warnings produced by Chris Wilson. These warnings mock modern safe space culture by warning listeners of potential "anal leakage" or feeling like a "douchebag" for not donating. The hosts establish the podcast as a "safe space" for their audience.