Journalist Michael Tracey and professor Marcella Szablewicz debate the Epstein scandal and the public reaction to the files.
Journalist Michael Tracey and Pace University’s Marcella Szablewicz debate the resolution, “The Jeffrey Epstein scandal has become a case of moral panic.”
Taking the affirmative is Tracey, an independent journalist, political commentator, and media critic known for his skepticism of the Epstein narrative and what he calls the surrounding “mythology” and hysteria.
Taking the negative is Szablewicz, an associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University’s Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on digital media and media moral panics.
Only moral panic for me is what new bills/laws will come down the pike painting all registrants under the broad brush like we are Epstein. Majority of registrants aren’t Epstein and Epstein doesn’t reflect registrants as a whole, so lawmakers should worry about their own transgressions, not worry about other’s sex lives, and leave others alone.
I didn’t share this, but it’s a good opportunity to promote Michael Tracey, who’s one of the few journalists out there willing to ask hard questions about alleged sex crimes. Love him or hate him, he really seems like a non-partisan, objective journalist who actually takes journalism seriously and doesn’t accept comfortable narratives. I encourage people to find him on Substack and follow his writing.
Epstein list
Coommunist (red scare)
Socialist
Radical
S*x *ffenders
Trans in bathrooms
Trans in sports
They’ll all politically motivated narratives to sell a culture war and divide us with.
The pendulum will eventually swing back in the other direction and at that point, being on this registry, I am concerned. They see us as ALL the same and may try to further turn the screws and amplify punish on those that have served their time. When the truth comes out, and it will, concerning the Epstein files there will be public outrage which may result in harsher laws, stricter penalties and mass punishment, a witch hunt. Chuck Schumer has already mentioned a new bill called Virginia’s for those involved with sex trafficking. As with any bill, more will probably be “tacked” on to make it harsher, more sadistic. I understand that there is and should be punishment for those who have broken the law. But I don’t believe in mass punishment without some off-ramp or incentive for those who have been on for decades with no issues, paid their debt to society and want to reintegrate back into society.