Episode 256: Libs Of TikTok And Bomb Threats of Schools feat. Will Carless
b'Libs of TikTok is the name of a social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms run by a woman named Chaya Raichik. In just a few years it has catapulted from a relative unknown to a right-wing media force. Raichik mostly reposts videos, photos, and screenshots designed to stir the ire of her followers. The vast majority of her output concerns the LGBTQ community, for example calling out teachers for sharing their pronouns with students and hospitals for offering gender-affirming care. The accounts have been amplified by the likes of Joe Rogan, Glenn Greenwald, and other big names.\\n\\nThe account\\u2019s posts often include the names, social media handles, and other identifying information of its subjects, leading to harassment campaigns against the individuals and organizations it spotlights. Raichik\\u2019s obsessions often go on to become mainstream topics of conservative discourse. She commands the attention of some of America\\u2019s most powerful right-wing politicians, and her influence has empowered the account\\u2019s conservative fanbase to threaten and protest children\\u2019s hospitals, teachers, school districts, drag shows, and more.\\n\\nTo get a better idea of the real world impact of Libs of Tik Tok, we are joined by Will Carless. He is a reporter for USA Today and he recently published an investigation titled \\u201cWhen Libs of TikTok tweets, threats increasingly follow.\\u201d And for this report, Carless got a rare personal interview with Raichik herself.\\n\\nREFERENCES\\n\\nMichael Flynn and family pocketed leftover money from his legal defense fund, filing claims\\nhttps://www.semafor.com/article/11/13/2023/michael-flynn-and-family-pocketed-leftover-money-from-legal-defense-fund-filing-claims\\n\\nThe AP incorrectly reported that QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley has \\u201cdisavowed the QAnon movement\\u201d as he plans an Arizona congressional campaign\\nhttps://www.mediamatters.org/associated-press/ap-incorrectly-reported-qanon-shaman-jacob-chansley-has-disavowed-qanon-movement\\n\\nWhen Libs of TikTok tweets, threats increasingly follow\\nhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2023/11/02/libs-of-tiktok-tweets-death-bomb-threats/71409213007/\\n\\nTIMELINE: The impact of Libs of TikTok told through the educators, health care providers, librarians, LGBTQ people, and institutions that have been harassed and violently threatened\\nhttps://www.mediamatters.org/libs-tiktok/timeline-impact-libs-tiktok-told-through-educators-health-care-providers-librarians'