Thread by @fullydavid

Hey Bret. On this topic, hosting Yuri had nothing to do with the BS project. I was in contact with Yuri long before it was conceived. I recorded a piece with him straight after the Quillette piece, I held off when you told me privately that you felt he had betrayed your trust 1/n

https://twitter.com/BretWeinstein/status/1422410820055564288

The Quillette piece had some flaws, but it was far from content free, and Yuri has good signal on other objections that didn't make it into the Q piece. You and Heather frequently referred to him and it to a v large audience 2/n

Yuri was in touch with you privately for a long time, as have I been. I understand your reluctance to dialogue with Yuri publicly, I agree he has an attitude that means this may not go well. However, I believe strongly that our viewers - deserve to hear both sides 3/n

That was the editorial context for interviewing Yuri on this, not the BS project. Some people found him convincing, many didn't. Alex seems to think that I should have deferred all sense making to his project, no. My obligation is to the information landscape 4/n

And deep concern I have that you've created an echo chamber around you. Something I have said repeatedly privately to you, to little effect. This has been one of the most difficult situations I have ever found myself in due to respect and history I have with you and Heather 5/n

You know I wrote a piece for Areo on this, that I sent you a week ago. No response. I could say much more that is deeply troubling, but I won't for now, and will call you later to talk privately.
6/n

Since starting to cover the whole IDW/alternative media space a couple of years ago, I've been hugely concerned about this. The entanglement between public and private friendship, aligned incentives, and how the platforms warp our sensemaking. 7/n

Alex Marinos is a bad faith actor. He chose to publicly litigate and perform when most could have been resolved with a dialogue and phone call. We can do better. 8/8

Oh, missed something. I asked Yuri to prepare his argument before the interview. If he used other submissions as well as his own from the BS project, I missed that and have apologised twice now, that wasn't the plan. That Alex chooses not to mention that also tells you something

One other, other thing. Have you watched the interview with Yuri? I challenged him, I put yours and Heather's objections to him. I tried to do a responsible and journalistic job with it. Again, nothing to do with the BS project, that hardly anyone is aware of