Thank you for clearing this up! I find Greenwald irritating, so I don't really follow what he is writing and doing. And so, when I was seeing all those tweet, I was confused as to what the heck was going on and how did that video (no, I haven't seen it nor do I care to see it) get out. I believe you've got the most sensible take on this.
Well, given you and I are two of the tiny handful of people willing to say true things like the one I wrote about here -- I'm willing to bet there's more truth in your rubbish tin than most other places!
"But each and every one will look you dead in the face and say, without blinking, that no, the “T” has nothing to do with LGB."
I would only eliminate the B. Being lesbian or gay is the only true issue. If you're bisexual, only the homosexual part of you faces any potential discrimination, so it's covered by L and G. All the other letters of the alphabet that grifters have added on have no business being attached to the original LG.
As to Glenn Greenwald, I count myself lucky that I don't care a whit.
My X post. "Sanity requires a support network." Holly hits it out of the park on her analysis of the Greenwald affair. She has thought through and articulated why the reaction was so troubling. I highly recommend reading this piece even if you don't care about Greenwald per se because she lays out the template of the reaction and what it means.
When I first heard about this, I read that he’d been hacked; i didn’t even know that there was a controversy about whether he released it himself until reading you and Josh. I’m now reasonably convinced that he did it himself. My guess, for what it’s worth, is that he did it under the influence of sexual excitement and endorphins, but almost immediately thought better of it. Which is kind of a guy thing to do.
Almost immediately, when I learned that he had two adopted boy children, I thought about how horrible this is for them. Not only does he do this, he taped it. Which, even if he really and truly was hacked, is a real risk! Which means his sons are going to know their adoptive father does these things. How can those boys look at him the same way again? How can they respect him? What’s worse, as teenagers they’ll go to school with boys who know all about it. I hope they both become proficient in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu; they are going to need it.
I will add that I have non-consensually heard far more about this than I care to know, I for one have not seen it, and I’m actively avoiding this viewing.
No, you are not. I tried many ways to express my real fear without crossing the line into an accusation that would be irresponsible to publish without proof, so I left it out. But the answer to your question is no.
I did have that concern. I do have it. However, like Holly, I didn’t want to express the concern in a way that makes accusations for which I have no evidence.
I understand. But I think it's possible to maintain that he should be treated like any other parent and an investigation (including routine drug testing and possibly mandatory rehab) is warranted without it being seen as a baseless accusation. That's what seems to be missing. People are willing to talk about the boys' likely embarrassment but not the need for a formal investigation on account of their safety.
"My guess, for what it’s worth, is that he did it under the influence of sexual excitement and endorphins, but almost immediately thought better of it. "
I saw a still photo and thought, “Glasses on? Really? Looks like someone’s multitasking.” (i.e. Not exactly “in the moment” and performing with another goal in mind.)
This was excellent. I have also been trying to pin down why all this has been bothering me so much (aside from the danger to his children- I know why that bothers me) when I don't care all that much about Glenn Greenwald. Everything you laid out is a component of the many abuse dynamics from childhood. Even though I am not on Twitter the subject has still managed to push through to the point that it was causing some agitation and anxiety that I couldn't fully pinpoint.
Thank you for reminding people about his children again. I have mentioned it in a previous note (not that you are expected to remember) that I am a former foster parent. The kids were taken out of a meth home where (unofficial) prostitution was taking place. Basically swapping sex for drugs while trying to teach the children that all these doped up adults were their new "friends". Greenwald's kids are not safe. The idea that you can be a safe parent while engaging in these behaviors (drugs, transactional sex, filming it, showing it) is false. It ALWAYS affects the children and usually results in their neglect and physical harm. Maybe Greenwald himself would never lay a hand on his kids, but he is also rendering himself incapable of protecting them and has advertised his family as an easy mark for a predator.
Sadly, a lot of people would not have an attorney or Child Protective Services involved if these boys were their nephews or grandkids, etc. because they would not want the responsibility of "cleaning up" their sibling's or child's mess yet again. So they pretend not to see what is right in front of their face. I don't want Greenwald's kids to go through the trauma of family separation but they are absolutely not safe with him and I think there does need to be an intervention. If that video had surfaced of any other regular American- the state would most likely be involved.
Thanks. And yes, I agree that a lot of ordinary people would look the other way, but I was thinking about commentators and influencers. Some of the big names defending him would absolutely lose their shit if their grandsons or nephews were in a home like that. They'd have a custody lawyer on the phone from the car on the way to the airport to go do something about it. But when they talk about GG, the kids don't even factor in at all.
That's true. And what's sad is, once upon a time they would have. People would have found it almost impossible to speak about the content of the video, but they would have zoned in on the 2 adopted children.
I’m no longer going to read Glenn Greenwald. Matt Osborne showed the old receipts of Greenwald’s porn history, which is apparently a long history. I can comment on Tucker Carlson’s or Megan Kelly’s sites (if they have him on again) saying that Greenwald’s behavior reflects poorly on them and wondering if the adopted sons are okay. My gaydar was really off on this case, fortunately Josh Slocum and Matt Osborne stepped up and were reliable gay Dutch uncles.
Wow. Didn't see the video on X but from what I read, this is really disordered behavior, even though it is technically legal.
We also have to recognize that there are a lot of bad and bad-doing people out there who are very good at what they do, as you've pointed out with our current President.
I was only peripherally aware of Greenwald before all of this and now that I know more, I am completely appalled. I understand what you are saying Holly and agree with your points, so thank you for all of that. Still, I am gobsmacked that anyone would believe, support or defend him for any of this - never mind their political views. And that minors are anywhere near this wretch is very disturbing.
I’m not going to comment on Greenwald, about whom I feel I already know far more than I want, except to say that I agree with you, particularly about his children.
Regarding gaslighting: nowadays, to feel gaslit is to understand the way the world really works.
I think realisation goes through stages:
1) I am being gaslit about this thing I know a lot about.
2) I am being gaslit about lots of things I know a bit about.
3) I am being gaslit about everything.
Realisation can be quick or slow. Some people reach stage 1) without going any further. I’m Jewish and in the last twenty months I’ve encountered a number of progressive Jews who know that the legacy media is gaslighting the world about Israel, but believe everything it says about e.g. Trump, Biden, Islam, immigration (etc.) to be gospel truth. On the other hand, some jumped from 0) to 3) overnight (literally). I took a much more leisure route over the last quarter-century (although there was a *lot* less gaslighting around when I began my journey).
The main thing stopping me from becoming a crazy conspiracy theorist is that 90% of conspiracy theories are antisemitic (and the other 10% are probably metaphors for Jews). I’m exaggerating, but only a bit. It is an effort to figure out what narratives are still worth investing in. Lately, I find I care a lot more about *real people I know* than stuff online or in the shadowy world of elite politics.
My very first thought was that he seems to have moved on since the death of his husband… and what about his kids? Does he not care that his reputation will affect them? I didn’t consider his journalistic integrity until after thinking about his family.
"...this is last because it’s the most important, and the one I most want remembered: nobody gives a damn about children." Amen. I haven't followed this overly closely, but I have been also wondering if I'm going insane that everyone's main focus is on the leak, or on the kink, on shaming, on blackmail, etc not *a parent using meth*. Hell of a Rorschach test for what the collective feels strongly about. I had to really dig to find a news article that mentioned it at all.
The conservative commentators I saw defending him nearly all have kids. If that was their son on the video, they’d have been on the phone with a lawyer on the way to the airport. It’s so maddening that GG’s kids don’t even warrant a mention. I really do think it’s because of his Israel stance — they’re terrified of losing a “respectable” commentator who hates Israel as much as they do, and who cares about his kids?
Thank you for clearing this up! I find Greenwald irritating, so I don't really follow what he is writing and doing. And so, when I was seeing all those tweet, I was confused as to what the heck was going on and how did that video (no, I haven't seen it nor do I care to see it) get out. I believe you've got the most sensible take on this.
Thank you, and thanks for reading it!
Spot on. Could have been inside my head.
From my perspective, high praise! Thank you.
I wouldn't be so sure--you've seen more of the inside of my head than most people, and you know it's a rubbish tip up in there.
Well, given you and I are two of the tiny handful of people willing to say true things like the one I wrote about here -- I'm willing to bet there's more truth in your rubbish tin than most other places!
So many good points Holly. Reading your article was like a cleansing of my mind - thank you for being my native guide.
❤️❤️❤️
"But each and every one will look you dead in the face and say, without blinking, that no, the “T” has nothing to do with LGB."
I would only eliminate the B. Being lesbian or gay is the only true issue. If you're bisexual, only the homosexual part of you faces any potential discrimination, so it's covered by L and G. All the other letters of the alphabet that grifters have added on have no business being attached to the original LG.
As to Glenn Greenwald, I count myself lucky that I don't care a whit.
My X post. "Sanity requires a support network." Holly hits it out of the park on her analysis of the Greenwald affair. She has thought through and articulated why the reaction was so troubling. I highly recommend reading this piece even if you don't care about Greenwald per se because she lays out the template of the reaction and what it means.
When I first heard about this, I read that he’d been hacked; i didn’t even know that there was a controversy about whether he released it himself until reading you and Josh. I’m now reasonably convinced that he did it himself. My guess, for what it’s worth, is that he did it under the influence of sexual excitement and endorphins, but almost immediately thought better of it. Which is kind of a guy thing to do.
Almost immediately, when I learned that he had two adopted boy children, I thought about how horrible this is for them. Not only does he do this, he taped it. Which, even if he really and truly was hacked, is a real risk! Which means his sons are going to know their adoptive father does these things. How can those boys look at him the same way again? How can they respect him? What’s worse, as teenagers they’ll go to school with boys who know all about it. I hope they both become proficient in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu; they are going to need it.
I will add that I have non-consensually heard far more about this than I care to know, I for one have not seen it, and I’m actively avoiding this viewing.
Am I the only one who wondered about their actual safety and not just the shame of having it on the internet?
No, you are not. I tried many ways to express my real fear without crossing the line into an accusation that would be irresponsible to publish without proof, so I left it out. But the answer to your question is no.
No, you are not.
THANK YOU! All I have seen in respect to the children is how mortified they will eventually be. Nothing at all about their actual safety.
I did have that concern. I do have it. However, like Holly, I didn’t want to express the concern in a way that makes accusations for which I have no evidence.
I understand. But I think it's possible to maintain that he should be treated like any other parent and an investigation (including routine drug testing and possibly mandatory rehab) is warranted without it being seen as a baseless accusation. That's what seems to be missing. People are willing to talk about the boys' likely embarrassment but not the need for a formal investigation on account of their safety.
Nope. I've thought for a while that he may be struggling, and this made me wonder about the kids.
"My guess, for what it’s worth, is that he did it under the influence of sexual excitement and endorphins, but almost immediately thought better of it. "
Or drugs. I.e. the meth.
You just pointed out another reason why I'm glad I have never bothered with social media. So many things to not-see that I have avoided.
I saw a still photo and thought, “Glasses on? Really? Looks like someone’s multitasking.” (i.e. Not exactly “in the moment” and performing with another goal in mind.)
Yep yep yep.
This was excellent. I have also been trying to pin down why all this has been bothering me so much (aside from the danger to his children- I know why that bothers me) when I don't care all that much about Glenn Greenwald. Everything you laid out is a component of the many abuse dynamics from childhood. Even though I am not on Twitter the subject has still managed to push through to the point that it was causing some agitation and anxiety that I couldn't fully pinpoint.
Thank you for reminding people about his children again. I have mentioned it in a previous note (not that you are expected to remember) that I am a former foster parent. The kids were taken out of a meth home where (unofficial) prostitution was taking place. Basically swapping sex for drugs while trying to teach the children that all these doped up adults were their new "friends". Greenwald's kids are not safe. The idea that you can be a safe parent while engaging in these behaviors (drugs, transactional sex, filming it, showing it) is false. It ALWAYS affects the children and usually results in their neglect and physical harm. Maybe Greenwald himself would never lay a hand on his kids, but he is also rendering himself incapable of protecting them and has advertised his family as an easy mark for a predator.
Sadly, a lot of people would not have an attorney or Child Protective Services involved if these boys were their nephews or grandkids, etc. because they would not want the responsibility of "cleaning up" their sibling's or child's mess yet again. So they pretend not to see what is right in front of their face. I don't want Greenwald's kids to go through the trauma of family separation but they are absolutely not safe with him and I think there does need to be an intervention. If that video had surfaced of any other regular American- the state would most likely be involved.
Thanks. And yes, I agree that a lot of ordinary people would look the other way, but I was thinking about commentators and influencers. Some of the big names defending him would absolutely lose their shit if their grandsons or nephews were in a home like that. They'd have a custody lawyer on the phone from the car on the way to the airport to go do something about it. But when they talk about GG, the kids don't even factor in at all.
That's true. And what's sad is, once upon a time they would have. People would have found it almost impossible to speak about the content of the video, but they would have zoned in on the 2 adopted children.
I’m no longer going to read Glenn Greenwald. Matt Osborne showed the old receipts of Greenwald’s porn history, which is apparently a long history. I can comment on Tucker Carlson’s or Megan Kelly’s sites (if they have him on again) saying that Greenwald’s behavior reflects poorly on them and wondering if the adopted sons are okay. My gaydar was really off on this case, fortunately Josh Slocum and Matt Osborne stepped up and were reliable gay Dutch uncles.
Wow. Didn't see the video on X but from what I read, this is really disordered behavior, even though it is technically legal.
We also have to recognize that there are a lot of bad and bad-doing people out there who are very good at what they do, as you've pointed out with our current President.
I was only peripherally aware of Greenwald before all of this and now that I know more, I am completely appalled. I understand what you are saying Holly and agree with your points, so thank you for all of that. Still, I am gobsmacked that anyone would believe, support or defend him for any of this - never mind their political views. And that minors are anywhere near this wretch is very disturbing.
Otherwise, I reiterate my response to all of this on another part of Substack: https://substack.com/@yarrow549425/note/c-121872804?r=2lcbos&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
I’m not going to comment on Greenwald, about whom I feel I already know far more than I want, except to say that I agree with you, particularly about his children.
Regarding gaslighting: nowadays, to feel gaslit is to understand the way the world really works.
I think realisation goes through stages:
1) I am being gaslit about this thing I know a lot about.
2) I am being gaslit about lots of things I know a bit about.
3) I am being gaslit about everything.
Realisation can be quick or slow. Some people reach stage 1) without going any further. I’m Jewish and in the last twenty months I’ve encountered a number of progressive Jews who know that the legacy media is gaslighting the world about Israel, but believe everything it says about e.g. Trump, Biden, Islam, immigration (etc.) to be gospel truth. On the other hand, some jumped from 0) to 3) overnight (literally). I took a much more leisure route over the last quarter-century (although there was a *lot* less gaslighting around when I began my journey).
The main thing stopping me from becoming a crazy conspiracy theorist is that 90% of conspiracy theories are antisemitic (and the other 10% are probably metaphors for Jews). I’m exaggerating, but only a bit. It is an effort to figure out what narratives are still worth investing in. Lately, I find I care a lot more about *real people I know* than stuff online or in the shadowy world of elite politics.
Reading your reviews of "Original Sin" and "Fight", and then this, back-to-back, they seemed to all have a common theme.
Also, a new paid subscriber as of today. Enjoying your work.
Thank you!!
My very first thought was that he seems to have moved on since the death of his husband… and what about his kids? Does he not care that his reputation will affect them? I didn’t consider his journalistic integrity until after thinking about his family.
"...this is last because it’s the most important, and the one I most want remembered: nobody gives a damn about children." Amen. I haven't followed this overly closely, but I have been also wondering if I'm going insane that everyone's main focus is on the leak, or on the kink, on shaming, on blackmail, etc not *a parent using meth*. Hell of a Rorschach test for what the collective feels strongly about. I had to really dig to find a news article that mentioned it at all.
The conservative commentators I saw defending him nearly all have kids. If that was their son on the video, they’d have been on the phone with a lawyer on the way to the airport. It’s so maddening that GG’s kids don’t even warrant a mention. I really do think it’s because of his Israel stance — they’re terrified of losing a “respectable” commentator who hates Israel as much as they do, and who cares about his kids?