1 00:00:15,304 --> 00:00:15,824 Speaker 1: Pushkin. 2 00:00:20,424 --> 00:00:24,104 Speaker 2: I'm Tiffany schu and I wrote he wanted to unclog cities. 3 00:00:24,344 --> 00:00:27,144 Speaker 2: Now he's public Enemy number one for the New York 4 00:00:27,184 --> 00:00:29,784 Speaker 2: Times and it's the story of the week. 5 00:00:30,864 --> 00:00:34,784 Speaker 1: Sometime last year, I started to see people declare online 6 00:00:34,984 --> 00:00:39,744 Speaker 1: this really weird sentence, I will not eat the bugs. 7 00:00:40,424 --> 00:00:44,224 Speaker 1: I thought this was strange because these were adults, and 8 00:00:44,304 --> 00:00:47,424 Speaker 1: people over ten don't usually declare that they will not 9 00:00:47,584 --> 00:00:50,824 Speaker 1: eat something. So after some searching, I found out why 10 00:00:50,944 --> 00:00:54,504 Speaker 1: people were talking about eating bugs. The place I found 11 00:00:54,504 --> 00:00:59,624 Speaker 1: this information, to my surprise, was anti COVID vaccine websites. 12 00:01:00,424 --> 00:01:05,504 Speaker 1: Anti vaxxers argued that the lockdown, mask mandates and vaccination 13 00:01:05,624 --> 00:01:10,784 Speaker 1: cards were the beginning of an elite engineered authoritarian dystopia, 14 00:01:10,864 --> 00:01:14,664 Speaker 1: and part of this brief new world will involve forced 15 00:01:14,904 --> 00:01:19,024 Speaker 1: insect eating. These elites will use climate change as an 16 00:01:19,064 --> 00:01:21,784 Speaker 1: excuse to drive ranchers out of their land so they 17 00:01:21,784 --> 00:01:24,264 Speaker 1: can buy it up cheap, and then will be left 18 00:01:24,344 --> 00:01:28,344 Speaker 1: eating bugs, which will make us weak and easy to manipulate. 19 00:01:29,424 --> 00:01:32,664 Speaker 1: I don't buy this at all. Every single person I've 20 00:01:32,704 --> 00:01:36,744 Speaker 1: met who's eating grasshopper tacos or bowls of fried crickets 21 00:01:36,824 --> 00:01:40,424 Speaker 1: are tough as hell, and yes I've had them both. 22 00:01:47,464 --> 00:01:48,504 Speaker 1: Writing is hard. 23 00:01:48,704 --> 00:01:52,024 Speaker 3: Who's got that kind of time when you're already busy 24 00:01:52,144 --> 00:01:55,224 Speaker 3: trying to be don't stand so it turns on a mic? 25 00:01:55,544 --> 00:01:59,184 Speaker 3: Maybe the twiddles enop because a journalist trand has got 26 00:01:59,184 --> 00:02:03,944 Speaker 3: in that jul job out of single story. Just listen 27 00:02:04,024 --> 00:02:10,664 Speaker 3: to smart people speak, conversation, film information, this storre. 28 00:02:20,064 --> 00:02:23,064 Speaker 1: Tiffany Shue is a reporter who covers conspiracy theories for 29 00:02:23,104 --> 00:02:26,184 Speaker 1: The New York Times. She found out what's really behind 30 00:02:26,224 --> 00:02:29,504 Speaker 1: the elite's plan to imprison us in Waldorf. Area is 31 00:02:29,544 --> 00:02:34,624 Speaker 1: called fifteen minute cities. So, Tiffany, do you live in 32 00:02:34,664 --> 00:02:36,144 Speaker 1: a fifteen minute city? Where are you? 33 00:02:36,864 --> 00:02:40,264 Speaker 2: I'm in a little town in the East Bay near 34 00:02:40,304 --> 00:02:41,024 Speaker 2: San Francisco. 35 00:02:41,304 --> 00:02:44,264 Speaker 1: You in Fremont? Are you in Piedmont? Where are you? 36 00:02:44,264 --> 00:02:46,024 Speaker 2: You know? I actually prefer not to say, because I 37 00:02:46,064 --> 00:02:47,744 Speaker 2: deal with so many crazies in my work. 38 00:02:48,624 --> 00:02:49,784 Speaker 1: Oh are you GI mean me? 39 00:02:50,864 --> 00:02:52,584 Speaker 2: I don't know yet. We haven't talked for very long. 40 00:02:52,744 --> 00:02:54,864 Speaker 1: Okay, Well, how long does it take you to get 41 00:02:54,864 --> 00:02:57,624 Speaker 1: to like a coffee shop or a grocery store or 42 00:02:57,624 --> 00:02:58,384 Speaker 1: a drug dealer? 43 00:02:58,624 --> 00:03:01,864 Speaker 2: I mean, if I if I'm driving, it takes two minutes. 44 00:03:01,904 --> 00:03:04,304 Speaker 2: If I'm walking, I could get there in twenty but 45 00:03:04,384 --> 00:03:05,944 Speaker 2: I'm a very slow walker. 46 00:03:07,904 --> 00:03:10,864 Speaker 1: So you live in a twenty minut Yeah, your story 47 00:03:11,104 --> 00:03:14,824 Speaker 1: is about this professor in France who came up with 48 00:03:14,864 --> 00:03:16,904 Speaker 1: this idea of the fifteen minute city. 49 00:03:17,064 --> 00:03:20,424 Speaker 2: Yeah. So this this guy's named Carlos Moreno. He's a 50 00:03:20,424 --> 00:03:24,104 Speaker 2: professor at the University of Paris one Pentheon. 51 00:03:23,704 --> 00:03:25,784 Speaker 1: Sorbon, which is not the Sorbun. 52 00:03:26,024 --> 00:03:29,664 Speaker 2: Right, it is not the Sorbun. There are apparently many, many, 53 00:03:29,744 --> 00:03:34,344 Speaker 2: many different variations of universities with the name Sorbun in them. 54 00:03:35,064 --> 00:03:40,384 Speaker 2: He has a long and varied career. He started working 55 00:03:40,384 --> 00:03:43,384 Speaker 2: as a researcher in a computer science and robotics lab 56 00:03:43,424 --> 00:03:46,624 Speaker 2: in nineteen eighty three. This was after he moved to 57 00:03:46,664 --> 00:03:51,224 Speaker 2: Paris from Colombia, which is where he was born. He 58 00:03:51,264 --> 00:03:53,464 Speaker 2: moved over to France as a political refugee when he 59 00:03:53,504 --> 00:03:54,264 Speaker 2: was twenty. 60 00:03:54,264 --> 00:03:56,304 Speaker 1: Oh why was he a political refugee? 61 00:03:56,544 --> 00:03:58,744 Speaker 2: When he was very young, he spent some time with 62 00:03:58,784 --> 00:04:00,624 Speaker 2: the April nineteenth leftist movement. 63 00:04:01,184 --> 00:04:03,664 Speaker 1: So they were like communist gorillas, right, taking on the 64 00:04:03,744 --> 00:04:06,704 Speaker 1: SI right wing party there, right? Oh wow, Okay, so 65 00:04:06,824 --> 00:04:09,464 Speaker 1: he was in this gorilla movement and he had to 66 00:04:09,904 --> 00:04:11,984 Speaker 1: he had to leave Columbia, but he chose Paris. 67 00:04:12,024 --> 00:04:13,944 Speaker 2: There are worse options, yes. 68 00:04:14,224 --> 00:04:16,704 Speaker 1: Yeah, And so what did he start doing in France? 69 00:04:17,544 --> 00:04:20,224 Speaker 2: He goes to school and then in nineteen eighty three 70 00:04:20,304 --> 00:04:23,704 Speaker 2: he starts working as a researcher. He's worked in fields 71 00:04:23,744 --> 00:04:28,864 Speaker 2: like automotive, medical, nuclear, military. He says that he helped 72 00:04:28,864 --> 00:04:32,864 Speaker 2: create the first robot vacuum cleaner. He was doing some 73 00:04:32,904 --> 00:04:33,744 Speaker 2: home goods work. 74 00:04:33,944 --> 00:04:35,424 Speaker 1: Will you sound like you don't believe him? 75 00:04:36,624 --> 00:04:39,104 Speaker 2: I mean, I don't know too much about the history 76 00:04:39,144 --> 00:04:41,464 Speaker 2: of robot vacuum cleaning. 77 00:04:41,664 --> 00:04:42,304 Speaker 1: Do you have one? 78 00:04:42,424 --> 00:04:43,144 Speaker 2: We have a rumba. 79 00:04:43,264 --> 00:04:45,704 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's amazing, right, like as good as this fifteen 80 00:04:45,744 --> 00:04:48,024 Speaker 1: minute city idea. It's not as good as the rumba. 81 00:04:48,184 --> 00:04:50,024 Speaker 2: No, no, no, I mean the baby's terrified of it. 82 00:04:50,064 --> 00:04:52,544 Speaker 2: But maybe that's a good thing. She needs to tough enough. 83 00:04:53,024 --> 00:04:54,624 Speaker 1: So what's he like as a person? 84 00:04:55,264 --> 00:04:57,824 Speaker 2: He's lovely. I mean, we had a zoom with him 85 00:04:57,984 --> 00:05:00,624 Speaker 2: when I was reporting the story and he shows up. 86 00:05:00,664 --> 00:05:05,744 Speaker 2: He's wearing he's wearing that stereotypical French black turtleneck. He's 87 00:05:05,744 --> 00:05:09,304 Speaker 2: got the glasses on, he's got that lovely axe, and 88 00:05:10,024 --> 00:05:13,944 Speaker 2: he's just like a lovely professorial type. 89 00:05:14,664 --> 00:05:17,664 Speaker 1: So he comes up with this idea of the fifteen 90 00:05:17,704 --> 00:05:18,304 Speaker 1: minute city. 91 00:05:18,904 --> 00:05:22,984 Speaker 2: Not that long ago, right, Yeah, So in twenty ten 92 00:05:23,144 --> 00:05:27,664 Speaker 2: he starts thinking about sustainable and tech empowered cities and 93 00:05:27,704 --> 00:05:31,904 Speaker 2: eventually that idea gets refined into this twenty sixteen proposal 94 00:05:32,104 --> 00:05:37,144 Speaker 2: for fifteen minute cities. And the idea is extremely straightforward, 95 00:05:37,224 --> 00:05:41,384 Speaker 2: that residents should be within a fifteen minute walk, bike ride, 96 00:05:41,504 --> 00:05:45,984 Speaker 2: or public transportation trip to all the daily necessities that 97 00:05:46,024 --> 00:05:49,784 Speaker 2: they need grocery stores, parks, schools, workplaces, medical care, that 98 00:05:49,784 --> 00:05:50,224 Speaker 2: sort of thing. 99 00:05:50,864 --> 00:05:54,264 Speaker 1: A walk or bike those seem like very different fifteen minutes. 100 00:05:54,624 --> 00:06:00,304 Speaker 2: Yeah, The idea is just to give people closer accessibility 101 00:06:00,344 --> 00:06:02,464 Speaker 2: to the things that they need in their lives. And 102 00:06:02,584 --> 00:06:04,384 Speaker 2: the hope is that you're not using a car. 103 00:06:04,624 --> 00:06:06,584 Speaker 1: So is it a climate change thing or it could 104 00:06:06,584 --> 00:06:08,544 Speaker 1: be a traffic thing, or is it a way to 105 00:06:08,784 --> 00:06:11,464 Speaker 1: have people socially connect instead of be lonely? Like, what 106 00:06:11,584 --> 00:06:13,784 Speaker 1: is the main point of the fifteen minute city? 107 00:06:13,864 --> 00:06:18,424 Speaker 2: So Carlos Moreno makes a point to not call it 108 00:06:18,544 --> 00:06:22,344 Speaker 2: a climate change idea or an antiqu car idea. He 109 00:06:22,384 --> 00:06:25,264 Speaker 2: always likes to say that it's about making things easier 110 00:06:25,304 --> 00:06:29,864 Speaker 2: for the person and the added benefit of that is 111 00:06:29,904 --> 00:06:32,984 Speaker 2: that it helps the environment because it limits the amount 112 00:06:33,144 --> 00:06:35,104 Speaker 2: of time that you're spending in a car. 113 00:06:35,544 --> 00:06:38,864 Speaker 1: So where did Carlos Marino get this idea for the 114 00:06:38,944 --> 00:06:39,864 Speaker 1: fifteen minute city. 115 00:06:40,064 --> 00:06:44,144 Speaker 2: It's based on more than a century of related thinking, 116 00:06:45,184 --> 00:06:50,304 Speaker 2: stretching back through the eighteen hundreds, neighborhood units, garden cities, 117 00:06:51,024 --> 00:06:54,944 Speaker 2: there's a new urbanism and walkable cities in the nineteen nineties, 118 00:06:55,144 --> 00:06:58,624 Speaker 2: basically anything that was proposed by the urban activist Jane 119 00:06:58,664 --> 00:07:00,184 Speaker 2: Jacobs in the nineteen sixties. 120 00:07:00,264 --> 00:07:02,584 Speaker 1: Now, I know, we did this episode on this group 121 00:07:02,624 --> 00:07:06,384 Speaker 1: called buy Nothing. People got pissed off because they thought 122 00:07:06,464 --> 00:07:09,624 Speaker 1: that would just increase gentrification. That you know, if you 123 00:07:09,744 --> 00:07:12,264 Speaker 1: kept people in their area, the rich people would get 124 00:07:12,304 --> 00:07:13,784 Speaker 1: to do all their rich things and the poor people 125 00:07:13,784 --> 00:07:15,864 Speaker 1: would be kept out of it. That's a concern I 126 00:07:15,904 --> 00:07:19,544 Speaker 1: assume with fifteen minute cities, that you know, you're asking 127 00:07:19,904 --> 00:07:21,624 Speaker 1: people with less money to stay in their part of 128 00:07:21,624 --> 00:07:21,984 Speaker 1: the city. 129 00:07:22,104 --> 00:07:24,744 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, that's exactly the criticism, which is that 130 00:07:25,104 --> 00:07:28,264 Speaker 2: if only certain areas get the benefits of a fifteen 131 00:07:28,264 --> 00:07:31,504 Speaker 2: minute neighborhood, then they obviously become more desirable, and then 132 00:07:31,544 --> 00:07:34,864 Speaker 2: poor people get priced out, and you know, of course, 133 00:07:34,904 --> 00:07:37,264 Speaker 2: if you're a marginalized community, you're probably going to be 134 00:07:37,864 --> 00:07:41,904 Speaker 2: hesitant about amenities that, in your experience are spurring gentrification 135 00:07:42,104 --> 00:07:45,264 Speaker 2: and displacement. And this is especially the case in the 136 00:07:45,384 --> 00:07:47,944 Speaker 2: US because of the way American cities are designed, because 137 00:07:48,584 --> 00:07:50,824 Speaker 2: you would need so much money and so much effort 138 00:07:50,824 --> 00:07:54,264 Speaker 2: to rejigger an American city into a fifteen minute format. 139 00:07:54,824 --> 00:07:58,664 Speaker 1: Okay, is anyone adopting this or who's into this fifty 140 00:07:58,704 --> 00:07:59,464 Speaker 1: minute city idea? 141 00:08:00,304 --> 00:08:04,224 Speaker 2: Many, many people are into this. The Parisian mayor and 142 00:08:04,384 --> 00:08:08,144 Speaker 2: id Algo made it like a core tenant of her 143 00:08:08,384 --> 00:08:11,344 Speaker 2: reelection camp in twenty twenty, which you won. More than 144 00:08:11,384 --> 00:08:13,864 Speaker 2: one hundred mayors that are part of this group called 145 00:08:13,904 --> 00:08:17,344 Speaker 2: the Sea forty mayors. They all adopted it. 146 00:08:17,344 --> 00:08:20,904 Speaker 1: It should only be forty mayors. You would think, this 147 00:08:21,024 --> 00:08:23,904 Speaker 1: is my conspiracy theory. There's something wrong with the Sea forty. 148 00:08:23,944 --> 00:08:26,424 Speaker 2: There are sixty mayors that are being suppressed somehow, they're 149 00:08:26,424 --> 00:08:27,264 Speaker 2: not being represented. 150 00:08:28,264 --> 00:08:30,024 Speaker 1: Okay, So there's one hundred mayors who are into this 151 00:08:30,104 --> 00:08:31,664 Speaker 1: idea right right? 152 00:08:31,704 --> 00:08:34,704 Speaker 2: And you know, there are different variations of this, and 153 00:08:35,024 --> 00:08:37,864 Speaker 2: there have been for a while, Like Portland has twenty 154 00:08:37,864 --> 00:08:41,624 Speaker 2: minute neighborhoods, Barcelona has these superblocks that are like nine 155 00:08:41,624 --> 00:08:44,184 Speaker 2: block chunks. Sweden has a one minute city. 156 00:08:44,544 --> 00:08:45,424 Speaker 1: One minute city. 157 00:08:45,624 --> 00:08:46,584 Speaker 2: Yeah, one minute city? 158 00:08:46,704 --> 00:08:48,384 Speaker 1: Is that just your house? I think I've been living 159 00:08:48,424 --> 00:08:50,624 Speaker 1: in a one minute city for since the pandemic. 160 00:08:50,224 --> 00:08:53,904 Speaker 2: Started in Sweden. The idea is that residents of a 161 00:08:53,944 --> 00:08:56,824 Speaker 2: single street can design how much space on that street 162 00:08:56,864 --> 00:08:59,184 Speaker 2: is used for public services like parking, so it's like 163 00:08:59,184 --> 00:08:59,904 Speaker 2: a single street. 164 00:09:00,024 --> 00:09:03,904 Speaker 1: Oh okay. So they went to implement this fifteen minute 165 00:09:03,904 --> 00:09:07,584 Speaker 1: city idea in Oxford in England, home of the of 166 00:09:07,704 --> 00:09:10,544 Speaker 1: the college. What was their plan on how to do this? 167 00:09:11,464 --> 00:09:14,184 Speaker 2: So the Oxford situation is pretty complicated. 168 00:09:13,784 --> 00:09:17,024 Speaker 1: And insane completely, but we'll get to that, okay. Sorry. 169 00:09:17,224 --> 00:09:23,144 Speaker 2: The Oxfordshire County Council had championed this idea called low 170 00:09:23,224 --> 00:09:27,184 Speaker 2: Traffic Neighborhoods. That's LTNs for short. 171 00:09:27,504 --> 00:09:30,584 Speaker 1: And I I already don't like it once you abbreviate stuff. 172 00:09:30,664 --> 00:09:32,824 Speaker 2: Yeah, the alphabet soup is not great. But you know 173 00:09:32,824 --> 00:09:35,704 Speaker 2: they're not marketers, they're their city planners. And the idea 174 00:09:35,944 --> 00:09:37,904 Speaker 2: is that you'd have to get a permit to drive 175 00:09:37,944 --> 00:09:41,504 Speaker 2: through certain areas at certain times of day, and that's 176 00:09:41,624 --> 00:09:45,024 Speaker 2: enforced by cameras. Right, So it's the same principle as 177 00:09:45,024 --> 00:09:47,504 Speaker 2: like a red light camera, which is unfortunately something I'm 178 00:09:47,584 --> 00:09:48,464 Speaker 2: very familiar with. 179 00:09:48,944 --> 00:09:50,064 Speaker 1: Oh you gotten a lot tickets. 180 00:09:50,144 --> 00:09:51,664 Speaker 2: I mean I live in the bar area. 181 00:09:52,144 --> 00:09:52,744 Speaker 1: Oh yeah. 182 00:09:52,984 --> 00:09:59,584 Speaker 2: The idea in Oxford County was that you would kind 183 00:09:59,584 --> 00:10:02,184 Speaker 2: of limit the number of cars that were moving through 184 00:10:02,704 --> 00:10:05,384 Speaker 2: high traffic areas and certain times of day, and that 185 00:10:05,424 --> 00:10:07,624 Speaker 2: would help with congestion, It would help with traffic flow, 186 00:10:07,704 --> 00:10:10,024 Speaker 2: it would be a little bit cleaner for the environment. 187 00:10:10,224 --> 00:10:12,104 Speaker 1: So you have a certain amount of times you're allowed 188 00:10:12,144 --> 00:10:13,944 Speaker 1: to leave your zone per. 189 00:10:13,864 --> 00:10:17,464 Speaker 2: Year or no. No, I mean you can travel wherever, 190 00:10:18,384 --> 00:10:21,304 Speaker 2: wherever you want. It's just that they are using this 191 00:10:21,384 --> 00:10:24,864 Speaker 2: to encourage you to avoid traversing through certain areas at 192 00:10:24,904 --> 00:10:27,144 Speaker 2: certain times of day. If you really want to go through, 193 00:10:27,224 --> 00:10:29,664 Speaker 2: you can go through. They're not stopping you. They're no 194 00:10:29,824 --> 00:10:33,064 Speaker 2: physical barriers. It's more of a permitting system so they 195 00:10:33,104 --> 00:10:36,704 Speaker 2: can better keep track of how many cars are moving 196 00:10:36,704 --> 00:10:39,224 Speaker 2: through like a specific space at a specific time. And 197 00:10:39,264 --> 00:10:42,104 Speaker 2: I think there is a fine system in place if 198 00:10:42,104 --> 00:10:44,584 Speaker 2: you're going through too often. 199 00:10:45,224 --> 00:10:47,144 Speaker 1: Okay, so you can go a certain amount of times. 200 00:10:47,184 --> 00:10:48,504 Speaker 1: If you go too many, you get fined. 201 00:10:48,904 --> 00:10:49,824 Speaker 2: That's my understanding. 202 00:10:49,944 --> 00:10:52,144 Speaker 1: And what if you live like right near the border, 203 00:10:52,304 --> 00:10:54,864 Speaker 1: and you're like, you know, your sick mom is on 204 00:10:54,864 --> 00:10:56,104 Speaker 1: the other side of the border. 205 00:10:56,464 --> 00:10:59,224 Speaker 2: I think the hope is maybe you walk, maybe you 206 00:10:59,264 --> 00:11:01,584 Speaker 2: take a bike, maybe take public transit, you know. 207 00:11:01,784 --> 00:11:06,864 Speaker 1: Okay, And people did not love this idea. 208 00:11:07,144 --> 00:11:09,224 Speaker 2: Some people love the idea, but many, many people did 209 00:11:09,304 --> 00:11:12,784 Speaker 2: not love the idea. There was a two thousand person 210 00:11:12,904 --> 00:11:17,424 Speaker 2: protest in Oxford in February by people who took the 211 00:11:17,784 --> 00:11:20,944 Speaker 2: idea out of context and then conflated it with a 212 00:11:21,264 --> 00:11:23,744 Speaker 2: separate idea. And this is where it gets a little 213 00:11:23,744 --> 00:11:24,544 Speaker 2: bit complicated. 214 00:11:25,064 --> 00:11:29,264 Speaker 1: Okay, Wait, are these Oxford Shurians or are these people 215 00:11:29,264 --> 00:11:31,344 Speaker 1: who are coming from elsewhere to protests, because that's a 216 00:11:31,344 --> 00:11:31,904 Speaker 1: lot of people. 217 00:11:32,104 --> 00:11:34,904 Speaker 2: No. So this is one of the interesting things about 218 00:11:34,904 --> 00:11:38,104 Speaker 2: this particular case, which is that so many people who 219 00:11:38,184 --> 00:11:41,944 Speaker 2: have had no prior connection to Oxford suddenly show up 220 00:11:42,624 --> 00:11:45,384 Speaker 2: in the debate. There were researchers who were saying that 221 00:11:45,424 --> 00:11:47,584 Speaker 2: there was evidence that people had been kind of bussed 222 00:11:47,584 --> 00:11:51,104 Speaker 2: in from outside the area to protests, that there were 223 00:11:51,904 --> 00:11:55,384 Speaker 2: political groups that have nothing to do with Oxford. There 224 00:11:55,424 --> 00:11:59,984 Speaker 2: was this idea that all of a sudden, this Oxfordshire 225 00:12:00,664 --> 00:12:04,344 Speaker 2: concept had blown up into a national or international outrage. 226 00:12:04,744 --> 00:12:09,464 Speaker 1: Yeah, this was a huge deal considering like Oxford, I've 227 00:12:09,504 --> 00:12:11,624 Speaker 1: never been there, is it as small as I want 228 00:12:11,624 --> 00:12:13,464 Speaker 1: it to be? And as everyone dressed in like the 229 00:12:13,544 --> 00:12:15,784 Speaker 1: robes and the cardboard hats, it looks like Harry. 230 00:12:15,584 --> 00:12:19,424 Speaker 2: Potter is I've never been. But it's not a big place. 231 00:12:19,904 --> 00:12:23,504 Speaker 1: Okay, And what are they pissed off about? 232 00:12:23,824 --> 00:12:25,504 Speaker 2: So a lot of these people showed up and they're 233 00:12:25,504 --> 00:12:29,984 Speaker 2: waving signs saying, you know, no to the fifteen minute city, 234 00:12:30,024 --> 00:12:33,104 Speaker 2: which is ridiculous because what is happening in Oxford County 235 00:12:33,424 --> 00:12:36,144 Speaker 2: has nothing to do with the fifteen minute city. Low 236 00:12:36,144 --> 00:12:40,584 Speaker 2: traffic neighborhoods are not fifteen minute cities. They're completely different. 237 00:12:40,664 --> 00:12:44,824 Speaker 2: One concept is concerned with limiting cars. The other concept 238 00:12:44,864 --> 00:12:49,344 Speaker 2: is focused on bringing daily necessities closer to residents. So 239 00:12:49,824 --> 00:12:53,784 Speaker 2: Oxford City Council had cited the fifteen minute City as 240 00:12:53,824 --> 00:12:56,864 Speaker 2: an inspiration for its like grand vision of the city 241 00:12:56,864 --> 00:12:59,544 Speaker 2: in twenty four that's where the mixup comes from. 242 00:12:59,624 --> 00:13:01,264 Speaker 1: So they have a plan to be a fifteen minute 243 00:13:01,264 --> 00:13:04,144 Speaker 1: city in twenty forty, which is like a second in 244 00:13:04,224 --> 00:13:09,624 Speaker 1: Oxford time. But for now they're just reducing traffic. Two 245 00:13:09,704 --> 00:13:13,424 Speaker 1: thousand people protest this, but they're worried about more than 246 00:13:13,504 --> 00:13:15,144 Speaker 1: just this rule. They think this is part of a 247 00:13:15,144 --> 00:13:15,904 Speaker 1: bigger plan. 248 00:13:16,824 --> 00:13:20,144 Speaker 2: Right, the conspiracy theorists get involved. 249 00:13:20,304 --> 00:13:23,304 Speaker 1: This is your stuff, right, Like you cover conspiracy theorists. 250 00:13:23,464 --> 00:13:27,744 Speaker 2: You see your face starting right eliplically. Yeah. There's this 251 00:13:27,784 --> 00:13:30,864 Speaker 2: one tweet from an architecture professor that showed up around 252 00:13:30,864 --> 00:13:33,584 Speaker 2: this time, and he said, if I had to guess 253 00:13:33,664 --> 00:13:36,264 Speaker 2: what would be the batchitt conspiracy theory of twenty twenty three, 254 00:13:36,344 --> 00:13:38,744 Speaker 2: I would have never guessed it would be town planning 255 00:13:38,744 --> 00:13:40,144 Speaker 2: where you can walk to the shops. 256 00:13:41,704 --> 00:13:44,904 Speaker 1: When we come back, all these conspiracy theorists are going 257 00:13:44,984 --> 00:13:47,944 Speaker 1: to attack a meek old man who is not at 258 00:13:47,984 --> 00:13:52,184 Speaker 1: all prepared for it. But first our advertisers are going 259 00:13:52,224 --> 00:13:54,504 Speaker 1: to tell you about this cool new electric bike with 260 00:13:54,704 --> 00:13:58,424 Speaker 1: zero carbon emissions. Oh god, the socialists have come for 261 00:13:58,544 --> 00:14:09,784 Speaker 1: us too. Okay, So there's this conspiracy theory about fifty 262 00:14:09,864 --> 00:14:13,864 Speaker 1: minute cities. They're afraid that these are little prisons that 263 00:14:13,864 --> 00:14:17,344 Speaker 1: they're fencing people into in order to control them. Is 264 00:14:17,384 --> 00:14:17,704 Speaker 1: that the. 265 00:14:17,624 --> 00:14:20,944 Speaker 2: Facily what happened in Oxford, It's like they cracked open 266 00:14:21,064 --> 00:14:24,544 Speaker 2: the conspiracy theory Bible and started listing off every entry 267 00:14:24,584 --> 00:14:27,144 Speaker 2: related to government control. I mean, you had people at 268 00:14:27,144 --> 00:14:30,744 Speaker 2: this protest who were accusing the county or the city 269 00:14:30,784 --> 00:14:34,224 Speaker 2: whatever of like surveillance, a movement restriction. They were calling 270 00:14:34,304 --> 00:14:38,944 Speaker 2: it like a modern goolag prison camps, police state, open 271 00:14:38,944 --> 00:14:41,984 Speaker 2: air prisons, fenced off into silent zones. There was like 272 00:14:42,104 --> 00:14:46,064 Speaker 2: talk of climate lockdown, climate tyranny, confinement, dystopia, urban incarceration. 273 00:14:46,104 --> 00:14:47,504 Speaker 2: I could go on and on and on. 274 00:14:47,824 --> 00:14:52,624 Speaker 1: Okay, And someone talks about this on the floor of 275 00:14:52,784 --> 00:14:53,824 Speaker 1: Parliament right. 276 00:14:53,824 --> 00:14:56,664 Speaker 2: Right, So there was a British PM that got involved. 277 00:14:56,824 --> 00:14:58,984 Speaker 2: He goes on the floor and he calls it, I 278 00:14:58,984 --> 00:15:03,184 Speaker 2: think an international socialist concept that is going to cost 279 00:15:03,304 --> 00:15:07,944 Speaker 2: our personal freedom. And this is something that has threads 280 00:15:07,944 --> 00:15:13,224 Speaker 2: starting before the pandem but these fears intensify with COVID nineteen. 281 00:15:13,264 --> 00:15:17,624 Speaker 2: So a lot of this is is stemming from valid 282 00:15:17,664 --> 00:15:22,624 Speaker 2: anxieties about locked down and quarantine and not being able 283 00:15:22,664 --> 00:15:25,704 Speaker 2: to go where you want to go. And then that 284 00:15:25,784 --> 00:15:29,344 Speaker 2: kind of ties in with climate deniers who say that 285 00:15:29,424 --> 00:15:32,584 Speaker 2: the government use the pandemic as an excuse to lock 286 00:15:32,704 --> 00:15:36,224 Speaker 2: people down so that they could advance their eco friendly 287 00:15:36,784 --> 00:15:42,144 Speaker 2: global warming initiatives. It's a big complicated mess. It's like 288 00:15:42,184 --> 00:15:46,904 Speaker 2: a sudden, horrible global convention of extremists and conspiracy theorists 289 00:15:46,984 --> 00:15:50,104 Speaker 2: just converging on like a single, really benign topic. 290 00:15:50,544 --> 00:15:52,944 Speaker 1: We've talked about this on podcasts before. I'm still confused 291 00:15:52,944 --> 00:15:56,504 Speaker 1: by it. The elites are planning the Great Reset, which 292 00:15:56,544 --> 00:16:00,264 Speaker 1: is actually like the title of some World Economic Forum 293 00:16:00,344 --> 00:16:03,344 Speaker 1: Davo's presentation during COVID. That's where they get the name 294 00:16:03,384 --> 00:16:07,144 Speaker 1: of Great Reset. And the Great Reset pens people into 295 00:16:07,184 --> 00:16:11,024 Speaker 1: small areas where they will own nothing and be happy, 296 00:16:11,544 --> 00:16:13,504 Speaker 1: and they will have to eat bugs. I do not 297 00:16:13,584 --> 00:16:15,784 Speaker 1: understand this plan, Like what is in it for the elites? 298 00:16:15,824 --> 00:16:18,584 Speaker 1: Like what how does that benefit the people controlling. 299 00:16:18,184 --> 00:16:23,224 Speaker 2: The world control power? All these amorphous ideas that conspiracy 300 00:16:23,264 --> 00:16:25,824 Speaker 2: theories like to clean to. I mean, none of these 301 00:16:25,824 --> 00:16:29,704 Speaker 2: ideas make any sense. If they hear a thought from 302 00:16:29,704 --> 00:16:32,984 Speaker 2: someone else and they can work its way into the 303 00:16:33,064 --> 00:16:35,864 Speaker 2: existing theory, they'll do that. I mean, conspiracy theories are 304 00:16:35,864 --> 00:16:38,104 Speaker 2: connected to many other conspiracy theories. 305 00:16:38,824 --> 00:16:38,984 Speaker 1: You know. 306 00:16:39,064 --> 00:16:43,944 Speaker 2: Quanon was saying after the Oxford protests that the people 307 00:16:43,984 --> 00:16:47,704 Speaker 2: behind fifteen minute Cities were the ones that caused the 308 00:16:47,744 --> 00:16:52,184 Speaker 2: Ohio train derailment because it was a plan to move 309 00:16:52,264 --> 00:16:55,744 Speaker 2: everyone from their rural homes into the city and then 310 00:16:55,944 --> 00:16:57,224 Speaker 2: they could be locked in there. 311 00:16:57,624 --> 00:17:01,264 Speaker 1: Oh oh, that's stuff. It's starting to make sense to 312 00:17:01,304 --> 00:17:03,984 Speaker 1: me that you would cordon off people and control them 313 00:17:04,344 --> 00:17:06,984 Speaker 1: like you were Stalin or pol pot or something. You're 314 00:17:07,024 --> 00:17:12,504 Speaker 1: just trying to like, it's just about power and control, control, 315 00:17:12,864 --> 00:17:15,264 Speaker 1: but power and control over a pretty crappy little world. 316 00:17:15,624 --> 00:17:17,464 Speaker 1: I don't know. I'm not into it. I don't want 317 00:17:17,464 --> 00:17:17,944 Speaker 1: to try. 318 00:17:17,984 --> 00:17:20,344 Speaker 2: You would never cut it as Pulpotter, Stalin or Hitler 319 00:17:21,784 --> 00:17:22,264 Speaker 2: any reason. 320 00:17:24,784 --> 00:17:25,864 Speaker 1: But then there's this tweet. 321 00:17:25,944 --> 00:17:30,584 Speaker 2: There is this tweet from from Jordan Peterson, the Canadian psychologist. 322 00:17:31,744 --> 00:17:34,184 Speaker 1: That's a weak description of Jordan Peterson, who is Jordan 323 00:17:34,184 --> 00:17:35,464 Speaker 1: Peterson in popular culture. 324 00:17:35,784 --> 00:17:40,024 Speaker 2: Jordan Peterson is a men's right activist who is really 325 00:17:40,064 --> 00:17:41,784 Speaker 2: a conspiracy theorist in a lot of ways. 326 00:17:41,864 --> 00:17:44,384 Speaker 1: He was the guy who told guys that they had 327 00:17:44,384 --> 00:17:47,744 Speaker 1: to make their bed and start being responsible because men 328 00:17:47,784 --> 00:17:49,584 Speaker 1: were in such bad shape, and he gained a lot 329 00:17:49,584 --> 00:17:50,264 Speaker 1: of followers. 330 00:17:50,824 --> 00:17:56,024 Speaker 2: So Jordan Peterson tweets in December that the idea that 331 00:17:56,064 --> 00:17:59,824 Speaker 2: neighborhoods should be walkable is lovely, the idea that idiot 332 00:17:59,824 --> 00:18:03,064 Speaker 2: tyrannical bureaucrats can decide by fia where you're allowed to 333 00:18:03,224 --> 00:18:06,224 Speaker 2: drive is perhaps the worst imaginable perversion of that idea. 334 00:18:06,864 --> 00:18:10,024 Speaker 2: And make no mistake, it's part of a well documented plan. 335 00:18:10,584 --> 00:18:14,664 Speaker 1: So all these conspiracy theorists start to point towards one man, 336 00:18:14,704 --> 00:18:17,704 Speaker 1: and it's not Soro's or Biden, it's our. 337 00:18:17,584 --> 00:18:20,184 Speaker 2: Friend Carlos moreno O. 338 00:18:21,024 --> 00:18:23,944 Speaker 1: That is rough. He can't see this coming. 339 00:18:24,504 --> 00:18:31,024 Speaker 2: He absolutely does not. He spends four decades working pretty 340 00:18:31,064 --> 00:18:35,744 Speaker 2: peacefully and quietly on his ideas about robotics and urban planning. 341 00:18:35,784 --> 00:18:40,144 Speaker 2: And you know, he's He's won some awards, he's well 342 00:18:40,184 --> 00:18:43,184 Speaker 2: respected in the industry, but he is by no means 343 00:18:43,224 --> 00:18:47,184 Speaker 2: a household name. He is not used at all to 344 00:18:47,544 --> 00:18:50,384 Speaker 2: the level of attention that he suddenly gets this year 345 00:18:50,464 --> 00:18:52,104 Speaker 2: from conspiracy theorists. 346 00:18:52,864 --> 00:18:54,104 Speaker 1: What format does that take. 347 00:18:54,544 --> 00:18:58,904 Speaker 2: He's getting emails, he's getting social media messages. He was 348 00:18:58,944 --> 00:19:01,304 Speaker 2: saying things like, I feel like I'm living in a 349 00:19:01,304 --> 00:19:05,424 Speaker 2: bad movie. This is a crazy world. He quoted a 350 00:19:05,464 --> 00:19:10,504 Speaker 2: philosopher which was very on brand for Carlos, saying ignorance 351 00:19:10,584 --> 00:19:12,904 Speaker 2: leads to fear, Fear leads to hatred, and hatred leads 352 00:19:12,904 --> 00:19:16,944 Speaker 2: to violence. This is the equation. And he's saying this 353 00:19:17,064 --> 00:19:24,584 Speaker 2: because he's getting these horrible, aggressive, hostile messages from total strangers. 354 00:19:25,144 --> 00:19:29,544 Speaker 2: I mean, I'll read you some of the snippets. This 355 00:19:29,664 --> 00:19:32,584 Speaker 2: madman must be killed, stupid prick. He should be flattened 356 00:19:32,624 --> 00:19:34,384 Speaker 2: by a cement roll, or he should be nailed into 357 00:19:34,384 --> 00:19:37,064 Speaker 2: a coffin. He sent me one that was written in 358 00:19:37,104 --> 00:19:42,704 Speaker 2: Spanish that called Carlos Maldita kukraca restrera and I'm like, 359 00:19:42,744 --> 00:19:45,144 Speaker 2: what the hell does that mean? It means damn crawling cockroach. 360 00:19:46,264 --> 00:19:50,064 Speaker 1: And it probably fuels the conspiracy theorists that he used 361 00:19:50,104 --> 00:19:51,744 Speaker 1: to be a communist. I mean, that fits right in 362 00:19:51,784 --> 00:19:52,384 Speaker 1: with their theory. 363 00:19:52,464 --> 00:19:57,624 Speaker 2: Right, that's definitely come up that he is somehow an 364 00:19:57,664 --> 00:20:02,384 Speaker 2: agent of the left because of his gorilla past. Again, 365 00:20:02,424 --> 00:20:05,024 Speaker 2: I'm not entirely clear on what the logic there is, 366 00:20:05,904 --> 00:20:08,824 Speaker 2: but that was definitely a message he had gotten, the 367 00:20:09,144 --> 00:20:13,824 Speaker 2: getting death threats against himself, against his family. He went 368 00:20:13,824 --> 00:20:17,344 Speaker 2: to Argentina a few weeks ago for a conference. It 369 00:20:17,424 --> 00:20:19,664 Speaker 2: was public and it was out in the open air. 370 00:20:19,944 --> 00:20:21,704 Speaker 2: He said he had to be put under police protection. 371 00:20:23,184 --> 00:20:27,024 Speaker 2: So for a guy who is used to talking to 372 00:20:27,544 --> 00:20:32,544 Speaker 2: other academics and other researchers, he is totally unprepared to 373 00:20:32,584 --> 00:20:35,264 Speaker 2: deal with this, So it's a total shock. 374 00:20:35,984 --> 00:20:38,944 Speaker 1: Yeah, and he's not a politician, he's just some guy 375 00:20:38,984 --> 00:20:41,944 Speaker 1: who came with the idea like the university can't be 376 00:20:41,984 --> 00:20:43,784 Speaker 1: set up to protect professors. 377 00:20:43,984 --> 00:20:45,504 Speaker 2: Yeah, he said this to me. He said, I'm not 378 00:20:45,504 --> 00:20:47,704 Speaker 2: equipped for this. He said, the university is not equipped 379 00:20:47,744 --> 00:20:50,824 Speaker 2: to deal with this. And this is a case for 380 00:20:50,904 --> 00:20:53,184 Speaker 2: a lot of people in his position, people who are 381 00:20:53,184 --> 00:20:56,544 Speaker 2: more or less anonymous researchers, who are suddenly getting slammed 382 00:20:56,584 --> 00:20:58,144 Speaker 2: by harassment. 383 00:20:59,144 --> 00:21:01,664 Speaker 1: Right, I mean, now that everything's political, this must be 384 00:21:01,704 --> 00:21:05,864 Speaker 1: happening to professors everywhere who deal with like anything that's 385 00:21:05,904 --> 00:21:09,264 Speaker 1: become political, like climate research or COVID research. 386 00:21:09,384 --> 00:21:15,224 Speaker 2: There are so many incredibly distressing stories of especially COVID 387 00:21:15,264 --> 00:21:20,864 Speaker 2: researchers recently, who have had to go into hiding. You know, 388 00:21:20,904 --> 00:21:23,744 Speaker 2: there was one woman in Austria. She was a vaccine 389 00:21:23,784 --> 00:21:27,504 Speaker 2: advocate and she committed suitside during the pandemic. It was 390 00:21:27,584 --> 00:21:30,144 Speaker 2: just getting too much, the threats, to the harassment, the 391 00:21:30,144 --> 00:21:30,824 Speaker 2: online abuse. 392 00:21:31,344 --> 00:21:34,584 Speaker 1: This is the worst kind of fame. You're not famous 393 00:21:34,824 --> 00:21:36,984 Speaker 1: to anyone except people who hate you. 394 00:21:37,104 --> 00:21:42,864 Speaker 2: Right, and those people are very good at coordinating their attacks, 395 00:21:43,304 --> 00:21:45,784 Speaker 2: and many of them are anonymous, so they don't face 396 00:21:45,824 --> 00:21:46,904 Speaker 2: repercussions normally. 397 00:21:47,344 --> 00:21:49,064 Speaker 1: God, it sucks to be a professor right now. 398 00:21:49,224 --> 00:21:53,424 Speaker 2: Totally. It's especially dangerous now because so many social media 399 00:21:53,464 --> 00:21:57,584 Speaker 2: safeguards are disappearing. There's this broader erosion of trusts in 400 00:21:58,144 --> 00:22:03,864 Speaker 2: experts and institutions, and conspiracy theorists know that instead of 401 00:22:03,904 --> 00:22:07,824 Speaker 2: debating that zero or carbon taxation policies is on their merits, 402 00:22:07,904 --> 00:22:11,144 Speaker 2: it's so much easy, easier to try to discredit the 403 00:22:11,144 --> 00:22:14,184 Speaker 2: people who are championing those ideas. So people like Carlos 404 00:22:14,664 --> 00:22:18,504 Speaker 2: are easier targets than what it is he's proposing. 405 00:22:20,424 --> 00:22:23,224 Speaker 1: Right to debate over how much carbon there should be 406 00:22:23,344 --> 00:22:25,344 Speaker 1: in the atmosphere is not what this is about. This 407 00:22:25,424 --> 00:22:30,224 Speaker 1: is about who gets to control the world under what worldview? Right? 408 00:22:30,504 --> 00:22:33,064 Speaker 2: I mean, that's sort of rhetoric. Is what resonates with 409 00:22:34,304 --> 00:22:38,504 Speaker 2: people who are already afraid. And you know, after the pandemic, 410 00:22:38,624 --> 00:22:42,784 Speaker 2: people were already on guard against anything that suggested that 411 00:22:42,824 --> 00:22:44,984 Speaker 2: their personal freedoms would be restricted, no. 412 00:22:45,024 --> 00:22:47,264 Speaker 1: Less their cars. You do not mess with people's trucks 413 00:22:47,264 --> 00:22:47,704 Speaker 1: and cars. 414 00:22:47,824 --> 00:22:48,064 Speaker 2: Never. 415 00:22:48,304 --> 00:22:50,784 Speaker 1: Never. That's what freedom means. I mean, that's what I 416 00:22:50,824 --> 00:22:52,784 Speaker 1: was taught in the eighties. That's what Springsteen taught. 417 00:22:52,544 --> 00:22:55,824 Speaker 2: Me anything, Springsteen says, goes. 418 00:22:55,784 --> 00:22:58,584 Speaker 1: Are people dropping the fifteen minute city concept now that 419 00:22:58,584 --> 00:23:00,344 Speaker 1: there's been so much anger. 420 00:23:00,384 --> 00:23:02,464 Speaker 2: Leveled at it, there may be a chilling effect for 421 00:23:03,144 --> 00:23:05,704 Speaker 2: communities that want to adopt it down the line, Right, 422 00:23:05,784 --> 00:23:09,824 Speaker 2: why would we want to deal with hordes of streamists 423 00:23:09,984 --> 00:23:13,464 Speaker 2: or really even just average citizens we're going to protest 424 00:23:13,544 --> 00:23:16,824 Speaker 2: and picket at our board meetings. You just don't have 425 00:23:16,904 --> 00:23:20,264 Speaker 2: to deal with this right now. Ideas like this that 426 00:23:20,384 --> 00:23:24,984 Speaker 2: really could help with sustainability efforts, they just won't get 427 00:23:25,024 --> 00:23:27,064 Speaker 2: off the ground because. 428 00:23:28,184 --> 00:23:31,144 Speaker 1: With the harassment Planning commission? Why would you ever want 429 00:23:31,184 --> 00:23:33,624 Speaker 1: to talk about this when there's like a thousand other 430 00:23:33,664 --> 00:23:35,304 Speaker 1: things that no one cares about that you can work on. 431 00:23:35,824 --> 00:23:38,264 Speaker 2: Right, there's always the risk that this no longer is 432 00:23:38,304 --> 00:23:41,624 Speaker 2: a priority because of the harassment that's associated with it. 433 00:23:42,024 --> 00:23:44,504 Speaker 1: Yeah, you don't get on a city planning commission to 434 00:23:44,704 --> 00:23:47,984 Speaker 1: like get to battle with people. Yeah, no, you go 435 00:23:48,064 --> 00:23:50,144 Speaker 1: there to be a walk right and no. 436 00:23:50,144 --> 00:23:53,344 Speaker 2: Exactly, you don't get into this job to have people 437 00:23:53,424 --> 00:23:57,824 Speaker 2: screaming in your face about how your totalitarian dictator, if 438 00:23:57,864 --> 00:24:01,424 Speaker 2: you're fauci, if your bill gates, fine, you know you 439 00:24:01,464 --> 00:24:03,864 Speaker 2: are equipped for this sort of thing. You know that 440 00:24:04,304 --> 00:24:07,624 Speaker 2: your visibility is going to make you a target. But 441 00:24:08,184 --> 00:24:12,544 Speaker 2: so many of the researchers and academics and professors who 442 00:24:12,544 --> 00:24:16,504 Speaker 2: are getting it full force now they didn't expect it. 443 00:24:16,624 --> 00:24:19,944 Speaker 2: They're not ready for it, and it has really hurt them. 444 00:24:20,064 --> 00:24:23,064 Speaker 1: This conspiracy theory about fifteen minute cities. I'm not hearing 445 00:24:23,104 --> 00:24:27,504 Speaker 1: anything about drinking children's blood, or pedophiles or anything like that. 446 00:24:27,984 --> 00:24:32,944 Speaker 2: So that links in because the members of the New 447 00:24:32,984 --> 00:24:35,144 Speaker 2: World Order or the elite of all are the ones 448 00:24:35,144 --> 00:24:38,784 Speaker 2: who are often associated with the children's blood drinking, et cetera. 449 00:24:39,064 --> 00:24:41,024 Speaker 1: Oh, that's just a perk once you put people in 450 00:24:41,064 --> 00:24:42,864 Speaker 1: fifteen minute cities, the baby blood. 451 00:24:42,984 --> 00:24:46,064 Speaker 2: Maybe maybe it gives you easier access. Right already, sixy fly. 452 00:24:46,384 --> 00:24:48,344 Speaker 1: Totally, they're right there. You don't have to go more 453 00:24:48,344 --> 00:24:50,384 Speaker 1: than fifteen minutes to get your baby blood. There you go, 454 00:24:50,744 --> 00:24:55,184 Speaker 1: Tiffany Shu, you wrote he wanted to unclog cities. Now 455 00:24:55,224 --> 00:24:57,744 Speaker 1: he's public enemy number one for the New York Times. 456 00:24:57,984 --> 00:25:00,744 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for coming on and explaining so 457 00:25:00,904 --> 00:25:02,304 Speaker 1: much of the world to me. 458 00:25:03,224 --> 00:25:04,664 Speaker 2: You're welcome. You're always welcome. 459 00:25:06,304 --> 00:25:10,064 Speaker 1: Okay. According to the rules, I am supposed to be 460 00:25:10,144 --> 00:25:17,504 Speaker 1: able to walk in fifteen minutes to work, leisure, shopping, education, 461 00:25:17,944 --> 00:25:20,624 Speaker 1: and healthcare. So I'm gonna give it a shot. Live 462 00:25:20,704 --> 00:25:23,344 Speaker 1: right next to a park, Griffith Park. There's something you 463 00:25:23,384 --> 00:25:27,104 Speaker 1: definitely want in your city, big park. Oh there's the 464 00:25:27,144 --> 00:25:32,144 Speaker 1: American Film Institute. The education that counts, right. I don't 465 00:25:32,144 --> 00:25:35,384 Speaker 1: think this is explicitly on the list, but I'm walking 466 00:25:35,464 --> 00:25:39,344 Speaker 1: by a couple kissing up in the grass. I mean 467 00:25:39,384 --> 00:25:41,864 Speaker 1: they're going out of pretty good. It's only six minutes in. 468 00:25:41,944 --> 00:25:46,144 Speaker 1: This is impressive, all right. There is a bask In 469 00:25:46,224 --> 00:25:50,184 Speaker 1: Robin's ice Cream, my least favorite ice cream chain. I 470 00:25:50,224 --> 00:25:52,424 Speaker 1: think they really get by on claiming to have a 471 00:25:52,504 --> 00:25:56,784 Speaker 1: lot of flavors, which you know that doesn't make a 472 00:25:56,784 --> 00:25:59,264 Speaker 1: good ice cream store. I don't need that many flavors, 473 00:25:59,304 --> 00:26:01,024 Speaker 1: or rather have good ice cream than like bubble gum 474 00:26:01,064 --> 00:26:02,664 Speaker 1: ice I do like I do like the bubble gum 475 00:26:02,744 --> 00:26:05,744 Speaker 1: ice cream. Maybe I should get some bubble gum ice cream. 476 00:26:06,224 --> 00:26:11,744 Speaker 1: I've got everything in fifteen minutes. A ralph supermarket, real 477 00:26:11,824 --> 00:26:17,664 Speaker 1: estate agent, a dentist. There's a dentist up here the supermarket. Huh, 478 00:26:18,464 --> 00:26:22,864 Speaker 1: why don't even known the car? This is great? La 479 00:26:22,944 --> 00:26:25,944 Speaker 1: gets a really bad rap. Maybe it's because none of 480 00:26:26,024 --> 00:26:29,384 Speaker 1: us walk and find out what's here. Yeah, we deserve it. 481 00:26:32,184 --> 00:26:35,384 Speaker 3: At the end of the show, what's next for Joe Stein? 482 00:26:35,544 --> 00:26:38,664 Speaker 3: Maybe you'll take a naple poke around online. 483 00:26:40,904 --> 00:26:44,664 Speaker 1: Our show is produced by Joey fish Ground, Mola Board 484 00:26:45,264 --> 00:26:49,104 Speaker 1: and Nishavenka. It was edited by Lydia jeden Kot. Our 485 00:26:49,144 --> 00:26:51,944 Speaker 1: engineer is Amantha kay Wang, and our executive producer is 486 00:26:52,104 --> 00:26:56,024 Speaker 1: catharinal Cheradoh. Our theme song was produced by Jonathan Colton. 487 00:26:56,504 --> 00:26:59,064 Speaker 1: A special thanks to my voice coach Picky Merrick and 488 00:26:59,184 --> 00:27:03,704 Speaker 1: my consulting producer Laurence Alasni. To find more Pushkin podcasts, 489 00:27:03,864 --> 00:27:08,104 Speaker 1: listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 490 00:27:08,144 --> 00:27:12,464 Speaker 1: listen to your podcast. I'm Joel Stein and this is 491 00:27:12,544 --> 00:27:17,104 Speaker 1: story of the Week. Where does this rank compared to 492 00:27:17,184 --> 00:27:20,984 Speaker 1: other insane conspiracy theory threats that you've written about? 493 00:27:21,104 --> 00:27:23,904 Speaker 2: Oh man, I've written about a lot of insane conspiracy theories. 494 00:27:24,864 --> 00:27:28,144 Speaker 2: I just wrote a story about the demon horse of 495 00:27:28,184 --> 00:27:30,104 Speaker 2: the Denver Airport, and well. 496 00:27:29,944 --> 00:27:32,984 Speaker 1: You wrote that story. We were also considering doing that story. 497 00:27:33,224 --> 00:27:34,424 Speaker 2: It's so funny. You want to just do a two 498 00:27:34,464 --> 00:27:34,944 Speaker 2: for now? 499 00:27:35,224 --> 00:27:37,904 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm so sorry. I suck with bylines, which makes 500 00:27:37,904 --> 00:27:39,944 Speaker 1: me really bad at this job. You did a whole 501 00:27:39,984 --> 00:27:44,944 Speaker 1: story about the Denver Airport, but it centers around this 502 00:27:45,144 --> 00:27:46,584 Speaker 1: sculpture of a horse. 503 00:27:46,664 --> 00:27:50,384 Speaker 2: And the storyline was that you walked through an opening 504 00:27:50,464 --> 00:27:54,824 Speaker 2: in the horses genitals and it was a portal for 505 00:27:54,984 --> 00:28:00,184 Speaker 2: like aliens and monsters and other like supernatural beings. I 506 00:28:00,224 --> 00:28:03,664 Speaker 2: had a guy email me after the story ran saying 507 00:28:03,824 --> 00:28:07,664 Speaker 2: that every time he drove his three young kids past 508 00:28:07,824 --> 00:28:10,624 Speaker 2: that statue, he would tell them that once a day 509 00:28:11,024 --> 00:28:13,824 Speaker 2: he would shoot lasers out of its eyes and vaporize 510 00:28:13,824 --> 00:28:16,904 Speaker 2: a car. He didn't tell me how much he's now 511 00:28:16,944 --> 00:28:18,584 Speaker 2: paying for therapy for his kids.