this post was submitted on 25 Aug 2026
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[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 21 points 1 day ago (2 children)

MAGA thinks they smell blood in the water on the trans issue, so that's their chosen wedge issue for the foreseeable future. I'm the past it was abortion, flag burning, kneeling, gay adoption, gay marriage, gay gayness, etc.

The proper answer to any trans nonsense is: "I am not a doctor, and I won't presume to interfere with the medical decisions between any patient and their doctor, on any subject. I have absolutely no opinions on this subject, and do not consider it an appropriate subject for a political discussion. It is an appalling and indefensible political strategy to use any medical issue as a political talking point, so I'm not interested in your opinion either."

That works for ANY medical issue, including abortion.

[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

El-Sayed is a doctor though :)

[–] PhoenixDog@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Incredibly worded and well said!

[–] LucidNightmare@anarchist.nexus 44 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I watched the entire thing.

I can't stress enough how Sayed stayed calm and cool during the whole thing, while the clown on the left there was constantly trying to talk over him (as is the game plan for all those swamp creatures).

I couldn't sit there and be as patient and calm as Sayed, that's for damn sure. It's about time we started taking a no nonsense stand, and I am here for it. :-)

I mean it's their whole effective schtick after all because Americans are not intelligent. Loud and repeated is the truth to so many Americans when they have little to no critical thinking skills. Whoever is the loudest, the fastest, the most obnoxious is the victor of the debate when it comes to the vast majority of the American electorate.

it's sad but it works and it make tons of money promoting this type of discourse instead of actual boring, proper debate and discussion.

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[–] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 24 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Cant talk about things that actually matter, because trump and republicans are directly responsible for that.

So we have to inflame idiots by talking about stupid bullshit that no one cared about until they poured gasoline on it to make it a wedge issue in desperate attempt to salvage votes from the mess they've personally created.

[–] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Sorry to reply to my own post..

but everything from the right (even back before the party flip, because it doesnt matter what the label was, they were still the same assholes) is nothing but culture war shit.

Segregation was a culture war. A culture war that they ultimately loss, and while its terrifying ramifications are far from over even today, they did admit defeat on it.. Which is why leaders held secret meetings, of which there are recordings of, to figure out what the next hateful wedge issue would be.. and they came upon abortion.. and even they struggled with deciding on abortion, because literally no one gave a flat fuck about abortion outside the catholics, and they were mocked for caring about abortion.

But they decided Abortion was their best bet for the continuing culture war bullshit, so they went whole hog on it, and within a year ministers and priests and politicians and the whole propaganda machine churned into action and suddenly gave a fuck about abortion and declared it the great evil of our time

and that went on for 50+ years, until they started losing the battle on Abortion.. and just like they did when they lost the battle on segregation, they had to come up with a new cultural wedge issue, because they cant argue on actual politics and records because their politics are as awful as their goddamn records.. And what did they land on? Trans people. Who are the new desegregation, the new abortion. And just like every time previous, they want to inflame hate to trick gullible idiots into voting for them out of fear.

and trans people existing is such a weak fucking wedge issue, that they are trying to go back to segregations racist arguments, with trying to be oOoOoOo big spooky about black people existing, or spreading blatant lies about them eating all the dogs and birds, or that the brown people are here to rape our women and take our jobs, and all the other tired tropey bullshit.

Fear fear fear FEAR FEAR. Thats all it boils down to. Trying to convince sheltered idiots to fear what they havent experienced. to fear who they don't know. to fear everything that is unknown.

Beacuse as long as people are drowning in adrenaline fueled fear, they'll never stop to look around them and realize its all fucking bullshit and admit they've been duped and lied too.

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 38 points 2 days ago (2 children)

"I can't afford to live."

"Does that lady have a PENIS?!"

"Um…"

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

"The Ladyboy Muslim immigrant with the illegal penis is desecrating the American Flag and that's why you can't afford groceries"

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[–] Dry_Monk@lemmy.world 40 points 2 days ago (5 children)

Standard acceptable answer:

"think about this last week. How many times did you personally feel like things were too expensive? How many times did a cis woman you personally know lose to a trans woman in sports?"

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago

How many times did you personally feel like things were too expensive?

Even this is a weak framing.

"How many times did you personally feel like your are being overcharged for groceries, utilities, or rents?" puts the blame where is belongs.

Stuff isn't just "more expensive" by some mystifying method. People who own shit are raising prices on you. And these same people are paying you less for your work.

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[–] eurodyne@piefed.world 246 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (20 children)

And then El-Sayed asked Watters if he was circumcised, LMAO

Asking one of the most insecure men on tv about his dick

BOSS MOVE

Edit: sorry, here’s the link

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/abdul-el-sayed-jesse-watters-circumcised-b3038567.html

[–] NotSteve_@lemmy.ca 94 points 2 days ago (8 children)

the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, has raised eyebrows after asking Fox News’ Jesse Watters if he is circumcised during a combative prime-time interview.

Man fuck right off, that wasn't at all a weird question to ask in response to a fucking weird obsession Jesse has with children's "dingilings"

[–] eurodyne@piefed.world 77 points 2 days ago

Jesse Watters is the one who brought it up, after all.

El-Sayed (a medical doctor, by the way) only responded in kind, and Watters - having brought it up as some kind of battle mark, some line that should never be crossed - immediately reversed course at brakeneck speed and attempted to dismiss it as if it were nothing, framing El-Sayed as an absurdist for even mentioning the subject that Watters himself raised in feigned outrage, despite El-Sayed’s repeated warnings that Watters would regret addressing the subject

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[–] unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz 70 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Watters is so grating in his speech, can't watch it, but it's impressive to see someone put up with him for a half hour

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 64 points 2 days ago (5 children)

Things went off the rails when Watters asked the progressive if he supports gender-affirming surgery for those under 18 years old.

“Sex change for minors. Do you support that?” Watters asked El-Sayed, to which the former public health official said, “I just think the government shouldn't tell you what kind of healthcare you should have.”

“So you think it's okay for a parent to slash his kid’s ding-a-ling off?” Watters asked.

El-Sayed retorted: “Do you really want to have this conversation? Are you circumcised?”

The shocked Fox News host said, “Yeah, but I mean that’s a personal question, doctor.”

Watters then said circumcision is “different than castration,” but El-Sayed argued, “I’m just saying that yes, circumcision is surgery on a kid’s ding-a-ling.”

Watters called El-Sayed’s comment “wacky,” adding, “Abdul, Michigan’s not going for that. That is sick stuff.”

Holy shit what an inane hypocrite. I swear conservatives are going to give me an aneurysm

[–] zarkanian@sh.itjust.works 19 points 2 days ago (1 children)

"No, we only cut the foreskin off, not the whole penis! We aren't crazy."

Sweet Satan, if only he could hear himself.

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[–] sem@piefed.blahaj.zone 34 points 2 days ago (5 children)

Transcript from the article:

“Sex change for minors. Do you support that?” Watters asked El-Sayed, to which the former public health official said, “I just think the government shouldn't tell you what kind of healthcare you should have.”

“So you think it's okay for a parent to slash his kid’s ding-a-ling off?” Watters asked.

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, has raised eyebrows after asking Fox News’ Jesse Watters if he is circumcised during a combative prime-time interview

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, has raised eyebrows after asking Fox News’ Jesse Watters if he is circumcised during a combative prime-time interview (Jesse Watters Primetime)

El-Sayed retorted: “Do you really want to have this conversation? Are you circumcised?”

The shocked Fox News host said, “Yeah, but I mean that’s a personal question, doctor.”

Watters then said circumcision is “different than castration,” but El-Sayed argued, “I’m just saying that yes, circumcision is surgery on a kid’s ding-a-ling.”

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[–] im_fine_sandy@nord.pub 31 points 2 days ago (1 children)

This was such a bizarre interaction.

El Sayed seems brilliant at responding to these gotcha questions.

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[–] chilicheeselies@lemmy.world 29 points 2 days ago

It's absolutely the right move to not even play that game. Don't let them use that weapon to distract from the issues.

[–] Lor@leminal.space 21 points 2 days ago (2 children)

that is their M.O. - to distract.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago

Also, just to be gross.

Like we haven't had co-ed sports going on time immemorial. But tennis mixed doubles is now Haram in Trump's America

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[–] solidheron@sh.itjust.works 15 points 2 days ago

Watters in that interview basically acting like a child. If the conversation didn't go his way he would change it while sayed was speaking.

You can see at multiple points sayed "you going to let me talk"

[–] obvs@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

I always thought Bill O'Reilly was a bad person.

But for Jesse Waters, I have a hard time even classifying him as a person.

[–] SwissArmyKazoo@lemmy.world 24 points 2 days ago (7 children)

GOP rather discuss ethnic ostracizing and its non-existent values than bring up the affordability crisis and inhumane immigration enforcement tactics being plagued on to their own nation and responsibilities.

MAGA is zealously a dictatorship movement

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[–] switcheroo@lemmy.world 73 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Love this guy. El-Sayed and Mamdani are really kicking ass! They are exactly what I want for my state (and the whole gd country too, but you know as well as I do that red states are hopeless and too brainwashed to ever do better).

Dr. El-Sayed was born in the US. Just saying. He is very qualified to run for president--- though the bar is so low right now it's a tripping hazard in hell...

[–] VitoRobles@lemmy.today 34 points 2 days ago (2 children)

They're focusing on the message.

Kamala was doing the right thing by laughing in their faces.

But we have to take it to the next step. Piss them off. Tell them to stop wasting everyone's time about which bathroom to use when people are dying because they're afraid of going to the hospital.

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[–] webghost0101@sopuli.xyz 27 points 2 days ago

“How am i supposed to take this seriously” has become my default mood whenever i have to interact with society of late.

[–] uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone 93 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Yeah. That's FOX News. They tell their viewers what to think, and the viewers obey.

They have a very specific propaganda program. It draws people in with fear, outrage and bigotry...

Then it invites them to divest of all other information sources (except maybe approved ones like OANN or WSJ) the way that an abusive spouse gets their partner to disconnect from all other social relationships.

And then it pumps them with MAGA ideology. The culture war stuff.

It's literal mind control, but it's like a reverse hack (trying a common password on multiple accounts), in that it hits a lot of people and sucks in those who bite. Usually white uneducated men.

[–] Nonprophet@lemmy.world 31 points 2 days ago (5 children)

I was on a 2.5 hour flight recently, and a guy a couple of rows up was watching Fox News. It just jumped from: Trans, Immigrants, Socialism, over and over and over the entire flight. It made me realize how fitting the term 'News Story' really is!

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[–] Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca 18 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The unfortunate thing is that the high grocery prices are a direct result of a culture war. Namely, the one between the ultra rich and the rest of us.

[–] PlaidBaron@lemmy.world 35 points 2 days ago (2 children)
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[–] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 41 points 2 days ago (2 children)

It's by intention. I noticed that right wingers don't really talk about the economic equality but instead focus on culture wars.

[–] sunbytes@lemmy.world 31 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That's why they came up with the culture wars in the first place.

It's cheaper than fixing a real problem, and much easier to sell.

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[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago (1 children)

We need to zealously stomp on culture war distractions whenever we see them. Remind people no war but the class war.

[–] pool_spray_098@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It doesn't even make sense within the Republicans own claimed worldview. Shouldn't governing of sports programs be left to those programs, if we believe in small government? But they want to make it federal legislation. Make it make sense.

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[–] Flower@sh.itjust.works 42 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Hey Fox News, it's bread and circus. If you're only doing circus and people get hungry you're still going to be in trouble. Groceries matter.

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[–] Thor_Whale@lemmus.org 12 points 2 days ago (2 children)

It's fox news, only watched by angry country club boomer golfers

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[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 57 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Thats the correct response.

[–] village604@adultswim.fan 37 points 2 days ago (1 children)

And when asked about kids getting bottom surgery, buddy asked the host if he was circumcised.

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[–] Aceticon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

It's exactly the point of culture wars to distract people away from the complete total crash in the quality of life for the many due to the bipartisan complete agreement on shoving as much money into the hands of the wealthy no mater what the consequences for the rest.

You see it all around the World - the more the "center" "mainstream" "pragmatic" parties agree on managing their country for the good of a few and screw the rest, the more they loudly and exaggeratedly (with the subtlety of 5 year-olds doing putting on a play) "fight" around things like trans-sexuality which are morally solved by the simple logic of "it's not of my business what others do with their bodies".

You saw this shit first in the US because that country is the one more advanced in the whole thing of the Money Elites owning the Political Elites and thus them Pillaging the Wealth Of the Many (after all, the US has being doing the whole Pillaging Of The Wealth Of The Powerless for literally decades, just mainly abroad in places like the Middle East and South America, so politicians there have a lot of practice and are pretty much a self-select bunch of Psychopaths and Sociopaths, plus the Press there has long morphed in exactly the same direction becoming little more than Propaganda).

[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

They know we'll unite behind cost of living and healthcare. They need to promote division to stay in power. It's all so fucking obvious in hindsight.

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[–] itsBlorpinTime@feddit.online 11 points 2 days ago (4 children)

I have no idea why these people even go on these shows. Fox News high key hates them, and will do anything to fuck them over.

[–] Saurok@lemmy.ml 15 points 2 days ago

Exposure and name recognition I think. There's a chance, albeit probably very small, that Abdul's rhetoric on Fox might convince someone to vote for him or question their propagandized brain. It's important to maintain some sort of communication and contact with cult members because for them to escape the cult they will often need a lifeline.

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