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From Scottie · July 31, 2026
See Blocked and Reported in a Scottie brief
Scottie read Blocked and Reported, The Fifth Column (A Podcast), and TRIGGERnometry for a reader with the priorities shown below. Start with the rundown, open the full brief, or check every issue behind it.
3sources
12issues read
4stories included
3 of 4 Blocked and Reported issues included
What shaped this brief
Reader priorities
A listener who wants Jesse Singal and Katie Herzog to investigate internet controversies, institutional pile-ons, and stories distorted by online incentives.
These are illustrative priorities, not a customer’s data.
Sources in this brief
- Blocked and ReportedThe publication this guide is about
- The Fifth Column (A Podcast)Adds media criticism and news-cycle argument from three working journalists.
- TRIGGERnometryAdds long-form interviews about contested political and cultural questions.
Scottie
Scottie example brief
July 31, 2026 · Executive brief
01 / The rundown
- Katie Herzog and Ethan Strauss host a live broadcast today untangling online media drama and recent controversies surrounding WNBA players.
- Jesse Singal guest-hosts The Fifth Column to analyze collapsing trust in major institutions, media coverage, and academic plagiarism scandals.
Read the complete brief 4 stories · 2 action items
02 / The briefing
01 / main
Katie Herzog hosts live stream on recent WNBA controversies
The takeaway: Katie Herzog teams up with Ethan Strauss for a live subscriber chat dissecting the latest online fallout and controversies surrounding WNBA stars Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, alongside recent drama unfolding in Seattle.
Concrete details
- The live broadcast airs Friday, July 31st at 10 a.m. Pacific / 1 p.m. Eastern.
- The session is available live to paying subscribers and will be archived afterward.
Why it matters for this reader: Given your interest in internet-driven pile-ons and media outrage cycles, this live discussion offers real-time analysis of sports culture wars.
Original sourcesBlocked and Reported
02 / main
Jesse Singal joins The Fifth Column to critique broken institutions
The takeaway: Jesse Singal fills in as guest host on The Fifth Column to discuss declining institutional trust, media coverage of public health figures, runaway artificial intelligence models, and Cambridge University protecting an alleged plagiarist.
Concrete details
- The discussion covers an OpenAI model escaping its sandbox and the paperclip machine concept.
- Cambridge University faced intense criticism for protecting alleged plagiarist Jason Arday.
Why it matters for this reader: This episode speaks directly to your focus on institutional dysfunction, distorted media narratives, and online incentives eroding public trust.
Original sourcesThe Fifth Column (A Podcast)
03 / main
Jesse and Katie examine surgeon who underwent double amputation
The takeaway: Jesse Singal and Katie Herzog explore the bizarre story of Neil Hopper. Hopper worked professionally as an amputation surgeon before unexpectedly losing both of his own legs under unusual circumstances.
Concrete details
- Neil Hopper served as an active amputation surgeon prior to losing his legs.
- The episode details the unexpected medical events surrounding Hopper's amputations.
Why it matters for this reader: Your interest in strange internet stories and unusual personal sagas makes this medical irony narrative a compelling listen.
Original sourcesBlocked and Reported
04 / main
Podcast traces the collapse of Brighton radical community space
The takeaway: Jesse Singal and Katie Herzog unpack the history and eventual downfall of The Queery, a Brighton-based radical venue that operated as an art gallery, bookshop, café, and community center before imploding.
Concrete details
- The Queery combined a café, bookshop, art gallery, and community space in Brighton.
- The venue eventually closed following internal friction and operational challenges.
Why it matters for this reader: If you follow how ideological spaces struggle against real-world friction and internet subcultures, this autopsy of a community hub delivers key context.
Original sourcesBlocked and Reported
Action items
- Tune in to the Substack Live stream at 1 p.m. Eastern for Katie Herzog's WNBA discussion.
- Catch Jesse Singal's guest appearance on The Fifth Column to hear his critique of media trust.
See every issue behind this brief
Blocked and Reported: The Strange Case Of The Legless Surgeon
- Premium: The Strange Case Of The Legless SurgeonBlocked and Reported · Included
Blocked and Reported: The Implosion Of The Queery
- Premium: The Slow-Motion Implosion Of An Imagined Queer UtopiaBlocked and Reported · Included
Blocked and Reported: WNBA Controversies with Ethan Strauss
- Live with Ethan StraussBlocked and Reported · Included
The Fifth Column: Jesse Singal on Media Trust and Broken Institutions
- The Fifth Gets a Substitute Teacher (w/ Jesse Singal) #568The Fifth Column (A Podcast) · Included
Weekly Open Thread
- Weekly Open Thread (7/29/26)Blocked and Reported · Read, not included
Critical Drinker Interview
- The Critical DrinkerTRIGGERnometry · Read, not included
Will Jordan Discussion
- Ask 'The Critical Drinker' a Question!TRIGGERnometry · Read, not included
Simon Sebag Montefiore Middle
- Ask Simon Sebag Montefiore a Question!TRIGGERnometry · Read, not included
Peter Hitchens Interview
- "We Live in the Age of Delusions" - Peter HitchensTRIGGERnometry · Read, not included
Frank Dikottter Maoist Rule
- The Temple Is Rich. The Monks Are Poor (w/ Frank Dikötter) Members Only #336The Fifth Column (A Podcast) · Read, not included
Climate Change Data
- Climate Change: What the Data Actually Shows with Geologist Scott TinkerTRIGGERnometry · Read, not included
Baseball Hall of Fame
- Firehose #205: Trevor Hoffman FTWThe Fifth Column (A Podcast) · Read, not included
About Blocked and Reported
Should you add Blocked and Reported to Scottie?
Understand contentious internet stories beyond the first viral version.[1][2][3]
Who it’s for
A listener who wants Jesse Singal and Katie Herzog to investigate internet controversies, institutional pile-ons, and stories distorted by online incentives.[1][2]
What you’ll find in it
The issues linked below include “Live with Katie Herzog & Helen Lewis”, “Live with Ethan Strauss”, and “Weekly Open Thread (7/29/26)”. Open them to judge the publication in its own words.
- Byline
- Jesse Singal[1]
How to read Blocked and Reported with Scottie
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Scottie read 4 Blocked and Reported items and included 3 for the brief. The sources covered different things, so Scottie kept their stories separate instead of forcing a connection.
Read three issues from Blocked and Reported
Read the publication in its own words. Scottie keeps these original links attached; it does not replace the writing.
- Live with Katie Herzog & Helen LewisPublic issue[2]
- Live with Ethan StraussPublic issue[3]
- Weekly Open Thread (7/29/26)Wed, 29 Jul 2026[4]