Behind the Bastards: It Could Happen Here Weekly 193 Release Date: August 2, 2025

Overview In this episode of It Could Happen Here Weekly 193, hosted by Mia Wong, the focus centers on the alarming decision by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) to discontinue gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The discussion delves into the implications of this policy change, the community's response, and the broader societal impacts. Additionally, the episode features an engaging analysis of contemporary films like "Superman" and "Eddington," exploring their political undertones and reflections on American societal shifts.

1. UPMC's Policy Change and Its Impact [02:31 - 12:10]

Mia Wong introduces the critical issue of UPMC's decision to end all gender-affirming care for individuals under 19, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries. This move is in response to a Trump-era executive order that threatens felony charges for providers who continue such treatments.

• Selina Binnick explains, “Starting in April, UPMC stopped taking any new clients who are under 19 who are looking for hormone replacement therapy or any kind of gender-affirming care” (04:09).

• Dina Staley emphasizes the repercussions: “They're forcing these teens and young adults to detransition or to reverse their gender transition” (07:15).

The abrupt cessation of these services is leading to severe mental and physical health consequences for transgender youth, including increased risks of depression, psychosis, and suicidal thoughts.

2. Community Response and Activism [12:11 - 21:43]

The host highlights the swift community mobilization against UPMC's policy. Selina Binnick and Dina Staley discuss organizing protests, writing letters signed by over 400 staff members, and collaborating with organizations like the ACLU and TransUniting to advocate for trans youth.

• Selina Binnick notes, “A lot of people coming out in solidarity who work at the hospital system” (24:15).

• Dina Staley passionately states, “We have to unite as a people” (24:30).

The community emphasizes the importance of mutual aid, solidarity, and collective action to combat the institutional rollback of transgender rights and healthcare.

3. Mental Health and Trans Youth [06:24 - 11:57]

The discussion underscores the severe mental health impacts resulting from UPMC's policy change. Forced detransitioning and the withdrawal of gender-affirming treatments exacerbate mental health crises among transgender youth.

• Selina Binnick warns, “We're going to see an influx of suicidal teenagers or young adults” (10:34).

• Dina Staley adds, “These are people's basic human rights that they're being denied” (12:10).

The panelists highlight the urgent need for supportive environments and accessible mental health services to mitigate these adverse effects.

4. Media Comments and Societal Implications [21:44 - 33:10]

The conversation transitions to the portrayal of societal issues in contemporary cinema, focusing on the films "Superman" and "Eddington." The hosts analyze how these movies reflect and critique current American political and social climates.

• Freddie Prinze Jr. observes, “Superman partially mourns that wokeness and Eddington deals with its more actual haunting and ghostly qualities” (25:50).

• Bridget Todd counters, “Movies like Superman and the way that they depict atrocities actually make us more indebted to the imperial system” (29:15).

The analysis delves into how these films use satire, irony, and exaggerated political themes to comment on issues like woke culture, systemic racism, and American decline.

5. Movie Discussions: Superman and Eddington [33:10 - 79:34]

The episode includes an extended segment where Freddie Prinze Jr. and Bridget Todd discuss the political messaging in "Superman" and "Eddington." They explore themes of imperialism, political manipulation, and the role of media in shaping public perception.

• Bridget Todd praises, “I adored it. I loved it” while discussing "Eddington" (55:41).

• Freddie Prinze Jr. critiques, “Movies like this make us more indebted to the imperial system because they give us products to feel catharsis about the violence” (44:18).

The hosts debate the effectiveness and insidiousness of these films in conveying their political messages, debating whether they reinforce or challenge existing societal norms.

6. Key Quotes

• Dina Staley: “This is a test to see what else they can get away with” (12:53).

• Selina Binnick: “Kids can't go to the doctor and feel safe at this point” (09:05).

• Freddie Prinze Jr.: “Spreading these ideas confuses the public and undermines trust in healthcare” (15:52).

• Bridget Todd: “Superman exists to take the literal spectacle of genocide filling our feed and mediate it onto another product of empire” (48:53).

7. Conclusion

It Could Happen Here Weekly 193 effectively highlights the critical issue of UPMC's discontinuation of gender-affirming care for transgender youth, emphasizing the profound mental health implications and the robust community response fighting against this rollback of rights. Additionally, the episode provides insightful analysis of contemporary films, drawing parallels between cinematic portrayals and real-world societal challenges. The combination of urgent advocacy and cultural critique offers listeners a comprehensive understanding of how entrenched systems and media narratives interact in shaping public policy and perception.

For more discussions on similar topics, listeners can follow Mia Wong and her guests as they continue to uncover and analyze critical issues affecting marginalized communities and societal structures.