Podcast Summary
Episode Overview
Podcast: Free Thinking Through the Fourth Turning with Sasha Stone
Episode: NYT's Big Lie: A "Woman" Did Not Commit Mass Murder in Canada
Date: February 16, 2026
Host: Sasha Stone
Theme:
This episode critically examines recent media coverage, particularly by The New York Times and other mainstream outlets, of a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, Canada, in which the perpetrator's gender identity has become a focal point. Sasha Stone and guests argue that the insistence on using the shooter's preferred pronouns is a deliberate misrepresentation, masking key details relevant to public understanding, criminal profiling, and societal debate.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The New York Times and Alleged Misinformation
- Opening Monologue (00:00 – 08:54):
- Sasha Stone introduces the episode by citing George Orwell: “freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four.”
- Stone accuses The New York Times of abandoning objectivity, claiming they are compelled to lie due to ideological pressure and activist influence.
- References the NYT article on the Tumbler Ridge shooting, highlighting language that identifies the shooter as a woman, which Stone disputes.
- Stone analyzes past media coverage of similar cases, noting inconsistency in pronoun usage, especially after the 2023 Nashville shooting (Audrey Hale).
Notable Quote:
- “The New York Times is no longer free to say what is true. They’re compelled to lie either by their newfound fundamentalism, fear of their readers and subscribers, or pressure from the strident activists who police thought and speech in our new woke order.” — Sacha Stone (00:21)
2. Media and Language: Pronouns, Identity, and Profiling
- Stone argues that referring to transgender shooters using their preferred pronouns distorts data and undermines truth in reporting.
- She draws on examples from CNN, Reuters, and others, pointing out a pattern where white male shooters who identify as female are treated differently by the media.
Memorable Analysis:
- “Using that logic, we’d have no choice but to conclude that two women had committed these acts of violence in Minneapolis and now in Canada, while one male went on a shooting spree in Tennessee. Make it make sense, New York Times.” (03:43)
3. Societal Trends, Mass Shooting Patterns, and Media Bias
- Stone highlights repeated media framing that centers “white men” as the main demographic for mass shootings, referencing multiple headlines.
- Suggests there’s disproportionate media empathy toward certain groups, depending on their identity.
Notable Quote:
- “These white male shooters are given an extra layer of protection just by declaring themselves trans. The formerly hated CIS white males are magically transformed into women and become the center of attention, treated with sympathy and are above all, forgiven almost everything.” (06:22)
4. Guest Segment: Critique of Journalistic Ethics (Bridget Phetasy appears to guest)
- Bridget Phetasy (08:54 – 17:38):
- Expresses discomfort politicizing shootings but is outraged by media misrepresentation of shooters' genders.
- Accuses the media of “journalistic malpractice” and draws analogies to other forms of identity misattribution which would not be tolerated.
- Highlights the case of police in Canada correcting a journalist’s pronoun usage for the deceased shooter.
Key Exchange:
- B: “Attributing male crimes to females is a crime. And no one else would put up with this bullshit. It’s journalistic malpractice.” (09:05)
- A: “Was he known to police?”
- B: “Were there any red flags regarding his mental health?”
- C: “So a suspect is identified as an 18 year old female by the name of Jessica.”
- B: “In case you missed what we just showed you, that is a police officer correcting a journalist for misgendering a mass murderer who is now dead.” (10:37)
5. The Human Toll: Focus on Victims
- The conversation shifts to honoring the victims, advocating media attention be given to the children and families affected rather than the perpetrator.
- There are emotional recollections from grieving family members, highlighting the impact on parents and survivors.
Quotes from Victims' Families:
- “In almost 48 hours, she was whoever and whatever someone needed. She was everything. Especially to me. To accept that my daughter is gone is impossible.” (15:02)
- “If Abel lived up to my age or beyond, he would have been greater than me. He would have been a kid that the world, like, would have, like, sit down and listen to… The boy was so intelligent.” (16:53)
- Child’s aspiration: “I want to become a scientist, soccer player, engineer.” (17:11)
6. Ideological Shift & Online Radicalization
- Stone explores the intersection of transgender identity, online subcultures (anime, furries), and mental health, suggesting social contagion accelerated since 2020.
- Discusses how the 24-hour news cycle and social media fame following Columbine influenced later shooters.
- Argues that the rise in transgender mass shooters correlates with increased online radicalization and that media coverage shields certain perpetrators.
Notable Segment:
- “Many white girls sought refuge in becoming trans as a way out, but also as a way to have a protective status for their online avatars. For young men who already felt disconnected and abandoned amid the Great Feminization and the Great Awokening…it can’t be a coincidence that so many of the mass shooters and assassins…were radicalized right around 2020 during lockdowns.” (20:15–21:30)
7. Dangers of Euphemism and Demand for Honesty in Reporting
- Stone and guests strongly argue that euphemizing or obscuring the biological sex of perpetrators misleads the public and hampers understanding.
- Emotional appeal stressing the importance of truth, especially when it comes to severe crimes like mass murder.
Striking Quote:
- “Using preferred pronouns out of politeness in certain situations is one thing, but using them to refer to extreme acts of violence, no. Say what is true. A man raped a woman. A man assaulted a woman. A man massacred children. Do not lie to us about something so important.” (17:38)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [00:00–08:54]: Opening Monologue — Framing the NYT and media narrative, rundown of related mass shootings, pronoun debates.
- [08:54–17:38]: Guest Segment (Bridget Phetasy) — Media double standards, police interactions, criticism of journalistic practices, emotional victim narratives.
- [17:38–25:30]: Broader Cultural Impact — Implications for victims and survivors, examination of political polarization, role of social media in radicalizing youth, connection to broader cultural trends.
- [25:30–28:52]: Media Analysis and Conclusion — Reflection on journalists' responsibilities, call to action for honesty in reporting.
Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes
- “Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.” (00:06, quoting Orwell)
- “Attributing male crimes to females is a crime. And no one else would put up with this bullshit. It’s journalistic malpractice.” — Bridget (09:05)
- “I can't even use the word transitioning without thinking of penises and mass murderers, which I realize is redundant.” — Bridget (12:44)
- “Imagine your child has just been shot by a psychotic madman. And in the wake of that murder ... you have to then grapple with whether or not to misgender the shooter. That is the absurd reality...” — Sacha (13:44)
- “There is such a thing as the truth and the truth is most definitely not that a woman traveled a mile...and killed five students and one educator before turning her weapon on herself.” (23:35)
- “What divides America now? The war we seem to be fighting is for reality itself. One side is devoted to the oppressor-oppressed mindset ... The other side believes in mass deportations, voter ID and that there are only two sexes.” (24:15)
- “We need responsible journalists to dig into it and help the public better understand what's going on. Unfortunately, that's not the ap, Reuters, the BBC, CNN, and certainly not the New York Times.” (27:45)
Tone & Style
- Direct, polemical, and adversarial: Stone's voice is combative and unfiltered, targeting legacy media, progressive ideology, and social justice activism.
- Emotionally charged: Both host and guests express outrage, sadness, and a sense of urgency over what they view as a willful denial of observable facts.
- Pop culture and social analysis interwoven: References to Columbine, anime, and online subcultures aim to situate the phenomenon within broader generational and technological shifts.
Conclusion
The episode delivers a pointed critique of media coverage surrounding gender identity in mass shootings, arguing this coverage obfuscates crucial truths about perpetrators and does a disservice to victims and society. Stone and guests demand a return to straightforward, fact-based reporting, warning that ongoing distortion may fuel further violence and division. The emotional testimonies from victims’ families underscore the real-life stakes of these debates.
End of Summary