Red Scare Podcast: Episode Summary – "Tis the Sisson"

Release Date: March 27, 2025

Hosts: Anna Khachiyan and Dasha Nekrasova
Podcast Title: Red Scare
Description: Red Scare is a cultural commentary podcast hosted by bohemian layabouts Anna Khachiyan and Dasha Nekrasova.

1. Opening Remarks and Personal Updates [00:23 - 01:48]

The episode begins with Anna and Dasha exchanging greetings amidst the sound of rain, setting a casual and intimate tone. They discuss their personal routines, including gym attendance and sobriety efforts.

Notable Quote:

• Dasha [00:51]: "I'm really good. I have been going to the gym and not drinking every day for a week, so I'm like firing on all cylinders."

2. Discussion on Homelessness and Societal Views [02:14 - 05:33]

The conversation shifts to the topic of homelessness, with Dasha addressing criticism she received for her comments. She differentiates between the poor, the homeless, and "bums," exploring the complexities and societal perceptions of each group. They discuss how some choose homelessness as an "aspirational lifestyle" and the emergence of a "semi-functional parallel society."

Notable Quotes:

• Dasha [02:14]: "It is an aspirational lifestyle. Like mentally ill injection drug users are people who have chosen to live a life on the street because they don't want the responsibility of having to integrate into normal society."
• Anna [04:48]: "White bums are some of the worst ones."

3. Harry Sasson Scandal and Influencer Behavior [09:40 - 21:37]

Anna and Dasha delve into the controversy surrounding Harry Sasson, a Democratic influencer accused of soliciting explicit content from multiple young women on platforms like Snapchat. They analyze the accusations, censorship, and public backlash, questioning the motivations behind both the influencer's actions and the responses from the community.

Notable Quotes:

• Anna [13:16]: "All of this sort of surfaced after he posted... all these girls got pissed. Formed a critical mass."
• Dasha [16:47]: "He's like Mahmoud Khalif. No crime was committed."

4. Media's Handling of COVID-19 Origins and Lab Leak Theory [35:05 - 84:43]

The hosts critically examine media coverage and scientific discourse surrounding the origins of COVID-19. They highlight the suppression of the lab leak hypothesis in favor of the natural origin theory, citing op-eds and articles that later acknowledge hidden biases and conflicts of interest within prominent institutions like the New York Times and scientific journals such as Nature Medicine and The Lancet.

Notable Quotes:

• Anna [83:54]: "It was like this very painful moment, confronting the darkest abyss of human nature."
• Dasha [84:43]: "This was all funded through U.S. based entities."

5. Vaccine Mandates, Public Health Policies, and Personal Impact [85:57 - 101:38]

Anna and Dasha discuss the implementation of vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, their personal experiences with these policies, and the resulting societal tensions. They critique the ethical implications of mandating vaccines for certain populations and the resulting erosion of trust in medical institutions.

Notable Quotes:

• Dasha [100:15]: "I hate Dr. Fauci. Like, we wanted you to write a long essay about how feminists and libtards suck."
• Anna [124:38]: "We just really were happy to have to shower... it was all like so traumatic."

6. Intimacy Coordinators and Hollywood's Bureaucratic Overreach [45:34 - 51:59]

The conversation turns to the role of intimacy coordinators in Hollywood, with the hosts expressing skepticism about their necessity and effectiveness. They argue that the implementation of such roles hampers creativity and poses unnecessary constraints on actors during intimate scenes.

Notable Quotes:

• Anna [48:13]: "It's like the biggest racket for damaged people in Hollywood who need a new job."
• Dasha [50:44]: "You're aiming for naturalism and extremity. There's some fucking bitch with Sarah Stock bad posture hanging around by the catering table."

7. Reflections on Media Influence and Political Polarization [86:04 - 133:57]

Anna and Dasha reflect on the broader implications of media manipulation and political polarization, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. They explore how censorship and the suppression of dissenting voices have fueled independent (often right-leaning) media growth, leading to increased societal divisions and mistrust in mainstream institutions.

Notable Quotes:

• Dasha [90:45]: "Independent media, which is basically at this point synonymous with right wing media, is almost entirely organically funded because their messaging resonates with people."
• Anna [115:06]: "Why are they even doing this? What do they do? Why are they doing this research that is so dangerous?"

8. Personal Experiences with Doxing and Online Harassment [34:07 - 40:35]

The hosts share personal anecdotes about being doxed and receiving online harassment, particularly from specific communities. They discuss the emotional toll of such experiences and the pervasive nature of online toxicity.

Notable Quotes:

• Anna [34:22]: "Hindu nationalists started gangstalking me and calling me on the phone for something."
• Dasha [40:35]: "It's like some guy being like this."

9. Societal Changes Post-Pandemic and Future Outlook [141:09 - 154:28]

In the concluding segments, Anna and Dasha speculate on the long-term societal changes resulting from the pandemic. They discuss the potential for future pandemics, the enduring impact on personal freedoms, and the psychological aftermath of widespread governmental and institutional overreach.

Notable Quotes:

• Dasha [150:37]: "We need to stop tampering with fate and playing God."
• Anna [152:41]: "They can just take away all your rights, like, over overnight."

Conclusion

In "Tis the Sisson," Anna Khachiyan and Dasha Nekrasova engage in a deeply critical and often contentious dialogue, addressing pressing social issues ranging from homelessness and influencer misconduct to media manipulation and the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their candid reflections and provocative insights provide listeners with a raw and unfiltered perspective on contemporary cultural and political dynamics.

Support Red Scare on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RedScare
Follow Anna on Twitter: @annakhachiyan
Follow Dasha on Twitter: @nobody_stop_me