The Brett Cooper Show

Episode 89: “Teen Vogue Just Got Canceled (By Vogue)”

November 6, 2025 | Host: Brett Cooper

Overview

In this episode, Brett Cooper delves into the recent shakeup at Teen Vogue—namely, the magazine's merger into Vogue.com, the elimination of its politics section, and layoffs of key staff. Cooper explores how Teen Vogue’s radical political transformation over the last decade, and its pronounced focus on progressive activism, led to what she sees as its downfall. She reflects on the generational consequences of the magazine's influence, dissects reactions from staff and the media industry, and discusses broader cultural trends around youth, politics, and media.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Teen Vogue Merger and Politics Section Cut

• Main Story: Teen Vogue is being merged into Vogue.com as part of a Conde Nast restructuring. The politics section has been axed.
  • “The iconic young adult magazine Teen Vogue is officially being merged in with Vogue.com in a new restructuring that is happening from Conde Nast. And, guys, guess what got cut from the magazine. The politics section.” [00:58]
• Host’s Analysis: Brett asserts Teen Vogue became "too woke" and lost its way.
  • “In a very literal sense, in my opinion, Teen Vogue is embodying that meme of the friend that just got too woke. Like, it just is not working anymore.”
• Business implications: Cooper frames the move as an overdue business decision, “probably bad for business for Vogue and Conde Nast at large.”

2. Layoffs and Reactions from Staff

• Staff Voices: Fired writers express dismay on social media, with mentions of lost representation and advocacy.
  • Fired politics editor Lex McNaman (they/them): “I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers…after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.” [01:54]
  • Another laid-off writer: “At our summit, I was asked how it felt to be one of two black women left and what that meant for representation. Now there are no black women at Teen Vogue, and that is incredibly painful to think about.” [02:35]
• Host’s Take: Brett suggests laid-off staff can pursue independent writing—“Ladies, it is called a Substack. Start writing. No handouts. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”

3. Teen Vogue’s Evolution Into Activism

• A Shift in Mission: Brett traces the magazine’s pivot to explicit progressive messaging post-2016.

  • Original mission was fashion/beauty for teens. By 2018: “Teen Vogue is the young person’s guide to saving the world.…We aim to educate, enlighten, and empower our audience…by amplifying the voices of the unheard…providing resources for teens looking to make a tangible impact in their communities.” [05:19]
  • “[Teen Vogue] became a propaganda outlet. And they were proud. They explicitly stated that that was their goal.” [05:54]

• Bylines & Topics: Brett reads out headlines published in recent years as evidence of the radical editorial transformation:

  • “Welcome to Anal Sex 101.”
  • “Please use your privilege as a white person to protect people of color.”
  • “Antifa grows out of a larger revolutionary politics…to stop racists from organizing.”

• Key Turning Point: The 2016 Lauren Duca op-ed, “Donald Trump is Gaslighting America,” marked Teen Vogue's full entrance into politics, followed by viral media attention.

  • “That was the day that Teen Vogue changed.” [04:05]

4. Cultural Consequences & Host Commentary

• Personal Impact on Young Women: Cooper suggests that Teen Vogue’s content contributed to the current state of millennial and Gen Z women’s politics—becoming “some of the most left wing people in history.” [04:31]
• Loss of Teen-Centric Media: The politicization of youth publications is lamented. “There’s no real teen magazines or content because everything became so political.” [05:07]
• Examples of Recent Content: Articles critiquing “Twilight” for stereotypes about Native Americans and features on intersex and queer identities cited as illustrative of the magazine’s shift.

5. Memorable Moments from the Teen Vogue Summit

Brett plays and reacts to clips from a recent Teen Vogue summit, illustrating her thesis about unhealthy activism:

• “Blocking Family for Politics”

  • Panelist:

    “I feel like if you’re quiet when so many injustices are happening, not just here, but Palestine, Sudan, Congo,…I literally blocked my brother yesterday. I’m not speaking to my mom, my stepmom, my dad, I’m collecting them like Pokémon. I’m like, who can I block next?” [06:52]

  • Host’s reaction:

    “You were literally encouraging young people to cut off everyone in their lives, their family…for the sake of politics and progress…That is insanity. That is not normal in a good, healthy society.” [07:19]

• “Access to Hormones—Panel Commentary”

  • Panelist Lex:

    “Probably noticed that there’s now like billboards for CIS men to be able to get testosterone access…while trans people are getting it actively banned. As of right now, there are 28 states…with youth gender affirming care bans.” [07:59]

  • Host’s response: Calls the comparison of cisgender men seeking testosterone to youth transition “apples to oranges,” and notes that the panelist speaking (Lex) was one of the staffers laid off.

6. Industry & Social Media Reactions

• Progressive Outcry: Writers and fans describe Teen Vogue’s cuts as a loss for radical youth journalism.

  • Quote: “Teen Vogue was one of the first places I ever got to write the kinds of more radical stories about mental health, polyamory, queerness, trans people and more… Seeing it ruined is nothing short of horrific.” [09:07]
  • Brett’s take: “This might be the biggest atrocity and act of violence our generation has ever seen…You created a mess in our society.”

• Satirical Reactions on X (Twitter):

  • Mary Morgan (Timcast):

    “Teen Vogue fired me yesterday. Heartbreak. My beat was sex magic rituals, period blood arts and crafts and decentering Eurocentric beauty standards. Real journalism is under attack. Cash app link in my bio…” [10:33]

  • Another user:

    “Lost My job at Teen Vogue today, I was the staffer in charge of making sure elementary schools were stocked with sex tips for the long Covid polycules edition.”

  • Brett: “They’re joking. But this is also basically indistinguishable from what we’re seeing. It is basically indistinguishable from the types of articles that Teen Vogue have been writing for the last 10 years now.” [11:20]

• Conde Nast Union Statement:

  • Union highlights disproportionate impact of layoffs on BIPOC and trans staff; mourns loss of editorial voices and coverage. Brett reacts sarcastically, referencing “trans vibrator section.”
  • “These are literally things that they have been writing about. So cry me a river.” [12:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Teen Vogue is embodying that meme of the friend that just got too woke. Like, it just is not working anymore. The magazine is not landing. Honestly, it’s a bit embarrassing and cringe.” [01:03]
• “Ladies, it is called a Substack. Start writing. No handouts. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps. None of us are donating to your GoFundMes anyway.” [02:45]
• “They became a propaganda outlet. And they were proud. They explicitly stated that that was their goal.” [05:54]
• Panelist at Summit: “I literally blocked my brother yesterday. I’m collecting them like Pokémon. I’m like, who can I block next? …But I just think you have to stand for something.” [06:52]
• “You were literally encouraging young people to cut off everyone in their lives, their family…for the sake of politics and progress. And you could see that people in the audience were even uncomfortable with that.” [07:19]
• “This is not something to be depressed over. It is a business decision due to the changing political climate, and that is just a fact of life now.” [09:57]
• Mock tweet (Mary Morgan): “My beat was sex magic rituals, period blood arts and crafts and decentering Eurocentric beauty standards. Real journalism is under attack.” [10:33]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 – 01:50: Announcement of Teen Vogue’s restructuring and politics section cut
• 01:54 – 03:00: Laid-off staff reactions and diversity concerns
• 04:00 – 05:54: Teen Vogue's pivot to political activism post-2016
• 06:52 – 07:19: “Blocking family for politics” Teen Vogue summit panel
• 07:59 – 08:25: Panel discussion on access to hormones/transgender issues
• 09:07 – 10:00: Progressive writers mourn loss of radical content
• 10:33 – 11:20: Satirical reaction tweets about Teen Vogue layoffs
• 12:18 – 12:50: Brett responds to Union’s defense of laid-off editors

Conclusion

Brett Cooper concludes by expressing hope that Teen Vogue will return to its fashion and beauty roots, reclaiming its original mission for teens and shedding what she describes as its reputation for radical political activism. She frames the restructuring as positive for American youth, “Young women across America will be better thanks to this news. Like, I genuinely am excited for Teen Vogue's future.” She remains skeptical as to whether the brand can recover fully, but believes a reset is necessary and overdue.