Podcast Summary: The Political Scene | The New Yorker

Episode: Ronan Farrow and Alexandra Schwartz Talk to David Remnick About the Effects of the Weinstein Scandal
Date: November 20, 2017
Host: David Remnick
Guests: Ronan Farrow (Staff Writer, The New Yorker), Alexandra Schwartz (Staff Writer, The New Yorker)

Overview

This episode centers on the seismic cultural and political consequences of Ronan Farrow’s groundbreaking reporting on Harvey Weinstein’s decades-long sexual misconduct, as well as the broader reckoning with sexual abuse and harassment across industries. David Remnick leads a probing conversation with Farrow and fellow writer Alexandra Schwartz about why women found it so difficult to come forward, why the moment broke open in 2017, the specific impact of high-profile accusers, evolving social attitudes, and the broader implications for power dynamics in society.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Survivors Struggled to Speak Out

• Nuances of Silence: Farrow explains the multifaceted reasons why survivors did not come forward: trauma paralysis, career fears, personal and pragmatic concerns, and the overwhelming power of Weinstein's PR and legal apparatus.
• The Battle for Anonymity and Safety: Farrow shares specific instances, illustrating shifting survivor responses—Rose McGowan’s initial willingness and later reticence due to legal fears, Annabella Sciorra’s initial denial out of fear of being “branded” for life.
  • Quote (Ronan Farrow, 05:13): “If you come forward with this kind of an allegation. You are always a survivor with a capital S. That’s your first paragraph in your obituary, as it were.”
• Weinstein’s Retaliatory Machine: Farrow exposes how Weinstein weaponized private investigators and media contacts to intimidate and discredit accusers.
  • Quote (Ronan Farrow, 05:19): “A really unthinkable... machine of private investigators and, you know, people operating undercover going after these women.”

2. The Power Dynamics of Celebrity and Public Perception

• Schwartz notes the importance of recognition: that this was the first time known, accomplished women (as opposed to “unknowns” like Anita Hill) were coming forward as a group—making it harder for the public to dismiss their accounts.
  • Quote (Alexandra Schwartz, 06:57): “It was huge to have that, you know, that level of public figure be able to come forward.”
• Farrow and Schwartz reflect on how fame makes a difference, but that sometimes, it can make the public more skeptical of Hollywood figures.
  • Quote (Farrow, 08:13): “Anyone in a position of authority and influence... serves as a signaling mechanism when they come forward.”
  • Quote (Schwartz, 08:23): “If this was a problem for someone like her, then, wow. It’s not just about me personally.”

3. The "Believe Women" Debate

• Schwartz unpacks what "believe women" means: not that women are always right, but that the default social response should be trust, as a corrective to past dismissals.
  • Quote (Schwartz, 09:03): “Believe women doesn't just mean automatically believe women... It may help to correct so many situations.”

4. The Louis CK Incident and a Culture Reckoning

• Schwartz expresses personal disappointment and rage over Louis CK, who seemed, as a comedian, to “get it” about gender and power but proved to be complicit.
  • Quote (Schwartz, 09:42): “I felt betrayed. I think other people have felt this way by Louis, specifically. Because I thought he was someone... who in some part of his brain gets it.”
• Remnick notes a widespread reevaluation among men, reexamining their past jokes, relationships, and interactions for problematic behavior.
  • Quote (Remnick, 10:49): “They’re suddenly... doing a sort through their romantic history of what jokes did I tell... Was that... a sorting through of conscience.”
• Schwartz underscores that it is significant and positive for men to examine themselves, but the onus can't be only on women.
  • Quote (Schwartz, 11:51): “It cannot just be on women to police this whole situation... it has to be everyone.”

5. Politics, Trump, and the Scope of Change

• Schwartz and Farrow agree that the unresolved allegations against President Trump aggravate the sense of injustice and drive urgency for change.
  • Quote (Farrow, 12:55): “There is a feeling of being fed up... to be a woman in America right now... is an extraordinarily frustrating experience.”
  • Quote (Schwartz, 13:18): “I don’t really think that it was a belief problem. I think that it was a caring problem, and that was pretty devastating.”

6. Political Leaders, Public Statements, and a Shift in Tone

• Remnick notes how unusual it is to hear politicians like Jeff Sessions saying, “I have no reason to doubt these young women,” suggesting a shift.
• Both guests temper their optimism: it’s progress, but the bar is still low—society still begins from disbelief.
  • Quote (Farrow, 13:41): “We are still working from the starting point of not believing women coming forward with allegations.”

7. The Pattern of Accusation and Apology

• Schwartz analyzes the sequence: first accusation, then a cascade of further allegations, and finally apologies—which are often inadequate.
  • Louis CK acknowledged his actions but failed to apologize, focusing on his own loss rather than the harm caused.
    • Quote (Schwartz, 14:55): “He didn’t apologize, he acknowledged, but did not apologize. I found that interesting. It was pretty frustrating.”
    • Quote (Farrow, 15:16): “Pointed to him asking for permission without addressing the crucial question of whether he got that permission. Which did feel like a lacuna to me.”
  • Schwartz describes CK’s movie as an extended case study of objectification, noting a scene where a blanket apology to “all women” rings hollow.
    • Quote (Schwartz, 15:46): “They should have barf bags with this movie... If you want a case study of the total objectification of women for no purpose, I think this is a pretty good one.”

8. Redemption, Consequences, and Moving Forward

• Schwartz discusses the potential for accused men to make amends and eventually return to public life, depending on the severity of their offenses and their willingness to listen and empower others.
  • Quote (Schwartz, 17:32): “I don't think we need to live in a society in which you are exiled for life... I can see [Louis CK] making work in the future, I certainly don't care about it right now.”
• Schwartz articulates a hope for a genuine culture shift where future generations of women and girls can trust that speaking up will lead to real change.
  • Quote (Schwartz, 18:38): “I would like that to be true for my generation, and I would like that to be true for the women in the generation after me, for the girls not yet born. I just want it to become true. That's a high goal. I know, but that's what I feel.”

Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Farrow (05:13): “If you come forward with this kind of an allegation. You are always a survivor with a capital S. That’s your first paragraph in your obituary, as it were.”
• Schwartz (09:03): “Believe women doesn’t just mean automatically believe women... If you were reminded to believe women as a default, it may help to correct so many of these situations.”
• Schwartz (09:42): “I felt betrayed. I think other people have felt this way by Louis, specifically.”
• Remnick (10:49): “They’re suddenly... doing a sort through their romantic history... a sorting through of conscience.”
• Farrow (12:55): “There is a feeling of being fed up, you know, to be a woman in America right now... is an extraordinarily frustrating experience.”
• Schwartz (17:32): “I don’t think we need to live in a society in which you are exiled for life...”

Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:36 — Remnick introduces the scale of the scandal and opens discussion about why survivors stay silent
• 03:05–05:35 — Farrow details the trauma, fears, and industry apparatus that keep women silent, anecdote about Annabella Sciorra
• 06:36–08:57 — Schwartz and Farrow on impact of celebrity accusers, and broader relevance beyond Hollywood
• 09:03–09:28 — Discussion about what “believe women” really means in the cultural narrative
• 09:42–12:33 — The Louis CK case; men reflecting on their behavior; the need for shared accountability
• 12:33–13:23 — Discussion of Trump, Roy Moore, and implications at the highest levels of politics
• 13:41–14:15 — Changing tone among political leaders about believing accusers
• 14:33–16:48 — On apologies and acknowledgments: Why most public apologies fall short and the limits of remorse shown
• 17:28–18:24 — The possibility of forgiveness, making amends, and future consequences for those accused
• 18:33–19:05 — Schwartz’s hopes for a genuine change for the next generation

Tone and Atmosphere

The discussion is reflective, urgent, and at times deeply personal. There is a strong sense of moral reckoning and a recognition that society is, perhaps, at a pivotal moment for gender and power relations.

For listeners, this episode offers both a trenchant analysis of why the #MeToo movement erupted when it did and a candid look at the next essential steps toward a more just social order.