In 2019, Megan Phelps-Roper’s life changed. Formerly under the spotlight as a disaffected member of the ultra-conservative Westboro Baptist Church, Roper has since been a commentator of sorts, tracking current issues in politics and culture from a centrist perspective. Her latest and most ambitious undertaking is a podcast covering the events of bestselling author J.K. Rowling’s life and recent controversies. Smugly named “The Witch Trials of J.K Rowling” the podcast delves into the topics of feminism, cancel culture, and trans rights with an admirable amount of detail, for better or for worse. 

A lot of the project’s most glaring flaws are flaunted as successes. Roper does an excellent job of promoting and catering to a political niche, one that values an absolutist form of free speech and expresses unfounded distaste for “identity politics,” be that in the form of a misunderstanding of gender theory or overzealous teenage Twitter activism. And throughout the constant debate and interviews with Rowling herself, the podcast tries to maintain the archetype of a “rational, truth chasing, centrist.” The biggest problem comes with the references and guests aside from Rowling who have since voiced their concerns about how their opinions were treated. The two main guests in opposition to Rowling are Natalie Wynn and Noah (last name withheld). The former is a popular YouTuber and an outspoken activist for transgender rights, the latter being a transgender teenager. The young teen reflects on losing a childhood hero in J.K. Rowling, Discovering his own identity in opposition to Rowling’s newfound political beliefs. 

Wynn’s interview was another matter entirely. In a response video on her YouTube channel, Contrapoints, Wynn details the butchering of her interview, how Roper spent multiple minutes questioning the legitimacy of gender dysphoria, all while citing “free speech” and “love of liberal discussion” as justification.

Wynn’s video goes on to point out perhaps the most critical flaw in Rowling and (at times) Roper’s narrative. From the beginning of the podcast, its creators seemed hell bent on constructing a clean and clear cut depiction of  two sides: sometimes well intentioned but usually heretical and violent trans activists, and poised, intelligent, 2nd wave feminists who are attacked unfairly for their trans-exclusionary beliefs. 

Roper and Rowling are clear in their opinions: marginalized groups shouldn’t get in the mud and fight for their rights through civil disobedience. Seek change through the marketplace of ideas. The primary issue with this opinion is that it could lend legitimacy to opinions or narratives that don’t base themselves in reality and seek hate instead. Rowling becomes her own worst enemy when she portrays trans women as “bearded men with eyeliner.”  An entire episode of the podcast is dedicated to the word “TERF,” standing for trans exclusionary radical feminist. Rowling and Roper enter the oppression Olympics turning the small amount of arguable misogyny within the LGBTQ+ movement into a full-blown media circus, arguing that TERF is simultaneously an offensive slur and a term to “identify” the true feminists who separate trans women from the movement.

Eventually the flaws of the podcast just round back to Rowling’s borderline despicable characterization of the LGBTQ+ movement. Since entering the ring of debate, Rowling is adamant in her opinion that trans activists want to “erase the concept of sex.” It’s much easier to understand Rowling’s world view after disregarding any concept of dysphoria or the separation of sex and gender. Roper may attempt to paint herself as a sensible arbiter, but she is too quick to accept Rowling’s narrative, bigotry and all.

The final episode of the podcast does attempt some sort of agreeable conclusion. Roper and Rowling discuss the mindset that leads people to extremism. As a final note, Roper asks Rowling about the nature of her extremism. If she would ever truly question her beliefs, and if she sees room for her own error. Rowling unsurprisingly notes the complete confidence in her opinion and expresses the belief that she is advocating for the “right thing.” The irony sort of speaks for itself. To quote YouTuber and essayist Dan Olsen: “One of the most insidious elements of a confidence scam is that the victims that invested the most, are often the scams’ most passionate defenders. Shame is a powerful force in the human psyche.” 

The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling highlights a problem. The problem isn’t J.K Rowling herself, but rather the echo chamber she has found herself in, which could aptly be referred to as “the anti echo chamber.” The idea that civil debate will overcome systemic bigotry in tandem with villainizing an entire subset of people creates a swarm of dissent, hovering over any behavior perceived as revolutionary. It’s very believable that J.K. Rowling doesn’t hate trans people, she is just profoundly mistaken about their goals and ambitions, Which are as innocuous and fundamental as you can get: Integration and equity. Rowling doesn’t represent transphobia. She represents the fear and hatred of what you can’t comprehend. The contrarian myth of “the free thinker” perpetuated by Rowling plagues our world in ways that become more and more apparent every day. If there’s a lesson to be learned from this mess of a podcast—it’s to have empathy for what you don’t understand.