Not A Load-Bearing Worldview
Or, An Expert Speaks.
In which a Senate hearing on drug safety takes a somewhat surreal turn:
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO): “Can men get pregnant?”
Dr. Nisha Verma: “I’m not really sure what the goal of the question is.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO): “The goal is just to establish a biological reality… Can men get pregnant?”
Dr. Nisha Verma: “I take care of people with many… pic.twitter.com/decglkqHkX
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) January 14, 2026
What struck me was the claim by Dr Nisha Verma, our adjunct assistant professor and “person of science,” that she would be “more than happy to have a conversation” – i.e., regarding whether men can get pregnant – while suggesting quite strongly that this is not in fact the case.
Unless, presumably, Dr Verma were given total and unilateral control of what questions may be asked, and of how they may be asked, of what wording may be used, and of which aspects of reality may be mentioned during any such exchange, should one be permitted.
On grounds that direct, very simple questions, asked seemingly in vain, are “polarising” and thus to be avoided.
It seems to me that if your political worldview, and in-group social status, very much depend on shunning certain fairly obvious questions, exposure to which induces wobbling and an urgent need for word salad, then that worldview has some, shall we say, structural issues.
Consider this an open thread. Share ye links and bicker.
That’s the next stage. If you let them.
Well, it would seem to follow as a necessity, given all the wobbling and disgruntlement.
And then there’s the implicit conceit that you should be allowed to assert and imply all kinds of obviously untrue things, quite mad things, to unravel reality, while tutting at any of the obvious but inconvenient responses to that affectation. Because such questions are “polarising.”
It’s an attitude of “Why won’t you just pretend, like I do, damn it?”
She says he’s being ‘political’ as if *she* isn’t.
Quite. And so, reference to observable reality is apparently “polarising” and a “political tool,” and therefore inadmissible, unworthy of a response. While Dr Verma’s own implied fantasy – in which, pregnant women can somehow be men – is presented as some incontestable, perfectly neutral position.
Chutzpah barely covers it.
And in pop culture news:
No laughing at the back.
The entire ‘Modern Audience’?