Gawker

It had designs

on being a kind of a muckraking tech publication, but in the spirit of Gawker.

Something with an edge, something with a little bite, something that could mix hard reporting.

and gossip-driven innuendo.

That's what they did, is they figured out that this could be, in fact, a way to affect political action.

Because it wasn't just that these women got harassed.

Like, major companies like Intel pulled their ads from Gawker sites because GamerGators painted a target at Gawker.

And what they realized is that corporations and institutions are various cowards.

And you know, Substack and other publishers, I know Beehive, I know that some of these platforms have tried to help, but you know, it's a drop in the ocean of what's actually needed.

Even with all the money we spend, an actual case would be, you know, we know what happened with Gawker.

And we know what happened with Hulk Hogan, and we know what happened with Peter Thiel, and all that.

The destruction using the courts to destroy your opponents is now part and parcel of politics, whether it's through civil actions and lawsuits, or whether it's through insane criminal actions against journalists doing journalism.

Elizabeth Spiers is a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times, the host of Slate's Money podcast, and a digital strategist who also teaches writing.

You may also know her as the founding editor of Gawker.

She recently wrote a column with the evocative title Why You Shouldn't Use AI to Write a Professional Op-ed By Me, a Professional Op-ed Writer Who Has Less Real Competition If You Do.

So how should we think about all this? Teddy and Elizabeth join me now to talk about all of it.

Most sources say 07.

So October 4th, Gawker publishes a clip of the sex tape involving Hulk Hogan and Heather Clem, the wife, the then wife of Bubba the Love Sponge.

Hogan says it's recorded without his knowledge and consent, files a lawsuit.

At the time, Heather and Bubba were married and apparently in an open marriage.

After exiting TNA, we head into 2014.

Hulk tries this weird tech bro hostamania cloud thing, which bombs immediately.

But what didn't die was the Gawker lawsuit.

Around this time, Hulk is already battling in court over it.

This is compelling, spicy stuff, you know? Insurance versus Enron.

Insurance versus Gawker and Hulk Hogan.

Oh, man.

Like these titles are amazing.

It's compelling on its own.

You also recognize these names like Hulk Hogan.

It's like, okay, like Gawker.

Oh, I remember that story.

And speaking of finance, Doug no longer works in it.

According to his LinkedIn, he used to work at Gawker as the chief of staff of technology and products.

He now works in tech, and he will go down in history for putting Martha in her place.

As for Peter, Doug's former boss, he found a second act in 2008 as the CEO of an antique jewelry company called Fred Layton.

What did you think was going to happen? Why do you think these people buy these platforms? So you can't talk bad about them.

Look at Gawker.

Gawker was like, hey, you know what? I think Peter Thiel's like, I don't

know.

Pretty sure.

They weren't wrong.

Thiel like fucking went on a rampage.

Sued him, shut him down, like wrecked fucking Gawker.

What did you think was going to happen? Why do you think these people buy these platforms? So you can't talk bad about them.

Look at Gawker.

Gawker was like, hey, you know what? I think Peter Thiel is like, I don't know.

Hello.

Pretty sure.

They weren't wrong.

Teal like fucking went on a rampage.

Sued him, shut him down, like wrecked fucking Gawker.