Transphobic bigots never have a point, and you never have to hand it to them. That Michael Walker said the opposite of this alongside other bigoted right wing talking points, and that Novara then had Ana Kasparian on repeating them, is extremely disappointing on several counts.

Firstly, there is no position consistent with left values that throws any marginalised group of people under the bus. Novara have screwed this up before for disabled people and were rightly called out for it. This cannot happen again.

Secondly, it suggests that Walker is not a capable critical thinker, which calls into question much of his other journalism. His tweet, not least the version he deleted, was just utter idiots' casserole that only a smidgen of curiosity debunks.

Thirdly, and quite simply: people on the left won't support an organisation that itself supports bigotry, and I'd suggest it's a bad business move to alienate the people who pay the bills.

Without intervention, Walker is clearly on the well-trodden path to becoming a loudly public transphobe. It's on Novara to either reach out to him, support his deradicalisation, or if he's incapable of this, to ostracise him.

Without one of those two things happening, it would be very difficult to support or appear on Novara again.

For my part, my interview was recorded before Walker's tweets were posted, and if you watch I hope you'll see that my stance on trans rights is made explicit for the full recording.

While people who hold a vigorously pro-trans view like Ash, Rivkah and Dalia are still at Novara, it's a project that merits support - so long as it takes an explicit stance on trans liberation and calls out those who do not 🏳️‍⚧️

@GarethDennis @novaramedia Is it not possible to simply disagree with Michael (who has to my knowledge been steadfast in support of trans rights) rather than smear him by misrepresenting what he’s said? He was making a point about dialogue and coalition building.

@dai_alectic @novaramedia That's not the view of a lot of trans people.

@GarethDennis @novaramedia Nonsense

@tommagicfeet @novaramedia listen to trans people

@GarethDennis @novaramedia Absolutely horrific!

@AndrewAndrewA16 @novaramedia ?

@GarethDennis @novaramedia Culture war very dumb and boring

@CyberSynCommand @novaramedia People's rights are not a "culture war".

@GarethDennis @novaramedia Aaaaaaand.... the left will eat itself.....again.... and again....and again....

@James_Blond00D @novaramedia I don't care about your opinion.

@GarethDennis @novaramedia I could swear I'm left wing, then I read stuff like this and I think some of you have lost your minds. I don't know what Michael Walker has said but we should move past these melodramatic denunciations.

@GarethDennis @novaramedia you’re a top man gareth, glad to be seeing more of you on wtyp too!

@GarethDennis @novaramedia I just want the trains to run on time.

@GarethDennis @novaramedia Such textbook cancel culture nonsense, it's not 2010 we see this for what it is. Michael's a brilliant journalist, and ur tryna get him sacked for asking questions - which is his job btw. Trying to get his colleagues to denounce him to avoid the collective wrath lol, textbook

@GarethDennis @DanWei55 tbf to Walker, Bastani is even dodgier than him these days

@GarethDennis @novaramedia I had a lot of respect for you before and that’s only increase after reading this, thank you.

@GarethDennis @novaramedia Consistently good takes thanks Gareth 💪🏻

@GarethDennis @novaramedia Only part way through it and it's an excellent conversation. Glad you had it, and thank you for standing up for trans people. I've really liked Novara's work for a long time so I'm holding out hope that this is just a bump in the road and it stays good. You're a good man GD ❤️🏳️‍⚧️

@GarethDennis @novaramedia Novara do far more harm to the left than good.

@GarethDennis @novaramedia That got off-topic quickly!

@GarethDennis @novaramedia Dear God have we got into the politics of identity again. Can we remind ourselves that socialism is based on materialism and universalism. It is possible to disagree with what Walker might or might not have said, but can we stop with all these witch-hunts.

@GarethDennis @novaramedia comrade

@GarethDennis @novaramedia Care to comment @michaeljswalker @AaronBastani

@GarethDennis @novaramedia This is such a shame, I usually agree with him lots of what he comments on, and he usually comes across as witty and insightful.

@GarethDennis @novaramedia

@GarethDennis @novaramedia It’s transphobic to point out that puberty gives those born as male an advantage in sport? That is absolutely mental. You cannot possibly think that’s transphobic?