Science vs. Propaganda: Trans Women in Sports episode artwork

EPISODE · May 18, 2025 · 54 MIN

Science vs. Propaganda: Trans Women in Sports

from Half the Answer · host Liberal Currents

Trent and Caitlin talk to Liberal Currents author Vikas Valiveti about the current state of scientific consensus on how trans girls and women compete in sports. What are the correct ways to measure athleticism? When does it actually matter? How should we think about fairness and the right to participate? And what’s the incorrect framing that leads people astray when they are thinking about this question?Resources:Vikas’ article: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/do-trans-women-belong-in-sports/IOC policies: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780323916196000075FINA policies: https://resources.fina.org/fina/document/2022/06/19/525de003-51f4-47d3-8d5a-716dac5f77c7/FINA-INCLUSION-POLICY-AND-APPENDICES-FINAL-.pdfLia Thomas rule change: https://www.espn.com/olympics/swimming/story/_/id/40334702/cas-rejects-lia-thomas-challenge-rules-trans-swimmersTrump comments on sports: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-womens-sports-will-die-if-trans-athletes-are-allowed-2021-2Tiny proportion of athletes are trans: https://thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq/5046662-ncaa-president-transgender-athletes-college-sports/

Trent and Caitlin talk to Liberal Currents author Vikas Valiveti about the current state of scientific consensus on how trans girls and women compete in sports. What are the correct ways to measure athleticism? When does it actually matter? How should we think about fairness and the right to participate? And what’s the incorrect framing that leads people astray when they are thinking about this question?Resources:Vikas’ article: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/do-trans-women-belong-in-sports/IOC policies: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780323916196000075FINA policies: https://resources.fina.org/fina/document/2022/06/19/525de003-51f4-47d3-8d5a-716dac5f77c7/FINA-INCLUSION-POLICY-AND-APPENDICES-FINAL-.pdfLia Thomas rule change: https://www.espn.com/olympics/swimming/story/_/id/40334702/cas-rejects-lia-thomas-challenge-rules-trans-swimmersTrump comments on sports: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-womens-sports-will-die-if-trans-athletes-are-allowed-2021-2Tiny proportion of athletes are trans: https://thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq/5046662-ncaa-president-transgender-athletes-college-sports/

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Science vs. Propaganda: Trans Women in Sports

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Trent and Caitlin talk to Liberal Currents author Vikas Valiveti about the current state of scientific consensus on how trans girls and women compete in sports. What are the correct ways to measure athleticism? When does it actually matter? How...

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