Ep#174 - David Baddiel - Jews Don't Count

The Godless Spellchecker Podcast

This week on The Knight Tube, Stephen Knight (@Gspellchecker) welcomes comedian and writer David Baddiel (@Baddiel). On this episode they discuss David’s new book ‘Jews Don’t Count’, which takes a look at the double-standards when it comes to anti-Semitism.

Watch the video version on Youtube: https://youtu.be/yO3yUz6FdZ8

0:00 Intro 3:09 Start of interview 3:32 The meaning of ‘Jews Don’t Count’ 5:54 Far-right anti-Semitism 7:17 Being “on the right side of history” and reaction to the book 9:19 Forms of anti-Semitism and conspiracy 14:17 Batley blasphemy row and “what about the Jews?” response to unrelated issues 19:06 ‘Godwin’s Law’* (*Coined by Mike Godwin, not Stephen Godwin). 19:58 On throwing the word ‘Nazi’ around and holocaust comparisons. 22:24 ‘Soft-core Holocaust denial’ 23:38 Tackling weighty and intellectual issues as a comedian. 26:55 Jewish comedy and emancipation via comedy 29:24 The debate over casting minority characters from the relevant minority group. 34:35 Avoiding the culture wars 36:12 “The truth is always complex” and Twitter V real life. 37:42 The words ‘Jew’ and ‘Jews’. 41:14 Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party and anti-Semitism. 46:50 Ignorance of (and sharing of) anti-Semitic imagery 51:45 The left’s preoccupation with the Israel/Palestine conflict 57:06 Roald Dahl, cancellation & separating the art from the artist 1:01:59 David’s potential next book on atheism and Richard Dawkins

Support the podcast at http://www.patreon.com/gspellchecker

Also available on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube & Spotify.

Buy the book ‘Jews Don’t Count’: https://amzn.to/2O9zS9a

Roald Dahl blog: https://www.gspellchecker.com/2016/09/roald-dahl-failed-on-free-speech-and-threw-salman-rushdie-to-the-mob/