On this week’s second edition of The Editors, Rich asks Dominic about the strange case of Malcolm Gladwell. The influential author recently admitted that he was afraid to speak up on his disagreement on trans issues, and only felt comfortable talking about it now. Our panelists appreciate his admission about natural biology, but are confused why someone with so much influence would allow himself to be cowed on the issue.

“It’s a bizarre calculus that a lot of these people make,” says Dominic. “I can understand a politician being afraid of what voters will think in a primary election or things like that, but Malcolm Gladwell wasn’t elected to anything. He doesn’t have to worry about some activist group mobilizing voters in a Democratic primary. . . .

“Maybe I can understand that if he thinks he was going to lose a bunch of friends over it or something,” Dominic continues, “but just in general, I don’t understand why he would allow himself to be intimidated by people who are less famous, less powerful, and less influential than he is.”

The Editors podcast is recorded on Tuesdays and Fridays every week and is available wherever you listen to podcasts.