A Shocking Turn in the War on Men - Richard Reeves

Richard Reeves and Chris Williamson shared personal birthing stories. Williamson told a detailed, funny, and self-deprecating tale about trying to assemble a fan while his wife was in early labor, causing friction (she didn't need a screwdriver to have a baby). He then told of the warning from a birthing class instructor that if a dad gets into the birthing pool without trunks, the midwife might mistake testicles for the baby's head crowning. He also described struggling to cut the umbilical cord with tiny hospital scissors, leaving his son with an 'outie' belly button. The takeaway is that being a supportive partner means being practically prepared, not just emotionally present.

Williamson described this as a 5-year daily habit. He emphasized that plain water often isn't enough because of missing electrolytes. The product (Element) is used as a replacement for missing salts, which he feels makes a difference in his energy and recovery.

Williamson has been using AG1 for over 5 years and emphasizes the recent clinical trials showing improved nutrient levels, gut bacteria proliferation, and bioavailability. He positions it as a small daily habit that compounds.

Williamson notes that despite caring about nutrition, even disciplined individuals fall short on fiber. He highlights that the product is a three-in-one formula for digestion, gut barrier strength, and blood sugar, and that the taste is surprisingly good (cinnamon flavor).

Richard Reeves described how, before November 2024, he felt like he was 'banging his head against a brick wall' trying to get Democrats to engage. After the election, his inbox filled up with inquiries. Governors Newsom (California), Moore (Maryland), Whitmer (Michigan), and Cox (Utah) have all launched serious initiatives. Newsom signed an executive order directing his administration to deliver comprehensive plans for boys and men in K‑12, employment, and mental health, and launched a male service challenge to recruit 10,000 more men into mentoring and coaching. Virginia is on the verge of creating the first state commission on boys and men to sit alongside an existing commission on women and girls. Reeves worries this momentum could be a fleeting cultural moment unless it gets institutionalized—hence his push for things like a permanent commission with a line item and staff.

Reeves explained that the common stat—working mothers do 25–30% more housework and childcare—uses a definition of full-time as 35+ hours per week but ignores that working fathers work more paid hours. When you sum paid and unpaid work, both parents clock about 60 hours a week. He quoted sociologist Suzanne Bianchi: 'amazingly similar.' He argues that this deficit framing makes men defensive and is easily debunked, ultimately damaging the causes that women's groups advocate for.

Reeves points out that the period of explosive female labor force entry (1975–2005) saw the total fertility rate actually rise from ~1.8 to ~2.1, while the steep decline happened after 2007 when participation leveled off. He attributes much of the drop to the ratcheted delay of first births—once the whole population starts family formation later, childlessness inevitably rises because the 'dance floor' has fewer people ready at the same time. He notes that the bar people feel they must clear before having kids (house, career, security) has become wildly higher than in previous generations.

Williamson describes lookmaxing as men hammering their faces, mewing, and pursuing extreme masculine facial structures (gigachad jawlines) that women actually find less attractive on average. He calls it a 'sexier version of the black pill and MGTOW'—men going their own way but focusing on intra-male competition rather than disengaging. He notes Zyzz's 2010 version was still female-attraction-coded; the current iteration is 'way less autistic' and genuinely disregards women.