THOUGHTCRIME Ep. 108 — Stranger Things = Gay? College Football, Ruined? Spotify Wraps?

Summary of THOUGHTCRIME Ep. 108 — Stranger Things = Gay? College Football, Ruined? Spotify Wraps?

by Charlie Kirk

1h 17m•December 6, 2025
Listen to Episode

Overview of THOUGHTCRIME Ep. 108 — Stranger Things = Gay? College Football, Ruined? Spotify Wraps?

This episode of Thought Crime (hosted under Charlie Kirk’s umbrella; Andrew Colvett moderating) covers several pop-culture and cultural-war topics: the Lane Kiffin/Ole Miss → LSU coaching move and what it reveals about modern college football; the hosts’ Spotify “wraps” (embarrassing music confessions, kids’ playlists, screamo); and a lengthy, heated critique of Stranger Things season 5 as allegedly sexualizing children and promoting LGBTQ themes. The show mixes sports culture, media critique, political framing (Netflix as “woke”/influential), event updates, and sponsor plugs.

Main topics discussed

Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss for LSU — controversy and fallout

  • Recap: Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss after a highly successful season to accept LSU’s head-coaching job. Ole Miss players and fans reacted angrily; players said Kiffin didn’t address them before leaving.
  • Key flashpoints:
    • Players publicly refuted Kiffin’s claim that “the team asked him to keep coaching.”
    • Reports of fans threatening him and predictions of hostile reception in Oxford/at future games.
  • Broader implications discussed:
    • Coaches and programs are driven by money and status; transfer portal + NIL have professionalized college football.
    • Fans miss “traditions” and rivalries but the landscape is dominated by revenue and conference realignment.
    • Concerns about academic integrity for top athletes and the commercialization of taxpayer-funded institutions.

College football: system-level critique

  • Hosts argue college football has become increasingly mercenary — coaches, assistants, broadcasters, and schools profit while players’ amateur status is compromised.
  • Transfer portal and NIL seen as accelerating roster instability and “professionalization” of college programs.
  • Cultural touches: debate over mascots/traditions (Old Miss’s Colonel Reb → Landshark) and whether historical symbols were rightly changed.

Spotify Wrapped / personal music reveals

  • Hosts reveal their top artists/albums: a blend of children’s content (Garden Keeper Gus, Moana 2), K‑pop, emo/screamo (Yellowcard, Taking Back Sunday), country (Morgan Wallen), and nostalgia soundtracks.
  • Discussion about parents using audiobooks/podcasts to manage kids in cars.
  • One host (Blake) notes he doesn’t subscribe to streaming services, so no wrap.

Stranger Things season 5 — major critique and debate

  • Trigger scene described: a flashback in season 5 shows Vecna (referred to by hosts as “Gay Darth Vader”) using a tentacle-like appendage on a young male character; hosts characterize it as a highly sexualized/grooming/rape-like depiction.
  • Jack Posobiec leads the critique: calls it “textbook gay rape scene,” claims Netflix intentionally sexualized the scene, and highlights the show’s appeal to families/young viewers.
  • Evidence cited:
    • Clips and B-roll showing kids’ marketing (toys, Happy Meal tie-ins) for Stranger Things.
    • A scene later in the season where a character is told “it’s okay to be gay” and embraces identity — threaded into the hosts’ argument about the show’s messaging.
    • Assertion (and cited Vanderbilt study) that adults reporting same-sex orientation reported higher rates of childhood abuse.
  • Pushback noted (listeners and commentators said it’s an homage to Alien and a metaphor for trauma); hosts reject that defense given audience/marketing and say the material is inappropriate for children.
  • Broader concern: Netflix’s “woke” content strategy, past controversies (e.g., Cuties), and worries about Netflix acquiring Warner Bros./DC and shaping mainstream kids’ IP.

Corporate/media concerns and politics

  • Discussion of Netflix’s relationships with high-profile figures (Obama/Obamas, Susan Rice mention) and worry about elite influence over media.
  • Hosts mention the possibility of streaming services changing prior content by re-editing older episodes (example of Stranger Things season 1 edits).

Miscellaneous: events, ads, and side notes

  • AMFest ticket/waitlist questions and refunds/discounts for next year.
  • Hillsdale College miniseries promo, sponsors (Preserve Gold, Y‑Refi, AMAC).
  • Light banter about time zones, college rivalries, and nostalgia for Charlie Kirk’s sports fandom.

Key takeaways and themes

  • College football is portrayed as increasingly commodified: coaches, players, and institutions prioritize money, mobility, and exposure — which many hosts see as corrosive to tradition.
  • The Lane Kiffin move is emblematic of modern college-sports mercenary behavior and fan backlash.
  • Media critique: Stranger Things season 5 is read by the hosts as crossing a line into sexualized portrayals of minors and explicit LGBTQ messaging aimed at young audiences; they view this as part of a larger Netflix pattern.
  • Streaming platforms can change narratives retroactively (edits) and shape cultural norms; potential mergers/acquisitions amplify those worries.
  • Cultural/political lens: the episode frames these entertainment and sports stories as part of broader battles over values, youth influence, and institutional power.

Notable quotes & phrases (direct or paraphrased)

  • “Gay Darth Vader” — characterization of Vecna and how the hosts framed the monster.
  • “This season turned season one into a grooming/pedophilic backstory.”
  • “College is a scam…stop sending your kids to college.” — opening lines reflecting the show’s ideological stance.
  • “College football is basically a professional sports league now” — summary of hosts’ critique.

Recommendations / Action items discussed (what hosts advised or implied)

  • Parents: be cautious about what children watch on streaming platforms; review marketing tie-ins and episode content before co-watching.
  • Sports fans: recognize how NIL and transfer rules have changed college loyalties; expect more coach movement and market-driven decisions.
  • Media watchers: pay attention to ownership and editorial control of major studios/streamers (potential mergers with Netflix/Warner Bros. cited as consequential).

Bottom line

Episode 108 mixes sports anger, media criticism, and cultural-conservative alarm. The most contentious segment is the Stranger Things critique: hosts claim the new season inserts sexualized/grooming imagery and LGBTQ messaging into a show widely watched by teens and families, and they frame that as part of a broader Netflix strategy. The Lane Kiffin story serves as the springboard for a broader indictment of money-driven college athletics. The episode blends analysis, opinion, and cultural reaction rather than neutral reporting — useful if you want the hosts’ perspective on these flashpoint topics.