Ancient Crimes in Modern Times: The 346th Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying
Evaluation and Summary
DarkHorse's 346th Evolutionary Lens episode tackles two major topics through an evolutionary and social lens. The first segment examines the Cornell 7 case—civil charges brought against seven men and several institutions, including Cornell University, by a woman alleging she was drugged and gang-raped in a fraternity house in October 2024. Weinstein and Heying review legal documents and journalism to discuss consent, alcohol and drug use, the Greek system's role, and how modern sexuality has (or hasn't) evolved. They appear to draw on multiple sources including Anna Bower's legal document compilation, a New York Times investigation, and commentary on Cornell's sex education gaps. The second segment shifts to a potential public health threat: a woman's death from plague in Russia, prompting discussion of pandemic risk factors and what warning signs to monitor. The episode is framed as an evolutionary analysis of modern social problems—treating contemporary crimes and disease through the lens of human biology and behavior. Sponsors include SaunaSpace, CrowdHealth, and Caraway, with typical affiliate links and discount codes. The hosts promote their Locals community, Heather's newsletter, their book, and merchandise.
Verdict: A competent but unremarkable episode that reviews existing documents and news rather than breaking new ground; solid for fans of the hosts' perspective but offers limited discovery or depth for general audiences.
Science rubric
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Scientific accuracy n/a
Show notes provide no detail on scientific claims made, expert credentials, or how evidence was handled; cannot assess accuracy without hearing the actual discussion
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Clarity for non-experts n/a
No indication of how complex topics (consent, epidemiology, evolutionary biology) were explained; depends entirely on execution not visible in notes
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Sense of discovery 2/5 25%
Reviewing existing legal documents and journalism about a recent case offers limited novelty; plague discussion appears speculative rather than reporting new findings
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Substance 3/5 25%
Two substantial topics (Cornell case with legal documents, plague risk) provide real content, but show notes reveal no depth of analysis, expert guests, or novel insights—mostly appears to be document review and commentary
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Delivers on its title 3/5 25%
Title promises 'Ancient Crimes in Modern Times' with evolutionary lens; the Cornell case and plague discussion fit this framing, but show notes don't confirm how deeply the evolutionary angle is developed
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Value for time 2/5 25%
2h 14m for two topics with no indication of guest experts, novel reporting, or structured analysis; likely includes significant padding, sponsor reads, and tangential discussion typical of the format
Worth it if you're invested in the DarkHorse hosts' take on contemporary social issues and want their evolutionary framing of recent events, but not if you're seeking investigative reporting or expert analysis.
Content flags
- Ad-heavy Four sponsor reads (SaunaSpace, CrowdHealth, Caraway) plus promotion of Locals, newsletter, book, and store in a 2h 14m episode
Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.