Reality's Last Stand
Reality's Last Stand is an English-language publication on Substack run by Colin Wright. Wright earned a PhD in evolutionary biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and is a fellow at the conservative think tank Manhattan Institute. The publication says it is about free speech, science, and reality.
What you will find
It features news articles, analyses, opinion pieces, and reviews by Wright himself and by guest contributors. A recurring topic is the definition of biological sex and its relationship to gender identity; see also the glossary. Some of the content is free, while some is available only to paying subscribers.
Why it is on this list
Wright is a well-known voice in the debate over sex as a biological category and writes outspokenly critically about gender identity policies. The newsletter is opinion and journalism, not scholarly literature. Its claims form part of a broader scientific debate in which other views also exist.
Who is behind it
Colin Wright earned his PhD in 2018 and then served as an Eberly Research Fellow at Penn State from 2018 to 2020. According to his own description, he is also a member of The Killarney Group. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Times, New York Post, Newsweek, City Journal, and Quillette, as well as in scientific journals. He has appeared as a guest on widely watched programs such as The Joe Rogan Experience, Tucker Carlson Tonight, and Triggernometry. City Journal can be found on this site in the WPATH Files dossier.
Structure and business model
According to its own page, the publication has more than 40,000 subscribers and aims to deliver news, analysis, and opinion every week. Free subscribers receive a selection of the articles by email. Paying subscribers also receive exclusive articles, the Weekly Reality Report on Sundays with an overview of the week, and a monthly Q&A with Wright. Guest contributors can submit articles. Emails to free subscribers may contain third-party advertisements, and Wright is available for speaking engagements. The newsletter is therefore also a source of income for its creator.
How to assess this source
Wright has a scientific background in evolutionary biology, but the newsletter itself is not peer-reviewed. Its central topic, the definition of biological sex, is a question for biology. The conclusions he draws from it for legislation, sport, and healthcare are political choices on which biology alone cannot provide a definitive answer. Keep these two layers separate when reading. His affiliation with the Manhattan Institute and his appearances in outspokenly conservative media indicate the political corner in which his audience is primarily situated. One application of this debate can be found on the page about gender and sport.