Diddy and Our Culture’s ‘Himpathy’ for Powerful Men

This week we're taking a break from the election and turn our attention to the allegations against Sean Combs: Where has #MeToo succeeded or fallen short? And what happens when the lines blur between rumor mill and conspiracy theory? The Opinion columnist Tressie McMillan Cottom and the Opinion writer Jessica Grose join the conversation. Plus, Jessica has a recommendation for Plath-heads.

(A full transcript of this episode will be available on the Times website.)

Recommended in this episode:

• “With Love, Sean Combs” by Tressie McMillian Cottom in Vanity Fair
• “Sean Combs and the Limits of the ‘Family Man’ Defense” by Jess Grose
• “Entitled | How Male Privilege Hurts Women” by Kate Manne, who coined the term “himpathy”
• “#MeToo Comes for the Archbishop” by Ross Douthat
• “Why We Can’t Quit Brad Pitt” by Scaachi Koul in Slate
• “Red Comet” by Heather Clark

Thoughts about the show? Email us at matterofopinion@nytimes.com or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440.