Madison Pauly
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msjpauly.bsky.social
Madison Pauly
@msjpauly.bsky.social
Reporter covering gender and politics at @motherjones.com, part of the Center for Investigative Reporting

Tips to mpauly at motherjones dot com

https://www.motherjones.com/author/madison-pauly/
I love your username. Thanks for reading!
November 22, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I'm so sorry for your loss.
November 22, 2025 at 12:06 AM
thank you Carol!
November 20, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Hi Christina. Thanks for reading. It was a different Lia who died. www.middlebury.edu/announcement...
In Memoriam: Lia Smith ’26
The Middlebury senior from Woodside, California, was working toward a double major in statistics and computer science.
www.middlebury.edu
November 20, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Thanks, Jody!
November 20, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Thank you so much for listening, and for this thread, Duncan!
November 20, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Thank you so much, Jessica!
November 20, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Thank you to the University of Kentucky teammates and NCAA competitors who trusted me enough to speak to me on one of the most controversial topics there is in politics or on the internet today.

Read the story here: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

8/8
How right-wing superstar Riley Gaines built an anti-trans empire
The swimmer tied a trans woman for fifth. The MAGA industrial complex took care of the rest.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Two of Riley Gaines’ teammates say they’re frustrated she’s used her platform to vilify trans women as an existential threat to women’s sports—while barely mentioning the serious problems they say actually affected them.

“She’s very, ‘Protect women’s sports.’ But not when it comes to our team.” 7/
November 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Gaines’ teammates also care about protecting women in sports. But their concerns are different. Their head coach is facing a rape lawsuit. Another was suspended for sexual harassment, per university records. And UK investigated other reports of abusive coaching, eating disorders, punishments. 6/
November 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM
I waded through the sea of Riley Gaines content—her memoir, podcast, social media, press appearances—to track her rhetoric & goals as both grew more extreme. I followed the money (see article for more on that).

I also talked to some of her old teammates. 5/
November 20, 2025 at 1:28 PM
And…it worked. Trans women have been banned from women’s competition by the NCAA and the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Trans girls are banned from girls’ school sports in 29 states (lawsuits pending). SCOTUS is hearing the issue this term.

And Gaines personally achieved huge influence. 4/
November 20, 2025 at 1:28 PM
This GOP effort to turn trans athletes into a wedge issue didn’t start with Gaines tying trans swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAAs. But she and her allies used the story of the matchup as a powerful political weapon—under the banner of “protecting women’s sports.” 3/
November 20, 2025 at 1:27 PM
This story was produced as a collaboration between @pablo.show and @motherjones.com. Watch the Pablo Torre Finds Out episode here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKUl... 2/
Riley Gaines Investigated: The Lia Thomas Race, the Coach & Why She "Doesn't Even Like" Trump | PTFO
YouTube video by PABLO TORRE FINDS OUT
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:26 PM