[altncatchfire]

I disagree on this regard. According to the Twitter thread (which seems to be our only primary source here), PJ apologized last fall, saying "You were right about the union." [1]

As for the language of the apology, you propose a very subjective reading of the text. "Taking up space" seems valid here as it concerns the man in the middle of this event. Instead of being "forbidden from dissent", it seems he already knew he was on the wrong side months ago and is simply attempting to focus the conversation towards more important things than himself.

[1] https://twitter.com/eeddings/status/1361790804046602240

[swivelmaster]

He can be kind of a sad sack on the show so “taking up space” really does sound like how he talks.

I’ve heard almost every episode so... yeah.