Monday, July 7, 2025

It was a milestone for progressive education in California. Then it unraveled

…But advocates – as well as school districts and even courts – have pushed back, arguing that criticizing power structures, including foreign governments, drives ethnic studies and is not discriminatory. Last year, a Palo Alto school district refuted parents' claims that its ethnic studies course was politically radical, while a judge threw out the case brought against LA ethnic studies educators on the grounds that "learning about Israel and Palestine" does not constitute "injury". 

Teachers have pushed back, too. In April, Chloe Gentile-Montgomery, a Bay Area ethnic studies teacher who was placed on leave for allegedly including antisemitic material in a slideshow concerning Israel and Palestine, sued her former school district. Gentile-Montgomery claims racial discrimination and failure on the part of her employer to protect her from harassment from students and parents. While other teachers in the district taught about Israel and Palestine without consequence, Gentile-Montgomery, who is Black, was "singled out" and targeted, according to the lawsuit. 

Asserting that she has seen no convincing evidence of prejudice levied against ethnic studies educators, Gallagher-Geurtsen said that these incidents are examples of antisemitism being conflated with criticisms against a foreign government – with the latter being a perfectly acceptable exercise for high schoolers to undertake, she said. 

"Curriculum that makes you feel uncomfortable does not violate your rights," she said...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/jul/07/ethnic-studies-california-antisemitism


 


Top U.S. & World Headlines — July 7, 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CYVUoiEGhU


Weekly Roundup: Mamdani and the Rebirth of Birtherism + Christofascism in the Big Bill (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)

Brad and Dan begin with a deep dive into the GOP’s controversial new bill targeting Medicaid access and how it ties into white Christian nationalist ideology.

The conversation moves to JD Vance’s pro-natalist rhetoric and his troubling comments on immigration, revealing the racial and religious undertones driving the GOP’s messaging. Brad and Dan also discuss Trump’s escalating feud with Elon Musk and the disturbing implications of Trump’s remarks about Zoran Momdani.

Throughout the episode, Brad and Dan connect the dots between these stories—examining how immigration, xenophobia, and Christian nationalism are shaping American politics and threatening democratic norms.
Interview: 


The Biggest Power Grab Yet (Andrew McCabe and Allison Gill; Unjustified podcast)

Trump and the Department of Justice issue letters about the Tik-Tok ban that dangerously expand executive powers.

Attorney General Pam Bondi fires three January 6th prosecutors sending another chill through the Justice Department, as the weaponization task force hires a January 6th rioter that threatened police.

The Department of Justice coordinated with the Texas Attorney General to kill the Texas Dream Act in under six hours.

The Supreme Court clarifies that the stay on blocking deportation to third countries includes Judge Murphy’s remedial order granting due process to the 8 men stuck in Djibouti on their way to South Sudan.

Plus listener questions…
Interview: 


July 4th and the Traitor who Gave America Prayer (Andrew Seidel; One Nation, Indivisible podcast Episode #019)

Christian Nationalists and MAGA love to claim the Fourth of July as their own. They think the history shows that we’re a Christian Nation. The Supreme Court has even agreed, all because of a prayer at the Continental Congress back in 1774. 

It’s story time. 

Because that prayer, which hazs huge legal implications today, is only the beginning of the tale. Today we’re going to learn about the traitor who gave America prayer.

Plus, an interview with American Atheists president Nick Fish about the shocking, yet sound decision to move a major international conference out of the United States.

Sen. Marty: https://sen.johnmarty.org/

Sen. Marty Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senjohnmarty/

Sen. Marty Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/senjohnmarty.bsky.social
Interview: 


Catholic School Fires Widowed Gay Teacher (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #590)

— ACLU sues Michigan school after Palestinian teen bullied by teacher over Pledge protest. (2:20)

— Catholic school fires widowed teacher over same-sex marriage. (14:42)

— Oklahoma sued over school standards that mix Christianity with right-wing lies. (38:18)

— Supreme Court opens door to religious veto of public school lessons, starting with LGBTQ books. (55:55)

— Trump policies force global Humanist conference to abandon U.S. plans. (1:11:42)
Interview: 


SMART Recovery (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

FFRF announces another Ten Commandments lawsuit, this one in Texas. 

After covering state/church news at the federal, state and local levels, we talk with Joe Gerstein, M.D., founder of SMART Recovery, a secular program for dealing with alcoholism and other addictions that is based on science and evidence, not faith.
Interview: 


The attacks on Zohran Mamdani

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKuqKP9HvzU

Revealed: the far-right, antisemitic men’s club network spreading across US

"They seek to lower the bar to participating in the far right, and by doing so have proved attractive to a cohort of mostly male members, some of whom have never before undertaken any form of activism." 

Heidi Beirich, co-founder and chief strategy officer of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, said the OGC "appears to be another major new network of racists, too many of which are springing up in the era of Trump". 

She said the group was "pushing violent ideologies, including race hate and antisemitism and has links to prominent figures on the far right"…

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/05/far-right-mens-clubs-old-glory


 

John Cleese Goes to Hell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p29r1PeVCE

Hegseth falsely cited weapon shortages in halting shipments to Ukraine, Democrats say

Reports indicate defense secretary unilaterally acted to halt shipment even as Pentagon suggested US arsenal is stocked…

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/05/hegseth-weapons-shipments-ukraine


 

‘The American system is being destroyed’: academics on leaving US for ‘scientific asylum’ in France

' "The American system is being destroyed at the moment," he told the 80 reporters who turned up to meet the candidates. "I think a lot of people in the United States and as well as here in Europe have not understood the level to which all of higher education is being targeted."…

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/jul/05/academics-leaving-us-scientific-asylum-france-trump


 

‘I want my vote back’: Trump-voting family stunned after Canadian mother detained over immigration status | US immigration | The Guardian

The family of a Canadian national who supported Donald Trump's plans for mass deportations of immigrants say they are feeling betrayed after federal agents recently detained the woman in California while she interviewed for permanent US residency – and began working to expel her from the country...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/06/trump-voting-family-canadian-mother-detained-immigration-status 


 

'FAITH HEALING' NEEDS TO STOP - 'MIRACLES' DON'T EXIST!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaIwlqXjT5w

 

Fox News GETS BUSTED helping Trump COOK THE BOOKS !!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSZMkhcnPEY

 

Elon Musk’s ‘America’ party could focus on a few pivotal congressional seats

Billionaire says his new political party could try to turn attainable House and Senate seats to decide major issues…

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/05/elon-musk-america-party-congress


 

Losing health care: remember who did it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB9pd5LKR9o

 

Chiropractors are NOT real doctors?!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7TQhKc7AGs8

 








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