Political Gabfest

longtime listener and big fan of the gabfest. That’s why I’m here making this comment. In this week’s episode, I found myself wondering, where is respect for and faith in teachers? I found the lack of any mention of teachers in your discussion of the Montgomery County school system case this week a gross oversight. These books (even the very upsetting ones) are read with a trained human being on the other end who’s job it is to help children process what they are reading and make connections from the literature to their own lives in events, themes, and feelings. Literature should be treated as mirrors, doors, and windows. As an early childhood educator, I am disappointed by the lack of acknowledgement that teachers are equipped with developmental knowledge and expertise and care for the children they work with, that they are flexible, observant, and bring nuance to these conversations.

Look forward to it every week! One of my main sources for understanding what’s going on in politics.

Last Thursday’s discussion (4/24/2025) on the Supreme Court case really disappointed me. In that episode they mentioned how the US has treated LGBTQ people poorly, and this episode is just a long line of perpetuating the groomer panic by religious fundamentalists. I’ve read the books in question in the school curriculum in the Mahmoud v. Taylor case, and Emily’s framing of these books as not age appropriate would make Anita Bryant proud. These books are absolutely age appropriate, and innocuous to anyone who isn’t a bigot. It’s one thing to make the case that schools shouldn’t make these books mandatory reading and not let parents opt out, but to frame this as “just a difference in religious values,” without spelling out those values are rooted in homophobia is irresponsible. It’s because these religious families believe being gay or trans is a sin, and they don’t want their kids seeing any representation of lgbtq people in their education. This is promoting conversion practice, and it’s disgusting. I won’t be listening to this podcast anymore.

David Plotz, correct yourself you said stupid musk was an engineer and you are 100% wrong!! musk does not have an engineering degree! that’s the point. he didn’t create tesla, a couple of men did all musk did was buy the company. i thought you were smart enough to have read that but i guess not! you lied, retract it.