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Welcome to "Last Week Tonight !"
I'm John Oliver !
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Thank you so much for joining us.
It has been a busy week.
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As of taping, Israel is, in the words
of its prime minister "at war",
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FEMA ran a test
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to see how effectively our phones
could scare the shit out of us,
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and Kevin McCarthy was the victim
of the firstever intra-party coup
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against a speaker of the House.
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It left North Carolina
representative Patrick McHenry,
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Patton Oswalt
as a ventriloquist dummy,
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serving as temporary speaker.
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And he seemed pretty angry
after McCarthy's ousting.
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{\an8}The chair declares the House in recess,
subject to the call of the chair.
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That man is mad.
Which is only slightly undermined
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by the fact that he's dressed
like a four-year-old
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who's gonna fuck up
the whole wedding.
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Elections for the new speaker
will likely be held this week,
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and so far,
the front runners seem to be
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far-right Jim Jordan
or Steve Scalise,
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who's been described
as "David Duke without the baggage".
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And you know
who described him as that ?
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He did !
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And to describe yourself
as David Duke,
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the former Grand Wizard of the KKK,
without the baggage, is a choice.
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Because that man is all baggage.
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Without it, he's just the Crypt-Keeper
with a patchy bleach job.
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It is pretty clear
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that the Republican Party is being
controlled by the absolute extremes.
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But not just nationally,
at the local level, too.
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And to show you
just how bad it's gotten,
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look at the mayoral race unfolding
in the city of Franklin, Tennessee,
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where their current Republican mayor
is facing this woman, Gabrielle Hanson,
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a real estate agent
and current alderman.
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She's branded herself
as a hardcore MAGA candidate
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and has posted photos of herself
at Mara-Lago.
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And look how happy
she is there !
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That's the face of someone
who just dined on a well-done steak
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and read some classified documents
on the toilet.
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Back in April, Hanson made news
for opposing the city's Pride event,
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arguing that its participants
couldn't be trusted around children,
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and offering this critique
of previous performers.
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{\an8}In one of the pictures of Jaidynn
Diore Fierce, one of the Miss Fits,
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{\an8}she's clad
in an Elmothemed drag outfit,
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{\an8}which I'm sure
to an underage individual,
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{\an8}this could create confusion in their
mind as to what's being represented.
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Okay, but by that logic,
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we should outlaw children from
walking around Times Square, too,
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because seeing Olaf from "Frozen"
with his head popped off,
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smoking a Black & Mild
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is way more confusing
than someone wearing eyeshadow
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and an Elmo-themed bodysuit.
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Also, for the record, her name is
Jaidynn Diore Fierce, not "Dioree",
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and Elmo is not remotely
her finest work.
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Because she is constantly
serving cartoon looks.
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Have you ever seen
a minion serve body ?
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Because you have now.
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Hanson also tried to pressure
the Nashville airport
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out of funding
a Juneteenth celebration,
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saying "I don't want
my tax dollars or fees
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off of plane tickets
going to radical agendas."
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And with all due respect,
you're talking to an airport.
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It doesn't care about you.
It doesn't care about anyone.
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It's an airport.
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The only food available is either
dill pickle almonds or brisket nachos,
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with no middle ground.
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It's acceptable to drink at 7:00 AM,
and they will sell your lost luggage.
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The airport is a cruel,
unfeeling dimension,
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uninterested
in your culture war bullshit.
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Now, since then, Hanson seems
to have tried to broaden her base,
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posting photos of diverse
groups of supporters,
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including this one, labeled
as an "executive women's club"
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{\an8}who she said had provided
"invaluable support and encouragement"
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{\an8}with the hashtag "Vote Hanson".
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{\an8}But while that might seem like
an endorsement from those women,
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{\an8}watch what happened when a local
reporter tracked one of them down
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{\an8}and asked a pretty simple question.
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{\an8}Do you support Gabrielle Hanson ?
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{\an8}I do not,
I actually do not know who that is.
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{\an8}After some on social media
noticed the pic
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{\an8}seemed to have been taken
at a restaurant in Chicago,
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{\an8}Hanson posted an update
on Facebook claiming
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{\an8} "These are all my friends
that have relocated to Nashville,
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{\an8}Brentwood, and Franklin
and they all support me."
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{\an8}The women say that's a lie.
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{\an8}Any message
you would have for her ?
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{\an8}I would encourage her
to go make genuine friends
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{\an8}so she can take photos with those
folks if she's looking for supporters.
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{\an8}There's no need to comb pictures
on the internet to make up a story.
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{\an8}None of us need that.
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Not only are those women
clearly not your friends,
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you definitely just united them
against you.
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I guarantee you, one of them
dropped your post in the group chat,
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and the replies
are still going right now.
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And the thing is, Hanson has been
caught lying about weird shit
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a truly ridiculous amount of times.
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Earlier this year,
during a podcast interview,
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she claimed to have predicted the
Covenant School shooting in Nashville,
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stating she had
a premonition about it,
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chalking it up to what
"could have been a holy spirit thing".
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What's more, she also claimed
that she'd told a police officer
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about that premonition when he came
to her home over a different issue.
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The problem is,
that same local reporter
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tracked down
that officer's bodycam video,
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which told a different story.
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{\an8}During that 23-minute video,
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{\an8}she never mentions anything remotely
like the Covenant School shooting.
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{\an8}No mention of a premonition,
no mention of an active shooter,
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{\an8}no mention of the holy spirit.
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{\an8}And Hanson's fabrications have gone
even further in a talk radio interview
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{\an8}questioning how Melissa Joan Hart
happened to be near Covenant
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{\an8}at the time of the shooting to help
children who were trying to escape.
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{\an8}Maybe that's why Melissa Joan Hart
was there,
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{\an8}she must have known
it was going to happen, also.
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Wait, what ?!
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Melissa Joan Hart
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psychically knows when a school
shooting is about to happen ?
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That is not something an elected
official should say in an interview,
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it's what a Disney Channel
exec probably screamed in 2002
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after inhaling
a metric ton of cocaine.
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And before we go any further,
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let's take a moment to acknowledge
that reporter, Phil Williams.
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Because he's been
all over this story,
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and we've featured his work
on this show a bunch in the past.
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If you are a politician in Tennessee,
Phil has his foot on your goddamn neck.
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His official NewsChannel five bio
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features a quote
from a Nashville political strategist,
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saying, "If the press calls,
call your PR person.
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If Phil Williams calls, call your
lawyer because you are in trouble."
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This is a bad, bad man. You do
not fuck around with Phil Williams.
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And it seems Gabrielle Hanson
is currently in her "finding out" era
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when it comes
to her dealings with him,
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because Phil has uncovered so much
weird new context around her life.
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Remember her bullshit outrage
over the local Pride event ?
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Phil discovered something
that her husband once did
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that suggests
a hell of a double standard.
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{\an8}Children seeing images
that they could not unsee
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{\an8}was why the Franklin alderman said
she tried to block a Pride celebration
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{\an8}at a Franklin park,
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{\an8}saying in a podcast interview,
it was a question of basic morality.
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{\an8}Yet where was her morality
during Chicago's 2008 Pride parade
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{\an8}before the Hansons
moved to Tennessee ?
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{\an8}At the time, Tom Hanson was running
a Republican campaign for Congress
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{\an8}and organizers agreed to let him in.
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{\an8}He told the local LGBTQ
newspaper, quote,
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{\an8} "So, it just came to me. I said, 'Maybe
I'll wear an American flag Speedo.'
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{\an8}And my wife said,
'If you do that, I'll hold you to it.'"
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Magnificent.
So, just to recap: snatched Elmo ?
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Irreparably harmful to children.
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Star-spangled ballbag here ?
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That's apparently
completely fine with her !
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Also, nd I'm not here to police
anyone else's drag but, is he tucked ?
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Could just have been cold !
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It was June, though.
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But anyway,
if all that wasn't enough,
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just this week, Hanson
was caught up in yet another scandal,
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this time,
involving an eye-catching group
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that showed up to support
and protect her at a candidate forum.
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{\an8}The man on the left
is Sean Kauffmann,
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{\an8}who has been described
by the StopAntisemitism watchdog group
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{\an8}as, quote, "a disturbed neo-Nazi
and Holocaust denier
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{\an8}with a documented history of violence
and a massive cache of firearms".
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{\an8}Then there's Brad Lewis.
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{\an8}He's the operator of the Lewis Country
Store on the far west side of Nashville,
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{\an8}a store known
for its extreme rightwing messaging.
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{\an8}When the store recently
went on the market,
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{\an8}Gabrielle Hanson was the
real estate agent who got the listing.
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{\an8}A recent investigation
by the Southern Poverty Law Center
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{\an8}revealed how the second floor
of the store
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{\an8}was being used
as a white nationalist fight club.
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{\an8}Lewis responded in a post on Telegram,
calling himself
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{\an8}an "actual literal Nazi".
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{\an8}Ms. Hanson, the people you're with had
described themselves as literal Nazis.
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{\an8}Is this the type of people
you should be associating with ?
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{\an8}They said they're literal Nazis.
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Phil Williams is just wrecking her,
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waving a cell phone
in Hanson's face and asking
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"So, you hang out
with Nazis or what ?"
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and doing it loud enough
for the whole row to hear.
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Also, what on Earth did that cursed
Zillow listing look like ?
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"Great opportunity
to own-slashoperate your business
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in this income-generating, threeunit
mixed-use white supremacist building.
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First floor is a store
with terrible vibes,
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and the second floor unit
is a neo-Nazi fight club.
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Sold as is."
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Hanson denies engaging
that group as security,
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{\an8}despite the fact that she walked into
that meeting with a Holocaust denier,
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{\an8}while her husband was escorted in by
a guy with a Proud Boys face tattoo.
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{\an8}And she's tried to deflect criticism
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over the fact that she took
a literal Nazi's real estate listing,
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but, even in doing so,
made some bold choices.
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{\an8}If you based me on all the clients
that I'm representing currently,
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{\an8}I would be a white supremacist,
neo-Nazi,
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{\an8}I would be a lesbian like my one
client, and I would be Black, too.
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{\an8}That is who I would be
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{\an8}if you're gonna blame me
for the clients that I represent,
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{\an8}because those are the clients at this
very moment that I'm representing.
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{\an8}And I would probably
be a Muslim jihadist as well
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{\an8}because I have
a Middle Eastern client, too.
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Gabs, but you did just imply one
of your clients was a "Muslim jihadist"
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simply based on the fact
that they are Middle Eastern,
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so I'd say you're probably more
of a white supremacist neo-Nazi
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than you are lesbian or Black.
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In a world that makes sense,
this woman would obviously
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have withdrawn
from this mayoral race in shame.
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But she still has supporters, there
are lawn signs up for her in Franklin.
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00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:39,996
And there is a real chance
that she could still win this election.
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00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:44,396
While her numerous scandals are
almost cartoonish in their extremity,
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her behavior is entirely emblematic
of Republican politics
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from the local level
all the way up to the top,
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where, if we learned
anything this week,
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it's that far-right Republicans maintain
a vice-like grip over the entire party.
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And it frankly seems like our best bet
at exposing them going forward
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00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:04,236
might be if we can somehow
get more reporters
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to take a page
from Nashville's nosiest bitch.
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00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:09,440
And now, this.
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00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:11,559
And Now:
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00:12:12,039 --> 00:12:16,036
People on TV Share Increasingly
Unhinged Conspiracy Theories
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00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:17,600
About Taylor Swift.
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00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:22,195
{\an8}The big question is, are Taylor Swift
and Travis Kelce dating ?
219
00:12:22,279 --> 00:12:25,156
{\an8}- Is that the big question ?
- It's been on everybody's mind.
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00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:27,795
{\an8}It just makes you think,
is there something else going on ?
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00:12:27,879 --> 00:12:31,756
{\an8}Is Taylor teaming up with the NFL ?
Something. I don't know.
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{\an8}You're investigating.
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00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:34,996
{\an8}There's so many conspiracy theories
about this.
224
00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:36,835
{\an8}Is anything really a coincidence
these days ?
225
00:12:36,919 --> 00:12:40,276
{\an8}Is anything accidental ?
I say where there is smoke, there's fire.
226
00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,475
{\an8}There's a conspiracy
involved here.
227
00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:45,356
{\an8}Our floor director Megan thinks
that this is all a cover-up
228
00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:50,955
{\an8}to conceal Taylor's true boyfriend,
who she wants to keep private.
229
00:12:51,039 --> 00:12:52,715
{\an8}Travis is doing Taylor a solid.
230
00:12:52,799 --> 00:12:55,639
{\an8}The NFL was struggling
to get women to watch football.
231
00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:58,396
{\an8}And there is a part of me
that's like "Huh".
232
00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:01,675
{\an8}We're getting ready
for Taylor Swift's 1989 re-release.
233
00:13:01,759 --> 00:13:04,595
{\an8}The theme for this album
is the color red.
234
00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:07,579
{\an8}Travis Kelce plays for the Chiefs.
They are a big red team.
235
00:13:07,639 --> 00:13:12,516
{\an8}He was also born in 1989.
This is a promotional tool, Travis !
236
00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:15,475
{\an8}So, Taylor Swift
is from Philadelphia originally.
237
00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:19,835
{\an8}That maybe she's actually
trying to mess Travis Kelce up.
238
00:13:19,919 --> 00:13:21,315
You think it's sabotage ?
239
00:13:21,399 --> 00:13:24,049
She knows that they're going
to get to the Super Bowl.
240
00:13:24,639 --> 00:13:28,555
And the theory is, she's going
to eventually ghost him at that point,
241
00:13:28,639 --> 00:13:31,236
and then he's going to play
not so good.
242
00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:33,620
It rose all the way
to the White House, though.
243
00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:38,236
The White House press secretary was
even asked about the potential romance.
244
00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,036
Does President Biden think it's real ?
245
00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:42,835
In the vernacular
of the National Security Council,
246
00:13:42,919 --> 00:13:45,519
I can neither confirm
or deny those reports.
247
00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:50,000
Moving on.
248
00:13:50,639 --> 00:13:52,955
Our main story tonight
concerns school.
249
00:13:53,039 --> 00:13:56,636
For some, it's the place to make
friends and enjoy first crushes,
250
00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,559
while for others,
and I'm not naming names, it's not.
251
00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:01,399
It's different.
252
00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:04,555
Specifically, we're gonna talk
about homeschooling.
253
00:14:04,639 --> 00:14:07,675
During the pandemic, many parents
were suddenly forced to do it,
254
00:14:07,759 --> 00:14:11,519
and while some struggled, others,
like this family, absolutely thrived.
255
00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:14,435
A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
256
00:14:14,519 --> 00:14:16,519
H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P,
257
00:14:17,039 --> 00:14:19,475
Q, R, S, T, U, V,
258
00:14:19,559 --> 00:14:21,480
W, X, Y, and Z.
259
00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:23,879
Now you know your ABCs.
260
00:14:25,159 --> 00:14:30,756
That is clearly excellent,
but it's also a pretty mean way
261
00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:33,240
to make other parents
look like total shit.
262
00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:35,715
Because that is significantly better
263
00:14:35,799 --> 00:14:37,916
than anything I did with my kids
during the pandemic,
264
00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:40,835
it was much less singing
certified alphabet bangers
265
00:14:40,919 --> 00:14:44,319
and much more "hiding in the closet,
praying they would not find me".
266
00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:49,000
Also, quick shoutout to the baby
on the counter living her best life.
267
00:14:49,519 --> 00:14:51,516
She has no idea what's going on,
268
00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:53,636
but yet there she is
in the center of it all
269
00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:55,919
like Mariah Carey
on a New Year's broadcast.
270
00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:01,236
That family, like many,
sent their kids back to school.
271
00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:04,756
But for some, homeschooling
isn't just a pandemic-era necessity,
272
00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:05,879
it's a way of life.
273
00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,116
And you may have heard
a stereotype of homeschoolers
274
00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:10,955
being Christian conservatives
275
00:15:11,039 --> 00:15:13,675
who object to what kids learn
in public school environments.
276
00:15:13,759 --> 00:15:15,600
And I admit,
those people do exist.
277
00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:18,955
Take this man, who offers
this pretty shaky rationalization
278
00:15:19,039 --> 00:15:20,739
for pulling his kid out of school.
279
00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:26,799
{\an8}I think the type of content on what
they're teaching about sex or anal sex,
280
00:15:27,639 --> 00:15:31,396
that my third-grade daughter
should not be in a classroom
281
00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:34,675
where a teacher or someone else
is teaching her about that.
282
00:15:34,759 --> 00:15:36,709
And that was your experience
in school ?
283
00:15:36,759 --> 00:15:41,516
Through friends in other spots
that had been kids at those ages,
284
00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,320
'cause mine was only in first grade
when we pulled her.
285
00:15:45,279 --> 00:15:47,480
That sounds like total bullshit.
286
00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,195
Although I guess I do basically agree
with him there,
287
00:15:50,279 --> 00:15:54,159
things that are not happening
should continue not to happen.
288
00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:56,955
But the truth is,
the homeschooling community
289
00:15:57,039 --> 00:15:59,555
is much broader
than just right-wing parents
290
00:15:59,639 --> 00:16:02,339
afraid of hypothetical
third grade lube demonstrations.
291
00:16:02,559 --> 00:16:05,876
By one estimate, there are now
around two million children
292
00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:07,835
being homeschooled in this country,
293
00:16:07,919 --> 00:16:10,396
and parents can choose
that for all sorts of reasons.
294
00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:13,075
Maybe their kids have social
or health problems,
295
00:16:13,159 --> 00:16:14,996
or disabilities
that aren't being accommodated.
296
00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,876
Maybe they're families with legitimate
fears about school safety,
297
00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:20,435
or who are in the military
and move around a lot.
298
00:16:20,519 --> 00:16:22,475
And there's also a growing
number of Black parents
299
00:16:22,559 --> 00:16:25,435
opting to homeschool
due to whitewashed curriculums
300
00:16:25,519 --> 00:16:27,236
and zero-tolerance policies
in schools
301
00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:30,420
that disproportionately criminalize
their kids at an early age.
302
00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:32,600
So, there are lots of reasons
to do it.
303
00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:34,795
And the fact is, for some kids,
304
00:16:34,879 --> 00:16:38,080
getting to be homeschooled
can be genuinely transformative.
305
00:16:38,759 --> 00:16:42,480
{\an8}At 15, Victoria asked her mom, Bernita,
to take her out of Detroit schools.
306
00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:46,195
{\an8}She says she was being bullied
relentlessly for her appearance,
307
00:16:46,279 --> 00:16:48,679
{\an8}and it didn't seem
like her administrators cared.
308
00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:50,920
{\an8}It made me not want
to ask questions,
309
00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,116
{\an8}or not want
to ask specific questions
310
00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:56,756
{\an8}because I'm like,
they're gonna call me dumb.
311
00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:58,435
{\an8}When you transitioned
to homeschooling,
312
00:16:58,519 --> 00:17:00,119
{\an8}how did you feel
about yourself ?
313
00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:01,360
{\an8}I felt more confident.
314
00:17:01,879 --> 00:17:06,559
{\an8}It was kind of like a sunshine,
like the clouds opening a little bit.
315
00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:09,119
That's great ! That is very nice.
316
00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,076
And I know that's not something
you usually hear me say
317
00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:13,519
after a clip on this show.
318
00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:16,876
It's usually a variation of
"That's horrible", "Heartbreaking"
319
00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:19,260
or "Shut the fuck up you baby
bitch lawn dart".
320
00:17:19,599 --> 00:17:23,759
So, frankly,
this is a welcome change of pace.
321
00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,596
The point is: the ceiling of how good
homeschooling can be
322
00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:29,039
is admittedly very high.
323
00:17:29,599 --> 00:17:33,640
But the floor of how bad it can get
is basically nonexistent.
324
00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:37,156
Because to an extent that you may not
realize, in many parts of the country,
325
00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:41,515
homeschooling is unregulated
which can result in enormous damage.
326
00:17:41,599 --> 00:17:44,636
So, given that, tonight,
let's take a look at homeschooling.
327
00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:47,876
There is a lot we don't know
about homeschooled kids,
328
00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:51,116
from exactly how many there are,
to what they are learning.
329
00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,836
When I said "there are
around two million" of them,
330
00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,116
the reason that's an estimate
is that, depending on the state,
331
00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:59,839
homeschool families might not have
to report what they are doing at all.
332
00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:03,836
In these 26 states, parents simply
have to file a notice once a year
333
00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,916
with officials to let them know that
they are homeschooling their child.
334
00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:09,519
In these 13,
they only have to file a notice once,
335
00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:12,400
with no requirement
to check in ever again.
336
00:18:13,079 --> 00:18:16,640
And in the remaining 11, they
don't have to notify anyone at all.
337
00:18:17,039 --> 00:18:19,089
And when it comes
to the education itself,
338
00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:21,800
filing a notice is typically
where supervision stops,
339
00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:24,116
as in most states,
there is no oversight,
340
00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:27,755
and no evaluation
by anyone of the academic program
341
00:18:27,839 --> 00:18:29,475
and of students' progress.
342
00:18:29,559 --> 00:18:32,035
And homeschooling advocates will
tell you that that is not a concern,
343
00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:35,596
and that parents will simply come up
with all sorts of innovative ways
344
00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:36,759
to teach their kids.
345
00:18:37,079 --> 00:18:40,839
Here is one parent explaining
how he taught his kids science.
346
00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:44,195
{\an8}I can't tell you how many times,
you know, in my home,
347
00:18:44,279 --> 00:18:48,559
{\an8}at our kitchen table we've dissected
sheep eyeballs or frogs.
348
00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:53,240
{\an8}Kitchens are great labs
for this kind of thing.
349
00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:55,680
{\an8}Where does somebody get
a sheep eyeball ?
350
00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:00,630
{\an8}John, you can just Google
"sheep eyeball for homeschoolers".
351
00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,530
{\an8}- I didn't know that.
- 'Cause lots of people, absolutely.
352
00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:08,279
First, are kitchens the best lab
for this kind of thing ?
353
00:19:09,039 --> 00:19:12,116
I think probably labs are the best lab
for this kind of thing.
354
00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:15,035
I'm just saying, maybe
don't go dissecting sheep eyeballs
355
00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:17,519
in the same place
where you cut olives for salad.
356
00:19:17,759 --> 00:19:22,279
Do not Google "sheep eyeballs",
despite what that man just said.
357
00:19:23,039 --> 00:19:25,995
I did it, and I'm not even gonna
show you the result unblurred
358
00:19:26,079 --> 00:19:27,755
because it is too nauseating.
359
00:19:27,839 --> 00:19:31,539
Suffice to say it looks like what would
happen if an oyster had a butthole.
360
00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:35,836
But while that man was clearly
willing to go to impressive lengths
361
00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:39,356
for at-home science lessons,
not everyone has the time
362
00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:42,759
or the resources to develop
a curriculum from scratch.
363
00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:46,156
That is why there are big
publishers who offer materials
364
00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,440
specifically tailored
to homeschoolers.
365
00:19:48,759 --> 00:19:52,755
Much of that market is dominated by
these three Christian textbook publishers
366
00:19:52,839 --> 00:19:55,475
who promise learning
through a biblical filter.
367
00:19:55,559 --> 00:19:58,596
And look,
it is absolutely a parent's right
368
00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:01,675
to educate their child
with religion if they so choose.
369
00:20:01,759 --> 00:20:05,359
But the quality of some
of these books can be troubling.
370
00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,356
For instance,
one current Abeka history book
371
00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:10,035
says that "The beginning
of the 20th century
372
00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:12,035
witnessed a cultural
breakdown that threatened
373
00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,156
to destroy the very roots
of western civilization.
374
00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:15,916
The cause of this dissolution
375
00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:18,599
was an idea or philosophy
known as liberalism."
376
00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:23,356
A workbook from ACE celebrates
the Confederate General Robert E. Lee
377
00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:24,916
as "a devoted Christian
378
00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:28,636
who practiced his Christianity
in all his dealings with others"
379
00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:31,596
And a science book
from Bob Jones University claims that
380
00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:34,235
"Biblical and scientific evidence
tends to support the idea
381
00:20:34,319 --> 00:20:37,400
that men and dinosaurs
existed at the same time."
382
00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:39,955
And if you're wondering
what that would look like,
383
00:20:40,039 --> 00:20:43,596
ACE actually had a workbook
featuring this rendering,
384
00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:47,796
implying that not only did men
and dinosaurs exist at the same time,
385
00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:49,980
but they were totally cool
with each other.
386
00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:53,796
"Hank, great tucked-in shirt !
Do you see that dinosaur over there ?"
387
00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:56,880
"Sure do, Bob, love those jeans,
by the way. Should we run ?"
388
00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,515
"No way, these dinos are chill,
let's keep whacking these leaves
389
00:21:00,599 --> 00:21:02,920
with that one sword
knife that you brought."
390
00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:07,916
While all of that is pretty troubling,
the truth is, in many states,
391
00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,596
the rules and oversight
can be so lax,
392
00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:14,559
parents don't ultimately have
to teach their kids anything at all.
393
00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:18,869
Just watch as this former homeschool
student breaks down her daily schedule.
394
00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:22,400
This is my list of assignments.
395
00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,510
We've got the date at the top.
I would have been 12.
396
00:21:25,759 --> 00:21:27,316
First, we've got classical music,
397
00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:29,755
which was just turning
on classical music in the morning
398
00:21:29,839 --> 00:21:31,389
so that everyone could hear it.
399
00:21:31,519 --> 00:21:34,960
We've got Bible listening.
We've got handwriting and math.
400
00:21:35,319 --> 00:21:38,039
That's fairly normal.
We've got memorizing the Bible.
401
00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:42,160
We've got memorizing poetry.
The poetry was mostly hymns.
402
00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:44,480
We've got exercise.
That's good.
403
00:21:44,799 --> 00:21:47,000
It was usually
just walking around the block.
404
00:21:48,039 --> 00:21:50,839
And then the whole
entire rest of the list
405
00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:55,440
is chores and cleaning tasks.
406
00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,995
It's true ! Most of her lessons
just involved chores.
407
00:22:00,079 --> 00:22:03,995
And just look at that list !
That is a lot of cleaning demands !
408
00:22:04,079 --> 00:22:06,076
Who was her parent ?
This guy ?
409
00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:08,955
I mean, don't get me wrong,
he's an absolute zaddy.
410
00:22:09,039 --> 00:22:10,995
Would, will,
and I'll take seconds.
411
00:22:11,079 --> 00:22:14,876
But as hot as he makes
doing chores seem,
412
00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:17,960
it's not an adequate alternative
to education, is it ?
413
00:22:18,599 --> 00:22:21,955
Although I will say,
even that is a preferable alternative
414
00:22:22,039 --> 00:22:24,796
to the single worst homeschool
curriculum that we found,
415
00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:27,839
whose creators excitedly
promoted it on a podcast.
416
00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,640
We are so deeply invested
417
00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:37,119
into making sure that that child
becomes a wonderful Nazi,
418
00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,450
and by homeschooling
we're going to get that done.
419
00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:43,759
That is terrifying !
420
00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:47,316
You never want to hear a mother
lovingly utter the sentence
421
00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,000
"My kid's a wonderful Nazi",
422
00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:52,475
outside of maybe if they're praising
their son's performance
423
00:22:52,559 --> 00:22:54,275
as Rolf in "The Sound of Music."
424
00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:57,356
And even then,
just say "wonderful Rolf".
425
00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:58,880
What's wrong with you ?
426
00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:03,275
That woman and her husband
launched their own online community,
427
00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:08,156
Dissident Homeschool, in 2021,
after she had a, quote, "rough time"
428
00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:12,275
"finding Nazi-approved school material
for her homeschool children."
429
00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:14,000
And you know what ? Good !
430
00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:17,599
That probably
shouldn't be an easy Google.
431
00:23:18,279 --> 00:23:22,076
In fact, if you search for that,
it should probably autocorrect to
432
00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:24,960
"Did you mean
'How do I take myself to jail ?'"
433
00:23:25,839 --> 00:23:29,916
At one point, Dissident Homeschool
had nearly 2,500 subscribers
434
00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,435
and included ideas
like handwriting exercises
435
00:23:32,519 --> 00:23:35,400
consisting of "writing out
quotes from Adolf Hitler."
436
00:23:35,839 --> 00:23:39,920
Which we can all agree is appalling.
Handwriting exercises ?
437
00:23:40,559 --> 00:23:41,955
That is just cruel.
438
00:23:42,039 --> 00:23:43,955
They should be working
on their keyboard skills,
439
00:23:44,039 --> 00:23:47,396
through games like "Mavis Beacon
Teaches the Final Solution."
440
00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,799
Although, not that,
don't actually do that, that is awful.
441
00:23:51,559 --> 00:23:54,309
The channel also posted tips
ensuring that their parents
442
00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:56,519
were in "full compliance
with the law"
443
00:23:56,839 --> 00:23:59,156
so that "the state"
wouldn't interfere.
444
00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:01,876
But as you have already seen,
in most states,
445
00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:04,079
they don't have
much to worry about there.
446
00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:07,755
When it comes to homeschooling,
basically, anything goes.
447
00:24:07,839 --> 00:24:11,039
So, how the fuck is that the case ?
448
00:24:11,559 --> 00:24:14,396
In large part, it's thanks to a very
powerful homeschooling lobby,
449
00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:15,876
whose most prominent player
450
00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:19,559
is the Home School Legal Defense
Association or HSLDA.
451
00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:22,400
Here is where
I will concede some ground
452
00:24:22,759 --> 00:24:26,556
because it grew out of an environment
that was, in many places,
453
00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:28,475
overly restrictive of homeschooling,
454
00:24:28,559 --> 00:24:32,160
with some states and local school
districts banning it entirely.
455
00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:37,035
In Texas, in the 1980s, homeschooling
families were prosecuted.
456
00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:39,719
But a turning point
came after several Texas families
457
00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:43,720
filed a class-action suit against their
school districts, and ultimately won.
458
00:24:43,759 --> 00:24:47,035
And around that same time,
the HSLDA was formed,
459
00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:50,640
with the aim of expanding the rights
of homeschoolers in every state.
460
00:24:51,039 --> 00:24:52,715
And from the very beginning,
461
00:24:52,799 --> 00:24:55,720
it had a strong evangelical,
conservative outlook.
462
00:24:56,079 --> 00:24:58,316
Its founding president
and chairman, Michael Farris,
463
00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,680
has referred to public schools
as a "godless monstrosity."
464
00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:05,515
And here he is back in 2004,
speaking to the Christian coalition,
465
00:25:05,599 --> 00:25:08,499
and describing his long-term hopes
for the next generation.
466
00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:12,435
{\an8}Today, it is not preposterous
to recognize what's going on,
467
00:25:12,519 --> 00:25:14,316
{\an8}the promotion of homosexuality,
468
00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:17,195
{\an8}the promotion of other kinds of things
that you heard from Walter Jones,
469
00:25:17,279 --> 00:25:18,929
{\an8}and you've heard
many other times,
470
00:25:19,519 --> 00:25:23,836
{\an8}is a deplorable reality
that we cannot countenance.
471
00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:25,995
{\an8}I can't wait for the day
when our young people
472
00:25:26,079 --> 00:25:31,359
{\an8}vanquish the enemy by a five-four
vote reversing Roe versus Wade.
473
00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:43,796
{\an8}And where we vanquish
the specter of same-sex marriage.
474
00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:45,480
{\an8}That's the standard of victory.
475
00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:48,796
Okay, there is a lot that is hard
to take in that clip,
476
00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:51,876
that that's his wish list,
that he's already gotten half of it,
477
00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:54,010
and that he's saying
"vanquish the enemy,"
478
00:25:54,079 --> 00:25:55,396
despite looking
less like a warrior
479
00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:58,580
and more like your tax accountant's
tax accountant's assistant.
480
00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:01,995
Over the years, the HSLDA
has lobbied extensively,
481
00:26:02,079 --> 00:26:03,435
from a hard-right perspective,
482
00:26:03,519 --> 00:26:06,475
on issues that have nothing to do
with homeschooling,
483
00:26:06,559 --> 00:26:10,076
opposing everything from vaccine
mandates to same-sex marriage.
484
00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:12,596
But it speaks to how significant
a force it is
485
00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,880
that even some parents who
are uneasy with its political leanings
486
00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:18,519
feel that they have no choice
but to be members.
487
00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:21,410
Here is one mom,
who started a homeschooling group
488
00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:24,556
to offer an alternative to what she
saw as a whitewashed curriculum,
489
00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:27,079
talking about her relationship
to the HSLDA.
490
00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:30,316
{\an8}Whenever there's a threat
in any particular state
491
00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,596
{\an8}to their right to homeschool,
you will see us come together.
492
00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:36,839
It may not, we're not gonna
stay together, but we will band up
493
00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:42,035
because we all
need our right to homeschool.
494
00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:45,955
That's the nuanced aspect
of being in the homeschool world.
495
00:26:46,039 --> 00:26:47,995
The people that you have
to work with
496
00:26:48,079 --> 00:26:51,039
in order to maintain
what you hold dear
497
00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:55,480
are also the people
who crush you.
498
00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:59,755
It's true. The HSLDA
have made themselves so powerful,
499
00:26:59,839 --> 00:27:01,556
many parents keep working
with them
500
00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:04,390
even if they don't agree
with everything they stand for.
501
00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,599
It's a dilemma otherwise known
as "The Tom Cruise Conundrum."
502
00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:10,520
On the one hand,
a billion dollars at the box office.
503
00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:13,675
On the other, a billion-year
contract to an alien mafia.
504
00:27:13,759 --> 00:27:17,400
It's tricky, right ? It's tricky.
What's a bunch of young hots to do ?
505
00:27:18,039 --> 00:27:21,356
Plus, for what it's worth, the HSLDA,
much like Tom Cruise,
506
00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:23,079
will probably never die.
507
00:27:24,079 --> 00:27:26,829
As a lobbying group,
it's been astonishingly successful.
508
00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:27,955
In four decades,
509
00:27:28,039 --> 00:27:30,396
its efforts have been credited
with rolling back existing laws
510
00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:33,119
governing homeschooling
in state after state.
511
00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:36,515
And the argument that it will always
make against any regulation
512
00:27:36,599 --> 00:27:39,556
is you're just punishing
all the parents doing things right,
513
00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:42,076
to address a handful
who are doing it wrong.
514
00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:43,400
And in theory, sure.
515
00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:45,750
But when you've got
some parents
516
00:27:45,759 --> 00:27:47,876
running The Homeschool
Institute of Dishwashing
517
00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:50,515
and others
running 'Lil Nazis "R" Us,
518
00:27:50,599 --> 00:27:53,359
it seems maybe the reins
have gotten a little loose.
519
00:27:54,079 --> 00:27:57,195
And the lack of regulation here
has serious consequences,
520
00:27:57,279 --> 00:27:59,799
and not just regarding
quality of education.
521
00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:03,720
And fair warning, this is where
this story gets quite a bit darker.
522
00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:07,755
{\an8}More than two million children
are being homeschooled in the U.S.,
523
00:28:07,839 --> 00:28:11,515
{\an8}many of them living in states
that have little or no regulations,
524
00:28:11,599 --> 00:28:15,079
{\an8}making it easy for abusive parents
to hide behind the system.
525
00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:18,636
{\an8}These are the faces of just some
of the homeschooled children
526
00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:21,035
{\an8}who've died as a result
of abuse and neglect.
527
00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:23,269
{\an8}Susanna Grubbs
was homeschooled in Missouri.
528
00:28:23,279 --> 00:28:26,556
{\an8}She tells us, the discipline she
received was anything but gentle.
529
00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:30,340
{\an8}I think that, in a lot of ways, me and
my siblings fell through the cracks.
530
00:28:30,759 --> 00:28:33,275
{\an8}Because, I mean, with my mom's
disciplinary techniques,
531
00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:35,195
{\an8}and my mom's educational neglect.
532
00:28:35,279 --> 00:28:38,435
{\an8}It's terrible that it has happened
and it keeps happening.
533
00:28:38,519 --> 00:28:42,035
{\an8}And nobody wants to stop it
because parental rights
534
00:28:42,119 --> 00:28:44,569
{\an8}are so paramount
to anything else in this country.
535
00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:47,636
Exactly.
And that is massively dangerous.
536
00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:49,235
Because deregulating homeschooling
537
00:28:49,319 --> 00:28:52,836
doesn't eliminate safeguards
against parents who are bad teachers,
538
00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:55,995
it also eliminates them
against parents who are bad people.
539
00:28:56,079 --> 00:28:58,955
For all the HSLDA's talk
of "parental rights,"
540
00:28:59,039 --> 00:29:01,289
it's worth remembering,
Elon Musk is a parent.
541
00:29:01,359 --> 00:29:03,200
OJ Simpson is a parent.
542
00:29:03,519 --> 00:29:08,316
Darth Vader is such a parent he made it
part of his fancy name change.
543
00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:12,316
The point is, having a child does
not inherently make you virtuous.
544
00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:16,116
And one of the key problems here is,
child welfare laws
545
00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:19,920
were written before homeschooling
was legal in all 50 states.
546
00:29:20,519 --> 00:29:24,755
So, they rely heavily on the premise
that a child is going to be in school
547
00:29:24,839 --> 00:29:27,839
and seen by other adults,
as this DA explains.
548
00:29:28,599 --> 00:29:31,299
{\an8}A lot of child abuse gets
reported through our schools.
549
00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:35,435
{\an8}Teachers and school administrators
are mandated reporters.
550
00:29:35,519 --> 00:29:39,675
{\an8}So, you know, if a child comes to
school with bruises or emaciated,
551
00:29:39,759 --> 00:29:42,109
{\an8}that is a very common way that
it gets reported.
552
00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:45,916
Right. Because the fact is, teachers
serve multiple functions at school
553
00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:49,235
in addition to education:
they watch out for signs of abuse,
554
00:29:49,319 --> 00:29:50,836
they chaperone school events,
555
00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:53,916
and they pretend not to know
why Ellie won't sit next to Rachel,
556
00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:56,755
Rachel won't sit next to Kelsey,
Kelsey's not talking to Ethan
557
00:29:56,839 --> 00:30:00,035
even though Ethan's having a birthday
party with Kelsey's brother, Bryce,
558
00:30:00,119 --> 00:30:02,755
who just happens to be Rachel's
boyfriend since last period.
559
00:30:02,839 --> 00:30:05,836
And they do all of that while also
trying to teach long division.
560
00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:09,400
Teachers are superheroes who
should make a million dollars a year.
561
00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:12,079
So, you can probably see,
562
00:30:12,519 --> 00:30:16,480
the fact that it is possible
to pull a kid out of school,
563
00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:19,680
with no questions
asked or follow-ups allowed,
564
00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,955
could easily be exploited
by abusive parents,
565
00:30:23,039 --> 00:30:27,440
especially as most states don't screen
homeschool parents for red flags.
566
00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:31,475
"48 states have
no background-check process
567
00:30:31,559 --> 00:30:33,235
for parents who choose
to homeschool."
568
00:30:33,319 --> 00:30:37,200
Even if you have a prior conviction
of a crime against a child,
569
00:30:37,519 --> 00:30:38,995
you can homeschool them.
570
00:30:39,079 --> 00:30:41,596
A study done in Connecticut
found that of the 380 students
571
00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:44,116
withdrawn in six districts
to be homeschooled,
572
00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:47,356
138 lived in families
that were the subject
573
00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:51,200
of at least one prior report
of suspected abuse or neglect.
574
00:30:51,559 --> 00:30:55,235
And yet, despite this,
at every turn,
575
00:30:55,319 --> 00:30:59,839
HSLDA has vigorously fought efforts
to put any guardrails in place.
576
00:31:00,359 --> 00:31:02,515
Here is their then-president,
in 2015,
577
00:31:02,599 --> 00:31:05,156
explaining why they fight
all regulations,
578
00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:08,359
even ones explicitly designed
to prevent child abuse.
579
00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:11,195
{\an8}Child abuse is a parental issue,
isn't it ?
580
00:31:11,279 --> 00:31:14,796
{\an8}Any child, whether they be a
non-homeschool child, or a parent,
581
00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:19,275
{\an8}whether they be a homeschool parent,
they can abuse their children.
582
00:31:19,359 --> 00:31:25,480
{\an8}So, why should we for a few invade
all of the other innocent parents ?
583
00:31:26,119 --> 00:31:30,396
{\an8}That's prior restraint.
It's unconstitutional. Un-American.
584
00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:35,599
{\an8}There some categories of regulations
around homeschooling
585
00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:37,235
{\an8}that you would support
586
00:31:37,319 --> 00:31:40,079
{\an8}that you don't think of
as an invasion or a takeover ?
587
00:31:42,279 --> 00:31:43,880
{\an8}No, not any.
588
00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:48,515
It is bad enough that he's arguing
for a total lack of regulation there,
589
00:31:48,599 --> 00:31:51,715
but the fact that he openly
licks the corners of his mouth
590
00:31:51,799 --> 00:31:54,359
before doing so somehow
makes it worse.
591
00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,035
He looks like a cat
went to a Zoltar machine
592
00:31:57,119 --> 00:31:59,000
and made a wish
to be Andy Griffith.
593
00:32:00,319 --> 00:32:04,156
The HSLDA views any oversight
whatsoever as an attack,
594
00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:08,359
even offering members a 24-hour hotline
in case of a visit from the state.
595
00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:11,836
Here is the sister
of that woman you saw earlier,
596
00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:14,475
explaining how they would practice
what to do
597
00:32:14,559 --> 00:32:17,359
if Child Protective Services
showed up on their doorstep.
598
00:32:17,759 --> 00:32:19,316
The parent
would lock the front door,
599
00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,880
would call the Home School Legal
Defense Association on the phone,
600
00:32:23,240 --> 00:32:24,796
{\an8}hand the phone
out the kitchen window,
601
00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:26,916
{\an8}and us kids were supposed
to hide in the basement.
602
00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:30,559
{\an8}We actually did drills
on this stuff, folks.
603
00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:35,880
{\an8}We did drills in case someone ever
decided to check in on our well-being.
604
00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:37,839
Holy shit, that is dark.
605
00:32:38,839 --> 00:32:41,796
Drills are meant for practicing
what to do to avoid getting hurt,
606
00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:43,359
not to avoid getting help.
607
00:32:43,839 --> 00:32:46,515
It's why fire alarms say
"pull here in case of emergency"
608
00:32:46,599 --> 00:32:48,400
and not "snitches get stitches."
609
00:32:49,559 --> 00:32:51,675
And the thing is, because
of its committed membership,
610
00:32:51,759 --> 00:32:55,435
the HSLDA has the power to stop
any kind of oversight in its tracks.
611
00:32:55,519 --> 00:32:58,715
Take Raylee's Law, named after
an eight-year-old girl in West Virginia
612
00:32:58,799 --> 00:33:02,076
whose father pulled her out of school
after he was reported for abuse.
613
00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:04,640
She died of neglect
only a few weeks later.
614
00:33:05,079 --> 00:33:07,195
Eventually, legislators proposed a law
615
00:33:07,279 --> 00:33:09,596
that would prevent parents
from withdrawing a child from school
616
00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:12,630
{\an8}when there is a pending child abuse
or neglect investigation
617
00:33:12,839 --> 00:33:16,235
{\an8}or when a parent has been convicted
of domestic violence,
618
00:33:16,319 --> 00:33:17,556
{\an8}child abuse, or neglect.
619
00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:20,740
{\an8}And it seems like that law
would be easy to get passed, right ?
620
00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:24,519
{\an8}But as the legislator who proposed it
found out, not so much.
621
00:33:25,559 --> 00:33:30,156
{\an8}There are groups I want to say there's
like this homeschool defense fund group
622
00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:32,035
that came out against Raylee's Law.
623
00:33:32,119 --> 00:33:33,759
- The HSLDA ?
- That's it.
624
00:33:34,079 --> 00:33:37,235
And there were quotes
about how awful this bill was
625
00:33:37,319 --> 00:33:39,195
and it's an attack
on homeschooling
626
00:33:39,279 --> 00:33:42,076
and they want
to move the goal post.
627
00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:44,995
That's what you do in politics,
but I thought, maybe,
628
00:33:45,079 --> 00:33:47,759
protecting children,
you wouldn't go about that.
629
00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:50,755
Right, and that seems
pretty reasonable.
630
00:33:50,839 --> 00:33:52,955
And if the HSLDA
thinks trying to protect kids
631
00:33:53,039 --> 00:33:55,955
from being taken out of school
by people convicted of child abuse
632
00:33:56,039 --> 00:33:57,755
is an attack on homeschooling,
633
00:33:57,839 --> 00:34:01,876
they're saying quite a bit about what
they believe homeschooling to be.
634
00:34:01,960 --> 00:34:04,010
If Chili's responded
to a health inspector
635
00:34:04,079 --> 00:34:07,435
writing their workers up
for pissing in the skillet queso with
636
00:34:07,519 --> 00:34:10,356
"This is an attack
on everything Chili's stands for.
637
00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:13,140
Don't punish the majority
of our staff for the minority
638
00:34:13,199 --> 00:34:15,800
who piss and shit in our
Presidente Margaritas,"
639
00:34:16,360 --> 00:34:19,610
you'd have some questions about
what Chili's thinks it stands for.
640
00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:23,316
And for the record,
that man's bill never passed.
641
00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:26,800
And that story's been repeated
in state after state after state.
642
00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:30,435
As one legislative aide who's gone
up against the HSLDA has said
643
00:34:30,519 --> 00:34:33,435
"I've never seen a lobby
more powerful and scary".
644
00:34:33,519 --> 00:34:36,236
And a legislator in Arkansas
who tangled with them says
645
00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:40,396
"They told me the only legislation
they wanted was what Alaska had,
646
00:34:40,480 --> 00:34:41,679
which was nothing."
647
00:34:42,320 --> 00:34:44,876
At a certain point,
it starts to feel like the HSLDA
648
00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:47,475
is basically the homeschooling
equivalent of the NRA,
649
00:34:47,559 --> 00:34:49,796
an extremely
powerful organization
650
00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:52,196
that, while it represents
a large number of people,
651
00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:55,239
pursues an outermost-fringe
version of their agenda.
652
00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:57,756
So, where do we go from here ?
653
00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:01,236
In a perfect world,
we'd make sure that homeschooled kids
654
00:35:01,320 --> 00:35:05,035
were both safe and actually
receiving a functional education.
655
00:35:05,119 --> 00:35:07,595
There are smaller organizations
like this one,
656
00:35:07,679 --> 00:35:09,555
pushing for those sort of changes.
657
00:35:09,639 --> 00:35:13,316
But at the barest minimum,
we could require, in all 50 states,
658
00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:15,840
to register
a child as homeschooled,
659
00:35:16,159 --> 00:35:18,559
so there's at least
a record that they exist.
660
00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:22,679
That is how low the bar is here,
at the Earth's core,
661
00:35:23,039 --> 00:35:25,756
which I'm sure, according to at least
one homeschooling textbook,
662
00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:29,000
is somewhere between soil
and the fiery bowels of Hell.
663
00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:34,955
But beyond that, we could pass
some basic child safety protections
664
00:35:35,039 --> 00:35:37,836
to ensure parents
can't pull their kids out of school
665
00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:39,716
to escape scrutiny for abuse.
666
00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:42,756
A few years ago, to its credit,
Georgia passed a law
667
00:35:42,840 --> 00:35:45,676
that requires parents who pull kids
out of school for no reason
668
00:35:45,760 --> 00:35:48,676
to send documentation
within 45 days
669
00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:50,396
that they are homeschooling
their child,
670
00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:52,716
or proof of attendance
at another school.
671
00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:56,115
If they don't do that, they're subject
to a follow-up from the state.
672
00:35:56,199 --> 00:36:00,360
Even this Republican Georgia state rep
acknowledges that it was needed.
673
00:36:01,039 --> 00:36:05,599
{\an8}If the people in your world that you
believe are most protective of you
674
00:36:06,559 --> 00:36:10,199
{\an8}are torturing you or abusing you,
who's gonna look out for you ?
675
00:36:10,559 --> 00:36:13,515
{\an8}I don't like government intervention
in a lot of things,
676
00:36:13,599 --> 00:36:15,995
{\an8}but the government's
the only person I know
677
00:36:16,079 --> 00:36:18,555
{\an8}of that can intervene
in this kind of case to save a child.
678
00:36:18,639 --> 00:36:21,519
Yeah, he's right.
He's just completely right.
679
00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:24,955
And agreeing with a staunch
Republican Georgia state rep
680
00:36:25,039 --> 00:36:28,000
wasn't something I had
on my 2023 bingo card.
681
00:36:28,679 --> 00:36:30,756
I've almost
got a full bingo by the way,
682
00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:33,290
I'm just waiting on you know
who to you know what.
683
00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:38,075
To be clear, I share his ambivalence
about government intervention here.
684
00:36:38,159 --> 00:36:42,239
Involving social services and
the government in personal situations
685
00:36:42,559 --> 00:36:47,155
poses a risk, especially to those who
aren't wealthy and who aren't white.
686
00:36:47,239 --> 00:36:48,796
I don't love the idea
687
00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:51,356
of giving the state room
to poke around in people's lives,
688
00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:55,555
or that I think our child protective
services system is flawless, no notes.
689
00:36:55,639 --> 00:36:59,840
We're almost definitely gonna be doing
a main story on CPS one day.
690
00:37:00,519 --> 00:37:02,716
But it does seem like giving parents
691
00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:05,880
a "get out of all scrutiny free,
no questions asked" card
692
00:37:06,199 --> 00:37:07,836
just isn't the answer here.
693
00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:11,159
Because being a parent doesn't
automatically make someone moral.
694
00:37:11,760 --> 00:37:15,199
And being with a parent doesn't
automatically make a child safe.
695
00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:19,356
And the truth is, a few extra security
measures would not hurt
696
00:37:19,440 --> 00:37:22,555
the many parents who homeschool
their children responsibly,
697
00:37:22,639 --> 00:37:26,475
but they'd definitely safeguard against
those who use "personal liberty"
698
00:37:26,559 --> 00:37:28,995
as an excuse to neglect
or harm their kids.
699
00:37:29,079 --> 00:37:31,196
The HSLDA
can say all that it wants
700
00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:33,836
that it doesn't support
Nazis or child abusers,
701
00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:39,119
but the policies that it relentlessly
pushes for allow them to thrive.
702
00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:43,115
And basic reforms here
shouldn't be remotely controversial,
703
00:37:43,199 --> 00:37:45,800
because after all,
this is about child welfare.
704
00:37:46,400 --> 00:37:50,760
This isn't rocket science.
It's not home sheep-eye dissection.
705
00:37:51,159 --> 00:37:54,109
Don't Google it, by the way,
I cannot emphasize that enough.
706
00:37:54,679 --> 00:37:58,480
All of this is basic common sense.
And now, this.
707
00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:00,320
And Now:
708
00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:04,679
The Surprising Importance
of Emojis on "Divorce Court".
709
00:38:05,320 --> 00:38:09,400
{\an8}I had to have somebody explain
it to me because I didn't get it...
710
00:38:11,760 --> 00:38:16,320
{\an8}Is a conversation has occurred
through emoji and GIF
711
00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:19,199
in which
you posted a waterfall,
712
00:38:20,239 --> 00:38:24,679
{\an8}which means you're in a state
of sexual excitation.
713
00:38:25,119 --> 00:38:27,595
{\an8}Your Honor,
she's a talented surfer
714
00:38:27,679 --> 00:38:31,115
who sends my husband
eggplant emojis.
715
00:38:31,199 --> 00:38:32,639
Peach emojis !
716
00:38:33,039 --> 00:38:35,840
Were you sending
water splashing emojis ?
717
00:38:36,159 --> 00:38:38,000
{\an8}- To your ex ?
- Yes, he was.
718
00:38:38,559 --> 00:38:41,679
{\an8}Did you send a heart-kissing emoji
to your "cousin ?"
719
00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:45,396
{\an8}Why would she send you cucumber
and eggplant emojis ?
720
00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:48,356
{\an8}- She has a bit of sense of humor.
- That ain't funny.
721
00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:49,676
{\an8}When you saw the photo,
722
00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:52,960
{\an8}did you think it was appropriate
to leave a drooling face emoji ?
723
00:38:53,079 --> 00:38:55,920
{\an8}And why was she saved
in your phone as the blueberry ?
724
00:38:56,239 --> 00:38:57,400
{\an8}Some... she sweet.
725
00:38:58,199 --> 00:39:00,949
{\an8}So, she cute and sweet.
So, you saved it as a blueberry.
726
00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:02,716
It was just the first thing
that popped in my mind.
727
00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:05,760
Found texts to a guy
with a smiley face
728
00:39:06,360 --> 00:39:09,039
{\an8}with the mouth wide open
and a purple thing, like a...
729
00:39:11,719 --> 00:39:12,960
{\an8}I mean, smoking gun.
730
00:39:14,199 --> 00:39:15,320
{\an8}That's a smoking gun.
731
00:39:18,920 --> 00:39:21,960
That's our show !
See you next week, good night !
67479
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