DeSantis signs bill to ban public Florida colleges from funding DEI programs



Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that includes a provision to ban public colleges from shelling out state or federal funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

"A Florida College System institution, state university, Florida College System institution direct-support organization, or state university direct-support organization may not expend any state or federal funds to promote, support, or maintain any programs or campus activities," which "Advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion or promote or engage in political or social activism," the measure states.

"General education core courses may not distort significant historical events or include a curriculum that teaches identity politics ... or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities," the measure states.

During remarks, DeSantis suggested that DEI would be more appropriately described as meaning "discrimination, exclusion, and indoctrination."

DeSantis signs bill to defund Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs in public colleges: Remarks youtu.be

While DeSantis has not announced a White House bid, he is widely expected to mount a 2024 presidential run soon.

The governor's press secretary Bryan Griffin has announced that he is stepping down, and Fox News Digital reported that Griffin is moving to serve as press secretary within DeSantis' political operation.

"I believe that Governor DeSantis is the only leader who can see us to victory at this critical moment in American history. Because of this, I am stepping away from this role to pursue other avenues of helping to deliver the governor's success to our country. If I can be even a small part of the revival and restoration of our great nation, then I am prepared to give it my all," Griffin wrote.

\u201cIt has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as Press Secretary for the Florida Office of @GovRonDeSantis. Thank you!\u201d
— Bryan Griffin (@Bryan Griffin) 1684172229

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DeSantis press secretary steps down 'to pursue other avenues of helping to deliver the governor's success to our country'



Bryan Griffin announced that he is stepping down from his role as press secretary for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The announcement comes amid widespread anticipation that the Sunshine State's GOP governor may soon launch a 2024 White House bid.

Fox News Digital has reported that Griffin is stepping down to instead serve as press secretary for DeSantis' political operation.

"All of these things that Governor DeSantis has accomplished in Florida can be replicated nationwide. However, our nation is currently burdened with historic challenges," Griffin wrote. "The challenges can be overcome, and America is worth the fight. I believe that Governor DeSantis is the only leader who can see us to victory at this critical moment in American history. Because of this, I am stepping away from this role to pursue other avenues of helping to deliver the governor's success to our country. If I can be even a small part of the revival and restoration of our great nation, then I am prepared to give it my all."

Griffin described DeSantis as "a true and principled conservative" who "ensures that the people around him understand and personally hold the principles and values he leads by," which "ensures the success of his objectives."


\u201cIt has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as Press Secretary for the Florida Office of @GovRonDeSantis. Thank you!\u201d
— Bryan Griffin (@Bryan Griffin) 1684172229


If DeSantis does throw his hat into the ring during the Republican presidential primary, he will be going up against former President Donald Trump and multiple other figures who have already announced presidential bids.

Trump, who has been taking shots at DeSantis, has referred to him as "DeSanctimonious" and "DeSanctus." Trump has suggested that the governor "needs a personality transplant."

\u201cRon DeSanctimonious needs a PERSONALITY TRANSPLANT!\u201d
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022)) 1683904721

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Florida rejects social studies textbooks containing leftist propaganda and revisionist histories about BLM, communism



Florida has once again evidenced Gov. Ron DeSantis' November claim that the state "is where woke goes to die."

Students will not be subjected to textbooks pushing leftist propaganda and revisionist histories. Instead, per the suggestion of Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., kids will be provided with textbooks that "focus on historical facts" that are "free from inaccuracies or ideological rhetoric."

The Florida Department of Education announced Tuesday that 66 out of the 101 instructional materials submitted for inclusion in the state's social studies curriculum for every grade level were approved.

While the majority of materials were ultimately accepted, only 19% of materials were initially approved "due to inaccurate material, errors and other information that was not aligned with Florida Law." However, the Education Department has worked with publishers to get the materials up to Florida's standards.

\u201cComm @SenMannyDiazJr has released FL\u2019s initial adoption list for K-12 social studies instructional materials. The approved list includes state standards-aligned social studies curriculum for every grade. To date, 65.4% of materials have been approved. https://t.co/Ul6z3ulleB\u201d
— Florida Department of Education (@Florida Department of Education) 1683635661

Sticking to the facts

The state has provided several examples of what didn't make the cut.

One submission provided guidance on how to talk to young children about the national anthem, suggesting, "You can use this as an opportunity to talk about why some citizens are choosing to 'Take a Knee' to protest police brutality and racism."

This suggestion was stricken from the accepted material.

Another textbook, this time targeting grades 6-8, attempted to hype socialism — an ideology linked to most of the 20th century's totalitarian regimes and mass murders.

The text said that socialism "keeps things nice and even and without unnecessary waste. These societies may promote greater equality among people while still providing a fully functioning government-supervised economy."

Rather than include this advertisement for the discredited ideology, the revised textbook strikes a historically accurate distinction between planned and mixed economies, noting some of the disincentives for industriousness and efficiency intrinsic to the former.

\u201cA textbook claimed that socialism "keeps things nice and even and without necessary waste" and that socialism "may promote greater equality among people while still providing a fully functioning government-supervised economy."\u201d
— Bryan Griffin (@Bryan Griffin) 1683642193

In a grade 6-8 text that delves into the positive impacts of the Judeo-Christian tradition on society, leftist rhetoric has been dropped in favor of more neutral terms in the utilitarian accounting.

Florida also refused to subject students to sanitized, revisionist histories about BLM radicals.

A grade 9-12 text was flagged because it entertained the leftist fallacy that brutal communist regimes such as those found in the Soviet Union, Cuba, and China were not representative of real communism.

"As for a true communist economy, there are none in the world today, and there have never been any in the past," said the text. "Communism still remains a theoretical ideal in the minds of many revolutionaries, even though in practice it has never been reached."

DeSantis' education department saw to it that the text now reads, "In theory, labor in a communist system is organized to benefit the whole community, and everyone consumes according to his or her needs. In practice, wealth in communist systems flows to a tiny elite. ... Communism as imagined by Marx remains a theoretical ideal in the minds of many revolutionaries, but in practice it has failed."

Awake, not woke

"Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ and the state’s consistent adherence to high quality, rigorous and factual content, Florida continually earns praise as a leader in education, including the recent number one ranking by U.S. News & World Report," Diaz said in a statement.

"To uphold our exceptional standards, we must ensure our students and teachers have the highest quality materials available – materials that focus on historical facts and are free from inaccuracies or ideological rhetoric," Diaz added.

This initiative is keeping with DeSantis' vow in April 2022: "In Florida, we will not let the far-left woke agenda take over our schools and workplaces. There is no place for indoctrination or discrimination in Florida."

The New York Times reported that these efforts may prove consequential in states besides Florida.

Extra to sparing 3 million Florida public school students from leftist talking points, students in Florida, Texas, and California may also benefit, since the publishers who worked with the DeSantis administration to achieve higher standards with their texts also cater to these states.

Republican efforts to take politics out of education are not without their critics.

The editorial boards for the Orlando Sentinel and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel decried the removal of leftist propaganda from the curriculum in a Wednesday op-ed, writing, "It's better to be 'woke.'"

The editorial collective claimed that DeSantis' objectives were to "cater to bigoted and resentful white voters"; "breed a generation of future voters who will have learned nothing about racism's history or continuing consequences"; and "desensitize the nation's courts to systemic economic and political injustices."

After comparing the elimination of leftist agitprop from Florida grade school textbooks to efforts by apologists for the former Confederacy to paint a rosy picture of slavery, the editors suggested that it's up to the voters — who re-elected DeSantis in a landslide — to determine whether or not eliminating woke content should continue.

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Got kids? Texas state rep proposes 100% property tax credit for married, opposite-sex couples with 10 children



Texas state Rep. Bryan Slaton, a Republican, has put forward a proposal to provide a property tax credit to married, opposite-sex couples, with up to a 100% credit for couples with enough kids.

The proposal would offer a 10% property tax credit to eligible married couples — the measure defines a "Qualifying married couple" as "a man and a woman who are legally married to each other, neither of whom have ever been divorced."

Spouses with four qualifying children, whether biological or adopted, would be eligible for a 40% tax credit, while couples with five kids would get a 50% credit, couples with six kids would get a 60% credit, etcetera — couples with 10 or more qualifying kids would be eligible for a 100% credit.

Widows and widowers would be able to continue getting the tax break after their spouse's death, as long as they remain unmarried.

"If one spouse of a qualifying married couple that is entitled to a credit under this section dies, the surviving spouse is entitled to receive the credit authorized by this section for as long as the surviving spouse remains unmarried," the bill states.

Even if the measure were to pass, there appears to be an additional hurdle — the text of the bill indicates that the measure would only be able to take effect if a proposed constitutional amendment is approved by voters.

"With this bill, Texas will start saying to couples: 'Get married, stay married, and be fruitful and multiply,'" Slaton said, according to a press release. "Supporting Texas means supporting Texas families. Strong families are the backbone and building blocks of society. We must support families by making it financially easier for them to have and raise children in a supportive and nurturing way."

\u201cSupporting Texas means supporting Texas families. Families are the building blocks of society. We must support families by making it easier for them to have and raise kids\n\nWith HB 2889, Texas will start saying: "Get married, stay married, and be fruitful and multiply." #txlege\u201d
— Bryan Slaton (@Bryan Slaton) 1677612038

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Politico Florida bureau chief mocked for saying DeSantis team makes relationship with media 'worse' by sharing screenshots of reporter questions



Politico's Florida bureau chief Matt Dixon told the outlet during an interview that Gov. Ron DeSantis' communications team has made its relationship with the media "worse" by publicly sharing screenshots of journalists' questions.

"Calling them confrontational does a disservice to the word confrontational. Under DeSantis, the institution of public communications has been upended. It previously was an area that always had some healthy tension between reporters and communications staff, but now the creation of tension is the point, as opposed to an occasional byproduct," Dixon said, according to Politico.

"DeSantis' communications team has openly boasted about how it's not their job to help members of the media, and are well known for taking screenshots of reporter questions and posting them on Twitter, a habit that only makes the relationship worse. Stories that they disagree with often end up as standalone headlines on right-wing websites or Fox News, and then will be endlessly retweeted and circulated by the community of Twitter trolls they have helped cultivate," he added.

Christina Pushaw, who resigned from her role as DeSantis' press secretary last year to serve as rapid response director for his campaign, mocked Dixon's comments: "Politico? More like PolitiCOPE," she tweeted. "Matt Dixon should cry more," she wrote in another tweet.

\u201cPolitico? More like PolitiCOPE \ud83d\ude02\u201d
— Christina Pushaw \ud83d\udc0a \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Christina Pushaw \ud83d\udc0a \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1675214557

Current DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin also mocked Politico, tweeting in response to Pushaw's post, "BREAKING: @politico tells @politico that @politico isn't treated nicely enough because @politico sends emails that @politico doesn't want the world to see."

"Is this 'crying more?'" Dixon wrote when retweeting a Twitchy story about his comments and the resulting mockery. "I'm often told to do it by many of the people in this story, but not exactly sure how it works."

\u201cIs this "crying more?"\n\nI'm often told to do it by many of the people in this story, but not exactly sure how it works.\u201d
— Matt Dixon (@Matt Dixon) 1675290125

Last week, Griffin posted a screenshot of a loaded request for comment from CNN.com's John Blake.

"I'm requesting a response from Gov. DeSantis or anyone from his office to an article I am writing about Gov. DeSantis decision to block the teaching of an high school Advanced Placement course on African American history course in Florida," Blake wrote, according to the image in Griffin's tweet. "I've talked to one of the nation's leading scholars on fascism who, along with another scholar who is an authority on fascism, say that DeSantis' decision echoes similar decisions made by fascist dictators to force what one historian calls 'collective amnesia' about the past."

\u201cResponse:\u201d
— Bryan Griffin (@Bryan Griffin) 1674834347

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CNN writer sends DeSantis admin loaded request for comment: 'Echoes similar decisions made by fascist dictators'



Bryan Griffin, the press secretary for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), shared an image of CNN writer John Blake's request for comment regarding a story about Florida's move to reject an Advanced Placement African American Studies course. In the message, Blake said that he had spoken to scholars who suggested that the move is similar to decisions of "fascist dictators."

"I'm requesting a response from Gov. DeSantis or anyone from his office to an article I am writing about Gov. DeSantis decision to block the teaching of an high school Advanced Placement course on African American history course in Florida," Blake wrote, according to the image in Griffin's tweet. "I've talked to one of the nation's leading scholars on fascism who, along with another scholar who is an authority on fascism, say that DeSantis' decision echoes similar decisions made by fascist dictators to force what one historian calls 'collective amnesia' about the past."

Griffin shared his own response to the request for comment.

"Your inquiry is absurd and, of course, false. There will always be extreme critics, but it is the media's choice whether to give them a platform and legitimize their extremism. If you choose to print such critique and amplify it as a perspective by which we are guilty until proven innocent, it will speak more to the moral bankruptcy and untruthfulness of your outlet than anything else," Griffin wrote. "If this is what CNN considers journalism, it deserves to fail."

\u201cResponse:\u201d
— Bryan Griffin (@Bryan Griffin) 1674834347

In a letter earlier this month, the Florida Department of Education's Office of Articulation asserted that the course content ran afoul of state law. "As presented, the content of this course is inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value," the letter stated.

"Despite the lies from the Biden White House, Florida rejected an AP course filled with Critical Race Theory and other obvious violations of Florida law," Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. tweeted. "We proudly require the teaching of African American history. We do not accept woke indoctrination masquerading as education."

\u201cDespite the lies from the Biden White House, Florida rejected an AP course filled with Critical Race Theory and other obvious violations of Florida law. We proudly require the teaching of African American history. We do not accept woke indoctrination masquerading as education.\u201d
— Manny Diaz Jr. (@Manny Diaz Jr.) 1674254116

According to apcentral.collegeboard.org, the course was supposed to be piloted at 60 schools around the nation for 2022-2023, with plans to expand the pilot to hundreds more high schools for 2023-2024.

"To be clear, no states or districts have seen the official framework that will be released on February 1, much less provided feedback on it," the College Board wrote in a letter to its members, according to Inside Higher Ed and Education Week.

The letter indicates that this official framework will supplant the preliminary pilot course framework.

\u201cCaught between the dueling governors of Florida and Illinois, The College Board told members today (in a letter obtained by Inside Higher Ed) that a new framework for AP African American studies is coming on 2/1 after being in development for nearly a year.\u201d
— Josh Moody (@Josh Moody) 1674762100

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Florida warns venues not to allow children to attend showings of 'A Drag Queen Christmas'



The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation has been warning that actions will be taken against venues if they permit children to attend drag shows.

The DBPR "is under the executive branch of the Governor," according to its website.

"It has come to the Department's attention that you have contracted with Big Time Operator, LLC d/b/a 'Drag Fans' to offer the use of your licensed premises to conduct the 'drag show' performance 'A Drag Queen Christmas,'" read a notice to Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation Inc. from DBPR secretary Melanie Griffin. "The Department has reason to believe that this drag show is of a sexual nature, involving the exposure or exhibition of sexual organs, simulated sexual activity, and/or the sexualization of children's stories. The Department has also become aware that drag shows by Drag Fans have been marketed to and attended by minors, including young children."

The notice warned that "if you allow children to attend the Drag Fans drag show at your facility, you are putting your license in jeopardy." The message threatened that if children were permitted to attend the event, "the Department will take any and all actions available to ensure that you do not pose a threat to minors in the future."

\u201c.@FloridaDBPR is warning The Plaza Live in Orlando about a drag show scheduled there later tonight. \n\n\u201cIf minors are allowed to attend this drag show, the Department will take any and all actions available to ensure that you do not pose a threat to minors in the future.\u201d\u201d
— Jason Delgado (@Jason Delgado) 1672255872

The Plaza Live venue's website advertised that the drag show was scheduled for Wednesday night. "All ages welcome," the event information noted.

The show is scheduled to run in Clearwater, Florida at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Thursday, but the venue says admission is only allowed for those who are at least 18. According to the tour schedule, there were stops in Fort Lauderdale and Miami earlier in the week.

The department sent the same letter to HRM Owner, LLC warning against allowing kids to attend the show at their facility — that letter apparently pertained to the Miami show.

\u201cI\u2019ve obtained this letter that was sent to the venue hosting the touring all ages Christmas drag show tonight in Miami. The Florida DBPR warned them: "In short, if you allow children to attend the Drag Fans drag show at your facility, you are putting your license in jeopardy."\u201d
— Robby Starbuck (@Robby Starbuck) 1672194103

The department has indicated that it is investigating the Fort Lauderdale drag performance.

"The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is aware of multiple complaints about a sexually explicit performance marketed to children held in Fort Lauderdale on December 26th. The Department is actively investigating this matter, including video footage and photographs from the event. DBPR will, like in other cases, take action," a statement said. "Exposing children to sexually explicit activity is a crime in Florida, and such action violates the Department's licensing standards for operating a business and holding a liquor license."

\u201cThank you to those who flagged the event for us. Please see the following statement:\u201d
— Bryan Griffin (@Bryan Griffin) 1672173971

Feds reject Florida surgeon general's warnings about dangers of mRNA vaccinations



On October 7, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo issued guidance for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, stating that with "a high level of global immunity to COVID-19, the benefit of vaccination is likely outweighed by this abnormally high risk of cardiac-related death among men" in the 18-39 age group. The guidance cited analysis that showed an 84% increase in the relative incidence of cardiac-related deaths in this demographic within 28 days following mRNA vaccination.

On Monday, elements of the federal health establishment responded, rejecting Ladapo's guidance and restating their advocacy for Americans of all ages to get vaccinated.

Ladapo's censored guidance

The guidance issued last week by the Florida surgeon general referred to a self-controlled case series wherein "only individuals who have experienced an event are included and all time invariant confounding is eliminated."

The analysis found a significant increase in the relative incidence of cardiac-related death among males 18-39 years old within 28 days following mRNA vaccination. Men over 60 were reportedly found to have a 10% increased risk of cardiac-related death within the same time frame.

\u201cFinally, is it really that hard to imagine that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines that increase myocarditis in young men by 10x, 20x, or 30x (see Karlstad et al,\nJAMA Cardiology, 2022) also increase the risk of cardiac death in that age group?\nOf course it's not, and we all know that. \ud83d\ude09\u201d
— Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD (@Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD) 1665403662

The guidance also noted that non-mRNA vaccines "were not found to have these increased risks among any population."

Ladapo, who previously suggested that healthy young children should not receive the experimental COVID-19 vaccine, recommended that those with preexisting heart conditions, such as myocarditis and pericarditis "should take particular caution when considering vaccination."

On Friday, Ladapo tweeted these findings along with his recommendation. Twitter, however, promptly blocked the post.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R) press secretary, Bryan Griffin, called the censorship "an unacceptable and Orwellian move for narrative over fact."

\u201c.@Twitter censored data posted by the Florida State Surgeon General @FLSurgeonGen that showed an increase risk of cardiac-related death among males 18-39 years old within 28 days following mRNA vaccination. This is an unacceptable and Orwellian move for narrative over fact.\u201d
— Bryan Griffin (@Bryan Griffin) 1665323175

After receiving significant backlash for taking down the surgeon general's post, Twitter restored it on Sunday morning.

Ladapo told "Tucker Carlson Tonight" on October 10 that had it been known "two years ago or so that this vaccine would increase cardiac deaths in young men by 84%," there is no way it would have been approved.

\u201cWATCH \u2014 Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo: "If it had been known two years ago or so, that this vaccine would increase cardiac deaths in young men by 84%, would they have approved it? The obvious answer is no."\n\u201d
— Election Wizard \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Election Wizard \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1665453608

Federal backlash

The Orlando Sentinel reported that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Sarah Lovenheim characterized Ladapo's guidance as "flawed and a far cry from the science," suggesting that the mRNA vaccines "have been proven safe and effective."

Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, stated, "We've continued to do these benefit-risk assessments, and they continue to be highly favorable, again, across all of the different age ranges ... including males 18-39."

Marks suggested that the analysis cited by Ladapo shouldn't dissuade Americans from getting a vaccine "despite the fact that yes, it is true that there could be some side effects."

Jason Salemi, an associate professor at the University of South Florida, reportedly suggested that "better-designed studies that are comprehensive and actually seek better data" should be conducted before potentially lifesaving recommendations are made.

Extra to elements of the federal and medical establishment, others without scientific bona fides have castigated Ladapo.

Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist called Dr. Ladapo a "quack" on Twitter.

DeSantis' rapid response director answered back forcefully, suggesting Crist may be out of his depth.

\u201cBillboard lawyer who failed the bar twice thinks he knows more about science than a Harvard MD/PhD who was previously a professor at UCLA Medical School.\u201d
— Christina Pushaw \ud83d\udc0a \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Christina Pushaw \ud83d\udc0a \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1665336383

This is not the first time that Ladapo has been met with criticism.

Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of Brown University School of Public Health, said earlier this year that to "say he's out of the mainstream would be an understatement." Jha and others have characterized Ladapo's recommendations as "unorthodox," particularly when it came to his 2020 claim that lockdowns "won't stop the spread."

Though allegedly "out of the mainstream," Ladapo was ultimately vindicated about lockdowns. A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation found that lockdowns were unlikely to have provided significantly more benefits to slowing the spread of the disease than alternative voluntary measures.

Other studies

In terms of the disproportionate danger posed to young men by the mRNA vaccines, Ladapo's guidance is bolstered by findings from other studies.

An FDA-funded study published in June concluded that an "increased risk of myocarditis or pericarditis was observed after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination and was highest in men aged 18-25 years after a second dose of the vaccine."

A June 24 Canadian study supported by Public Health Ontario and the Public Health Agency of Canada found "increased rates of myocarditis or pericarditis following receipt of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines," with particularly higher incidences "among male individuals aged 18 to 24 years."

Another study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association reached the same conclusion, but suggested that the "risk should be considered in the context of the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccination."

Some experts are now reevaluating the benefits and deciding against giving mRNA vaccines to different demographics.

For instance, earlier this year, Sweden decided against recommending the vaccines to children ages 5-11.

Britta Bjorkholm of country's Health Agency stated, "With the knowledge we have today, with a low risk for serious disease for kids, we don't see any clear benefit with vaccinating them."

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 15.6 million American children ages 6 months to 4 years old have not been given a single COVID-19 vaccine dose; 17.8 million kids 5-11 have not received a dose; and 8.5 million kids ages 12-17 have not received a dose.

Last month, Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of National Institutes of Health (NIH) working group on vaccines, told CNN that he feared government health agencies might "say everybody should get it when in fact, the healthy young person is unlikely to benefit from the booster dose, and so I hope they targeted more specifically, to those really who are most likely to benefit."

\u201cDr. Paul Offit fears CDC will recommend new Covid boosters for all when "a healthy young person is unlikely to benefit ..."\n\nAfter CNN pushback: "If there's not clear evidence of benefit, it's not fair to ask ppl to take a risk, no matter how small. The benefit should be clear."\u201d
— Scott Morefield (@Scott Morefield) 1662058674

Last year, two top FDA vaccine regulators, Marion Gruber and Philip Krause, resigned ahead of the agency's agreement to recommend mRNA boosters. One month later, an FDA advisory panel voted 16-2 against recommending the booster shots for Americans ages 16 years and up.

'My bad': Teachers' union president Randi Weingarten apologizes for circulating fabricated Florida banned book list



A social media post circulated by Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, claimed that "The Handmaid's Tale," "Of Mice and Men," "The Outsiders," and "1984" were among 21 other books on "Florida's Anti-Woke banned book list." The post garnered over 23.2K retweets and received over 135.4K likes on Twitter. Like the novels it contained, the list was also a work of fiction.

On Sunday, after it was revealed that the list was fraudulent, Weingarten tweeted: "I should have double checked before I retweeted this list. My bad."

\u201cI should have double checked before I retweeted this list. My bad. Looks like some of the books weren\u2019t banned. Book bans are very real & dangerous.\u00a0For an accurate list go to red, wine & blue https://t.co/ohR4ntMYZW & pen america https://t.co/r5AZbNgoTQ\u201d
— Randi Weingarten \u262e\ufe0f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Randi Weingarten \u262e\ufe0f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1661129622

Political strategist Frank Luntz was among the first to confront Weingarten online, pointing out her original post provided no source for its claims.

Weingarten, now beginning her eighth term as AFT president, responded: "We thought it was checked. My bad and I deleted..."

Bryan Griffin, press secretary for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, confirmed the inauthenticity of the list in an email to Snopes. "The image is fake," he wrote, "This is just a completely fictitious list made by people potentially living in an alternate reality ... Some of the listed books are specifically mentioned in Florida's Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards." The B.E.S.T. standards were introduced in Florida under DeSantis in 2021.

Speaking to specific titles included on the list, Griffin noted in a tweet that Florida recommends reading "To Kill A Mockingbird," but it was banned elsewhere — "by a progressive district in California, along with other classics, in 2020."

\u201cFalse. The State of Florida has not banned To Kill a Mockingbird. In fact, Florida RECOMMENDS the book in 8th grade. (FL Standards linked, page 160). However, the book was banned by a progressive district in California, along with other classics, in 2020).\nhttps://t.co/5JQelH8XZK\u201d
— Bryan Griffin (@Bryan Griffin) 1661121788

Matt hill, district superintendent of the Burbank Unified School District, clarified that the books in question were not banned in his "progressive district," but made "no longer mandatory reading."

In 2022, the Seattle-based Mukilteo School Board similarly removed "To Kill a Mockingbird" from its curriculum after teachers and parents alleged it was racially insensitive.

Jeremy Redfern, deputy press secretary for DeSantis, noted that while "the state sets guidelines regarding content," local school districts "are responsible for enforcing them."

DeSantis signed a bill (HB 1467) into law on March 25, 2022, permitting Florida parents to contest library books and reading lists they considered objectionable.

Advertised as the "strongest curriculum transparency legislation in the country," HB 1467 requires book selections to be "free of pornography and prohibited materials harmful to minors, suited to student needs, and appropriate for the grade level and age group." Additionally, the law provides for "the regular removal or discontinuance of books based on factors specified in the bill, including those removed because of an objection by a parent or resident of the county."

In March, Moms for Liberty's Brevard County chapter identified 10 books the group believed were in violation of the Florida statute, not one of which was on the list Weingarten circulated. Among the titles flagged for perceived obscenity were: Elana K. Arnold's "Red Hood"; Alice Sebold's "Lucky"; and Juno Dawson's "This Book Is Gay."

'Stand up for children's innocence': Texas comptroller investigating June drag event involving children



Republican state Rep. Bryan Slaton of Texas followed through on a June 6 pledge to address the subjection of children subjected to "inappropriate sexual content by adults," in response to an event he deemed "horrifying" and demonstrative of a "disturbing trend in which perverted adults are obsessed with sexualizing children."

The event that prompted Slaton to take action took place on June 4 at the Dallas gay bar Mr. Misster.

In a daytime transvestite event entitled “Drag the kids to pride,” children were invited to join performers on stage. Transvestites danced with and for the kids in attendance. Inside the bar was a neon sign that said “It’s not going to lick itself” and “I licked it so it’s mine.”

\u201cChildren are invited on stage and walk with the Drag Queens\u201d
— Tayler Hansen \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Tayler Hansen \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1654365128

Protesters gathered outside, including members of the organization Protect Texas Kids, who seek to combat the “toxic, indoctrinating agenda of the left.” One sign read “Stop grooming the kids.” Another read "confuse a child, abuse a child."

A protester named Dasy told WFAA, “I don’t believe that I should be seeing signs advertising for children to be dancing on stage with men in thongs and in inappropriate clothing and makeup.”

Organizers of the event released a statement accusing the protesters of “yelling homophobic threats, transphobic remarks and vile accusations at these children and parents.”

Queerty highlighted comments made by one of the transvestites involved in the event, who wrote: "The children of today are our future & they will continue to break down these stereotypical, heteronormativity barriers that uneducated swines like you normalize. Drag queens and the gay culture is as main stream as it has ever been. And we're just going to keep pushing forward."

Following the event, Slaton pledged to introduce a bill barring minors from drag shows and also urged Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar to hold the organizers of the Mr. Misster event accountable, suggesting that they had violated Chapter 102 of the Texas Business Code prohibiting minors from being present at sexually explicit events. The code states: "A sexually oriented business may not allow an individual younger than 18 years of age to enter the premises of a business."

\u201cDrag shows are no place for a child. \n\nToday I\u2019m calling in @Glenn_Hegar to do what he can to enforce existing law and protect Texas kids while I work with my colleagues in the Texas Legislature.\n\nWe must protect Texas kids from sick adults who want to sexualize them. #txlege\u201d
— Bryan Slaton (@Bryan Slaton) 1659654546

On August 4, Slaton suggested that "Hegar can hold the organizers responsible today ... to protect Texas families and ensure all business are following the law."

The next day, Hegar announced that his office "had already begun the process of investigating this specific event." In his statement, Hegar noted that "the images [of the event] circulating are certainly inconsistent with our Texas values."

Upon learning that the requested investigation was under way, Slaton thanked Hegar on August 8 "for demonstrating strong leadership on this important issue." He suggested further that "Texans deserve elected officials who will stand up for our children's innocence ... Texas should not tolerate the sexualization and exploitation of children."