The right’s terrifying vision for public education

Right-wing propaganda gets the green light in Arizona schools and a GOP candidate for governor in NC wants to ban science and history classes in elementary school

If you thought Arizona Republicans might take a hint from three consecutive losing election cycles in which they’ve lost the presidency, two US Senate seats, and most statewide executive offices, you’d be mistaken. Rather than moderate or even pretend to be even the slightest bit normal, they’re doubling down on catering to the far-right.

Our Arizona newsroom, The Copper Courier, was one of the first outlets to report on a new partnership between Arizona’s Republican education chief and PragerU, a right-wing media advocacy organization.

PragerU creates ideological–and inaccurate–content, and some of the lessons that will now be part of Arizona’s approved curriculum for children include “How to be a Rational Patriot” and “The Pope Who Stood Against Communism.”  The site also offers a series of videos hosted by conservative influencers like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, inaccurately covering topics such as the gender wage gap and the sexual objectification of women.

Arizona Superintendent Tom Horne said schools will not be required to use the content, but the partnership will help give parents and schools “a choice.”

PragerU already had partnerships with Florida, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Montana, and parts of Texas, and the group’s spread into Arizona has already drawn backlash from educators and Democrats. 

More from COURIER’s other newsrooms:

NORTH CAROLINA

Teachers hate Mark Robinson’s idea to end science and history classes in elementary school

From Cardinal & Pine: Depriving students of these subjects at this age would leave them unprepared for high school and college, the teachers said, and rob them of opportunities to develop their own interests. 

PENNSYLVANIA

Dave McCormick spent $37,000 on his private planes while campaigning for US Senate

From The Keystone: McCormick co-owns four Pilatus PC-12s through a fractional ownership program. McCormick’s expenditures show that he used his private aircraft at least 11 times in the final few months of 2023, costing him around $37,300.

IOWA

Instead of fixing real issues, Iowa Republicans push 10 bills to discriminate against LGBTQ Iowans

From Iowa Starting Line: Iowa Republicans have already banned many LGBTQ books in schools, banned trans women and girls from competing in scholastic sports, and banned gender-affirming care for minors in Iowa.

MICHIGAN

9 ways Michigan Republicans are trying to rip away LGBTQ rights

From The ‘Gander: Human rights advocates have identified (and are actively tracking) several anti-LGBTQ bills that have been sponsored by Michigan Republicans over the past year.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

House Republicans block abortion rights amendment, Dems defeat 15-day abortion ban

From Granite Post: Republicans in the New Hampshire House of Representatives blocked a proposed state constitutional amendment last week that would have created proactive protections for abortion rights in the state.

WISCONSIN

The Farm Bill is big, bold, and behind schedule. Here’s how that affects you.

From Up North News: The current Farm Bill of 2018 is in overtime, delayed by a Republican-controlled House of Representatives demanding significant spending cuts while the Democratic-controlled Senate tries to pass a federal budget.

NEVADA

President Joe Biden meets with Culinary Union members in Las Vegas

From The Nevadan: President Joe Biden visited Las Vegas on Monday, where he met with workers represented by the Culinary Union, congratulated them on their tentative agreements with several Vegas hotel-casinos, and touted the benefits of being a union member.

FLORIDA

Florida group launches campaign to put Medicaid expansion on 2026 ballot

From Floricua: After years of opposition from Republican leaders, a state coalition is seeking to put Medicaid expansion in the hands of voters on the 2026 ballot.

VIRGINIA

Virginia House Dems pass bill to increase minimum wage to $15 per hour

From Dogwood: HB 1 passed in a 51-49 party-line vote, with Democrats voting in favor and every Republican voting against the bill.

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