Youngkin's new ad is the latest example of the GOP's cringey new culture wars

In the U.S., Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has promoted himself as an uncompromising defender of free speech when Facebook has stood accused of promoting hate speech and disinformation related to elections and the pandemic. [View in browser]( [Image]( October 27, 2021 THE LATEST [Alternate text] Youngkin's 'critical race theory' fear-mongering has taken a particularly bizarre turn](//link.msnbc.com/click/25480668.58314/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXNuYmMuY29tL29waW5pb24vaG93LWZiaS1wcm90ZWN0cy1hbWVyaWNhbi1pbnRlbC1iaXphcnJlLWNhc2Utc3R1ZHktbjEyODE0Nzk_Y2lkPWVtbF9tZGFfMjAyMTEwMjcmdXNlcl9lbWFpbD1kN2RjNzQ1MTcyOTdiMzk3MWFhMTRkNmYzMzExMzVhMDg3OGY4ZjY0MGZhMWExMDE5ZjE1N2I2NWMxYjVkZDFk/58292da26e4adc7b0b8b4914Bd5d1bd98//link.msnbc.com/click/25480668.58314/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXNuYmMuY29tL29waW5pb24vZmFjZWJvb2std2hpc3RsZWJsb3dlci1mcmFuY2VzLWhhdWdlbi1nYXZlLWNvbmdyZXNzLXJvYWQtbWFwLW4xMjgwODczP2NpZD1lbWxfbWRhXzIwMjExMDI3JnVzZXJfZW1haWw9ZDdkYzc0NTE3Mjk3YjM5NzFhYTE0ZDZmMzMxMTM1YTA4NzhmOGY2NDBmYTFhMTAxOWYxNTdiNjVjMWI1ZGQxZA/58292da26e4adc7b0b8b4914B2a98840f by Zeeshan Aleem Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin ran a bizarre ad that brings up some distressing points about the GOP's current priorities. The ad highlights a Virginia woman who's made it her mission [to ban]( Nobel laureate Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "Beloved" from high school curriculums after her son found the material "disgusting and gross" due to its depiction of bestiality. But, as Zeesham Aleem writes, "One has to ask: Was 'Beloved' targeted in part because of the kind of story it was telling about America?" With a work of literature that so deeply probes the U.S.' painful and violent history of slavery, as "Beloved" does, it's difficult to ignore the message Youngkin is sending voters as they make their way to the ballot box on Nov. 2. Read Zeeshan Aleem's [full analysis here]( don't forget to check out the rest of your Wednesday [MSNBC Daily](. TOP STORIES [Alternate text] [A photo of the Charlottesville rally]( [Cynthia Miller-Idriss]( [The Charlottesville trial is barely underway — and it's already making an impact]( Charlottesville defendants want the world to dismiss their hate speech as just jokes. Legally, that may not fly. [Read More]( [A photo of police wrapping caution tape around a scene]( [Katie S. Phang]( [The latest loose end in the confounding deaths of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie]( We have more questions than answers. [Read More]( [A photo of the side of the White House]( [Steve Benen]( [Trump keeps asking Biden to hide Jan. 6 materials. The White House keeps saying no.]( This isn't a normal dispute over congressional oversight and document production. [Read More]( [A photo of Herschel Walker hugging Trump]( [Ja'han Jones]( [Herschel Walker's endorsements from high-ranking Republicans underscore a sad truth]( Trump has a vise-like grip on the GOP — even when his demands could lead to utter embarrassment. [Read More]( TOP VIDEOS [Alternate text] [A photo of Capitol rioters charging Capitol police]( [All In]( [How one GOP rep went from defending Capitol police to accusing them of murder]( [A photo of Glenn Youngkin]( [The Beat With Ari]( [Glenn Youngkin might crack the GOP's winning formula for swing states]( [A photo of the noose rioters displayed during the Capitol riot]( [Zerlina]( [FBI has the noose Capitol rioters displayed during the Jan. 6 attack]( [A kid holding his hand up in class]( [Deadline White House]( [FDA advisers endorse Pfizer's Covid vaccine for kids ages 5-11]( MORE FROM MSNBC [Alternate text] How do we make sense of this unprecedented moment in world history? Why is this all happening? Chris Hayes asks the big questions that keep him up at night every week[on his podcast](, aptly titled,["Why Is This Happening?"]( [In the newest episode](, Buffalo mayor India Walton joins Chris to talk about how she went from being a registered nurse and local activist to a politician. She was thrust into the national spotlight when she defeated four-term incumbent Byron Brown in the June primary. It was an unusual win: Walton had never held elected office, and Brown isn’t letting go of his seat without a fight.[Listen to the new episode now.]( One year after the event that became an internet sensation, meet the family behind the Philadelphia small business that was thrust into the national spotlight. Sunday, Nov. 7 at 10 p.m. ET, watch 'Four Seasons Total Documentary,' a film that delves into Rudy Giuliani’s infamous press conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping, delivered just as the presidential election was being called for Joe Biden. Follow MSNBC [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [LinkedIn]( Check out the MSNBC channel on Apple News Download the NBC News Mobile App and watch MSNBC [Listen live to MSNBC on TuneIn]( [Image] [Image] [Privacy]( [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_daily)