Crash Course: Who's leading the attack on CRT?

[View this email in your browser]( Your daily update from [Salon](. Written by [Brett Bachman](. Who's leading the attack on CRT? [Meet Christopher Rufo]( leader of the incoherent right-wing attack on "critical race theory." Among the many bad-faith actors to emerge by pushing attacks on CRT, Rufo seems to have gained the most traction: he's a regular on Fox News, and has notable backers in the Heritage Foundation and the Manhattan Institute. His work, of course, has largely been to obfuscate the meaning of an actual theory — in this case, an obscure legal philosophy that holds racism is embedded within American institutions. Instead, he has sought to define the phrase as a mishmash of vague innuendos that sync up with Republican talking points. In order to accomplish this, the target must be broadened. CRT "is usually deployed under a series of euphemisms, such as equity, social justice, diversity and inclusion, and socially responsive teaching," Rufo said. "There is an obvious political strategy at work here," [Salon contributor David Theo Goldberg writes.]( "Renew the longstanding conservative hysteria over Marxism and communism by misreading CRT as substitutes for its terms. The goal is to set fire to the contemporary shift in American politics regarding race and racism unfolding since the George Floyd murder and BLM-inspired protests over a year ago." "We can refer to this strategy as 'racial Rufoism.' It is a political strategy aiming to provide tools for whitewashing race and racism as the undiscussables of American politics, culture, education. It is essentially a "redprint" for silencing any critical racial narrative." "This whitewashing is not just censorious, sloppy and misdirecting — It may make for effective propaganda in the homogeneous circles in which it circulates, but it amounts to boring, unappealing, tuned-out pedagogy in schools and colleges alike. The Rufoists ultimately see a future that for all but themselves — and perhaps even for themselves — is no future at all." On FBoy Island, coupledom is business For the well-endowed contestants on the new reality dating show "FBoy Island," who you choose to love isn't so much about compatibility or even attractiveness — it's about how well a person looks with you. The show rightfully deduces that in an age of influencers and "creators," the image you project online is your currency. And a vital part of your personal brand, whether you like it or not, is your partner. "Couple goals" is now an entire genre of its own on Tik Tok, due in no small part to the fact that coupled influencers can share content that uncoupled influencers simply can't. "The motives and business side of it all are out in the open on "FBoy Island," and if #couplegoals content is truly a social media genre that's here to stay, maybe honesty is the best policy," [Salon's Kylie Cheung writes.]( "None of this is to say that "FBoy Island" is a perfect, wholly transparent dating show, as if such a thing could even exist." "After all, is there really any difference between self-identified f-boys and nice guys who have both opted to participate in a reality show in the clout-chasing world of 2021?" - It doesn't matter if you live in an urban or a rural area —[diseases of despair hit both at frighteningly high rates](. - This is [the Trump phone call]( that may have led to Jan. 6 Capitol coup attempt - What exactly is duck sauce? [The sticky history of a Chinese-American takeout staple]( - Who needs Kevin from "Kevin can F Himself" anymore? [Not us]( Salon's TV critic writes - AI is [becoming a bigger part of grocery shoppin]( from computerized carts to "Chef Bots" - Trump's Arizona election audit is ending, [with plenty of finger-pointing and lawsuit threats](. - Susan Sarandon [talks life, career and politics in an exclusive Salon interview]( "It is getting pretty biblical out there." - The earthy, vibrant [lentil salad with spinach and Parmesan]( that will become your new favorite side. - Mark Meadows [issued a strange threat during a Newsmax interview this weekend]( saying Trump is meeting with his "cabinet" and is ready to "move forward in a real way." - Salon's D. Watkins on [why he won't stop writing about "trauma"]( to focus on joy - And, finally: [Amp up your boring zoodles]( with garam masala and an herby yogurt sauce Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up]( to receive Crash Course. Untwist your knickers, Trump fans, [Salon columnist Matt Rozsa writes]( history says the 2020 election was nothing special. America's past is littered with examples of political injustice, yet there was only one other presidential election before 2020 in which a large part of the country refused to accept the official outcome. Except for the loser's massively wounded ego, in historical terms 2020 wasn't especially close or controversial. We can start with Trump's supposed hero, Andrew Jackson — who won the popular vote by a substantial margin in the 1824 election but was not elected because no candidate had won enough electoral votes. Under the terms of the 12th Amendment, the election was decided in the House of Representatives, where Speaker Henry Clay threw his influence behind the eventual winner, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. And Grover Cleveland lost the 1888 election after winning the popular vote — like Jackson and Tilden before him — prompting many of his Democratic supporters to accuse Republicans of fraud. Cleveland, however, dismissed those claims as not legally supportable. Much closer to our own time, Richard Nixon actually had a plausible case that John F. Kennedy and the Democrtats rigged the 1960 election through chicanery in Illinois and Texas, but concluded he could not get the election overturned in court. Then there's the 2000 election, in which Al Gore urged his supporters to peacefully accept the results even though he had won the popular vote and only lost in the Electoral College because he trailed George W. Bush by 537 votes in Florida — and a recount was halted before that margin could disappear. "If Trump were correct in his assertions about the 2020 election that would, of course, be an injustice," Rozsa writes, "But it probably wouldn't make the list of the top 10 injustices in American political history." - "[High jumpers, friends and competitors, decide to share Olympic gold]( The Washington Post - "[How ‘Coward and Phony’ Tim Pool Became One of the Biggest Political YouTubers on the Planet]( The Daily Beast - "[What Happens When All the Bugs Die]( New York Magazine - "[David Dobrik Was the King of YouTube. Then He Went Too Far]( Rolling Stone - "[Sex Parties Are Back]( BuzzFeed News Kevin McCarthy made a joke about hitting Nancy Pelosi at a Republican dinner over the weekend. [The comments]( were made at an event in Nashville hosted by Tennessee state legislators, where the group apparently gifted McCarthy an oversized gavel with "Fire Pelosi" written on it. He later told the crowd, "It will be hard not to hit her with it but I will bang it down." A number of prominent Republican party leaders from the state, including Gov. Bill Lee and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, reportedly attended the $250-a-plate event. It's the latest shot in a running war of words between the two prominent politicos, and comes after a particularly fiery week in their embattled relationship — [Pelosi told reporters that McCarthy was "such a moron"]( just a few days ago. Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( Copyright © 2021 Salon Media Group, Inc., All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at Salon.com Our mailing address is: Salon Media Group, Inc. Market StreetSan Francisco, CALIFORNIA 94102 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. [Mailchimp Email Marketing](