Crash Course: Racist babies: Republicans reduced to white wailing

From attacks on interracial marriage to "white privilege" whining, Republicans triggered by Ketanji Jackson Brown Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpiKkJPPGKGVoDpUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). Racist babies: Republicans reduced to white wailing at first Black woman nominated to Supreme Court During Tuesday's Senate hearing to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., provided yet another reminder that his true talent as a troll lies in how shameless he is. Certainly aware that by [getting "racist babies" in headlines](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0RTaHR0cHM6Ly9zbGF0ZS5jb20vbmV3cy1hbmQtcG9saXRpY3MvMjAyMi8wMy90ZWQtY3J1ei1yYWNpc3QtYmFiaWVzLWtiai1oZWFyaW5nLmh0bWxXA3NwY0IKYipCTzxihlaA6VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), people would assume he's talking about himself, Cruz forged ahead, indifferent to the inevitable jokes, just focused on getting that sweet, sweet attention. The immediately infamous "racist babies" exchange, of course, had nothing to do with the actual job Jackson is nominated for. Instead, Cruz used his allotted questioning time to freak out over "critical race theory," [which is the trendy scare term in right-wing circles](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0R1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjgvdGhlLWNyaXRpY3Mtd2VyZS1yaWdodC1jcml0aWNhbC1yYWNlLXRoZW9yeS1pcy1qdXN0LWEtY292ZXItZm9yLXNpbGVuY2luZy1lZHVjYXRvcnMvVwNzcGNCCmIqQk88YoZWgOlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) to demonize basic concepts like "racism is bad" and "racism is real." So Cruz ginned up the outraged over a book called "[Antiracist Baby](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0QpaHR0cHM6Ly9ib29rc2hvcC5vcmcvYS8yNDY0Lzk3ODA1OTMxMTA0MTZXA3NwY0IKYipCTzxihlaA6VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo)." [Read more from Amanda Marcotte](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0RdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvYmFiaWVzLXJlZHVjZWQtdG8td2FpbGluZy1hdC1maXJzdC1ibGFjay13b21hbi1ub21pbmF0ZWQtdG8vVwNzcGNCCmIqQk88YoZWgOlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). (Photo illustration by Salon/SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) Psychiatry is flawed, author Sarah Fay says — and there's "no objective reality" to many diagnoses It means something to put a word to the feeling, to the experience. It carries weight to be able to say, "I have ____" or "I am ____." It opens doors to treatments and medications and plans. But what if that word is not the correct one, or even the best one? There's no blood test for depression, no scan for anxiety. Our mental health is a slippery and often subjective thing to define. [Read more from Mary Elizabeth Williams](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0Q6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvc2FyYWgtZmF5LWRzbS1wc3ljaGlhdHJ5L1cDc3BjQgpiKkJPPGKGVoDpUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (Getty Images/Ponomariova_Maria) Promotion from Nutrisystem [Learn more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvc2FkY2w5OXF0cVcDc3BjQgpiKkJPPGKGVoDpUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) Get 50% OFF ALL PLANS! [Learn more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvc2FkY2w5OXF0cVcDc3BjQgpiKkJPPGKGVoDpUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - [Paramount unmasks "Halo"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0Q8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvaGFsby1yZXZpZXctcGFyYW1vdW50LXBsdXMvVwNzcGNCCmIqQk88YoZWgOlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) for a perfect launch to the long-awaited video game adaptation - Former prosecutor claims [Trump is guilty](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0RZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvZm9ybWVyLXByb3NlY3V0b3ItY2xhaW1zLWlzLWd1aWx0eS1vZi1udW1lcm91cy1mZWxvbmllcy9XA3NwY0IKYipCTzxihlaA6VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) of 'numerous' felonies - It's official. [We've all been saying "GIF" wrong](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0RHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvaXRzLW9mZmljaWFsLXdldmUtYWxsLWJlZW4tc2F5aW5nLWdpZi9XA3NwY0IKYipCTzxihlaA6VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - I can't stop thinking about Cosmo's early aughts, [ill-fated foray into diet yogurt](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvaS1jYW50LXN0b3AtdGhpbmtpbmctYWJvdXQtY29zbW9zLWVhcmx5LWF1Z2h0cy1pbGwtZmF0ZWQtZm9yYXktaW50by1kaWV0LXlvZ3VydC9XA3NwY0IKYipCTzxihlaA6VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - There's no point in releasing photos of Bob Saget's hotel room, besides feeding [gruesome speculation](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0Q9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvYm9iLXNhZ2V0LWhvdGVsLXJvb20tcGhvdG9zL1cDc3BjQgpiKkJPPGKGVoDpUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - [Mitt Romney riles up Republicans](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0RnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvbWl0dC1yb21uZXktcmlsZXMtdXAtd2l0aC1yZWZ1c2FsLXRvLWVuZG9yc2UtZmVsbG93LXV0YWgtc2VuLW1pa2UtbGVlL1cDc3BjQgpiKkJPPGKGVoDpUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) with refusal to endorse fellow Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee - [“Classic GOP hypocrisy”](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0RiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvY2xhc3NpYy1oeXBvY3Jpc3ktbWFyay1tZWFkb3dzLXdpZmUtbWF5LWhhdmUtY29tbWl0dGVkLWZyYXVkLXRvby9XA3NwY0IKYipCTzxihlaA6VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): Mark Meadows’ wife may have committed voter fraud too - [Why the right is suddenly attacking Dr. Rachel Levine](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0SEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvd2h5LXRoZS1yaWdodC1pcy1zdWRkZW5seS1hdHRhY2tpbmctZHItcmFjaGVsLWxldmluZS10aGUtaGlnaGVzdC1yYW5raW5nLXRyYW5zLXdvbWFuLWluLWdvdmVybm1lbnQvVwNzcGNCCmIqQk88YoZWgOlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~), the highest-ranking trans woman in government - Elie Mystal: [Our Constitution is "actually trash"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvZWxpZS1teXN0YWwtb3VyLWNvbnN0aXR1dGlvbi1pcy1hY3R1YWxseS10cmFzaC0tYnV0LXRoZS1jYW4tYmUtZml4ZWQvVwNzcGNCCmIqQk88YoZWgOlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) — but the Supreme Court can be fixed - [Who pays for the COVID lies](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0QzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvcGF5cy1mb3ItdGhlLWxpZXMvVwNzcGNCCmIqQk88YoZWgOlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~)? - [Russia's war is an inexcusable crime](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0RhaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvaXMtYW4taW5leGN1c2FibGUtLWJ1dC10aGUtdXMtaXMtbm90LWEtY3JlZGlibGUtZm9yY2UtZm9yLXBlYWNlL1cDc3BjQgpiKkJPPGKGVoDpUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) — but the U.S. is not a credible force for peace Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpiKkJPPGKGVoDpUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. New research on Trump voters: They're not the sharpest tools in the box The United States is experiencing an existential democracy crisis, with leading Republicans and millions of their voters and supporters either tacitly or explicitly embracing authoritarianism or fascism. Democrats, for the most part, have not responded with the urgency required to save America's democracy from the rising neofascist tide. [Read the rest from Chauncey DeVega](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0RhaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvbmV3LXJlc2VhcmNoLW9uLXZvdGVycy10aGV5cmUtbm90LXRoZS1zaGFycGVzdC10b29scy1pbi10aGUtYm94L1cDc3BjQgpiKkJPPGKGVoDpUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (Mario Tama/Getty Images) - "Lion and wolf safely evacuated from zoo in war-torn Ukraine," [NBC](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0RraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmJjbmV3cy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC9saW9uLXdvbGYtc2FmZWx5LWV2YWN1YXRlZC13YXItdG9ybi11a3JhaW5lLW4xMjkyODI1P2NpZD1zbV9ucGRfbm5fdHdfbWFXA3NwY0IKYipCTzxihlaA6VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "A Russian journalist who wrote on corruption in her native country was killed in an attack on Kyiv," [The New York Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0SjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbGl2ZS8yMDIyLzAzLzIzL3dvcmxkL3VrcmFpbmUtcnVzc2lhLXdhci9hLXJ1c3NpYW4tam91cm5hbGlzdC13aG8td3JvdGUtb24tY29ycnVwdGlvbi1pbi1oZXItbmF0aXZlLWNvdW50cnktd2FzLWtpbGxlZC1pbi1hbi1hdHRhY2stb24ta3lpdlcDc3BjQgpiKkJPPGKGVoDpUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "WNBA Star Brittney Griner In 'Good Condition,' U.S. Embassy Says," [Huffington Post](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0RkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaHVmZnBvc3QuY29tL2VudHJ5L3duYmEtYnJpdHRuZXktZ3JpbmVyLXJ1c3NpYW4taW5jYXJjZXJhdGlvbl9uXzYyM2I2MTE2ZTRiMDQ2YzkzOGU0Njc1MlcDc3BjQgpiKkJPPGKGVoDpUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Bravo Chooses Chaos: Two Different ‘Real Housewives of New York’ in the Works, One With Original Cast," [Daily Beast](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0R0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZGFpbHliZWFzdC5jb20vYnJhdm8tYW5ub3VuY2VzLXR3by1yZWFsLWhvdXNld2l2ZXMtb2YtbmV3LXlvcmstc2VyaWVzLW9uZS13aXRoLW9yaWdpbmFsLWNhc3Q_cmVmPWhvbWVXA3NwY0IKYipCTzxihlaA6VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) Nearly 2,000 gallons of jet fuel spilled from an Amazon aircraft in Kentucky [Oh for the love of sky beard, what now?](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkHtRAP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjMvbmVhcmx5LTIwMDAtZ2FsbG9ucy1vZi1qZXQtZnVlbC1zcGlsbGVkLWZyb20tYW4tYWlyY3JhZnQtaW4ta2VudHVja3kvVwNzcGNCCmIqQk88YoZWgOlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Have a tip for Salon? 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