Crash Course: Tennessee showdown: Governor's big plan for right-wing charter schools sparks fierce backlash

After right-wing education hero insults teachers, Tennesseans push back on Bill Lee's charter plan. Is it too late? [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0Q2aHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL2xldHRlci80Njg2VwNzcGNCCmMDSbMEY__uczlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpjA0mzBGP_7nM5Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). [Tennessee-Governor-Bill-Lee-and-President-of-Hillsdale-College-Larry-Arnn] Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images/Mandel Ngan/AFP/WikiCommons/Gage Skidmore Tennessee showdown: Governor's big plan for right-wing charter schools sparks fierce backlash The [mailers](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0Q-aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9OQzVQaGlsV2lsbGlhbXMvc3RhdHVzLzE1NTkzNTc2OTgyMzU0MDgzODRXA3NwY0IKYwNJswRj_-5zOVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) arrived last week: four-page glossy brochures containing excerpted articles from The Federalist and USA Today, telling Tennesseans they'd been misled about Hillsdale College. They followed the previous week's [text message](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0Q6aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9Wb3RlR2xvcmlhSi9zdGF0dXMvMTU1ODE0OTg5NjAyODU0MDkzMFcDc3BjQgpjA0mzBGP_7nM5Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) campaign, when voters across the state began receiving political spam attributed to Hillsdale chief marketing officer Bill Gray, insisting that people throughout the Volunteer State were clamoring for Hillsdale to open K-12 charter schools, and directing them to a recently-built website where they could learn "the truth" about Hillsdale's work in Tennessee. The [website](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0QkaHR0cHM6Ly90bm5ld3Mud2ViZmxvdy5pby8jZWR1Y2F0aW9uVwNzcGNCCmMDSbMEY__uczlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) covered the same ground as the mailers — four pieces all dedicated to defending the small, conservative Christian college from Michigan that has become a center of right-wing educational activism — and an opening message from Hillsdale president Larry Arnn, offering an explanation of why, "Over the past few months, Hillsdale College and I have been the subject of controversy in Tennessee." This was all a belated damage control effort, coming six weeks after investigative journalist Phil Williams, of Tennessee's News Channel 5, published secretly-recorded [video](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0StaHR0cDovL3d3dy5uZXdzY2hhbm5lbDUuY29tL25ld3MvbmV3c2NoYW5uZWwtNS1pbnZlc3RpZ2F0ZXMvcmV2ZWFsZWQvcmV2ZWFsZWQtdGVhY2hlcnMtY29tZS1mcm9tLWR1bWJlc3QtcGFydHMtb2YtZHVtYmVzdC1jb2xsZWdlcy10ZW5uLWdvdmVybm9ycy1lZHVjYXRpb24tYWR2aXNvci10ZWxscy1oaW1XA3NwY0IKYwNJswRj_-5zOVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) of Arnn declaring, during a closed-door event with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, that public school teachers come from "the dumbest parts of the dumbest colleges in the country." At that same reception, Arnn had argued that most college diversity officers get education degrees because they're "easy"; that teachers are "messing with people's children, and they feel entitled to do anything to them"; that modern education is akin to "enslavement" and "the plague" that "destroys generations of people"; and that he aimed to prove "that you don't have to be an expert to educate a child. Because basically anybody can do it." [Read more from Kathryn Joyce.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0R9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjIvdGVubmVzc2VlLXNob3dkb3duLWdvdmVybm9ycy1iaWctcGxhbi1mb3ItcmlnaHQtd2luZy1jaGFydGVyLXNjaG9vbHMtc3BhcmtzLWZpZXJjZS1iYWNrbGFzaC9XA3NwY0IKYwNJswRj_-5zOVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) [Donald-Trump] Getty/Don Emmert Promotion from Beam [Buy the Dream Powder Here!] Functional wellness products made for you Hone in on taste/bedtime sugar cravings, satisfying your sweet tooth (delicious chocolate cinnamon taste). Zero added sugar, only 5 calories [Buy the Dream Powder Here!](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbTZ6NnE2eGcxclcDc3BjQgpjA0mzBGP_7nM5Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) "A double-edged sword”: Trump's thrilled to be back in the spotlight — but is it already backfiring? It remains to be seen if the law will catch up to Trump this time. It's coming down on him from several directions but according to news reports Trump is thrilled about the whole thing because it's raising lots of money and it has his supporters up in arms and fired up to fight for him. It also has him at the forefront of the political news which always makes Trump happy. The biggest reason for celebration in Trumpworld no doubt is the fact that the search has necessitated that his would-be rivals all back off their plans to challenge him, at least for the moment. Once Trump activated the MAGA cult they had little choice, proving once again that Trump still has a stranglehold on the GOP. Everyone from former vice president Mike Pence to South Dakota [Gov. Kristi NoemÂ](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RXaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9LcmlzdGlOb2VtL3N0YXR1cy8xNTU2NzkzNTEwMjI5MDY1NzI4P3M9MjAmdD0tZkRhdUZHZG1RY2R1MC1LMlpLZVdRVwNzcGNCCmMDSbMEY__uczlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~)and[ Virginia Gov. Glenn Younkin](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RaaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9HbGVubllvdW5na2luL3N0YXR1cy8xNTU2OTk2MzQ2Nzk5OTE5MTA0P3M9MjAmdD05WXh3SVZCNzBESTUwRVota2NnSS1RVwNzcGNCCmMDSbMEY__uczlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) issued shrill denunciations of the FBI after the documents were seized: "He may get closer to the prize but in reality, he's slipping...It seems like the net is surrounding him more and more, and his ability to dance around these things is going to get more challenging," this ally said. "It's a double-edged sword." [Read more from Heather Digby Parton.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0R5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjIvYS1kb3VibGUtZWRnZWQtc3dvcmQtdGhyaWxsZWQtdG8tYmUtYmFjay1pbi10aGUtc3BvdGxpZ2h0LS1idXQtaXMtaXQtYWxyZWFkeS1iYWNrZmlyaW5nL1cDc3BjQgpjA0mzBGP_7nM5Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - Trump launches Truth Social attack on [Mitch McConnell’s wife](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0R4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjIvbGF1bmNoZXMtdHJ1dGgtc29jaWFsLW9uLW1pdGNoLW1jY29ubmVsbHMtd2lmZS1vdmVyLWNyaXRpY2lzbS1vZi1oaXMtbG9zaW5nLWNhbmRpZGF0ZXMvVwNzcGNCCmMDSbMEY__uczlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) over criticism of his losing candidates - ["There are no death bloggers"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjEvdGhlcmUtYXJlLW5vLWJsb2dnZXJzLWFuLWVyc3R3aGlsZS1tb21teS1ibG9nZ2VyLXJlY2tvbnMtd2l0aC13aWRvd2hvb2QvVwNzcGNCCmMDSbMEY__uczlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~): An erstwhile mommy blogger reckons with widowhood - A [second asteroid](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjIvc2Vjb25kLWFzdGVyb2lkLWRpbm9zYXVyLWV4dGluY3Rpb24vVwNzcGNCCmMDSbMEY__uczlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) may have struck Earth after the one that killed the dinosaurs - "Only Murders in the Building": This season’s [best quotes from Oliver Putnam](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RUaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjEvb25seS1pbi10aGUtYnVpbGRpbmctb2xpdmVyLXB1dG5hbS1xdW90ZXMtc2Vhc29uLTIvVwNzcGNCCmMDSbMEY__uczlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~), Broadway producer - ["Never Have I Ever"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjIvbmV2ZXItaGF2ZS1pLWV2ZXItc291dGgtYXNpYW4tYm95ZnJpZW5kcy9XA3NwY0IKYwNJswRj_-5zOVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) highlights the rarity of South Asian couples on TV. Then it breaks up with one - ["I Just Killed My Dad"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0Q7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjIvaS1qdXN0LW15LWFudGhvbnktdGVtcGxldC9XA3NwY0IKYwNJswRj_-5zOVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): A closer look at the true story behind the Netflix father-son murder series - More than a fashion icon, Lucy brings Gen Z to ["Only Murders in the Building"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0Q7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjIvb25seS1pbi10aGUtYnVpbGRpbmctbHVjeS9XA3NwY0IKYwNJswRj_-5zOVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - This crunchy, [sweet and sour salad](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0R6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjEvdGhpcy1jcnVuY2h5LXN3ZWV0LWFuZC1zb3VyLXNhbGFkLWhhcy1iZWVuLWEtYmlnLWhpdC1pbi1teS1mYW1pbHktZm9yLW1vcmUtdGhhbi0zMC15ZWFycy9XA3NwY0IKYwNJswRj_-5zOVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) has been a big hit in my family for more than 30 years - This crispy, fried secret ingredient is the best way to [upgrade homemade chili](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjIvdGhpcy1jcmlzcHktZnJpZWQtc2VjcmV0LWluZ3JlZGllbnQtaXMtdGhlLWJlc3Qtd2F5LXRvLXVwZ3JhZGUtaG9tZW1hZGUtY2hpbGkvVwNzcGNCCmMDSbMEY__uczlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - The very best leave-in [smart meat thermometer](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjEvdGhlLXZlcnktYmVzdC1sZWF2ZS1pbi1zbWFydC1tZWF0LXRoZXJtb21ldGVyL1cDc3BjQgpjA0mzBGP_7nM5Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpjA0mzBGP_7nM5Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. [Abortion-protest/Jan.-6-rally] Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images Pink wave: Women rise up for reproductive rights — and Big Lie supporters scramble to stop them The [ballot referendum on abortion rights in Kansas](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMDMva2Fuc2FzLWFib3J0aW9uLXdpbi1pcy1hLXdha2UtdXAtY2FsbC1hbWVyaWNhbnMtZG8tbm90LXdhbnQtYmFucy9XA3NwY0IKYwNJswRj_-5zOVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) wasn't just a test of public attitudes about reproductive rights — it was a test of democracy. The Republican organizers behind the bill were no doubt aware of [the robust polling that shows that strong majorities](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTkvMDEvMTcvdGhpbmstYWJvcnRpb24tcmlnaHRzLWlzLWEtZGl2aXNpdmUtaXNzdWUtb25seS10by10aGUtcG9saXRpY2FsLWNsYXNzL1cDc3BjQgpjA0mzBGP_7nM5Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) of Americans support abortion rights, and thus did everything in their power to make sure the general public did not turn out to vote on the question of banning abortion in the state. So they scheduled the ballot initiative during an August primary election, when few Democrats turn out to vote, even though [other ballot initiatives are scheduled for November's](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0QzaHR0cHM6Ly9iYWxsb3RwZWRpYS5vcmcvS2Fuc2FzXzIwMjJfYmFsbG90X21lYXN1cmVzVwNzcGNCCmMDSbMEY__uczlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) election. They made the language of the ballot initiative confusing, so pro-choice people might accidentally vote for the ban. And they [blanketed the airwaves with misleading ads](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0SBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMDQvYWZ0ZXIta2Fuc2FzLXNtYWNrZG93bi1hbnRpLWFib3J0aW9uLXJpZ2h0LWluLWRlbmlhbC1laXRoZXItaXQtZGlkbnQtaGFwcGVuLW9yLWl0LWRvZXNudC1tYXR0ZXIvVwNzcGNCCmMDSbMEY__uczlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) meant to trick pro-choice voters into voting for the ban. None of it worked. Pro-choice activists in the state worked tirelessly to register and turn out voters, as well as educate them on how to vote down the abortion ban, despite the confusing wording. Indeed, the vote wasn't even close, with nearly 60% of voters giving the abortion ban a thumbs down. A huge chunk of voters were independents who didn't even vote in the primary races, only showing up to weigh in on the ballot referendum. But rather than accept this democratic outcome, conservatives are hardening even more against democracy. [Read more from Amanda Marcotte.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0R_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjIvcGluay13YXZlLXdvbWVuLXJpc2UtdXAtZm9yLXJlcHJvZHVjdGl2ZS1yaWdodHMtLWFuZC1iaWctbGllLXN1cHBvcnRlcnMtc2NyYW1ibGUtdG8tc3RvcC10aGVtL1cDc3BjQgpjA0mzBGP_7nM5Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "An Unusual $1.6 Billion Donation Bolsters Conservatives," [The New York Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8yMi91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9yZXB1YmxpY2FuLWRhcmstbW9uZXkuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpjA0mzBGP_7nM5Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Eric Adams After Dark: A Private Table and Tarnished Friends," [The New York Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wOC8yMi9ueXJlZ2lvbi9lcmljLWFkYW1zLWxhLWJhaWEtemVyby1ib25kLmh0bWxXA3NwY0IKYwNJswRj_-5zOVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "The Most Powerful Moms in America Are the New Face of the Republican Party," [Mother Jones](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0R4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubW90aGVyam9uZXMuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzLzIwMjIvMDgvdGhlLW1vc3QtcG93ZXJmdWwtbW9tcy1pbi1hbWVyaWNhLWFyZS10aGUtbmV3LWZhY2Utb2YtdGhlLXJlcHVibGljYW4tcGFydHkvVwNzcGNCCmMDSbMEY__uczlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "The Bitter Manhattan Primary That Will End One House Democrat’s Career," [The New Republic](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RJaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdyZXB1YmxpYy5jb20vYXJ0aWNsZS8xNjc0ODcvbmFkbGVyLW1hbG9uZXktcGF0ZWwtbWlkdGVybXMtMjAyMlcDc3BjQgpjA0mzBGP_7nM5Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "The remote work revolution is already reshaping America," [The Washington Post](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL2J1c2luZXNzLzIwMjIvMDgvMTkvcmVtb3RlLXdvcmstaHlicmlkLWVtcGxveW1lbnQtcmV2b2x1dGlvbi9XA3NwY0IKYwNJswRj_-5zOVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "The HGTV-ification of America," [The Atlantic](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlYXRsYW50aWMuY29tL3RlY2hub2xvZ3kvYXJjaGl2ZS8yMDIyLzA4L2hndHYtZmxpcHBpbmctaG91c2VzLWNoZWFwLXJlZGVzaWduLzY3MTE4Ny9XA3NwY0IKYwNJswRj_-5zOVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) [Biden/Trump] Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images Extremism expert Stephanie Foggett: How the far right is winning the "information war" Amid a rise in right-wing authoritarianism around the world, Salon's Chauncey DeVega spoke with Stephanie Foggett, who tracks right-wing extremists, to make sense of the many overlapping and simultaneous problems facing the globe. Foggett shares her views on how "malign actors" are using this moment of global disruption to expand their power by undermining liberalism and Western-style democracy, both internationally and in the United States. She highlights how the global far-right and their allies have used the internet and conservative media (especially Fox News), along with the Republican Party and its agents, to mainstream and weaponize the feelings of social alienation, disconnection and victimization felt by many white Americans as a way of destabilizing the country's democracy and society. Foggett details how some of the most dangerous elements of the far-right view conspiracy cults and online communities like QAnon as a conduit for recruitment, and as a means of sowing chaos and disorder. Toward the end of this conversation, Foggett warns that American democracy and society face an existential threat from the global right in a climate where political violence has been increasingly normalized. [Read Chauncey DeVega's full interview with Stephanie Foggett.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0R1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjIvZXh0cmVtaXNtLWV4cGVydC1zdGVwaGFuaWUtZm9nZ2V0dC1ob3ctdGhlLWZhci1yaWdodC1pcy13aW5uaW5nLXRoZS1pbmZvcm1hdGlvbi13YXIvVwNzcGNCCmMDSbMEY__uczlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, DE 19801 [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmMDSbMEY__uczlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRk5zhHP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgpjA0mzBGP_7nM5Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)