Episode 52: Andrew and Jerry Smash the 1619 Project

It's Lent, and Jerry and Andrew talk about their Mardi Gras celebrations. Jerry's never been hungover, and Andrew tells the story of the time he and his brothers did an imitation of The Who at an Indiana Ramada Inn.

Substantively, we're at the one year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and it seems Joe Biden is doing his best to turn even the most-stalwart conservative supporters of Ukraine against him. Is there an end goal for the US in its involvement in Ukraine? Why hasn't Joe Biden implemented the fullest measure of sanctions? Just what CAN the US do to thwart not only Russia's continued assault on Ukraine, but to keep the Chinese out of the conflict? And once again, Trump was right... about Russia, about German energy policy, about a host of things - yet the left is perpetuating the meme that Trump was pro-Putin.

The lack of understanding of the history of US/Russia relations leads into a discussion of the implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion ( DEI ) policies throughout the US--and the denial that Critical Race Theory ( CRT ) is being taught to US students. There is direct harm that is being caused within US society from these divisive policies--and then there are the indirect harms, including the gaslighting of Americans. Jerry has a brilliant insight into the fundamental flaw in the theories being advanced by the 1619 Project, one which speaks to why America is and has been a force for good, why the principles the nation was founded on are the right principles, and that America's success is due to these policies and not the addled theories of the 1619 Project.

As the show starts to close, Jerry tells a poignant anecdote about a family member's student teaching experience in Washington, DC this week. This leads into an intense discussion of whether students should be separated by academic achievement or all mixed together, and Andrew tells the story of how such a debate almost 40 years ago led him to leaving public schools, and the legacy for his childhood school system today.