Students Over Systems: Welcome to The Parent Revolution
Here's the latest dispatch.
Good afternoon,
Apologies for straying off my regular Friday posting schedule. I had a busy week and am playing catchup. Back to normal posting schedule this week.
For you newbies out there, welcome to Outsider on the Inside. I hope this dispatch from in and around the nation’s capital on underreported topics finds you well.
If you’re just discovering my musings, here’s a backgrounder and make sure we’re connected on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Quick Thoughts
Support and follow the work of IWF’s Center for Energy and Conservation today if you haven’t already.
Follow America’s cow - #88 - and her pregnancy journey.
Re: Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s commencement speech. I made the initial mistake of basing my views on short sound bites. As I listened to his full speech, I found didn’t find his remarks as inflammatory. He said women can have many vocations—including motherhood. Thankfully, he didn’t say women of a certain age are past their prime. A VAST improvement to the rhetoric I’ve seen. His teammate, Chris Jones, and Chief heiress, Gracie Hunt, were among the folks who came to his defense. Even Whoopi Goldberg and Bill Maher defend his right to speech.
Another bear was spotted into the DC Metro Area this week. This time, in North Arlington-Fall Church, VA. And a trash panda evaded capture by trash can at a recent Philadelphia Union-NYCFC MLS match.
We’re getting two presidential debates between Biden and Trump—one as early as late June. What a shame Biden snubbed this Virginia HBCU that was set to host one.
That’s all for this week. Stay tuned for next Friday’s update!
Read Corey DeAngelis’ New Book
While my newsletter focuses on natural resources, energy, and conservation, I do dip my toes into other issue areas.
This week, I attended a Capitol Hill Club reception hosted by IWF honoring school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis. Corey is out with a new book this week entitled, The Parent Revolution: Rescuing Your Kids from the Radicals Ruining Our Schools.
My colleague, fellow center director Ginny Gentiles, presented him with the Education Freedom Center’s Students Over Systems Award in honor of his contributions in education and empowering parents to take charge over their kids’ schooling.
Here are some pictures from the reception:
I had the honor of reviewing his book for Townhall this week and here’s a gist:
With the “parent revolution” in full swing, DeAngelis praises the new special interest group to be reckoned with. He also recognizes them notably taking charge ahead of the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election. The oft-discussed blunder by former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe - who famously blurted "I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach” - propelled now-Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) into office. This, the author writes, was a turning point. But it didn’t stop there.
Between 2022-2023, school choice reforms were introduced and largely passed across a bevy of states. And Dozens of school board positions have been flipped due to concerned parents getting into a fight. DeAngelis is optimistic the momentum by parents will continue–especially if there’s a second Trump administration come January 2025.
While Corey primarily targets Democrats and their hypocrisy, he doesn’t let weakened Republicans off the hook either. He details how Twitter is his outlet of choice to call out reluctant GOP elected officials, especially those cozied up with unions, for not being attuned to the party’s pro-parent agenda. This often results in him getting blocked, he quips. But on two occasions, he recalls how he convinced two stubborn Oklahoma Republicans to switch their votes in favor of school choice legislation. DeAngelis also doesn’t shy away from elevating pro-school choice candidates either now that his organization, American Federation for Children, has a political action committee (PAC).
Congrats to Corey! He’s a good egg and effective advocate.
ICYMI
Articles/commentary/media appearances from the past week.
MEDIA MENTIONS
I joined The Rod Arquette Show to discuss why Americans are rejecting climate alarmism.
ARTICLES/BLOGS
District of Conservation
Catch up on District of Conservation episodes below.
And check out a new episode of The Sportswoman Show with my friend and fellow fly angler, Angelica Talan!
Thank you for reading! Let me know your thoughts and encourage your friends to subscribe to the newsletter too.
—Gabriella