TODAY'S TOP NEWS
- Government Shutdown Enters Day 7, Impacting Millions: The partial federal shutdown continues amid partisan deadlock, furloughing hundreds of thousands of workers and halting services like food inspections. Republicans hold firm, while Democrats push for health care subsidies in funding bills.
- Illinois National Guard Federalized Amid Tensions: A judge denied Illinois' request to block the Trump administration's move to federalize the state Guard and deploy out-of-state units, escalating disputes over local control.
- Chevron Refinery Fire Aftermath: Following a massive blaze at its Los Angeles facility, Chevron announces operational adjustments, with federal probes ongoing into environmental impacts.
- Trump Pushes Unprecedented Power Plays in Shutdown and City Deployments: Analysis highlights President Trump's efforts to expand executive authority, including National Guard activations in Democratic strongholds like Portland and Chicago, drawing accusations of politicizing the military.
- Partisan Standoff Deepens Over Shutdown Resolution: Both parties express confidence in their leverage, with House Speaker Mike Johnson canceling votes and Senate Majority Leader John Thune dismissing negotiations; impacts on WIC benefits for 7 million women and children loom large.
- Pope Francis Urges Broader Judgment of Catholic Politicians: The pontiff emphasizes evaluating U.S. leaders on full policy ranges, including immigration, amid debates over partisan alignments.
- Gaza Ceasefire Talks Advance on Oct. 7 Anniversary: Hamas demands release of high-profile prisoners, including Oct. 7 attackers, in exchange for 48 hostages; Trump-brokered plan includes IDF withdrawal phases, with Netanyahu eyeing announcements during Sukkot.
- Dozens Killed in Gaza Strikes Despite Halt Calls: Israeli operations continue, defying Trump's urging to end bombardment; Vatican cardinal labels actions a "massacre" as displaced Palestinians face dire conditions.
- ICC Convicts Darfur Warlord in First-Ever Verdict: Ali Kushayb found guilty of atrocities from over two decades ago; UN human rights probe into Taliban violations in Afghanistan also gains traction.
- Trump Ties University Funding to Conservative Priorities: Officials seek pledges on ideological alignments for special treatment, sparking fears of eroded academic freedom in higher education.
- States Experiment with Teacher Pay Reforms: Focus shifts beyond test scores to retention incentives, amid dyslexia education advancements and new privacy enforcement against Fairfax County schools.
- School Closures for Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti: Government and private institutions in Delhi and several states shut for the holiday honoring sage Valmiki, affecting millions of students.
- Tariff Revenue Surges but Fails to Avert Shutdown: Collections hit $190 billion YTD (up 160%), yet deadlock persists; economists warn of slowed growth from immigration curbs raising native unemployment.
- Q2 Growth Rebounds to 2.3%, Inflation Eases: GDP swings positive from Q1 dip, with PCE at 2.3%; job openings rise slightly to 7.6 million monthly, though long-term rates hover above 4.8%.
- Japan's FDI into U.S. Jumps 20% Amid Trade Shifts: Outbound investment favors America over Mexico, signaling optimism despite global tariff uncertainties.
- OpenAI Valued at $500B in $6.6B Share Sale: Funding round caps explosive growth; CEO Altman integrates ChatGPT with Figma, boosting stock 7%.
- Senator Cruz Pushes AI 'Sandbox' Bill: Proposal allows regulatory exemptions for AI experiments, backed by OpenAI and Google to spur innovation.
- Mistral AI Secures €2B for European Push: French startup aims to rival U.S./Chinese dominance, enhancing EU tech sovereignty.
- Higher Semaglutide Doses Boost Weight Loss: STEP UP trials show 7.2 mg yields superior results over 2.4 mg for obesity; potential for expanded approvals.
- PP2A-B55alpha Regulator Targets Parkinson's: Reducing it improves mitochondrial health and symptoms in models, opening new therapeutic avenues.
- Flu Season Forecast Moderate, Vaccination Urged: 2025-26 expected milder than last year, but experts stress shots amid rising pediatric deaths nearing 300 from prior season.
- NHL Season Kicks Off Tonight: Opening night features Blackhawks at Panthers, Penguins at Rangers, and Avalanche at Kings on ESPN; full home opener schedule spans Oct. 7-16.
- AP Top 25 College Football Shakeup: Ohio State and Miami lead; Texas and Penn State drop out after losses, with Oregon idle at No. 3.
- MLB Postseason Heats Up: World Series looms amid busy October calendar; Phillies add quirky 9-9-9 Challenge box, Mariners debut crab helmet grub.
YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POST
Trump's Attack on Museums and History Is Fascist Capture of the Culture https://dianeravitch.net/2025/10/06/behind-trumps-attack-on-museums-is-fascist-capture-of-the-culture/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Trump’s administration is censoring Smithsonian exhibits and other federal sites to promote a “patriotic” narrative while suppressing perspectives on race, gender, and social justice.
- The administration's actions are part of a larger attack on democracy, free speech, and historical memory.
- Fascism often relies on constructing a mythic past, which Trump uses to foster racialized resentment and authoritarianism.
- The rejection of race as a social construct is a cornerstone of inclusive democracy, but Trump’s policies aim to reverse this progress, aligning with ideologies of historical fascism.
- The Smithsonian and related institutions play a vital role in promoting truthful, inclusive history, which is crucial for sustaining democracy.
Julian Vasquez Heilig: The Cultural Significance of Bad Bunny Hosting the NFL Half-Time https://dianeravitch.net/2025/10/06/julian-vasquez-heilig-the-cultural-significance-of-bad-bunny-leading-the-nfl-half-time/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance symbolizes the rise of Latino identity in mainstream American culture, disrupting traditional norms.
- The NFL's shift towards diverse halftime performances, curated by figures like Jay-Z, reflects changing cultural ownership and representation.
- ICE's actions contrast with public celebrations of Latino identity, highlighting systemic racial profiling and brutality.
- Resistance to cultural conformity is evident in silent protests, like Colin Kaepernick's kneeling and the Lions' refusal to honor Charlie Kirk, challenging right-wing dominance.
- The Supreme Court's rulings have enabled racial profiling and expanded law enforcement power, exacerbating societal divisions.
- Bad Bunny's halftime show underscores the broader fight over who defines American culture, emphasizing inclusion and diversity.
Trump Adminstration Asks MIT to Abandon Academic Freedom to Secure Funding https://dianeravitch.net/2025/10/06/trump-adminstration-asks-mit-to-abandon-accademmic-freedom-to-secure-funding/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- The Trump administration's compact ties federal funding to conditions that compromise academic freedom and governance.
- MIT and other universities face financial pressures due to federal policy changes and taxes on endowments.
- The compact includes controversial provisions, such as limiting speech and defining gender biologically, which critics argue harm marginalized groups and violate First Amendment rights.
- MIT students, faculty, and state leaders strongly oppose the compact, citing threats to institutional values and academic independence.
- MIT is exploring ways to address financial challenges while maintaining its principles, including private funding and budget cuts.
What Counts as Cheating with AI? Teachers Are Grappling with How to Draw the Line (Howard Blume and Jocelyn Gecker) https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2025/10/06/what-counts-as-cheating-with-ai-teachers-are-grappling-with-how-to-draw-the-line-howard-blume-and-jocelyn-gecker/ via @CubanLarry
### Key Points
- Teachers are grappling with defining and managing AI-related cheating, as AI tools like ChatGPT become more accessible.
- AI literacy is gaining importance, emphasizing ethical and effective AI use in education.
- Cheating behaviors have evolved with AI, though the overall prevalence of cheating remains unchanged.
- Schools and educators are reconsidering traditional assignments and tests, exploring AI-resistant methods like in-class essays, oral presentations, and long-term projects.
- Addressing the root causes of cheating, such as workload, lack of engagement, and pressure to perform, is key to reducing it.
- Some districts, like Los Angeles Unified, promote responsible AI use through training and policies instead of outright bans.
Do Billionaires and Ultra “Successful” People Give the Worst Life Advice? – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/10/06/billionaires-and-ultrasuccessful-people-give-the-worst-life-advice/
### Key Points
- Advice from billionaires is often unreliable due to survivorship bias, as it amplifies the voices of rare successes while ignoring the countless failures.
- Hard work alone is not a guarantee of success, as systemic inequality, privilege, and structural barriers play significant roles in upward mobility.
- Many billionaires’ advice disguises privilege as insight, ignoring the advantages that allowed them to take risks without catastrophic consequences.
- Society idolizes billionaires because their stories sell hope, but this focus distracts from addressing systemic issues and creating fairer opportunities for all.
- Practical wisdom can often be found in the experiences of those who failed or struggled, as well as in evidence-based research on inequality and mobility.
glen brown: “Turning troops on civilians is an intolerable threat to our liberties” https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/10/turning-troops-on-civilians-is.html
### Key Points
- ICE raids in Chicago and other cities involved excessive force, including flashbang grenades, drones, and helicopters, traumatizing children and detaining U.S. citizens.
- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned the raids, accusing the Trump administration of racism and unconstitutional actions. He vowed not to cooperate with federal military interventions.
- Trump threatened to deploy the Texas National Guard to Illinois, escalating tensions with state officials and civil rights groups.
- The Supreme Court's emergency rulings have enabled ICE's aggressive tactics, raising concerns about unchecked executive power.
- The article calls for protests, legal challenges, and political reforms to safeguard civil liberties and democracy.
Genetic Predisposition to a Higher BMI = Poorer Education Outcomes - Education Research Report https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/
### Key Points
- Genetic predisposition to higher BMI negatively impacts educational outcomes, with increased bullying, absenteeism, and lower test scores as contributing factors.
- Short-term class closures disproportionately affect economically disadvantaged students, harming math performance, especially among boys, but high-quality teaching and remedial programs can mitigate these effects.
- CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) children face higher developmental vulnerabilities, particularly in communication and cognitive skills, requiring culturally responsive early interventions to bridge gaps.
- Self-efficacy and test anxiety significantly influence mathematics performance, with high self-efficacy predicting better outcomes. Co-teaching shows potential but requires targeted strategies to address math anxiety and improve motivation.
- Higher education levels have a protective effect on cognitive aging, while midlife cardiovascular risk factors show inconsistent associations with cognition at 90+ years.
- Viewing adolescence positively as a period of responsibility benefits teens’ academic performance and family relationships, suggesting cultural narratives play a key role in youth development.
- Subtitling foreign TV content significantly enhances English language proficiency compared to dubbing, with long-term intergenerational impacts.
Teacher Tom: Where Questions are More Important Than Answers https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/where-questions-are-more-important-than.html
### Key Points
- The article critiques the traditional academic practice of cramming for tests, arguing that it undermines genuine learning and reduces schooling to a game.
- The author reflects on their personal experience of seeing school as a series of hoops to jump through rather than an opportunity to learn, contrasting this with the discovery of play-based learning in preschool.
- Through engaging with preschoolers, the author rediscovered curiosity and the joy of learning, emphasizing the importance of continuous enjoyment and exploration in education.
- The article highlights the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead and John Dewey, advocating for education as a lifelong process intertwined with life itself, rather than preparation for a distant goal.
- It criticizes modern schooling for replacing children's natural wonder and self-motivation with external validation, urging a shift toward play-based, curiosity-driven learning.
- The author offers free resources for educators and parents to foster creative and play-based learning environments.
Big Education Ape: KILLER ALGORITHMS AND THE DIGITAL GUILLOTINE: HOW TECH LORDS ARE SILENCING DEMOCRACY https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/10/killer-algorithms-and-digital.html
### Key Points
- Algorithms are used by platforms like Meta, Google, and TikTok to control content visibility, often suppressing dissenting or sensitive voices without transparency.
- Shadowbanning limits content reach without notifying creators, eroding free speech and leaving users unaware of suppression.
- Algorithms prioritize engagement over truth, creating echo chambers that amplify division and marginalize diverse voices.
- Tech billionaires wield disproportionate influence over information flow, with algorithms enforcing their agendas.
- Algorithmic censorship threatens democracy by distorting public discourse and silencing dissent.
- Proposed solutions include demanding transparency, user-controlled algorithms, and supporting alternative platforms.
Big Education Ape: NO KINGS, NO DICTATORS, NO PROBLEM: AMERICA’S OCTOBER 18 SHOWDOWN https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/10/no-kings-no-dictators-no-problem.html
Big Education Ape: THE GREAT AI NEWS SMACKDOWN: WHO NAILED IT AND WHO FLOPPED? SEPTEMBER 27–OCTOBER 4, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-great-ai-news-smackdown-who-nailed.html
CURMUDGUCATION: MS: Pushing for Privatization https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/10/ms-pushing-for-privatization.html
### Key Points
- Mississippi is pushing for privatization in education, led by Douglas Carswell, aiming to implement universal taxpayer-funded vouchers and reduce public school funding.
- Carswell promotes school choice as a priority, highlighting examples from other states like Arizona, while advocating for private schools' ability to exclude students based on capacity or disciplinary issues.
- Critics argue that voucher systems defund public schools and exacerbate exclusionary practices, with Mississippi's historical segregation academies potentially benefiting from these policies.
- The Mississippi Center for Public Policy focuses more on reducing government involvement and taxes than on improving educational outcomes.
Making America Hungry Again Starving schools and food banks while claiming to care about public health https://theeducationreport.substack.com/p/making-america-hungry-again
- The Trump Administration claims to focus on public health but has terminated a billion dollars in funding from Biden-era programs that supported food banks, schools, and child-care centers in procuring fresh food from local farmers, negatively impacting small farmers and public schools.
- Nearly 30 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program, with over two-thirds eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Cutting U.S.D.A. programs harms millions of kids and rural communities, with Minnesota losing $17 million in funding over three years.
- Deep cuts to the SNAP food-assistance program under the Trump Administration will reduce the number of children eligible for free meals at school and hinder universal free-meal programs, contradicting the Administration’s stated goals of improving child nutrition.
- Tennessee Governor Bill Lee rejected $75 million in federal funds for summer EBT programs, opting for a smaller initiative that excludes 675,000 children despite similar state financial obligations for both options.
Choosing Democracy: Military Go Home !! https://choosingdemocracy.blogspot.com/2025/10/military-go-home.html
- The article discusses significant issues related to democracy, focusing on public schooling and the importance of nonviolent demonstrations, particularly against military actions.
- It highlights the oaths taken by military personnel and officers, emphasizing their duty to support and defend the U.S. Constitution against enemies, both foreign and domestic.
- Resources are provided for National Guard and military personnel, including legal support, confidential counseling, and know-your-rights information for those resisting deployment.
- The author, Duane Campbell, is associated with the Institute for Democracy and Education and advocates for nonviolent activism and democracy-focused initiatives.
Janresseger: Network for Public Education Tracks a Charter School Sector in Decline | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/network-public-education-tracks
- The charter school sector is facing a decline, marked by slowed growth, increased closures, and internal divisions due to the rise of for-profit and religious charter models.
- Public disillusionment with charter schools is growing, alongside concerns about the diversion of taxpayer dollars to private school vouchers and poorly regulated charter schools.
- Federal funding for charter schools has significantly increased since the establishment of the Charter Schools Program (CSP) in 1994, but oversight and accountability remain minimal, leading to misuse of funds.
- Advocacy organizations and lobby groups have played a significant role in promoting charter schools and resisting reforms, with some having substantial financial resources.
- Cyber-charters and large-scale online schools dominate the sector but face criticism for poor accountability, low student success rates, and susceptibility to scandals.
- The Network for Public Education concludes that the charter school sector, once seen as innovative, is now characterized by stagnation and increasing school closures.
A Meeting that Could Have Been an Email UFT Executive Board October 6, 2025 https://arthurgoldstein.substack.com/p/a-meeting-that-could-have-been-an
### Key Points
- The article criticizes the UFT Executive Board for being controlled by Michael Mulgrew, who allegedly manipulates elections and prioritizes loyalty over genuine union work.
- Members have limited opportunities to address the board, and serious questioning of leadership is discouraged, with examples of individuals being fired for challenging the status quo.
- The union is accused of approving contracts without proper scrutiny, including a health plan that was redacted and only revealed post-vote.
- Amy Arundell, a former candidate for UFT leadership, proposed a vision of a union led by working educators rather than patronage employees, but her vision remains unfulfilled due to lack of electoral success.
- Meetings are described as largely unproductive and could be replaced by emails, highlighting leadership's lack of engagement and transparency.
- Reports from the meeting covered certification updates, anti-bullying initiatives, charity drives, health care updates, and election task force findings.
Who Deserves to See a Doctor? Health Coverage, Immigration, and the Real Stakes of the Government Shutdown The fight's about whether we will take health care away from more than 14 million people, including millions of children. https://brucelesley.substack.com/p/who-deserves-to-see-a-doctor-health
### Key Points
- The article highlights the critical issue of health care access, emphasizing that every child and pregnant woman deserves health care, regardless of income, race, immigration status, or place of birth.
- It discusses the historical context of health care policies, including the Hill-Burton Act and the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which mandate emergency care for all individuals regardless of ability to pay or immigration status.
- Emergency Medicaid is explained as a reimbursement mechanism for hospitals providing emergency care to individuals ineligible for full Medicaid, not as health insurance for undocumented immigrants.
- The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 banned undocumented immigrants from receiving public benefits and imposed a five-year waiting period for lawfully present immigrants to qualify for Medicaid, including children and pregnant women.
- The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has significantly reduced the uninsured rate among children since its establishment in 1997, and subsequent legislation like CHIPRA has further expanded coverage.
- The current government shutdown debate is not about extending health care to undocumented immigrants but about preventing over 14 million Americans, including children, from losing health coverage due to cuts to Medicaid, CHIP, and ACA subsidies.
- Misinformation and political scapegoating are being used to distract from the real issue: the devastating impact of proposed cuts on low-income families, children, and seniors.
- The article calls for protecting and building on existing health care programs (Medicaid, CHIP, ACA) rather than reversing progress, with a particular focus on making CHIP permanent to ensure long-term stability for children’s health care.
