OCTOBER 15, 2025
- Government Shutdown Enters Third Week: The partial U.S. federal government shutdown, now in its 13th day as of October 13, continues to disrupt services, with over 1 million military paychecks at risk of delay on October 15. The Trump administration has identified funds to pay troops but warns of ongoing layoffs for federal workers.
- SpaceX Starship Test Success: SpaceX's Starship rocket completed its 11th flight test on October 13 from Texas, achieving all major objectives in a milestone for the super-heavy lift vehicle.
- Nobel Prize in Economics Awarded: The 2025 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences went to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt for their work on innovation and economic growth, announced on October 14.
- Shutdown Deadlock Persists: Congressional Republicans and Democrats remain stalled on funding, with Speaker Mike Johnson accusing Democrats of partisan delays over healthcare talks. President Trump has directed the use of $8 billion in prior funds to ensure military pay on October 15.
- Justice Department Targets Political Foes: At Trump's urging, the DOJ has indicted figures like NY AG Letitia James amid escalating retribution efforts, drawing criticism for politicizing the shutdown.
- GOP Unease Over Shutdown Strategy: Some Republicans express discomfort with the administration's use of the shutdown for political priorities, including threats of workforce reductions.
- Gaza Ceasefire Progress: Phase one of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire saw nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners released into Gaza and the West Bank on October 13, alongside the freedom of 20 surviving Israeli hostages after over two years in captivity. Both sides trade accusations as the truce holds fragilely.
- Russia Hits UN Aid Convoy in Ukraine: A UN humanitarian convoy delivering aid to southern Ukraine was struck by Russian drones on October 14, highlighting ongoing front-line risks.
- Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Clashes: Afghanistan reported killing 58 Pakistani soldiers on October 12 in retaliation for territorial violations, escalating tensions along the shared border.
- Teachers' Second Jobs Surge: A new report reveals most U.S. teachers work side gigs—like personal training or food delivery—to supplement income amid stagnant wages, exacerbating retention challenges.
- ICAR Counselling for Agriculture Admissions Begins: India's ICAR 2025 counselling for UG, PG, and PhD programs in agriculture starts October 15, with registrations open via icar.org.in.
- U.S. Department of Education Honors 161 Students: Secretary Linda McMahon announced the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars, recognizing top high school seniors for academic excellence.
- Global Growth Slows Amid Tariffs: The IMF's October 2025 World Economic Outlook projects global GDP at 3.2% for 2025, down from 3.3% in 2024, citing U.S. tariffs and policy volatility; advanced economies face 1.5% growth.
- U.S. Shutdown Hits Economy: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warns the ongoing government closure is now impacting growth, with federal layoffs and delayed payments adding pressure.
- EU Inflation Rises to 2.2%: September's consumer prices in the European Union climbed to 2.2% year-over-year, the highest since April, driven by energy costs despite core stability.
- Apple's October Event Teased: Rumors point to an M5-powered iPad Pro, updated Vision Pro headset, and MacBook Pro refresh at Apple's event, focusing on AI and hardware upgrades.
- AI Agent Wave Accelerates: 2025's top tech story is the surge in agentic AI development, with vendors like Nvidia and HPE pushing autonomous systems amid economic uncertainty.
- OpenAI Allows Mature Content: Starting December, verified adult users can access mature content on ChatGPT, while Walmart integrates it for shopping features.
- GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Under Scrutiny: With millions using drugs like Wegovy, experts discuss long-term benefits, side effects like muscle loss, and high costs in ongoing coverage.
- Enhanced Vitamin K Boosts Brain Growth: New synthetic analogues combining vitamin K and retinoic acid promote neuron development better than natural forms, per October 14 research.
- CDC Faces Major Layoffs: Nearly a quarter of the agency's workforce could be cut due to the government shutdown, per union reports on October 14.
- MLB Postseason Heats Up: The Milwaukee Brewers advanced to the NLCS with a 3-1 Game 5 win over the Cubs on October 13; Seattle Mariners outlasted Detroit in 15 innings to reach the ALCS.
- College Football Upsets: No. 10 Georgia edged Auburn 20-10 on October 12 with a goal-line fumble; USC's walk-on RB King Miller led a 31-13 upset over No. 15 Michigan.
- NBA China Games Kick Off: The Suns and Nets tipped off the 2025 NBA China Games in Macao on October 13, with highlights including slams and a streaming expansion via the NBA App starting October 15.
You Are Invited to Hear Me Talk About My New Book at the Brooklyn Public Library! https://dianeravitch.net/2025/10/14/you-are-invited-to-the-debut-of-my-new-book-at-the-brooklyn-public-library/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Diane Ravitch announces her memoir, *An Education,* which reflects on her transformation in education policy views.
- The book critiques privatization, standardized testing, and charter schools, advocating for investment in public schools and addressing poverty.
- Ravitch’s career spans roles in government and academia, including serving in both Bush and Clinton administrations and founding the Network for Public Education.
- The event features Leonie Haimson, a leader in education advocacy, who has significantly influenced class size policies in NYC.
Heather Cox Richardson: As Trump Destroys FDR's Legacy, Symbols Matter https://dianeravitch.net/2025/10/14/heather-cox-richardson-as-trump-destroys-fdrs-legacy-symbols-matter/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- President Trump plans to construct a triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial for the U.S. 250th anniversary, symbolizing MAGA ideology.
- The arch is criticized for disrupting the symbolic connection between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
- The Trump administration is selling the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building, a monument to FDR’s New Deal and Social Security Act.
- The Cohen building features murals that depict the government’s role in alleviating economic insecurity, emphasizing community and equality.
- The sale of the Cohen building and the arch’s construction reflect a political shift away from FDR’s legacy toward promoting individualism.
Arkansas: 88% of Students Who Use Vouchers Never Attended Public Schools https://dianeravitch.net/2025/10/14/arkansas-88-of-students-who-used-viuchers-never-attended-public-schools/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- The voucher program was originally justified as a tool to help poor children access better education but now primarily benefits families already in private or religious schools.
- In Arkansas, 88% of voucher recipients never attended public schools, raising concerns about the program’s effectiveness in aiding needy students.
- Critics highlight that universal voucher systems subsidize costs for wealthier families while harming public school budgets and failing to provide significant academic benefits.
- The program reflects broader political and economic trends that prioritize affluent families over the needs of the poor and middle class.
RFK Jr. Has a Problem with Jews https://dianeravitch.net/2025/10/14/rfk-jr-has-a-problem-with-jews/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- RFK Jr. has made unfounded claims linking circumcision and autism, which have been debunked by scientists.
- He has faced backlash for comparing vaccine mandates to the Holocaust, later apologizing for these remarks.
- RFK Jr. suggested COVID-19 was engineered to target specific ethnic groups, a claim he defended despite lacking evidence.
- His comments and actions have led to accusations of anti-Semitism and insensitivity.
Big Education Ape: TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POST OCTOBER 14, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/10/todays-top-news-yesterdays-best-blog_0866098505.html
### Key Points
- Diane Ravitch's blog discusses Trump destroying FDR’s legacy while planning symbolic monuments, highlighting the contradiction in his actions.
- The U.S. government shutdown enters its 11th day, causing financial strain, military furloughs, and flight delays, with public opinion divided on who is to blame.
- A deadly explosion at a Tennessee explosives plant killed 16 people, and investigations are ongoing into safety protocols.
- A mass shooting at a South Carolina bar resulted in four deaths and 20 injuries, raising concerns about rural gun violence.
- The Trump administration issued federal layoffs, targeting HHS employees, including CDC staff, as part of cost-cutting measures tied to the shutdown. Critics call it politically motivated.
- The Supreme Court considers further weakening the Voting Rights Act, potentially impacting minority voter protections.
- MarÃa Corina Machado wins the Nobel Peace Prize for her fight against authoritarianism in Venezuela.
- Russia targets Ukraine's energy infrastructure, escalating tensions and raising global security concerns.
- SpaceX successfully tests its Starship rocket, advancing its Mars exploration ambitions.
- Meta recruits a top AI researcher to compete with rivals in the generative AI race, reflecting the growing competition in the field.
- New research identifies a fat-burning mechanism in the human body, potentially transforming obesity treatments.
- CDC shifts vaccine policies under RFK Jr.'s influence, sparking debates about safety and public health.
- Diane Ravitch's advocacy for public education reform highlights her journey from supporting conservative policies to opposing privatization and high-stakes testing.
- The "No Kings 2.0" movement draws inspiration from the Boston Tea Party to fight authoritarianism through peaceful protests.
- Arizona faces a public education crisis as school voucher programs divert funds to private schools, causing closures.
- The Goodman Theatre extends the play "REVOLUTION(s)," reflecting on societal tensions and resistance.
- National Guard deployment in Chicago, ordered by Trump, faced legal opposition and was deemed unconstitutional.
- DHS policies under Secretary Noem are criticized for traumatizing immigrant children and families through raids and family separations.
- Bernie Sanders critiques Trump's administration for promoting authoritarianism, economic inequality, and climate change denial, calling for grassroots activism.
- The article critiques the political interference in progressive education, advocating for a reset to prioritize genuine teaching and learning.
Big Education Ape: TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POST OCTOBER 13, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/10/todays-top-news-yesterdays-best-blog_0673762634.html
Big Education Ape: THE FORREST GUMP LIFE OF DIANE RAVITCH: A BOX OF CHOCOLATES AND A RACE TO SAVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-forrest-gump-life-of-diane-ravitch.html
The article delves into the extraordinary career and intellectual evolution of Diane Ravitch, a prominent historian and education reform advocate. Drawing parallels with the fictional character Forrest Gump, it highlights Ravitch's journey from supporting conservative education policies to becoming a fierce defender of public education. Her memoir, *An Education: How I Changed My Mind about Schools and Almost Everything Else*, chronicles her transformation and her fight against privatization in education, emphasizing the importance of poverty alleviation and public school advocacy.
How Will the Federal Budget Conflict, Federal Shutdown, and Federal Layoffs Affect K-12 Education? https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2025/10/14/how-will-the-federal-budget-conflict-federal-shutdown-and-federal-layoffs-affect-k-12-education/ via @janresseger
The article examines the implications of the federal budget conflict, government shutdown, and layoffs on K-12 education, focusing on the Trump administration's actions, particularly Russell Vought's role in reshaping federal priorities, including mass layoffs and funding cuts impacting education and other critical services.
### Key Points
- The federal government shutdown and budget conflict have created uncertainty for public schools, with Russell Vought leveraging the situation to advance his agenda of reducing federal agencies, including education.
- Vought has implemented strategies to withhold and redirect federal funding, which courts have deemed illegal, and is pushing for mass layoffs of federal workers, including those in education-focused departments.
- Key education programs like Title I and IDEA are forward-funded, ensuring temporary funding continuity, but layoffs in the Department of Education, including special education programs, are affecting services.
- The Trump administration's actions, including layoffs, are seen as part of a broader plan to reduce the federal workforce and undermine programs benefiting children and communities.
- Critics argue these actions violate constitutional and legal obligations, harm public education, and reflect a failure to prioritize the welfare of children and families.
Working with Crazy Geniuses – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/10/14/working-with-crazy-geniuses/
Working with "crazy geniuses" like Doc Brown from *Back to the Future* highlights the challenges and rewards of collaborating with highly creative and unpredictable individuals. Their brilliance drives innovation but often comes with chaos, requiring leaders to balance their energy with structure and shared purpose. Effective leadership involves empathy, psychological safety, and grounding their creativity into meaningful goals while learning from their unique perspectives.
### Key Points
- Creative geniuses, like Doc Brown, are essential for innovation but bring challenges due to their unconventional and volatile nature.
- Their brilliance disrupts norms and can be both an asset and a challenge, requiring courage and adaptability from those around them.
- Effective leadership involves understanding their mindset, balancing their creativity with structure, and fostering collaboration rather than control.
- Empathy and shared values are crucial for managing their chaos and channeling their energy toward meaningful goals.
- Psychological safety and clear expectations are key to ensuring harmony between the genius and the team.
- Working with such individuals can stretch leaders’ imagination, improve their leadership, and reveal untapped potential within organizations.
- Visionaries need steady partners to turn their brilliance into sustainable, collective progress.
A Look Back: Knowledge Isn’t Power — “Power is Power” - Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/
### Key Points
- The blog includes republished posts with insights on knowledge, power, and classroom management strategies.
- Highlights key dates like the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and the National Day on Writing, providing related teaching resources.
- Offers critiques of student evaluations in universities and emphasizes the importance of teacher-student relationships in classroom management.
- Shares free resources from the author’s books, including instructional strategies for Social Studies, English, Math, Science, and ELL classrooms.
- Provides practical tips for parental involvement, student motivation, and lesson planning, along with Q&A responses on classroom management.
- Features additional resources like videos, blog posts, and articles on educational topics, including historical empathy and educational policy.
Teacher Tom: "Reasoning is a Social Activity" https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/reasoning-is-social-activity.html
### Key Points
- Humans evolved to learn and reason socially, which is why collaborative learning is more effective than isolated thinking.
- Preschoolers demonstrate natural collaborative learning by sharing and debating knowledge, such as in discussions about dinosaurs.
- Social interaction sharpens attention and memory, making dialog-driven learning more impactful than traditional lectures.
- Play-based learning aligns with our evolutionary predisposition for social learning, fostering engagement and growth.
- Directive and isolated forms of education often fail to engage learners effectively due to their unnatural structure.
MORNING NEWS UPDATE: OCTOBER 14, 2025 - by MIKE SIMPSON https://ru4people.substack.com/p/morning-news-update-october-14-2025
### Key Points
- The U.S. government shutdown enters day 14, causing layoffs, disruptions, and flight delays, with no resolution in sight.
- Explosions and shootings in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Mississippi result in multiple casualties and injuries.
- A ceasefire in Gaza leads to prisoner exchanges and celebrations, though violations and tensions persist.
- The Ukraine-Russia conflict escalates, with Kharkiv under attack and discussions on U.S. military aid to Ukraine ongoing.
- U.S.-China trade tensions intensify with new port fees and tariff threats, impacting global markets.
- Education struggles continue as U.S. students lag in reading recovery post-pandemic, and New York releases mixed test results.
- The IMF projects steady global growth but warns of risks from tariffs and economic challenges in China.
- General Motors cuts electric vehicle production due to low demand, incurring a $1.6 billion charge.
- Health concerns rise with workplace violence among nurses, genomic links to depression, and a WHO alert on contaminated medicines.
- Sports updates include MLB playoffs, NBA preseason, and notable achievements in cricket and tennis.
Curmudgucation: The School Choice Movement Is Dead | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/school-choice-dead
### Key Points
- The school choice movement, once focused on providing diverse educational options, has been co-opted by ideological agendas, particularly Christian nationalism.
- Advocates like Chris Rufo and organizations like the Heritage Foundation are pushing for ideological "school capture" rather than genuine choice.
- Policies in states like Texas and Florida enforce specific religious or ideological values in schools, limiting actual choice.
- Traditional school choice advocates, such as Chester Finn and Mike Petrilli, express concern about the movement's shift away from its original goals.
- The current focus of "school choice" is described as offering schools that align with a specific ideology, undermining diversity and equity in education.
Schools Matter: The Next Generation of “only the best people" http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2025/10/the-next-generation-of-only-best-people.html
### Key Points
- Leaked Telegram chats expose Young Republican leaders engaging in racist, antisemitic, and violent rhetoric.
- Participants joked about gas chambers, slavery, and rape, and used slurs extensively.
- The chats reveal normalized hate speech and a culture of casual cruelty among millennial and Gen Z GOP activists.
- Prominent Republicans, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, denounced the behavior, calling for resignations.
- Members discussed leveraging white supremacist symbols and tactics for political gain.
- Financial mismanagement within the New York State Young Republicans organization was revealed, including debts and improper expenditures.
- The leak has led to professional repercussions for some participants, including job losses and rescinded offers.
- Participants admitted awareness of the toxicity of their chats and the potential fallout if exposed.
- The rhetoric reflects broader political discourse trends influenced by Trump-era norms.
- Public figures and organizations have condemned the comments and distanced themselves from the group.
Beyond Resilience Katrina at 20 | tultican https://tultican.com/2025/10/14/beyond-resilience-katrina-at-20/
### Key Points
- Ashana Bigard’s book explores systemic racism in New Orleans' education system and highlights the resilience of the Black community post-Katrina.
- Public schools were replaced by charter schools, predominantly run by outsiders, marginalizing local Black educators and students.
- Media bias and systemic inequities worsened the plight of Black residents during and after Hurricane Katrina.
- Charter schools became "test prep factories" with harsh policies, leading to high expulsion rates and low graduation rates.
- The school-to-prison pipeline criminalized Black students for minor infractions, furthering systemic oppression.
- Teach for America teachers, often untrained, faced challenges but were unprepared for the trauma in classrooms, creating a secondary wave of victims.
- Enrollment systems like OneApp perpetuated racial and class disparities in school placements, favoring White families.
- Bigard emphasizes that poverty in Black communities stems from systemic theft rather than moral failings.
Fact Checking "The reading wars are ending. Phonics won." (Washington Post Editorial Board) https://radicalscholarship.com/2025/10/14/fact-checking-the-reading-wars-are-ending-phonics-won-washington-post-editorial-board/ via @plthomasEdD
### Key Points
- The Washington Post Editorial Board claims phonics is the definitive solution to teaching reading, but the article critiques this oversimplification.
- California's new literacy legislation (AB 1454) is inaccurately portrayed as solely phonics-based; it instead promotes a comprehensive literacy framework addressing diverse student needs, including multilingual learners.
- Effective literacy instruction requires more than phonics, incorporating oral language, vocabulary, comprehension, and cultural understanding.
- The article debunks the "Mississippi miracle" narrative, highlighting a lack of evidence for the success of Science of Reading (SOR) reforms and pointing out persistent educational inequities in the state.
- The author argues against the perpetuation of myths surrounding whole language and phonics, advocating for nuanced, research-based literacy education policies.
Ceasefire Politics Why Biden and the Democrats couldn't close the deal https://michaelklonsky.substack.com/p/ceasefire-politics
### Key Points
- Biden failed to secure a ceasefire due to opposition within his party and Clinton’s stance against premature peace without regime change.
- Biden’s strategy of supporting Netanyahu to gain leverage backfired, granting Israel impunity.
- Clinton criticized anti-war protests, alienating young activists vital for the Democratic campaign.
- The Democrats’ failure to resolve the conflict contributed to Harris losing the election, while Trump leveraged the situation for political gain.
- The article highlights the significance of grassroots activism against authoritarianism, drawing parallels to historical movements.
CURMUDGUCATION: My Ex-Wife Makes Me Think Of AI https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/10/my-ex-wife-makes-me-think-of-ai.html
### Key Points
- The author describes how outdated and incorrect data about his ex-wife's address leads to persistent marketing efforts directed at his home.
- AI and software systems that gather and process data are often flawed, leading to errors that perpetuate indefinitely online.
- Human intervention is the only effective way to fix such errors, but it is not always possible in many cases.
- The author expresses concern over the unchecked accumulation of misinformation and the lack of solutions to address these inaccuracies in the evolving AI landscape.
Choosing Democracy: Still No Kings: Millions to Protest Trump On Saturday https://choosingdemocracy.blogspot.com/2025/10/still-no-kings-millions-to-protest.html
- A coalition of civil rights groups is organizing a nationwide protest against Trump on October 18, expected to surpass the turnout of the June protest, which was one of the largest in U.S. history.
- Sacramento is actively involved in planning the protest, emphasizing the importance of public schooling and democratic values.
- The blog discusses various issues related to democracy, including anti-racism, economic crises, and the impact of Trump/MAGA policies on higher education and immigration.
- Historical blog archives indicate a consistent focus on democracy, activism, and civil rights over the years.
