Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
Hegseth and Trump Are Greeted with Stony Silence by Military Leaders https://dianeravitch.net/2025/10/01/hegseth-and-trump-are-greeted-with-stony-silence-by-military-leaders/ via @dianeravitch
- Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense, addressed military leaders in a condescending tone, emphasizing outdated physical standards and dismissing the importance of intelligence and technological skills in modern warfare.
- Hegseth praised Trump’s ban on diversity, inclusion, and equity programs, despite the military’s success with DEI initiatives, and abolished a longstanding recruitment program for women.
- Trump delivered a speech claiming the greatest threat to the nation is “the enemy within,” targeting political opponents and proposing the use of cities as military training grounds, implying martial law.
- Trump hinted at using military force against domestic protests, raising concerns about authoritarian tactics and the suspension of elections.
- General Mark Milley’s farewell speech emphasized loyalty to the Constitution, not individuals or dictators, and warned against intimidation.
- Commentary criticized Trump and Hegseth's lack of military experience and their unrealistic expectations of deploying troops domestically.
Trump Administration Plans Ban on All Federal Grants to Harvard...or Are They Close to a Deal? https://dianeravitch.net/2025/10/01/trump-administration-orders-ban-on-all-research-grants-to-harvard/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- The Trump administration plans to bar Harvard from federal funding, citing antisemitism, which Harvard disputes.
- Harvard accuses the government of relying on distorted evidence and failing to meet legal standards for discrimination claims.
- The administration seeks to reshape higher education by leveraging federal funds to impose political agendas.
- Trump suggested a settlement involving a $500 million payment and trade school programs.
Paul Offit: Is RFK Jr. an Alien? https://dianeravitch.net/2025/10/01/paul-offit-is-rfk-jr-an-alien/ via @dianeravitch
- Dr. Paul Offit critiques Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, comparing its promises to the deceptive plot of the 1962 Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Man."
- The MAHA movement aims to improve public health by connecting it to environmental issues, eliminating harmful chemicals, pesticides, and processed foods, but its vaccine opposition could have dire consequences.
- RFK Jr.’s controversial beliefs include rejecting germ theory, claiming vaccines are harmful, and advocating for natural measles infections, which he argues prevent diseases like cancer and heart disease.
- The article highlights the dangers of vaccine hesitancy promoted by RFK Jr., citing recent deaths from measles, influenza, and pertussis as evidence of worsening public health outcomes.
- Dr. Offit warns that Congress must act before the MAHA movement causes further harm, likening RFK Jr. to the alien from "To Serve Man."
Big Education Ape: STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU: A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN SAGA https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/10/stuck-in-middle-with-you-government.html
### Key Points
- The government shutdown is portrayed as a political circus, with Democrats and Republicans blaming each other while ordinary citizens suffer.
- Federal workers and public services, such as education grants and healthcare programs, are severely affected by the shutdown.
- The economic repercussions include stock market instability, rising gold prices, and delays in critical assistance programs for low-income families.
- The article uses personal stories (e.g., Sally and Bob) to illustrate the human cost of the shutdown.
- Both parties engage in a blame game, with Democrats focusing on healthcare subsidies and Republicans emphasizing fiscal responsibility and tax cuts.
Big Education Ape: THE GREAT AI NEWS SMACKDOWN: OCTOBER 1, 2025—THE SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-great-ai-news-smackdown-october-1.html
### Key Points
- The U.S. government shutdown dominates political and national affairs, with impacts on federal workers and services.
- Copilot is praised for its coverage of the Gaza peace plan, Typhoon Bualoi in Vietnam, and climate reparations demands.
- Grok adds dramatic flair to its reporting, including Taliban internet blackouts and Nepal’s selection of a new living goddess.
- Gemini provides clear but unremarkable summaries of global crises, including earthquakes in the Philippines and Gaza peace talks.
- ChatGPT-4 struggles with outdated information, referencing events from previous years instead of current issues.
- Education topics include Ayurveda integration in schools, UNESCO recognition for India's Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve, and the FCC’s decision to cut Wi-Fi access on school buses.
- National affairs highlight an AI-generated actress sparking Hollywood debates and federal ethics complaints during the shutdown.
- Copilot stands out for blending hard-hitting news with quirky subplots, such as AI actors and international education diplomacy.
Big Education Ape: ZOHRAN MAMDANI AND THE GROCERY STORE REVOLUTION: A TALE OF FREE BUSES, RENT FREEZES, AND KALE https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/09/zohran-mamdani-and-grocery-store.html
Big Education Ape's article explores New York Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani's bold proposals to address urban challenges like food insecurity and housing costs. His initiatives—free buses, rent freezes, and city-run grocery stores—spark controversy but aim to tackle systemic failures in NYC. The grocery store proposal targets food deserts using cooperative models, emphasizing community ownership, local sourcing, and democratic governance. While critics label Mamdani's ideas as "socialist," the article argues they are pragmatic solutions rooted in addressing market gaps and prioritizing social good.
### Key Points
- Zohran Mamdani proposes free buses, rent freezes, and city-run grocery stores to address NYC's urban challenges.
- City-run grocery stores aim to solve food insecurity in underserved neighborhoods, addressing market failures ignored by corporate chains.
- Cooperative grocery models, including consumer, worker, and purchasing co-ops, offer a template for community-focused solutions.
- Co-ops prioritize local sourcing, democratic governance, and reinvesting profits into communities, contrasting with corporate grocery chains.
- Successful co-ops like Mandela Grocery Cooperative and Seward Community Co-op demonstrate scalability and community impact.
- Challenges for co-ops include capital constraints, higher prices, and scaling difficulties, but these can be mitigated through subsidies and streamlined processes.
- Mamdani's proposals aim to make capitalism work for everyone, countering criticism that they are radical or anti-capitalist.
Big Education Ape: THE AI NEWS SMACKDOWN: THE GREAT HALLUCINATION DERBY – SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-ai-news-smackdown-great.html
Fascist speeches and a New York affordability story. https://fredklonsky.substack.com/p/fascist-speeches-and-a-new-york-affordability
- The author recounts a trip to New Orleans for the funeral of Nathalie Musson, a longtime friend and activist against segregation, highlighting her deep ties to the city and its culture.
- The speeches by Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump to military leaders are described as unsettling, with Trump suggesting American cities be treated as “training grounds,” raising concerns about authoritarian tendencies.
- In Brooklyn, the mayoral election is underway with Zohran Mamdani leading in polls due to his focus on affordability, including proposals for city-owned grocery stores.
- The closure of Steve’s, a cherished neighborhood market, has sparked community concern, underscoring the importance of accessible and affordable local stores.
- Reminder of No Kings Day on October 18th, encouraging participation in the event.
CURMUDGUCATION: FL: Anti-Woke College Not Working Out So Well https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/10/fl-anti-woke-college-not-working-out-so.html
### Key Points
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis attempted to turn New College into a conservative example of "anti-woke" education, eliminating programs like gender studies and prioritizing gender parity.
- The school received a large financial investment, but costs per student skyrocketed to $134,000 annually, far above other Florida state schools.
- Enrollment and retention issues persist, with aggressive recruitment failing to stabilize the student population.
- Critics liken the situation to a "Ponzi scheme," as the school struggles to maintain student numbers and academic standards.
- Legislators are growing wary of the high costs and poor outcomes, and the initiative's success remains doubtful.
Teacher Tom: The Only Way We Will Get There is With Parents as Our Allies https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-only-way-we-will-get-there-is-with.html
### Key Points
- Risky play is crucial for children's cognitive, emotional, and social development, but modern parenting often limits these experiences.
- Young adults today are less experienced with risk-taking due to over-supervised childhoods, leading to learned incompetence and anxiety.
- Preschool environments can serve as middle grounds for safe risky play, teaching children self-confidence and resilience.
- Educators must work with parents as allies to create a balanced approach to childhood risk-taking.
- Teacher Tom offers workshops and courses to help educators partner with parents effectively.
History’s Lesson for Us Today: Moments for Courage Come and Go Quickly – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/10/01/moments-for-courage-come-and-go-quickly/
Quantico Wasn’t a Meeting, It Was a Warning – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/10/01/quantico-wasnt-a-meeting-it-was-a-warning/
### Key Points
- Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth staged an unprecedented loyalty spectacle at Quantico, summoning nearly 800 senior military officers for political speeches rather than operational purposes.
- The event marked a sharp departure from past presidential practices, where military gatherings were targeted and strategic, focused on pressing security matters rather than political loyalty.
- Hegseth's speech included mocking social issues, redefining the Pentagon as the "Department of War," and issuing ultimatums for resignation, turning the event into a loyalty test.
- Trump demanded applause and threatened career consequences for dissent, revealing insecurity and testing military allegiance to himself rather than the Constitution.
- Trump and Hegseth framed American cities as battlefields needing military intervention, dangerously shifting the military’s mission toward domestic suppression.
- Historical parallels to authoritarian regimes like Hitler, Stalin, and Pinochet highlight the dangers of loyalty spectacles, where military allegiance shifts from the nation to a leader.
- The silence of the generals at Quantico, while disciplined, underscored resistance against demands for personal loyalty to Trump.
- The event signaled a dangerous precedent, testing the limits of constitutional loyalty and laying groundwork for potential authoritarian actions.
- Trump’s strategy mirrors past actions of purging dissenters and installing loyalists, threatening the foundation of democracy by undermining the constitutional oath.
Education Research Report: After schools instituted universal free meals, fewer students had high blood pressure - full article https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2025/10/after-schools-instituted-universal-free.html
### Key Points
- Universal free meal programs under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) have shown benefits such as improved nutrition, reduced suspensions, better academic performance, and lower high blood pressure rates among students.
- A University of Washington study found a 2.71% decrease in high blood pressure prevalence, equating to a 10.8% net drop over five years, in schools participating in CEP.
- Health improvements are linked to stronger nutritional standards in school meals resembling the DASH diet, effective for managing hypertension.
- Universal meal programs reduce barriers like stigma and paperwork, benefiting both low- and higher-income students.
- Cuts to food assistance programs like SNAP could threaten schools' access to CEP, despite bipartisan support for healthy school meals.
- Researchers suggest expanding universal free meals to promote public health and reduce childhood obesity and high blood pressure risks.
Political Dystopia: The Annual Capitol Hill Production of Stuck in the Middle with You https://ru4people.substack.com/p/political-dystopia-the-annual-capitol?sort=new
### Key Points
- Four AI models—Gemini, Grok, ChatGPT-4, and Copilot—compete for journalistic supremacy in covering major news stories.
- The U.S. government shutdown dominates political headlines, with Gemini providing policy depth and Grok adding dramatic flair. ChatGPT-4 is criticized for outdated coverage, and Copilot diverges into unrelated Indian politics.
- Gemini and Grok excel in education news, with Gemini focusing on shutdown impacts and global student issues, while Grok adds drama with Trump’s fitness test reboot and ICE arrests. ChatGPT-4 and Copilot miss timely relevance.
- Grok dominates national affairs with comprehensive coverage of shutdown fallout, listeria outbreaks, ICE raids, and Hurricane Imelda. Gemini misses key stories, ChatGPT-4 sticks to generic topics, and Copilot highlights an AI actress controversy.
- Gemini shines in world affairs with precise coverage of the Gaza peace plan, Haiti’s gang crackdown, Indonesia’s earthquake rescue efforts, and Afghanistan’s internet blackout. Grok adds poetic flair but misses details, while Copilot commits factual errors.
- Final rankings: Gemini wins for precision journalism, Grok earns runner-up for dramatic storytelling, Copilot gets bronze for creativity, and ChatGPT-4 is criticized for outdated content.
- Major news topics include the U.S. government shutdown, Gaza peace negotiations, student suicides in India, Hurricane Imelda, and AI actor controversies.
glen brown: The Roberts' Court https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-roberts-court.html
- The Roberts Court under Chief Justice John Roberts is described as aggressively anti-democratic, favoring the wealthy and entrenched power while undermining democratic processes.
- Key rulings include upholding voter suppression laws, weakening the Voting Rights Act, legitimizing gerrymandering, and dismantling campaign finance protections.
- Decisions such as Citizens United and McCutcheon expanded the influence of money in politics, empowering corporations and wealthy donors at the expense of ordinary citizens.
- The Court has limited congressional oversight, weakened federal agencies’ regulatory powers, and granted sweeping presidential immunity, further consolidating executive power.
- The Roberts Court has reduced judicial tools like nationwide injunctions, making it harder to check unconstitutional executive actions.
- The article critiques the Court's role in accelerating democratic decline rather than safeguarding it, portraying Roberts as a partisan leader reshaping democracy to benefit elites.
Superintendent of Ohio charter school for at-risk teens ran nightclubs beset with violence - Network For Public Education https://networkforpubliceducation.org/superintendent-of-ohio-charter-school-for-at-risk-teens-ran-nightclubs-beset-with-violence/
- Ramone Davenport, superintendent of Dohn Community High School, a charter school for at-risk teens, was fired in September 2024 due to allegations of financial mismanagement and fraud.
- Following a state investigation, Dohn Community High School abruptly closed in March, with school officials blaming Davenport for its collapse.
- Davenport also owned nightclubs that were reportedly beset with violence.
Schools Matter: Bernie and AOC in Washington Today on the Shutdown http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2025/10/bernie-and-aoc-in-washington-today-on.html
Detailed Summary for [I Bumped into AOC in Washington](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqWsPk7QO24&t=2s) by [Monica](https://monica.im)
[00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqWsPk7QO24&t=2s&t=0) The video features a spontaneous encounter with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in Washington, D.C., where she discusses the implications of the government shutdown and rising healthcare costs for Americans.
- The speaker shares their surprise at meeting Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.}
- Discussion about the ongoing government shutdown and criticism directed at Ocasio-Cortez.}
- Ocasio-Cortez warns that Americans will soon receive notifications of significantly increased insurance premiums.}
- She highlights the severe consequences of these rising costs, including potential bankruptcy for those needing medical care.}
[01:25](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqWsPk7QO24&t=2s&t=85.03) In this video segment, AOC discusses the alarming consequences of proposed healthcare changes, emphasizing the urgent need for healthcare reform and the protection of American citizens' health rights.
- AOC highlights the dangers of proposed healthcare policies, noting that combining increased premiums with cuts to Medicaid could lead to significant loss of life.}
- She stresses the importance of standing up for the American people and ensuring healthcare is accessible and affordable for everyone.}
- AOC points out that the current healthcare system is broken, with the U.S. being the only major country not to guarantee healthcare for all, and vows to fight against worsening conditions.}
Purging the Ranks The Quantico meeting wasn’t just a policy rollout. It was a MAGA cult call. https://klonsky.substack.com/p/purging-the-ranks
### Key Points
- The Quantico meeting, led by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and attended by Donald Trump, was more focused on ideological loyalty and military reform than strategic planning.
- Hegseth introduced controversial policies, including twice-yearly fitness tests, banning beards, dresses, DEI initiatives, and climate change discussions, framing them as symbols of weakness.
- Targeting trans service members, diversity hires, and senior officers, the reforms aim to replace the old guard with MAGA-aligned officers, prioritizing ideology over combat readiness.
- The "Quantico Doctrine" reflects a shift in military ethos, emphasizing brutality and internal loyalty over traditional rules of engagement and global strategy.
- Trump and Hegseth framed internal dissenters, such as DEI officers and climate analysts, as threats, demanding absolute loyalty and threatening dismissal for disagreement.
- Plans to enforce nondisclosure agreements and lie detector tests signal a crackdown on whistle-blowers and dissent within the military ranks.
Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
10-1-25
https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/10/yesterdays-gems-todays-insights-roundup.html
The article is a collection of blog posts and news updates covering topics such as education reforms, political developments, societal issues, AI-powered journalism, and historical reflections. It highlights controversies like school closures, government shutdowns, AI misuse in education, and privatization in public education. It also explores proposals for urban solutions, critiques of political policies, and reflections on democracy and civil rights.
### Key Points
- Universal free meal programs in schools have positively impacted student health by reducing high blood pressure.
- Digital learning tools are critiqued for prioritizing profit over educational value, widening inequality, and reducing teacher autonomy.
- Erika Donalds’ involvement in Florida's charter school movement raises ethical concerns due to financial gains from taxpayer-funded operations.
- Zohran Mamdani’s NYC mayoral campaign advocates for public school reforms, smaller class sizes, and opposing charter school expansion.
- Mamdani’s urban proposals, such as free buses and city-run grocery stores, aim to address systemic failures and prioritize community welfare.
- AI models like Gemini and Copilot excel in delivering balanced and comprehensive news coverage in a satirical "news smackdown" analysis.
- Justice Anthony Kennedy’s memoir warns against democracy’s fragility, political polarization, and threats to judicial integrity.
- The Supreme Court’s shadow docket ruling enables presidential power to delay spending, causing harm to child-focused programs during government shutdowns.
- The Trump administration accelerates cuts to federal education grants promoting DEI, disrupting programs in special education, arts, and literacy.
- WMU’s College of Education demonstrates commitment to equity and growth through collaborations and leadership programs.
- MAGA’s misuse of "incitement" undermines free speech while ignoring their own inflammatory rhetoric.
- Kristen Buras’s book critiques school closures in Black and Brown neighborhoods, emphasizing systemic racism and the erasure of Black educators.
- College students misuse AI tools for academic work, prompting universities to return to traditional in-class assessments to restore genuine learning.
- USDA Foods program offers methods to reduce food costs and promote healthier meals for schools.
- Preschoolers’ shunning of a classmate with sensory challenges highlights the importance of adult intervention and community-building efforts.
- Delaware Governor Matt Meyer faces accusations of election rigging, raising skepticism among citizens.
- Diane Ravitch’s memoir reflects her transformation into a defender of public education, highlighting fraud and mismanagement in charter schools.
- AI models differ in reporting styles, with Gemini excelling in accuracy and Copilot standing out for niche topics.
