4 chapters across the catalog
CDC Vaccination Rates, Black Maternal Health Month
CDC data shows a record high in vaccine exemptions among U.S. kindergartners, with rates for measles dropping below the 95% threshold. In a separate report, Nebraska Public Media is critiqued for using the term "birthing people" during coverage of Black Maternal Health Month. The hosts highlight the shift in language and the increasing skepticism toward public health mandates.
Gender Neutral Language, The-bies and Congress-persons
A TikTok video advocating for terms like "the-bies" instead of babies and "birthing people" instead of mothers is discussed. John Dvorak recounts a story from 1986 involving a PC World editor who insisted on using "congress-person" instead of "representative" to signal gender neutrality, a practice he views as early virtue signaling.
Midterm Election Polling, Black Birthing People Terminology
The Democratic National Committee is positioning reproductive rights as a central ballot issue to increase voter enthusiasm. Polling from CBS News indicates a majority preference for keeping Roe v. Wade, though Republican enthusiasm remains high. A news report from Milwaukee is critiqued for using the term "black birthing people" when discussing maternal mortality statistics from Duke University.
Birthing People, Gender Neutral Language and Midwife Pushback
The Biden administration's use of the term "birthing people" in budget requests is criticized as an unnecessary shift in language. The hosts play a clip of a doula/midwife on social media who argues that such terms diminish the unique biological experience of women and mothers.
