15 chapters across the catalog
President Joe Biden's recent speech in Maryland featured several gaffes, including claims about his wife's status as a professor. Observers are looking toward the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York as a venue where Biden may deliver a high-stakes address regarding Ukraine and China.
Dr. Jill Biden's recent media appearances focus on military support, education, and breast cancer awareness. The coverage emphasizes her continued role as a community college professor and her advocacy for regular mammograms.
The Failure of Zoom Education and Teacher Challenges
A host shares a personal experience guest-speaking at a Bergen Community College class via Zoom, describing the medium as a "farce" for education. The observation notes that students are often disengaged, distracted, or performing unrelated tasks while on camera. The segment concludes that remote learning is a failure for human communication and expresses sympathy for teachers forced to use the platform.
Whiteness History Month, Portland Community College
Portland Community College hosted "Whiteness History Month," featuring lectures on the social construction of whiteness. A professor defines "white privilege" as a set of institutional benefits granted to those who resemble people in power. The segment also references James Baldwin's quote that "being white means never having to think about it," while the hosts question the academic validity of these definitions.
White Fragility, Academic Definitions of Racial Stress
The concept of "white fragility," as defined by Robin DiAngelo, is explored during a Portland Community College seminar. It is described as a state where even minimal racial stress triggers defensive moves like anger, fear, or silence. The professor shares a blogger's definition of the term, which the hosts characterize as a circular logic where denying racism is seen as proof of racism.
A 61-year-old student reported that a professor, a former ATF employee, wondered aloud why no one had killed Donald Trump yet, prompting cheers from younger students. The anecdote highlights a perceived trend of radicalization and violent rhetoric among millennials on social media and college campuses.
Listener Amanda Pitts, a chemistry teacher at Foothill College, sends a donation and a note regarding the history of the school. She explains how the college was once heavily funded by the local tax base of Lockheed Martin before changes in state financing. Adam Curry recalls taking broadcasting classes at the same institution in the past.
President Obama Declared Unwelcome in Roseburg, Oregon
The publisher of the Roseburg Beacon appeared on Bill O'Reilly's program to state that President Barack Obama was not welcome in the Roseburg, Oregon community following a mass shooting. Local officials, including the Douglas County commissioners and the sheriff, reportedly reached a consensus that the President should not visit for "political grandstanding." The community expressed frustration that the President politicized the tragedy before all victims were even identified.
Umpqua Community College, Religion-Targeted Shooting Details
Witness accounts from the Umpqua Community College shooting describe the gunman asking students about their religion before firing. Reports indicate the shooter specifically targeted Christians, telling them they would "see God in one second" after they identified themselves.
War on Women, Equal Pay Statistics, Community College Speech
President Obama visited a community college in Florida to discuss the "War on Women" and the gender pay gap. He cited the statistic that women earn 77 cents for every dollar a man earns, a figure the hosts claim is being used as a political tool for the upcoming election.
Income Disparity, Community College Meme, New Normal
A shift in media narratives is observed, moving from racial issues to income disparity and promoting trade schools over traditional four-year universities. Simultaneously, the "new normal" meme is applied to the current U.S. drought, with the NRDC claiming that climate change will make such events more frequent and intense.
US Student Loan Debt Surpasses One Trillion Dollars
Total student loan debt in the United States has surpassed $1 trillion, exceeding total credit card debt. The hosts discuss how bankruptcy laws have been changed to prevent the discharge of student loans, creating a permanent debt class. They note that many young people are staying in school indefinitely to defer payments while working untaxed side jobs.
Jeffrey Immelt and the Vocational Training Initiative
Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of General Electric and chair of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, authored an op-ed calling for a partnership between the private sector and community colleges. Immelt argues that despite high unemployment, 2 million jobs remain open because workers lack advanced manufacturing skills. Critics suggest this initiative is a way for corporations like GE to shift the cost of worker training onto the public education system.
Community College Manufacturing Credentials, American Dream Redefinition
President Obama announced a new initiative for 500,000 community college students to receive manufacturing credentials stamped by industry associations. The hosts argue this redefines the American Dream from one of prosperity and wealth to a "slavish" existence of merely being able to pay bills and live within one's means.
Hands Across California and Exploitative Charity Events
"Hands Across California" is a planned event where 1.5 million people will hold hands to benefit community colleges. The hosts criticize the event's website for using "pathetic stories" of disabled students for exploitation. They contrast this with their own "Nap for Humanity" movement and point out that the event's sponsors include major corporations like Yahoo.
