Topic: Scholastic

The Scholastic News Magazine mock election results are released, showing Hillary Clinton winning in a landslide among schoolchildren. The hosts note that the poll has been historically accurate in predicting the winner of every presidential election since 1964. They discuss the cultural significance of the "Weekly Reader" tradition in American schools.

John C. Dvorak promises an upcoming report on the Scholastic Corporation and its influence on public schools through textbooks and book fairs. A donor suggests Adam Curry should appear on the "Knight Attack" podcast with Brian Brushwood. The segment also features a $33,000 donation from Henry Cunningham, who credits the show with helping him avoid student loans.

A listener reports that his third-grade son came home crying after a Scholastic reading test that presented global warming as an absolute catastrophe. The test reportedly used multiple-choice questions where the only "wrong" answer was a skeptical view of climate change. The parent used a John Coleman video to counter the "government propaganda" taught in the classroom.

The hosts critique President Barack Obama's shifting rhetoric regarding his "top priority," comparing his statements on national security to previous claims about the middle class and economic growth. They reference a Scholastic.com educational guide to explain the roles of the President, including Chief of State and Commander in Chief. The summary highlights the simplified way these roles are taught to children, such as greeting astronauts or deciding on wartime bombings.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is linked to studies praising the Common Core State Standards. The hosts discuss the influence of the Gulen movement on charter schools in Texas and warn that the new standards are designed to "dumb down" the population.