INGERSOLL: Era of Deception

October 5, 2026

AGE OF DELUSION

Richard Barrera recently contributed to the ongoing narrative among left-leaning politicians who seem to promote a distorted view of reality, during an interview on October 4 with Conan Nolan from NBCLA.

In today’s climate, we’ve seen instances like Lindsay Clancy being portrayed as innocent while Sydney Sweeney is on the other side of the moral spectrum. There’s a case of someone who openly confessed to planning a fake rape accusation at the center of a new actual investigation in New York. And then there are groups advocating for recognition of AI relationships, suggesting they have souls and deserve special treatment under the law.

Now we turn to Barrera, who is the top candidate for California’s state superintendent, overseeing K-12 public education. In a clip shared by NBC, Nolan posed a straightforward question:

Conan Nolan:

“Discussing higher education policy: There’s been a persistent debate at California universities concerning admissions standards and standardized testing. Would you support bringing back the SAT?”

Richard Barrera:

“Absolutely not. That idea, again, suggests that if students are struggling or not prepared for college-level work…

Nolan:

…some math teachers at Cal and UCLA are expressing concerns that these students lack basic knowledge of fractions…

Barrera:

So, math teachers at UCLA, Berkeley, and other institutions: part of your taxpayer-funded role is to educate our students. Teach them fractions.

Nolan:

When they’re already at the country’s top universities?

Barrera:

Yes. We have students coming in from difficult backgrounds—first-generation students overcoming substantial obstacles just to be on campus. Those students are eager to learn quickly. What they need is some help to catch up; what they don’t need is exclusion.

Nolan:

Critics might argue that if high school graduates are entering the UC system without basic math skills, that suggests a failure in K-12 education. How do you plan to address that significant gap before they reach college?

Barrera:

The solution isn’t to use standardized tests as a barrier to entry—tests that historically correlate more with income than with the ability to learn. The focus should be on investing in early remediation, enhancing core curricula in high schools, and ensuring public colleges work with K-12 districts instead of turning students away.

And there it is.

In short, Barrera seems opposed to testing. He appears to reject the notion of outstanding outcomes or remarkable institutions. And definitely, he doesn’t endorse the idea of exceptional individuals.

If we don’t assess them, then everyone is essentially the same. Especially those “first-generation” students (which might include some undocumented immigrants).

It’s baffling how someone aspiring to manage public education can so casually dismiss responsibility. If he secures the role, it would be crucial for him to ensure that students leaving his K-12 system achieve fundamental comprehension in math and reading.

I mean, professors at public universities aren’t responsible for that any more than park rangers or tollbooth operators are, despite being public employees as well.

Barrera’s line of reasoning feels as absurd as a very large person in a sundress shouting “my pronouns are she/her!” at a confused cashier.

Why would a premier physics professor be expected to teach a group of non-native English speakers basic fractions? Isn’t that a significant misallocation of time and resources?

Still, Barrera pushes on.

This trend of ignoring obvious reality isn’t new, unfortunately. Barrera represents yet another Democrat who seems detached from the real world while still remaining very much present among us.