Hello, everyone.
I apologize for being away from work more than I anticipated recently. I started to feel unwell last week, and my recovery has taken longer than expected. Time is moving on, I guess!
It hasn’t been easy, especially since I’m a father of two little ones who are about to turn three in early August.
While the baby naps, I thought I could take the chance to write a little during my “maternity leave”—which feels kind of silly!
Let’s dive in!
All roads lead to…
Rome. The saying, “Omnes viae Romam Ducunt,” has roots that trace back to the Middle Ages, but it’s even older than that.
What it essentially conveys is that during the Roman Empire’s peak, no matter where you were—whether in a small village, city, or outpost—you could eventually find your way to Rome if you traveled long enough.
This notion has been on my mind quite a bit as I consider the history of the Catholic faith in light of our current political landscape. I know I’m not the only one pondering this.
Last night, while I hosted a networking dinner for various conservative media representatives, an older woman inquired about the tattoo on my left arm—a Roman legionary insignia on a well-worn gladius.
This design was quite popular among many Marines from my generation, so it’s not exactly unique.
One of our special guests mentioned he had an upcoming interview with the Secretary of Education and asked if we might have insights to share.
—
A little over twelve hours ago, I stood before a group of enthusiastic Capitol Hill interns, delivering a heartfelt address about, if I may say, “being aggressive” and the benefits of that approach.
Someone in the crowd asked, “What do you believe is the most important issue young conservatives should focus on today?”
Education, without a doubt.
—
If you follow the trail of significant issues—transgender ideology, illegal immigration, poor policing, the increasing acceptance of socialism—you’ll find that they all eventually connect back to education. The entire framework, from K-12 all the way through higher education, has morphed into a system for recruiting and nurturing leftist ideologies.
The real concern isn’t merely the erosion of education itself; rather, it’s the fact that education has turned into a systematic process for growing and disseminating radical leftist ideologies.
This “watering down” of education is a consequence of a radical leftist takeover. To infiltrate educational spaces, those on the left need to find ways to legitimize the credentials of their most devoted advocates. Simplifying the criteria to obtain such degrees is one path they’ve taken.
You can advocate for whatever matters to you. Is illegal immigration your main concern? Think about where the phrase “no one is illegal” originates. Where do activists and lawyers gain their indoctrination? Propaganda for multicultural values perhaps?
Interestingly, both private and public universities have financial motivations to sustain multicultural ideologies. Just take a look at how much revenue they’re generating. Recently, there’s been an influx of international students as well.
What other challenges exist? What about the rise of socialism? Contemporary socialists, from Mamdani to Michel Wu to Chevalier, would struggle to win elections without a semi-privileged, downwardly mobile, university-educated class.
For instance, in D.C.’s mayoral race, a socialist candidate could not have triumphed in a demographic predominantly made up of working-class black voters, but she managed to outpace her competitors among transiently educated white demographics.
Look at the composition of modern American Democratic Socialists. Over 80% are non-Hispanic white, and a similar percentage has some college education.
This pattern holds true across various cities and states.
Or maybe you’re concerned about issues like public facilities, women’s sports, or men dressed as women reading to kids. The primary antagonist could be seen as a “gender goblin” in women’s attire.
You might choose to disrupt such events or urge local libraries to halt drag queen story hours. Stopping trans boys from joining girls’ volleyball teams could be a small community victory. I find that really encouraging.
But it’s a bit like swatting at yellow jackets and hoping for relief. It doesn’t solve the root problem unless you tackle it directly.
Twenty years ago, these discussions weren’t prevalent.
Who’s behind these “gender goblins”?
While taking down an aircraft on the runway is a fine accomplishment, striking at the core operation would yield far greater results.
—
Currently, at least 40 states allow their governors to veto budget items, giving them broad powers to appoint members to public university boards.
Some governors, like DeSantis and Abbott, have been somewhat flexible with these powers but mostly in small, experimental instances.
I argue that the fastest way to disrupt the leftist pipeline and address the significant political issues we face today is for Republican governors to step up. They should actively utilize their elected powers.
This involves budget cuts and appointing individuals who can revise curricula and staffing. Yes, staffing too. Bring the administrator-to-student ratio back to reasonable levels—sometimes, it’s so skewed that there’s literally one administrator for every four students—and eliminate entire departments. All critical theory must go.
There are two primary obstacles to this approach. First, it’s complicated. This process necessitates thorough auditing to uncover ineffective people and programs.
Secondly, imagine the media uproar if DeSantis were to implement changes that could put a significant number of staff at public universities out of work.
Oh, the backlash would be monumental.
—
In the short run, the consequences may be severe. The media will be outraged. There will be numerous newly unemployed individuals. The New York Times might highlight any perceived missteps regarding historical content.
Yet, I envision that in the long run, this will play out differently.
Initially, critical theorists will need to find alternative environments to thrive, and blue states may become their refuge. If those states choose to bankrupt themselves with self-destructive ideologies, so be it.
As education in red states improves, it becomes a more appealing option. Genuine academics and serious students will gravitate toward these institutions.
Over time, what once seemed like a widespread issue in education will likely appear significantly fragmented. While some states offer top-notch K-12 and higher education, others may be left with degree mills that lack respect.
Your guess is as good as mine regarding how long it might take for these structures to disintegrate completely, but I believe they will.
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Catch you on Monday.
Other links
Democrats’ second Kamala coup in Maine
Last-minute developments.
New footage seems to show Sen. Mitch McConnell being escorted into an ambulance.
Unbelievable.
Court ruling against tuition for illegal aliens in state.
Housekeeping matters.
