I'm Brian Lehrer. This is my daily politics podcast from WNYC Studios. It's Wednesday, January 26th.

By now, you've probably heard extensive discussion on critical race theory. We've talked about it on

the show a lot, but it's come up

in the news cycle again, following up on his campaign promise to ban teaching the concept in

schools. The new Virginia governor, Glenn Yonkin, has now signed an executive order that,

quote, to, quote, end the use of inherently divisive concepts, including

critical race theory. Now, while the order doesn't quite specify what concepts count as divisive,

it does go on to say this, quote, inherently divisive concepts like critical race theory and its

progeny instructs students to only view life through the lens of race and presumes that some

students are consciously or unconsciously racist, sexist, or oppressive, and that other students

are victims. This denies our students the opportunity to gain important facts,

core knowledge, formulate their own opinions, and to think for themselves. It goes on,

we must enable our students to take risks, to think differently, to imagine, and to see

conversations regarding art, science, and history as a place where they have a voice, unquote, from Virginia

Governor Glenn Yonkin. But whose voice, exactly? And according to Politifact, the widespread

teaching of critical race theory in that state's education system isn't even happening,

but that hasn't stopped Virginia and other states from trying to limit the

practice. The Brookings Institution tracks nine other states. Virginia is the one that's been

most in the news, but nine other states too, banning the discussion, training, and or orientation

that the U.S. is inherently racist as well as any discussions about conscious and unconscious bias,

privilege, discrimination, and oppression, the way the Brookings Institution sums up what's being

banned, even if it doesn't mention CRT by name in any of these states.

...