The Signal (Episode 2) - Merchants of Deception: The Dark Money & Front Groups Trying to Destroy Public Education, with Maurice Cunningham

In Central Bucks School District the Moms 4 Liberty blob just challenged 65 books. This interview explains the far-right money, politics & orgs involved in this national crusade, & how to fight back.

On this episode, I welcome Maurice Cunningham to the show. Maurice is the author of the book Dark Money and the Politics of School Privatization. He retired in 2021 as associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. His work has been distributed through the Independent Media Institute and has appeared in publications that include the Boston Globe, Alternet, Tampa Bay Times, The Detroit Free Press, and The Portland Press-Herald (ME), as well as The Bucks County Beacon. Today we talk about a report Maurice just published this month for The Network for Public Education entitled Merchants of Deception: Parent Props and Their Funders, which pulls back the veil on the right-wing figures, their tactics, and the funding behind today’s attack on public education in Bucks County and beyond. 

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BucksCountyBeacon @BucksCoBeacon

In The Signal's 2nd episode @cmychalejko speaks w/Maurice Cunningham about his new report Merchants of Deception: Parent Props & Their Funders, which exposes the right-wing extremist money & politics behind today's war on public education. #BucksCounty

podbean.comThe Signal | Merchants of Deception: The dark money and front groups behind school privatization with Maurice CunninghamOn this episode, Cyril welcomes Maurice Cunningham to the show. Maurice is the author of the book Dark Money and the Politics of School Privatization. He retired in 2021 as associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. His work has been distributed through th…

My 5 Book Recommendations to Further Shine a Light on the Issue

1. Dark Money and the Politics of School Privatization, by Maurice Cunningham.

2. A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door: The Dismantling of Public Education and the Future of School, by Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider

3. Slaying Goliath: The Passionate Resistance to Privatization and the Fight to Save America's Public Schools, by Diane Ravitch

4. Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope, by bell hooks

5. Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right, by Jane Mayer

BucksCountyBeacon @BucksCoBeacon

In @CBSDSchools we're now seeing the bitter fruit fall from the far-right school board's new book (banning) challenge policy a law firm tied to Christian Nationalist org wrote the final draft of. Over 60 books have been challenged. This is just the beginning. Board has final say!

WHYY News @WHYYNews

The Central Bucks School District will now review a total of 65 books for “inappropriate” and “sexualized content.” @EmilyKRizzo reports. https://t.co/BY0hwEw2Lu

Additional Resources: 

• The Disinformation Playbook Targeting Our Public Schools and Elections

• MassPoliticsProfs

• The Network for Public Education

• Public Schooling Battle Map

• Bucks County Beacon Education Coverage

The Signal is produced by Kevin Mahoney, Raging Chicken Media.

Music by Maf é Tulà and Cartas a Felice, "La Loca." Panela Music. 

Follow us on Twitter:

• @BucksCoBeacon

• @cmychalejko 

• @RCpress