Tag Archives: culture trends

Seattle Public Schools is replacing its program for gifted students with a more “inclusive” and “equitable” program in an ongoing trend of states scrapping honors classes in the name of diversity. SPS began phasing out its Highly Capable Cohort (HCC) schools and classrooms for advanced learners in the 2021-22 school year, claiming the program did not address racial inequalities. Its …

Pop icon Shakira is blasting the “Barbie” movie, saying her sons “absolutely hated it” and felt it was “emasculating,” according to a report. “I’m raising two boys,” the star told Allure in a Monday feature. “I want ‘em to feel powerful too [while] respecting women. I like pop culture when it attempts to empower women without robbing men of their …

A Harvard Law School professor is urging the Ivy League university to eliminate mandatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statements that force faculty and staff to “toe a political line.” In the Harvard Crimson column “Mandatory DEI Statements Are Ideological Pledges of Allegiance. Time to Abandon Them,” contributing opinion writer and professor Randall L. Kennedy said requiring hires in higher …

“Takedown” host Chris Hansen argued Sean “Diddy” Combs’ connections to the rich and powerful were unlikely to protect him from federal charges as allegations against the hip hop mogul continue to pile up. Combs’ mansions were raided last week after a series of damning civil lawsuits accused him of trafficking sex, guns and drugs and other bad behavior. He settled …

A famous atheist and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins explained he identifies as a “cultural Christian” in an interview after learning Ramadan lights were hung on a street in the UK as opposed to hanging lights to celebrate Easter. Dawkins was referring to Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, turning on 30,000 lights for Ramadan – the Muslim holy month – on …

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger penned a tongue-in-cheek letter to Larry David skewering his focus on his state’s election law in the final season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” HBO’s long-running comedy is coming to a close with its 12th season following 24 sporadic years on television. The overarching plot of the final season has been tied to the Peach …

After Scotland’s Hate Crime Act took effect Monday, “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling, dared Scottish police to arrest her for calling “a man a man.” According to the Scottish Parliment’s website, the “Hate Crime and Public Order Bill” adds “a new crime of stirring up hatred against any of the protected groups covered by the Bill,” one of which is …

As of Monday, immigrants can now select a third gender option, or “X,” when applying for naturalization. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a news alert that revealed that it had revised Form N-400, the Application for Naturalization, to provide “Another Gender Identity,” the first USCIS form to do so. “Historically, USCIS forms and associated documents have only …

The University of Texas at Austin laid off dozens of employees who worked in their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs to comply with a new state law, according to a report. University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell announced Tuesday the school’s Division of Campus and Community Engagement is being dissolved and its programs and funding transferred to …

J.K. Rowling, the author of the “Harry Potter” book series, challenged Scotland’s new hate speech law on Monday, and police have declared they will not prosecute the author. Scotland’s new Hate Crime and Public Order Act was activated on April 1. The text of the bill, originally introduced years before, warns against acts that “stir up hatred against a group …