Teaching Texas

Today, we’re bringing you another podcast from Wonder Media Network that we think you’ll love: Words to Win By. Hosted by renowned communications researcher and campaign advisor Anat Shenker-Osorio, this season unpacks real-world narrative shifts that led to real-world victories, from Brazil to Ireland to here in the United States. 

In the 2022 Midterms, Americans defied polling, pundits and precedent to stave off the predicted Republican “Red Wave” takeover. Despite significant challenges, Democrats were able to hold the Senate, minimize House losses, and flip or retain key battleground state legislatures and governorships. In the first episode of the latest season, we delve into why conventional wisdom about politics doesn’t just miss the mark, but actively impedes what we must do to prevail against right-wing efforts to seize and hold power. Hear about the research, ad making, organizing and strategy that helped deliver key Democratic victories by reminding us of the collective power we have to decide our own future. 

• Learn more about the show at WordsToWinBy-Pod.com
• Follow Anat on Twitter
• Follow Wonder Media Network
  • Website
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
• Subscribe to Michael Podhorzer’s substack Weekend Reading
• Keep up with Way to Win’s work on their website

Since Teaching Texas wrapped last fall, the state has been embroiled in a debate over school vouchers, climate change education and district takeovers. But flying slightly under the radar – though equally consequential – is House Bill 1605. In a discussion recorded live at Texas Tribune Fest, Grace is joined by Rep. Gina Hinojosa and State Board of Education Chairman Keven Ellis to dive into how the bill re-allocates power, impacts teachers, and charts a new future for Texas public education.

Each year, Texas public school students learn the story of their state’s origin: the battle for the Alamo. The story has become a rallying cry throughout the ages for Texans, and Americans – It’s an underdog tale of sacrifice. But, it’s also not very historically accurate. In the series finale, Grace explores the danger of teaching myths as though they’re fact. 

Teaching Texas is a new audio documentary from Wonder Media Network that uncovers the surprising history behind America’s latest culture war. 

WMN on Twitter: @wmnmedia 

Grace Lynch on Twitter: @gracelynch08

This fall, for the first time in 12 years, the Texas State Board of Education was due to review the Social Studies TEKS. In doing so, they attempted to answer the question: how should we teach U.S. History? Against the backdrop of outrage over CRT and a midterm election that will likely bring a more conservative board to power – what did the SBOE decide?

Teaching Texas is a new audio documentary from Wonder Media Network that uncovers the surprising history behind America’s latest culture war. 

WMN on Twitter: @wmnmedia 

Grace Lynch on Twitter: @gracelynch08

Library books aren’t required reading like textbooks are, but they can play a big role in a child’s education. As activists and politicians bring book banning back into the education debate, one group of Texas parents are fighting back. They want their kids to read stories that center diversity – and in the case of one contentious book, they won. 

Teaching Texas is a new audio documentary from Wonder Media Network that uncovers the surprising history behind America’s latest culture war.

WMN on Twitter: @wmnmedia 

Grace Lynch on Twitter: @gracelynch08

Critical race theory. It’s the latest rallying cry for people attempting to disrupt trust in public education. What do we lose when parents vilify educators? To find out, Grace pays a visit to the Texas suburb at the center of the national conversation.

Teaching Texas is a new audio documentary from Wonder Media Network that uncovers the surprising history behind America’s latest culture war.

WMN on Twitter: @wmnmedia 

Grace Lynch on Twitter: @gracelynch08

Nowadays, standards known as TEKS dictate what every Texas student needs to learn. The State Board of Education is in charge of approving these standards. So, when a creationist dentist gained control of the board, those standards started to reflect his beliefs – for better or worse.

Teaching Texas is a new audio documentary from Wonder Media Network that uncovers the surprising history behind America’s latest culture war.

WMN on Twitter: @wmnmedia 

Grace Lynch on Twitter: @gracelynch08

When the Gablers’ protégé, Neal Frey, gained control of Educational Research Analysts…he took a different approach.  Grace journeys to Longview, Texas to meet the man himself and witness the last vestige of the Gablers’ enterprise.

By the 80s, Norma and Mel had gained real traction in the textbook industry. And with their newfound power, they start dictating what goes into textbooks. They threaded their conservative Christian beliefs into textbooks across the nation, with little regard for separating fact from opinion.

Teaching Texas is a new audio documentary from Wonder Media Network that uncovers the surprising history behind America’s latest culture war.

WMN on Twitter: @wmnmedia 

Grace Lynch on Twitter: @gracelynch08

On the outskirts of Hawkins, Texas, a couple found a problem in one of their kids’ school books. They didn’t have a background in education, but because they lived in Texas, their concern ignited a national movement and several decades of influence over what the rest of the country learned. 

Teaching Texas is a new audio documentary from Wonder Media Network that uncovers the surprising history behind America’s latest culture war.

WMN on Twitter: @wmnmedia 

Grace Lynch on Twitter: @gracelynch08

Introducing Teaching Texas, a new audio documentary from Wonder Media Network that uncovers the surprising history behind America’s latest culture war.

WMN on Twitter: @wmnmedia 

Grace Lynch on Twitter: @gracelynch08

In our series finale, Grace examines what happened on election night and where Wisconsin goes from here. 

Read Dan Kaufman's article in The New Yorker, Will Trump's Broken Promises to Working-Class Voters Cost Him the Election?  

An analysis of Wisconsin's election results from Craig Gilbert at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

Winning Wisconsin is a Wonder Media Network production. It's created by Grace Lynch, and produced by Grace Lynch and Maddy Foley. Jenny Kaplan is our Executive Producer. Dana Munro contributed reporting to this episode. 

WMN on twitter

Grace Lynch on twitter

Thanks for listening!

To win Wisconsin, campaigns can't solely rely on turning out their base of supporters, they need to persuade voters. 

Read FiveThirtyEight's analysis of how Trump's gaining support with young Black and Hispanic men and losing support among white women in suburbs . 

Winning Wisconsin is a Wonder Media Network production. It's created by Grace Lynch, and produced by Grace Lynch and Maddy Foley. Jenny Kaplan is our Executive Producer. Dana Munro contributed reporting to this episode. 

WMN on twitter

Grace Lynch on twitter

The city blamed for Hillary's defeat is home to some of the starkest racial disparities in the country. Four years later, the citizens of Milwaukee are in a fight for the vote, for their health, and for racial justice. 

Read Joseph O'Neill's article in The New Yorker, "How Milwaukee Could Decide The Next President"

Learn more about BLOC and their work in Milwaukee

Winning Wisconsin is a Wonder Media Network production. It's created by Grace Lynch, and produced by Grace Lynch and Maddy Foley. Jenny Kaplan is the Executive Producer. 

WMN on twitter

Grace Lynch on twitter

Four years after overwhelmingly supporting President Trump, Wisconsin's dairy farmers are struggling to stay afloat. 

Read Dan Kaufman's article in The New Yorker, "How Suffering Farmers May Determine Trump's Fate" 

Winning Wisconsin is a Wonder Media Network production. It's created by Grace Lynch, and produced by Grace Lynch and Maddy Foley. Jenny Kaplan is the Executive Producer. 

WMN on twitter

Grace Lynch on twitter

How Governor Scott Walker's attack on labor transformed Wisconsin into ground zero for divisive politics. 

Read The Fall of Wisconsin: The Conservative Conquest of a Progressive Bastion and the Future of American Politics by Dan Kaufman

Read How The Right Lost Its Mind by Charles Sykes 

Winning Wisconsin is a Wonder Media Network production. It's created by Grace Lynch, and produced by Grace Lynch and Maddy Foley. Jenny Kaplan is the Executive Producer. 

WMN on twitter

Grace Lynch on twitter

Winning Wisconsin is a Wonder Media Network production. It's created by Grace Lynch, and produced by Grace Lynch and Maddy Foley. Jenny Kaplan is the Executive Producer. 

Background reading: 

FiveThirtyEight's tipping-point analysis. 

WMN on twitter

Grace Lynch on twitter

Winning Wisconsin is a Wonder Media Network production. It is created by Grace Lynch and produced by Grace Lynch and Maddy Foley. Jenny Kaplan is the Executive Producer. 

WMN on Twitter: @wmnmedia 

Grace Lynch on Twitter: @gracelynch08