Trump Declares War on Libraries—Signs Order to Eliminate Federal Library Funding

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Libraries are one of the last truly public institutions—free, accessible to all, and serving millions every year. So of course, the Trump administration wants to destroy them.

On Friday night, Trump signed an executive order eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency that funds America’s libraries. The same institution that provides:
📚 Early literacy programs for kids
📚 High-speed internet access for communities left behind by telecom giants
📚 Summer reading programs for children
📚 Job search assistance for unemployed workers
📚 Braille and talking books for people with visual impairments

All for just 0.003% of the federal budget—peanuts compared to corporate subsidies and military spending. But let’s be real: this isn’t about money. This is about power.

Libraries are one of the last spaces in America not controlled by corporations or the ultra-rich. They provide free access to knowledge, support marginalized communities, and serve as safe havens. That’s why the right-wing hates them.

This move is part of a broader fascist attack on public institutions. They’ve been banning books, terrorizing librarians, and defunding schools. Now they’re going after the very existence of libraries themselves.

We fight back.
📢 Call your reps and demand they stop this.
📢 Show up at town halls and library board meetings.
📢 Flood Congress with calls, emails, and protests.
📢 Support your local libraries—because once they’re gone, they won’t come back.

🔥 Defend public libraries. Defend public knowledge. Defend democracy. 🔥


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DOGE Staffer Violates Treasury Policy—And Gets Rewarded?

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Another day, another blatant disregard for ethics and security from the Trump administration. This time, it’s Marko Elez, a former Musk employee turned government staffer, who violated Treasury policy by emailing personal data—unencrypted—to Trump officials.

Let’s recap:
⚠️ A 25-year-old with no business handling sensitive Treasury data was “mistakenly” given read-and-write access to federal payment systems.
⚠️ He resigned in February over racist social media posts.
⚠️ Instead of being held accountable, he was rehired—this time at the Social Security Administration, which also handles sensitive data.
⚠️ The Treasury claims this is ‘low risk’ because the leaked data didn’t contain Social Security numbers—because, apparently, as long as you don’t go full identity theft, it’s okay?

Meanwhile, 19 state attorneys general are suing the Treasury over DOGE’s access to payment systems, and courts have already ruled that the whole process has been “rushed and chaotic.” Yet the Trump administration is doubling down, brushing off serious security violations and giving Elez another government job.

This isn’t just incompetence. This is how authoritarianism operates—handing sensitive government roles to unqualified loyalists while gutting oversight. Elez might be a small player, but the bigger picture is clear: this administration values cronyism over competence, and security be damned.

💡 We need real accountability, fundamental safeguards, and real consequences for data breaches—before these people start handing out our Social Security numbers to billionaires and cronies.


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Hochul’s Cellphone Ban: More Control, Less Freedom

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wants a statewide, bell-to-bell cellphone ban in schools, dictating how every district, student, and teacher handles devices. But the New York Senate is pushing back, demanding flexibility for schools and ensuring students won’t be suspended over cellphone violations.

The governor claims she’s doing what “parents and teachers want.” But let’s be honest: this isn’t about education but control. Schools already have policies. Local educators, not politicians, should decide what works best for their students.

Let’s break it down:
📵 Banning cellphones won’t fix student disengagement. The real problems—underfunded schools, high-stakes testing, economic stress, and a lack of mental health support—remain untouched.
📵 A one-size-fits-all ban ignores real student needs. Many students use phones for accessibility tools, translations, medical needs, family contact, and learning resources.
📵 Enforcement will fall on teachers and create unnecessary conflict. Instead of teaching, they’ll be the “phone police.”

Yes, social media addiction is a real issue. But banning tech won’t solve systemic failures in education. If Hochul cared about student well-being, she’d invest in smaller class sizes, more counselors, and policies that treat kids like humans, not distractions.

Good on the NY Senate for fighting back. Educators and communities should make school decisions—not politicians looking for a quick-fix headline.


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Theocracy in Public Schools: Arizona GOP Pushes Religious Chaplains Over Trained Counselors

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Arizona Republicans are at it again—dismantling public education and replacing it with religious indoctrination. Their latest stunt? SB 1269 allows untrained religious chaplains to provide mental health counseling to students instead of licensed professionals.

Rep. David Marshall says “Jesus is better than a psychologist,” as if prayer is an adequate substitute for professional mental health care. Meanwhile, Sen. Wendy Rogers, a known far-right extremist with ties to white nationalism, is leading the charge to erase the separation of church and state entirely—because, in her words, “that’s a myth.”

Let’s be clear: this bill isn’t about helping students. It’s about using public schools to funnel state-sanctioned religious propaganda to kids. Republicans claim there’s a “spiritual deficit” causing student mental health struggles—not economic inequality, not school shootings, not climate anxiety, not lack of access to healthcare, but a lack of religion.

This bill:
⚠️ Violates the First Amendment by forcing religious figures into public schools.
⚠️ Endangers students by replacing licensed counselors with untrained chaplains.
⚠️ Opens the door for Christian Nationalism while silencing minority faiths (or, let’s be honest, outright banning non-Christian chaplains).

Meanwhile, Democrats have been fighting for more school counselors, psychologists, and social workers—REAL solutions to the youth mental health crisis. But the GOP would rather ignore science, shove their religion down kids’ throats, and strip public education for parts.

Public schools should be secular, mental health support should be evidence-based, and the government should NOT be a pulpit.


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Public Broadband Under Siege: Corporate Interests Threaten Rural America’s Digital Future

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The $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program was designed to deliver high-speed fiber internet to underserved rural communities, ensuring equitable access to the digital world. However, recent developments indicate a troubling shift in priorities.​

Evan Feinman, the outgoing director of the BEAD program, has raised alarms about the current administration’s intentions to divert substantial funds to Elon Musk’s Starlink, a satellite-based internet service. Feinman warns that this move could leave rural America with subpar internet service, enriching billionaires at the expense of quality infrastructure.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has announced a “rigorous review” of the BEAD program, criticizing it for not yet connecting any individuals and attributing this to “woke mandates” and regulatory burdens. This rhetoric paves the way for policy shifts favoring satellite providers like Starlink, potentially sidelining the superior fiber-optic solutions that BEAD was set to prioritize.

Feinman’s departure and cautionary message highlight a broader issue: the infiltration of corporate interests into public policy. The potential redirection of funds from fiber projects to satellite services compromises the quality of internet service for rural communities. It funnels public money into the coffers of the ultra-wealthy.​

We must oppose this corporate takeover of our public infrastructure. High-speed fiber internet is a public good and a necessity in today’s digital age. Allowing billionaires to dictate the quality and accessibility of our internet services undermines the principles of equity and public welfare.


The Eclectic Educator is a free resource for everyone passionate about education and creativity. If you enjoy the content and want to support the newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps keep the insights and inspiration coming!

When Government Teacher Meets Stoic Guru: McMahon & Holiday’s Epic Book Chat

Affectionately dubbed “America’s Government Teacher,” Sharon McMahon recently geeked out with Ryan Holiday at his Painted Porch bookstore, diving into overlooked gems of American history. Holiday praised Booker T. Washington’s “Up from Slavery,” highlighting its impactful pragmatism. McMahon connected this to the profound ripple effects on figures like Julius Rosenwald, Toni Morrison, and John Lewis.

Their enthusiastic exchange ranged from Paul Jennings’s “A Slave in the White House” to Taylor Branch’s monumental civil rights chronicles, celebrating storytelling that transforms history into vivid, human narratives. Alongside laughter and shared struggles about balancing life and work, both authors reminded us how vital—and fun—history can be.

Their meeting was a vibrant testament to the power of knowing history, geekiness and all.

📚 The list


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Could Medical-Style Residencies Save Our Struggling Schools?

Teacher preparation programs could take a page from medical training, emphasizing hands-on practice, focused research, and sustained mentorship. Residency-style programs offer promising solutions as the education landscape grapples with high turnover among new teachers and declining student achievement. These models provide novice teachers extensive classroom experience under expert guidance, ensuring they are better equipped from day one. While traditional student teaching often lacks depth and practical relevance, these residencies focus on “gradual release” approaches, allowing new educators to build confidence and skills gradually rather than diving straight into full responsibility.

But adopting a medical residency model isn’t without its hurdles. Funding challenges, inconsistent state requirements, and uneven compensation remain significant barriers. As education leaders look toward the future, it’s clear that reshaping teacher preparation is desirable and necessary for improving classroom outcomes nationwide.

Mental Health, Teacher Pay, and School Choice: What’s Missing in Governors’ Education Plans?

Across the country, governors have laid out ambitious education plans for 2025—but have they missed the mark on boosting student achievement? While state leaders from both parties broadly agree on increasing education funding, supporting student well-being, and enhancing career pathways, few have directly addressed declining academic performance. FutureEd’s analysis reveals significant bipartisan commitments, including strengthening teacher pay and addressing youth mental health, yet highlights stark ideological divides over school choice and the role of diversity initiatives in education.

With federal pandemic-relief funds drying up, previously celebrated interventions like tutoring and enrichment programs are fading into the background. As governors debate whether school choice initiatives or stricter academic standards will drive student improvement, educators wonder: Are we missing an opportunity to place learning at the heart of education policy?