The once hyped trickle down economy never really trickled down much. Sadly, the same can't be said for the hate spread by grandstanding politicians who use fear and cultural polarization to divide Americans in a cheap, transparent effort to get votes. That hate-driven exploitation, especially when it comes at the expense of the youngest of those who identify as LGBTQ, trickles through communities and school boards and all the way into living rooms across the country. These politicians aren't just pandering, they're actively fostering prejudice, fueling animosity, and propagating hostility, punching down at a small segment of the population because of who they choose to be or who they choose to love. Thankfully, some families are able to overcome the hate and see the fear-mongering for what it is. Here's a story of one father who eventually saw through the nonsense to find his daughter; a change that required a transition of his own. "Before his transgender daughter was suspended after using the girls’ bathroom at her Missouri high school. Before the bullying and the suicide attempts. Before she dropped out. Before all that, Dusty Farr was — in his own words — 'a full-on bigot.' By which he meant that he was eager to steer clear of anyone LGBTQ." AP: As his trans daughter struggles, a father pushes past his prejudice. "'It’s almost like a transgender person,' he says of his transformation. 'There’s the dead me. And then there’s the new me.'" 2The Whole Shebang"Gun manufacturers, gun stores and public officials have all faced civil suits. Parents are being scrutinized over how their children got access to firearms used in school shootings. And experts say the criminal charges against a Virginia school official are particularly striking, and could inspire more prosecutors to look deeply at the conduct of teachers or administrators in the wake of classroom massacres." WaPo (Gift Article): Amid relentless school shootings, scrutiny extends beyond the shooter. It's good to see the scrutiny extending beyond the shooters, but I'd rather see it spread to politicians than to principals and teachers. 3Lobster Role"Maine has a lot of lobsters. It also has a lot of older people, ones who are less and less willing and able to catch, clean and sell the crustaceans that make up a $1 billion industry for the state." So what's the solution for the state with the oldest population in America? The same one that's driving much of the economic growth in the country: Immigrants. NYT (Gift Article): Immigrants in Maine Are Filling a Labor Gap. It May Be a Prelude for the U.S. 4Weekend WhatsWhat to TV: I'm a sucker for romantic series that follow a couple's relationship over time. And I definitely enjoyed One Day on Netflix, which my daughter recommended and was kind enough to watch a second time. If you never saw it, Normal People on Hulu follows a similar pattern and was excellent (and launched the thenceforth soaring career of Paul Mescal and of the chain he wore in the show). 5Extra, ExtraWaiting for Iran: Things are (more) tense in Israel and at the White House as "Israel is bracing for a worst-case scenario that U.S. officials believe could materialize within just hours — the possibility of a direct attack on Israeli soil by Iran in retaliation for a strike almost two weeks ago that killed seven Iranian military officers. Iran has vowed to take revenge for Israel killing its commanders, who were hit by an April 1 strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria's capital." A top US general is in Israel and the Pentagon has moved additional assets to the region. Here's the latest from CNN. 6Feel Good Friday"On the third day of the 2022 draft, Brock Purdy's mom brought home cake and balloons as he waited to be picked. He immediately gave her his version of a dirty look, which is just a slightly raised eyebrow. 'Mom, I told you I don't want a party,' he said. 'I might not even get picked.' 'I know, I know,' Carrie Purdy said. 'This is just for us to celebrate a little after it's over. But if you do get picked...' 'You already told everybody in town to come over, didn't you?' Brock asked. Carrie smiled. He knows her too well. She told about 100 friends and neighbors in Maricopa County, Arizona, to hustle over if they saw Brock's name get called. 'I'll pop all the balloons and eat the cake myself if you don't get picked, OK?' she said. Brock laughed and nodded in agreement. He could live with that." ESPN: How Mr. Irrelevant became the most beloved underdog in sports.
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