Kibbe on Liberty – Episode 333 Summary: "School Choice Is Making Incredible Progress"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Kibbe on Liberty
• Host/Author: Blaze Podcast Network
• Guest: Corey DeAngelis
• Release Date: May 21, 2025
• Episode Title: Ep 333 | School Choice Is Making Incredible Progress

Introduction and Recent Progress

In Episode 333 of Kibbe on Liberty, host Matt Kibbe welcomes Corey DeAngelis to discuss the overwhelming advancements in school choice legislation across the United States. Corey shares optimistic updates about sweeping legislative changes in states like Texas and Tennessee, as well as intriguing developments at the federal level, particularly concerning the Department of Education.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt Kibbe [00:00]: "Corey DeAngelis is back with us today with great news, updating us on a tsunami of school choice legislation happening in places like Texas, Tennessee and elsewhere."
• Corey DeAngelis [17:08]: "This is a seismic shift in the amount of states and just the velocity of how quickly we're moving on the issue of school choice."

Critique of Teacher Unions and Randy Weingarten

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Randy Weingarten, head of the National Education Association (NEA), and his role in opposing school reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Corey criticizes Weingarten’s motives and effectiveness, asserting that her actions have inadvertently fueled the school choice movement.

Notable Quotes:

• Corey DeAngelis [01:49]: "They think that your kid is not your kid. It's society's kid. It's communist gobblegook."
• Corey DeAngelis [05:28]: "Randy Weingarten was complicit in all of this. They held children's education hostage to secure billions of dollars in ransom payments."
• Corey DeAngelis [12:02]: "The experts don't really know what they're doing. The so-called experts."

Political Shift: Republicans as the Parental Choice Party

Corey highlights a pivotal political realignment where the Republican Party has emerged as the primary advocate for parental rights in education. This shift is attributed to grassroots movements and the backlash against union influence within both parties.

Notable Quotes:

• Corey DeAngelis [03:53]: "The GOP has basically emerged as the parents party."
• Matt Kibbe [06:02]: "They are captured. I mean, 99% of her political funds go to the Democrats and they're... it's big business."

Federal Level Actions and Department of Education

The conversation delves into federal efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, discussing legislative strategies like the "Returning Education to Our States Act" spearheaded by Senator Mike Rounds. Corey explains how these efforts aim to shift control back to states and reduce federal bureaucracy.

Notable Quotes:

• Corey DeAngelis [23:18]: "They're defunding it through the reconciliation process. They've already fired about half of the staff, which is over a thousand people."
• Matt Kibbe [27:56]: "It's probably more constitutionally feasible given that she's sort of rearranging deck chairs."

Impact of COVID and the Rise of Homeschooling

Corey connects the COVID-19 pandemic's lockdowns to a surge in homeschooling, emphasizing how forced homeschooling exposed parents to the shortcomings of public schools. This experience has galvanized many families to support school choice and seek alternative education models.

Notable Quotes:

• Corey DeAngelis [11:07]: "We saw at least a doubling of homeschoolers since pre-pandemic level."
• Matt Kibbe [11:07]: "We followed the journey of various moms who went through that process."

Specific State Examples: Texas, Tennessee, and More

Detailed discussions about the legislative successes in 16 states, including Texas and Tennessee, showcase how these states have embraced school choice. Corey provides insights into the political maneuvers and voter sentiments driving these changes, illustrating the broader national momentum.

Notable Quotes:

• Corey DeAngelis [19:00]: "In the past four years, we've had more advancement on school choice than in the preceding four decades."
• Corey DeAngelis [21:40]: "Florida has super majority Republican control of both chambers. Republicans, if you want to win reelection, lean into parental rights."

Critique of Elite Institutions and Federal Funding

The episode veers into a critique of elite universities like Harvard, arguing against federal funding for institutions perceived as ideologically biased. Corey and Matt discuss the moral and economic implications of subsidizing such institutions and advocate for reallocating funds directly to families and parents.

Notable Quotes:

• Corey DeAngelis [42:28]: "Taxpayers shouldn't be on the hook for adults making consensual decisions about their education."
• Corey DeAngelis [48:23]: "It’s credentialing. It’s the credentialing treadmill... it's something that we shouldn't be forced to pay through taxes."

The Role of Social Media and Public Awareness

The impact of social media in exposing and amplifying issues within public schools is highlighted. Corey explains how platforms like TikTok have played a pivotal role in making parents aware of the indoctrination happening in schools, thereby fueling the demand for school choice.

Notable Quotes:

• Corey DeAngelis [33:05]: "Social media has helped us push for school choice in one way."
• Corey DeAngelis [19:00]: "They think that your kid is not your kid. It's society's kid. It's communist gobblegook." (Repeated to emphasize the ideological battle)

Conclusion and Call to Action

Wrapping up the episode, Matt and Corey emphasize the critical role parents play in sustaining the school choice movement. They call for continued vigilance, active participation in political processes, and unwavering support for educational freedom to ensure the ongoing success of school choice initiatives.

Notable Quotes:

• Corey DeAngelis [55:28]: "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
• Matt Kibbe [59:30]: "Thank you for an optimistic episode."

Additional Resources

• Corey DeAngelis on X (formerly Twitter): @DeAngelisCorey
• Book Mentioned: The Parent Revolution: Rescuing Your Kids from the Radicals Ruining Our Schools by Corey DeAngelis
• Support the Podcast: Visit freethepeople.org to support Kibbe on Liberty and explore related content.

This episode underscores a transformative period in American education, highlighting the intersection of politics, parental rights, and legislative action. Corey DeAngelis provides a passionate argument for school choice, positioning it as a cornerstone for educational reform and parental empowerment.