7.17.25 FTC looks into gender “medicine,” California loosens housing red tape, and teaching science in public schools

Summary

The World and Everything In It
Episode: July 17, 2025
Title: FTC Looks into Gender “Medicine,” California Loosens Housing Red Tape, and Teaching Science in Public Schools
Host: WORLD Radio

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1. Federal Trade Commission Investigates Gender Affirming Care

Overview:
The episode opens with a critical examination of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) investigation into gender-affirming care for minors. The FTC Chair, Andrew Ferguson, expressed concerns that certain medical practices related to gender transition in youth may constitute deceptive and unfair trade practices.

Key Discussions:

• FTC's Stance:
  Andrew Ferguson emphasized the FTC's role in protecting consumers from fraudulent practices, stating, "It is about caring for the most vulnerable among us and protecting them from manipulation, deception and abuse." (07:23)

• Personal Testimonials:
  Former pediatric patients shared their adverse experiences, highlighting severe side effects and psychological impacts. Eileen’s mother, Elvira, remarked, "Testosterone can increase aggression, emotional numbness and suicidal thoughts, especially in a vulnerable, unstable teen." (09:35)

• Legal and Medical Perspectives:
  Critics argue that the FTC is overstepping by delving into medical practices, with 149 FTC employees urging Ferguson to halt the conference. Ferguson countered, asserting the FTC’s authority in combating false health claims. Additionally, the Department of Justice's involvement through subpoenas to gender clinics underscores the gravity of the investigation.

Notable Quotes:

• Andrew Ferguson:
  "The Federal Trade Commission is the government agency responsible for protecting American consumers from scams, fraud and bad business practices." (07:23)

• Elvira:
  "No one stopped to ask if it was safe." (09:35)

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2. Housing Reforms in California Amid Environmental Concerns

Overview:
California Governor Gavin Newsom has enacted a bill to streamline housing construction by reforming the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), aiming to alleviate the state's persistent housing shortage aggravated by stringent environmental regulations.

Key Discussions:

• Impact of CEQA:
  CEQA has historically been a barrier to housing development, causing significant delays due to extensive environmental reviews. For instance, a San Francisco project was stalled for years, hindering the creation of nearly 500 housing units, including affordable ones. (14:05)

• Reform Details and Criticisms:
  The new legislation introduces exceptions for infill housing, simplifying the approval process for developments within already zoned urban areas. While proponents like Luis Morante believe this will address the housing gap, critics argue the reforms are limited and do not significantly impact the broader market. Russell Johnson noted, "It's not a blanket approval. It has to meet the definition of urban." (16:02)

• Environmental Concerns vs. Housing Needs:
  Environmental advocates like Dan Silver argue that CEQA ensures the protection of natural habitats and responsible development. Conversely, residents like Steven and Janet Anastasia highlight the personal struggles of affording housing amidst regulatory hurdles.

Notable Quotes:

• Russell Johnson:
  "If a site does meet the requirements, a developer can bypass CEQA, and it's a lot easier than having the potential for the CEQA lawsuit." (16:19)

• Dan Silver:
  "CEQA can produce better outcomes for both the environment and for housing. It's not anti-housing." (17:25)

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3. Assessing President Biden's Mental Fitness

Overview:
The podcast delves into the scrutiny surrounding President Joe Biden's cognitive abilities, highlighted by Capitol Hill hearings where key figures declined to provide insights into the president's mental health.

Key Discussions:

• Capitol Hearings:
  Anthony Bernal, Jill Biden's former chief of staff, and former White House doctor Kevin O'Connor both invoked their Fifth Amendment rights when questioned about President Biden's mental fitness. Republican Chairman James Comer pressed Bernal, asking, "Was Joe Biden fit to exercise the duties of the president?" (02:55)

• Political Implications:
  The hearings reflect deep partisan divisions and raise questions about the legitimacy and motivations behind the concerns over Biden's health. Casey Luskin echoed the frustration, stating, "He's doing a lousy job, but no, I'm not talking about that." (05:12)

• Inflation and Federal Reserve Policies:
  The discussion ties into broader economic concerns, including inflation rates and the Federal Reserve's strategies under Chairman Jerome Powell. President Trump’s expressed dissatisfaction with Powell's approach, hinting at potential dismissal, adds another layer of political tension. (05:20)

Notable Quotes:

• James Comer:
  "Was Joe Biden fit to exercise the duties of the president?" (02:55)

• Casey Luskin:
  "He's doing a lousy job, but no, I'm not talking about that." (05:12)

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4. U.S. Deports Criminals to African Nations

Overview:
The episode covers the controversial U.S. Supreme Court ruling permitting the deportation of convicted criminals to third countries. Recent actions have seen five individuals deported to Eswatini, marking a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy.

Key Discussions:

• Deportation Details:
  The U.S. has deported five men convicted of violent crimes to Eswatini, a Southern African nation. These individuals, hailing from countries like Vietnam and Jamaica, are awaiting potential relocation with assistance from the International Organization for Migration. (03:22)

• Supreme Court Ruling:
  The decision allows the Trump administration to send criminals to nations other than their birth countries, a move previously limited by international agreements. This week saw the latest deportations, following eight others sent to South Sudan earlier in the month.

Notable Quotes:

• Benjamin Eicher:
  "The flight followed a Supreme Court ruling allowing the Trump administration to deport criminals to nations other than their native countries." (03:41)

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5. Inflation Trends and Federal Reserve's Response

Overview:
Contrary to alarming reports of rising consumer prices, recent data indicates that wholesale inflation remains subdued. This has implications for tariffs and the Federal Reserve's monetary policies.

Key Discussions:

• Producer Price Index (PPI):
  June's PPI was flat, with wholesale prices increasing by only 2.3% over the past year, below expectations. This suggests tariffs may not be significantly driving up costs at this stage. (04:29)

• Federal Reserve's Stance:
  Jerome Powell has opted to delay interest rate cuts, preferring to observe the effects of tariffs on the economy. President Trump has publicly criticized Powell, suggesting he might consider dismissal if legal grounds allow. (05:20)

Notable Quotes:

• Casey Luskin:
  "He's doing a lousy job, but no, I'm not talking about that. We get, fortunately we get to make a change in the next, what, eight months or so." (05:12)

• Jerome Powell (reported):
  "The Fed would hold off on cutting interest rates, waiting to see the impact of President Trump's tariffs on inflation and the economy." (05:20)

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6. Teaching Evolution in Public Schools

Overview:
The podcast explores the challenges faced by biology teachers in public schools when addressing the topic of evolution, juxtaposed with creationist viewpoints. High school teacher Kristin Sedate shares her experiences and strategies in fostering critical thinking among students.

Key Discussions:

• Educational Constraints:
  Kristin Sedate highlights the limitations imposed by public school curriculums, preventing the inclusion of alternative origin theories like creationism. She states, "Your hands are pretty much tied in the public schools. You're very tied to the curriculum. You're very tied to the textbook." (22:22)

• Academic Freedom:
  Lawyer and geologist Casey Luskin discusses the narrow scope of academic freedom for teachers, emphasizing that despite legal allowances, institutional control often stifles diverse viewpoints. (25:49)

• Balanced Curriculum Debate:
  Sedate advocates for teaching both creationist and evolutionary theories to enable students to critically assess differing perspectives. She encourages, "They can be great scientists and be creationists... because they're willing to look at things critically and really consider the facts." (27:52)

Notable Quotes:

• Kristin Sedate:
  "We have no fossil record. No fossil record, no fossil record in all this strata. And then all of a sudden, you see all these fossils. And so again, to me, I'm like, that shows life came to be." (24:04)

• Casey Luskin:
  "We're talking about teaching scientific critiques of evolution, simply, peer-reviewed science that challenges, you know, some of the evidence that might be in the textbook." (25:24)

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7. Conservative Perspectives on Harvard's Direction

Overview:
Cal Thomas discusses Harvard University's contemplation of establishing a center for conservative scholarship, drawing parallels with Stanford's Hoover Institution. The conversation reflects concerns about ideological diversity and academic freedom within prestigious institutions.

Key Discussions:

• Harvard's Historical Shift:
  Once founded on Puritan and conservative principles, Harvard has evolved into a secular, liberal-leaning institution. The potential creation of a conservative center signals a response to perceived ideological imbalance on campus. (28:56)

• Critique of Liberal Dominance:
  Thomas argues that conservatives have been marginalized at Harvard, suggesting that separate centers underscore the rarity of conservative thought. He questions the effectiveness and intentions behind such institutions, pondering if they foster divisiveness. ([29:10](hypothetical timestamp))

• Call for Integrated Learning:
  Advocating for the inclusion of conservative thought within mainstream curricula, Thomas asserts that diverse perspectives enrich academic discourse and prevent intellectual echo chambers. ([31:00](hypothetical timestamp))

Notable Quotes:

• Cal Thomas:
  "Like the other old Ivy League schools, Harvard once had a religious and conservative foundation... But what we've seen in recent months on its campus, with its anti-Semitic, anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations." (32:23)

• William F. Buckley Jr. (Referenced):
  "I would rather be governed by the first 2,000 people in the telephone directory than by the Harvard University faculty."

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8. Innovative Approaches to Traffic Control in the UAE

Overview:
A lighter segment highlights the United Arab Emirates' creative use of road design to deter speeding, integrating musical elements into traffic safety measures.

Key Discussion:

• Beethoven’s Ode to Joy:
  The UAE employs road rumble strips on the E84 highway that, when driven over at speeds around 60 mph, produce sounds reminiscent of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy." This innovative method aims to discourage speeding through auditory feedback. (19:14)

Notable Quotes:

• Narrator:
  "Perhaps it's a good thing Beethoven isn't around to hear it." ([20:00](hypothetical timestamp))

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Conclusion

This episode of "The World and Everything In It" offers a multifaceted exploration of pressing societal issues, from regulatory interventions in healthcare and housing to debates on educational curricula and academic freedom. Through in-depth interviews, expert analyses, and personal testimonials, WORLD Radio presents a comprehensive narrative aimed at informing and inspiring its listeners.

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Timestamp References

• 07:23
• 09:35
• 14:05
• 16:02
• 16:19
• 17:25
• 02:55
• 05:12
• 05:20
• 03:22
• 03:41
• 04:29
• 06:35
• 07:05
• 09:14
• 22:22
• 25:49
• 27:52
• 28:56
• 32:23
• 19:14
• 20:00 (Hypothetical)

Note: Some timestamps referenced in the summary are hypothetical as the provided transcript does not cover the entire duration up to [33:07]. These should be adjusted based on the actual transcript timing.

Transcript

[Jenny Ruff]

Good morning. The Federal Trade Commission chair believes gender affirming care should be considered a deceptive and unfair practice for underage patients.

[Myrna Brown]

It is about caring for the most vulnerable among us and protecting them from manipulation, deception and abuse.

[Kent Covington]

Also, California's environmental laws have made housing shortages even more challenging. We'll hear how the governor is proposing to fix it. And a high school biology teacher who's helping her students think beyond the textbook.

[Kristin Sedate]

Kids these days understand coding and no kid will tell you that code just happens by itself.

[Kent Covington]

And Cal Thomas on truth and Harvard's decision to study conservatives.

[Jenny Ruff]

It's Thursday, July 17th. This is the world and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Jenny Ruff.

[Kent Covington]

And I'm Myrna Brown. Good morning.

[Jenny Ruff]

Up next, Kent Covington with today's news.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

Explosions in Damascus. As Israeli airstrikes targeted the Syrian Defense Ministry on Wednesday, strikes also hit the presidential palace and army headquarters. The Israeli military said the rare attacks in the heart of Damascus were an effort to protect members of the Druze minority from Syrian government forces. They were also designed to push Islamic militants away from Israel's border border. Syrian officials say the strikes killed at least three people and injured more than 30. In Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters, it's complicated. Obviously, these are historic long time rivalries between different groups in the southwest of Syria, Bedouins, the Druze community. And it led to an unfortunate situation.

[Myrna Brown]

And a misunderstanding, it looks like, between.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

The Israeli side and the Syrian side. Meantime, in Jerusalem, members of the Druze minority rallied outside the US Embassy. They called on President Trump to cut ties with Syria's president Ahmad al Shirra, saying they feared for their safety after clashes with Syrian government forces.

[Myrna Brown]

It's not a business. It's not a deal.

[Casey Luskin]

You cannot make deal with a person.

[Myrna Brown]

That is a killer, that what he knows is only to kill people and to kill people that are different than him.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

The Syrian government and the Druze minority have struck fragile ceasefire agreements, but many have their doubts as to whether the truce will hold. Jill Biden's former chief of staff was in the hot seat Wednesday on Capitol Hill facing tough questions which he declined to answer. Republicans on the House Oversight Committee grilled Anthony Bernal about President Joe Biden's mental fitness during his time in office. Chairman James Comer said he asked Bernal.

[Casey Luskin]

Was Joe Biden fit to exercise the duties of the president. He pled the Fifth.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

He said Bernal repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right to avoid self recrimination. When asked about Biden's cognitive fitness and the alleged misuse of the so called auto pin bearing the president's signature.

[Casey Luskin]

We believe there was illegal use of the auto pin and we're going to, we're going to continue to bring these people in, give them an opportunity to answer questions.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

Last week, Biden's former White House doctor Kevin o' Connor also took the fifth when questioned by the committee about Biden's mental fitness. Some African nations are now accepting foreign criminals deported from the US after their home countries refused to take them back. World's Benjamin Eicher has more.

[Myrna Brown]

A plane chartered by the US Government touched down in the southern African nation of Eswatini this week. Aboard that plane were five men convicted of violent crimes, including murder and assault against children. The men were citizens of Vietnam, Laos, Jamaica, Cuba and Yemen. U.S. officials say the men are being held in isolated prison units there awaiting possible relocation with help from the International Organization for Migration. The flight followed a Supreme Court ruling allowing the Trump administration to deport criminals to nations other than their native countries. Earlier this month, the US Sent eight other convicts to South Sudan, and US Officials are negotiating with more African nations to accept future deportation. For World I'm Benjamin Eicher.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

Some good news regarding inflation. Just one day after a report suggesting that consumer prices were growing at a faster pace, new numbers on Wednesday showed inflation at the wholesale level was cooler than expected. The Producer Price Index tracks what businesses pay for goods before they reach store shelves, and that index was flat in June. Over the past year, wholesale prices rose just 2.3% while the core measure was up 2.6%. Both of those numbers beat expectations. Some argue that is a sign that tariffs may not be driving up costs overall just yet. President Trump is pushing back on reports that he is considering firing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

[Casey Luskin]

He's doing a lousy job, but no, I'm not talking about that. We get, fortunately we get to make a change in the next, what, eight months or so.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

Powell has maintained that the Fed would hold off on cutting interest rates, waiting to see the impact of President Trump's tariffs on inflation and the economy. The president has been very unhappy about that, repeatedly blasting Powell and saying he has waited too long to take action. Trump has said he could still fire Powell if the White House finds legal cause to do so. There is debate about whether the president could legally fire Powell without cause. I'm Kent Covington and straight ahead, the Federal Trade Commission weighs in on fraud surrounding gender treatment claims, plus one teacher's mission to equip students with the truth about the origin of life. This is the World and Everything in it.

[Kent Covington]

It's Thursday, the 17th of July. Glad to have you along for today's edition of the World and Everything In It. Good morning, I'm Myrna Brown.

[Jenny Ruff]

And I'm Jenny Ruff. First up on the World and Everything In it can so called gender affirming care be considered consumer fraud?

[Kent Covington]

Families who've been told by doctors that cross sex hormones and surgeries would help their children's mental distress may have been misled. Now the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission says the agency wants to know if should be considered a deceptive or unfair trade practice. World's Juliana Chan Erickson has the story.

[Myrna Brown]

Please welcome to the stage the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, Andrew Ferguson.

[Andrew Ferguson]

Last week the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, Andrew Ferguson addressed an audience he doesn't normally interact with parents and children who say they were harmed by the effects of youth gender medicine.

[Myrna Brown]

As chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, Congress has entrusted me with protecting citizens from deceptive acts and practices.

[Andrew Ferguson]

The Federal Trade Commission is the government agency responsible for protecting American consumers from scams, fraud and bad business practices. They're the ones who warn you about those phony texts about unpaid highway tolls and hidden fees on your credit card. Ferguson said he believes pediatric gender medicine could be added to their list of scams and announced that the agency will soon issue a 60 day public comment period to hear from Americans about their.

[Myrna Brown]

Experiences and one of the reasons we are here today is examine whether some of the practices in gender affirming care are deceptive and require greater scrutiny by the ftc.

[Andrew Ferguson]

This is the first time the commission is looking into the issue. It's also the third federal agency to use its government authority to challenge the practice of pediatric gender interventions and Ferguson made clear where he stood on the issue.

[Myrna Brown]

It is about caring for the most vulnerable among us and protecting them from manipulation, deception and abuse. It is about healing the wounds that proponents of gender affirming care may have inflicted on our nation's children and parents and preventing the potential for future harm.

[Andrew Ferguson]

Former pediatric patients Claire Abernathy and Soren Aldaco told the FTC that doctors didn't warn them about the long term side effects of cross sex hormones and puberty blocking drugs like Lupron.

[Myrna Brown]

They didn't tell me that taking cross sex hormones and undergoing major surgery at 14 years old could leave me with pelvic floor dysfunction and urinary incontinence problems I have to manage now as a young adult. I'm only 20 years old. Testosterone also damaged my liver. I've had fatty liver disease since about 14. The Lupron essentially put my body in menopause. I gained weight. My psychiatric issues flared up. I experienced intense hot flashes, which made it really difficult to focus on my seventh grade homework.

[Andrew Ferguson]

Another parent said her daughter committed suicide at age 18, Eileen said, adopted a male gender identity, but also struggled with anxiety, depression and self harm. A therapist prescribed testosterone to Aileen but failed to notice that Eileen's mental condition was deteriorating. Here's Eileen's mother, Elvira said testosterone can.

[Elvira]

Increase aggression, emotional numbness and suicidal thoughts, especially in a vulnerable, unstable teen. But no one stopped to ask if it was safe.

[Andrew Ferguson]

Patients noticed that their doctors had stern words for the parents who didn't affirm their children's new gender identity.

[Myrna Brown]

The pediatrician then asked my dad in front of me, would you like a dead son or a living daughter? I was told that if I didn't do this, I would probably end up dead. She asked my parents if they would.

[Kristin Sedate]

Rather have a dead daughter or a living son.

[Myrna Brown]

I believed that I would die without transition.

[Andrew Ferguson]

A 2019 study by LGBTQ advocacy group the Trevor project reported that 35% of young people who identify as transgender considered suicide in the past year. But some medical experts say that puberty blockers and cross sex hormones won't help. A Swedish study shows that after 10 years, those who had undergone transgender hormones in surgery were 19 times more likely to die of suicide than regular adults. And a 2023 study of 315 underage patients who underwent hormone treatments also reported some concerning numbers. Dr. Michael Laidlaw is an endocrinologist, and.

[Myrna Brown]

The most common adverse event was actually.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

Suicidal ideation in 11 participants. And two kids or young people actually died by suicide. Which is. I thought that's what we were trying to prevent with this, weren't we?

[Myrna Brown]

Apparently not.

[Andrew Ferguson]

Still, some say the Federal Trade Commission is overstepping its boundaries by weighing in on a medical issue. In an open letter, 149 Federal Trade Commission employees asked Ferguson to cancel the conference because, in their words, the practice of medicine falls under the jurisdiction of state licensing boards, not the ftc. Ferguson disagrees.

[Myrna Brown]

The FTC is the federal government's guardian against false and deceptive health claims. We have brought dozens of enforcement actions against false and misleading health claims, from shyster snake oil salesmen to powerful pharmaceutical companies.

[Andrew Ferguson]

A few hours after Ferguson made the announcement, a representative from the Department of Justice had an announcement of its own. The department had issued subpoenas to nearly 20 gender clinics, making it the fourth federal agency to take action against pediatric gender medicine. Reporting for world, I'm Juliana Chan Erickson in Washington.

[Kent Covington]

Up next, housing versus environmentalism. Last month, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill to reform the state's landmark environmental law, one that critics blame for slowing construction on everything from housing to industry hubs.

[Jenny Ruff]

Some see the change as a boon to the housing market. Others see it as the governor trying to appear more moderate ahead of a bid for the presidency. World's Mary Muncie reports there just isn't.

[Myrna Brown]

That many houses available.

[Elvira]

Steven Anastasia and his wife Janet have been trying to buy or build a house in central California for almost three years. They've gone through a couple different options.

[Myrna Brown]

Through some mutual friends, we were able to be in a private offer for a house.

[Andrew Ferguson]

It was a hoarder situation.

[Elvira]

They helped clean it out a little and got a good look at the property. It was a barn house on five.

[Myrna Brown]

Acres and of course, the whole inside of the house is filled with stuff and no improvements to the property, so it's just bare property.

[Elvira]

After a few weeks, the sellers decided to see if they could get more.

[Myrna Brown]

Than the Anastasias offered, and it went for over $500,000.

[Elvira]

Stephen, Janet and their three kids are once again looking. In the meantime, they're living in a parsonage at reduced rent, but the church is considering selling the building, so they might not have housing for long.

[Myrna Brown]

And then we have nowhere to go.

[Elvira]

Since 2000, the price of mid tier homes in California has nearly quadrupled. So last month, California Governor Gavin Newsom approved a bill meant to streamline home building. Luis Morante works on housing policy with the Bay Area Council.

[Myrna Brown]

The California Environmental Quality act, probably better known as ceqa, has been a major barrier to local governments approving housing projects to developers being able to entitle housing projects.

[Elvira]

In 1970, then California Governor Ronald Reagan enacted CEQA. It's based on a federal law requiring federal agencies to create environmental impact statements before starting a project. When Reagan signed it, CEQA only applied to state and local agencies, but courts later expanded it to include private projects as well.

[Myrna Brown]

That was when all this trouble really started.

[Elvira]

The court's expansion allowed just about any Californian to ask for an environmental impact review of most projects. That means disgruntled neighbors could ask for a review of a new industrial complex or competitors could threaten to sue a business's expansion project. Mirante says that has led to major slowdowns.

[Myrna Brown]

For example, I'm familiar with a project in San Francisco that was on a vacant parking lot just a couple Blocks away from some of the best transit and some of the best jobs in the world.

[Elvira]

It would have created almost 500 units. 20% of them were scheduled to be affordable housing.

[Myrna Brown]

But that project was delayed by several years of CEQA litigation, and the developer was required to produce two documents, both of which were in excess of 1,000 pages each, of environmental analysis of technical analysis.

[Elvira]

Delays like that can kill a project, especially for smaller developers. So last month, Governor Newsom signed a bill that creates exceptions to ceqa, the biggest of which are for what's known as infill housing. That's housing within urban areas already zoned for residential use. Morante says the reform will go a long way toward filling the housing gap in California. But not everyone is so sure.

[Myrna Brown]

It only affects a very slim portion of projects in general.

[Elvira]

Russell Johnson works with Associated Builders and Contractors.

[Myrna Brown]

It's not a blanket approval. It has to meet the definition of urban. It has to meet the definition of infill. Has to be less than eight, and there are more.

[Elvira]

But if a site does meet the requirements, a developer can bypass ceqa, and.

[Myrna Brown]

It'S a lot easier than having the potential for the CEQA lawsuit.

[Elvira]

The threat of a lawsuit can kill a project just as quickly as an actual case. Johnson says the legislation is a necessary reform to ceqa, but it won't change much about the housing market in California because there are still so many other regulations and permitting requirements.

[Myrna Brown]

Life in California is nothing is easy, which is why we're more expensive than many of the states that are out there.

[Elvira]

But on the other side, Dan Silver with the Endangered Habitats League says those requirements are there to protect nature and people.

[Myrna Brown]

Have there been projects that were delayed? Yes, but generally for very good reasons.

[Elvira]

Silver points to a study by CEQA Works that says only about 2% of projects face CEQA litigation.

[Myrna Brown]

Just this year, my organization and others.

[Casey Luskin]

Filed CEQA lawsuit on a project that.

[Myrna Brown]

Was in very important wild lands, and we were concerned about endangered species.

[Elvira]

After a year or so, the developer agreed to shrink the project's footprint while upping the number of housing units.

[Myrna Brown]

CEQA can produce better outcomes for both the environment and for housing. It's not anti housing.

[Casey Luskin]

CEQA is better planning.

[Elvira]

Governor Newsom's record on environmental policies has been a mixed bag. He's leaned mostly in one direction, committed to habitat restoration and particularly hard on things he believes cause climate change. But his CEQA reform bill seems to be one more move in the other direction. Silver thinks that this bill is a bid to appear more moderate ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

[Myrna Brown]

He has definitely been a driving force behind these attacks on CEQA and an anti regulatory agenda.

[Elvira]

Silver is all for smart regulation that protects habitats. But back in central California, Steven and Janet Anastasia say California's restrictions go too far. They started looking to build when they couldn't buy, but permit requirements and safety regulations put that out of their price range. The reform wouldn't help people like them directly. It's really meant to encourage large scale projects, but it may increase supply and that could eventually bring costs down in their area. So for now, they're stuck in a waiting game.

[Myrna Brown]

And there's so many layers to it. It's not like, you know, there's a one size fits all solution, you know, and this is something that California has basically set itself up for for many, many years.

[Elvira]

Reporting for world I'm Mary Muncie.

[Juliana Chan Erickson]

Additional support comes from Nicaea Conference, a once in a lifetime gathering to honor our one Lord, remember our one faith and proclaim Our1 Gospel. Nicaeaconference.com.

[Kent Covington]

Speed humps, speed cameras, speed traps. Seems authorities will use whatever it takes to keep lead foot lawbreakers from speeding. The United Arab Emirates is taking a different approach. That's the sound of drivers on the E84 in the UAE playing Beethoven's Ode to Joy as they drive over road rumble strips. You know, those grooved raised patterns in the pavement designed to help us slow our roll? Well, when you combine those grooves with the speed of the vehicle, you can make a joyful sound. But here's the catch. When the rubber hits the road, it needs to be going around 60 miles per hour to get the tune just right. Perhaps it's a good thing Beethoven isn't around to hear it. It's the world and everything in it. Today is Thursday, July 17th. Thank you for turning to world radio to help start your day. Good morning. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Jenny Ruff]

And I'm Jenny Ruff. 100 years ago, the trial of the century took place in a small southern town, the state of Tennessee versus John Thomas Scopes. A Tennessee state law prohibited the teaching of evolution in schools. John Scopes was put on trial for violating that law.

[Kent Covington]

We've slated an episode about the Scopes trial for a special weekend edition of the World and Everything in it in partnership with our Double Take series. But today we'll hear from a current biology teacher and from a lawyer. They'll talk about the landmines at play when teaching evolution in the classroom today. And Jenny, you bring us the story.

[Kristin Sedate]

Where did I come from? Where am I going what is my purpose? How should I live? And what is truth?

[Jenny Ruff]

Those are the five worldview questions Kristin Sedate asks her high school students in biology class. Over the years, she's taught in both public schools and private Christian schools. In Christian schools, she can present the two origin stories, creation and evolution, side by side, then go through the questions.

[Kristin Sedate]

How does a Christian worldview answer those five questions? And how does an evolutionary worldview answer those five questions?

[Jenny Ruff]

But in public schools, it requires a lot more finagling. She says she can't teach about creation.

[Kristin Sedate]

Your hands are pretty much tied in the public schools. You're very tied to the curriculum. You're very tied to the textbook.

[Jenny Ruff]

That's because of the way the law has well evolved over the years. In the 1920s, a handful of states passed laws prohibiting the teaching of evolution. But in 1968, the Supreme Court ruled that such laws violate the establishment clause of the Constitution. Then, on similar grounds, a 1987 Supreme Court case struck down a Louisiana law that required the teaching of creation science alongside evolution. So how does a standard biology textbook today present evolution?

[Kristin Sedate]

It will say the theory of evolution, but it is absolutely presented as fact.

[Jenny Ruff]

The curriculum is based largely on the work of Charles Darwin. With the discovery of genetics, scientists added some upgrades over the years. Now it's known as neo Darwinism. But the theory has weaknesses, like how life arose from non life, or the gap that would explain how asexual organisms that replicate became male and female life forms that sexually reproduce.

[Kristin Sedate]

Mitosis and meiosis are two separate processes.

[Jenny Ruff]

And that life is complex and interdependent.

[Kristin Sedate]

Bones cannot exist without blood, but blood is made in the bones.

[Jenny Ruff]

Sedate also likes to talk to her students about the complexity of DNA.

[Kristin Sedate]

Our kids these days understand coding. They understand how precise coding has to be. And no kid will tell you that code just happens by itself, that it can just write itself. They understand design, they understand intelligent thought.

[Jenny Ruff]

Then there's the lack of transitional forms in the fossil record, combined with what's known as the Cambrian explosion.

[Kristin Sedate]

We have no fossil record. No fossil record, no fossil record in all this strata. And then all of a sudden, you see all these fossils. And so again, to me, I'm like, that shows life came to be. At this certain point.

[Jenny Ruff]

When she teaches, Sudate feels convicted to raise these points. But for biology teachers like her, discussing evolution's problems gets tricky in public school classrooms.

[Kristin Sedate]

You can absolutely lose your job and be blackballed as far as being hired somewhere else, that kind of thing.

[Jenny Ruff]

Many of these cases require the assistance of an expert I've been a California.

[Myrna Brown]

Licensed attorney since 2005.

[Jenny Ruff]

Casey Luskin is a lawyer and a geologist with the Discovery Institute. His law practice falls almost exclusively within the realm of academic freedom. He advises teachers on how to teach.

[Myrna Brown]

Evolution objectively without getting into legal trouble. It's a pretty weird niche area.

[Jenny Ruff]

The Discovery Institute, where Luskin works promotes the idea that many aspects in the universe are explained by an intelligent cause rather than undirected natural selection. Luskin says the term intelligent designer doesn't necessarily mean the Christian God. But in 2005, a federal district court found it's unconstitutional to teach intelligent design in public schools, claiming it is a form of creationism. But Luskin says teachers aren't teaching creationism.

[Myrna Brown]

We're talking about teaching scientific critiques of evolution, simply, you know, peer reviewed science that challenges, you know, some of the evidence that might be in the textbook.

[Jenny Ruff]

In fact, in the 1987 Supreme Court case, the court made a point to note that teaching scientific critiques of prevailing theories could be done as long as it has a clear secular intent.

[Myrna Brown]

And so when a teacher is doing that, they are on very firm legal ground.

[Jenny Ruff]

Even so, teachers who poke holes in neo Darwinism get pushback. Luskin says in reality, teachers have very little academic freedom.

[Myrna Brown]

So if a school board does not want you to teach x, y or z, even if it's legal, even if there's nothing unconstitutional with doing that, the school board has the right basically to exercise very tight control over what teachers teach in the classroom.

[Jenny Ruff]

In response, some states have passed academic freedom bills.

[Myrna Brown]

This is legislation that protects the rights of teachers to teach controversial scientific topics like evolution or maybe like human cloning.

[Jenny Ruff]

When Sedate taught in private Christian schools, she found much more flexibility. She appreciated the fact that the textbook presented quite a bit of information about evolution.

[Kristin Sedate]

Anyone in Christian education would agree that we need to understand what the theory of evolution is, what it says, so students can learn about it. So they can.

[Jenny Ruff]

But it also presented the Christian worldview of creation. And Sedate covers the fact that there's challenging questions within the Genesis account too.

[Kristin Sedate]

I completely understand that a God that we can't see with our eyes, that created the world just by speaking. I said, I understand that. That doesn't make sense either.

[Jenny Ruff]

And although she believes in a six day creation, she explains that Christians may disagree on the details and timing of the Genesis account, but Genesis makes it.

[Kristin Sedate]

Clear that there is an all powerful God who is the designer and creator of the world and the life that we see in that world.

[Jenny Ruff]

Sedate says when schools allow both theories to be taught together. It leads to actual learning, giving students the opportunity to weigh the pros and cons of both explanations. Sedate says everybody puts his or her faith in something. Students who believe nature speaks to a designer have an uphill battle.

[Kristin Sedate]

Unfortunately, our science classrooms are geared these days, especially at instit of higher learning would tell them that they're less than, that they're foolish, that they're not intelligent if they believe in creation.

[Jenny Ruff]

But Sedate inspires her kids to not get discouraged.

[Kristin Sedate]

I tell them they can be great scientists and be creationists and they can be just as great of a scientist, maybe even greater, because they're willing to look at things critically and really consider the facts.

[Jenny Ruff]

It's something Sedate says young creation scientists need to hear. Today is Thursday, July 17th. Good morning. This is the world and everything in it. From listener supported World Radio. I'm Jenny Ruff.

[Kent Covington]

And I'm Myrna Brown. Up next, conservative roots commentator Cal Thomas says it took federal funding cut threats for Harvard University to get serious about once again pursuing its original religious and conservative foundation. But are they going about it the right way? Here's Cal.

[Casey Luskin]

The Wall Street Journal reports that leaders of Harvard University are discussing whether to create a center for conservative scholarship. It would mirror the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, California. That the discussion is taking place at all is a tacit admission that Harvard has been excluding conservative thought from its curriculum, not to mention most of its professors who toe the liberal line and teach their students to do the same. Like the other old Ivy League schools, Harvard once had a religious and conservative foundation. Founded by Puritans in 1636, Harvard had its roots in the Puritan worldview and way of life. Its stated purpose then was to train ministers and prepare students for community and civic leadership. By the mid 18th century, Harvard had evolved into an increasingly secular institution, broadening its curriculum to include a more liberal arts education and establishing a research branch. While it still has a divinity school, that too is liberal in its theology and more aligned with a liberal political agenda. Nathan Pusey was Harvard's 24th president, serving in that role from 1953 until 1971. He once said, quote, the finest fruit of serious learning should be the ability to speak the word God without reserve or embarrassment, unquote. Given what we've seen in recent months on its campus, it would appear that God has become an embarrassment unless his name is used as a blasphemy. The idea that there should be a separate institution to study conservatism will be an affront to some conservatives, it sounds like a form of separate but equal. Are conservatives considered such a rare species at Harvard that their way of thinking must be studied in order to be understood? Are they a life form from another planet that could infect others if not kept away from normal people? Will students who study conservatism be required to wear ID badges or armbands to identify them to liberal students and liberal professors so as to avoid possible contamination? Will this new branch of studies produce a conservative commencement speaker instead of the continuing stream of liberal speakers at graduation? Over the years there have been many conservative intellectuals whose ideas and policies have demonstrated far more positive results than secular liberalism. Such thoughts and history should be incorporated into mainstream learning and not put at the back of the bus. One of the towering conservative intellectuals of the 20th century was the late William F. Buckley Jr. While a Yale man himself, he famously said this about Harvard I would rather be governed by the first 2,000 people in the telephone directory than by the Harvard University faculty. Imagine what he might say now, given all that has transpired at the university, with its anti Semitic, anti Israel and pro Palestinian demonstrations. I guess it's better to have a place where conservative thought can be studied and students exposed to a different way of thinking than to have nothing at all. But even better to have that line of thinking taught alongside liberal thought. That would give conservative thought and conservative thinkers the recognition they deserve, along with examination of why conservative economic, social and foreign policy ideas have produced mostly better results than secular liberalism. I'm Cal Thomas.

[Jenny Ruff]

Tomorrow Culture Friday with Katie McCoy and Colin Garbarino reviews the latest Smurfs movie. That and more Tomorrow. I'm Jenny Ruff.

[Kent Covington]

And I'm Myrna Brown. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio. World's Mission is biblically objective journal that informs, educates and inspires. The psalmist writes, you make known to me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16, verse 11. Go now in grace and peace.

[Myrna Brown]

Sam.