Michael Petrilli
@michaelpetrilli.bsky.social
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📥 306
📝 189
President of the Fordham Institute, executive editor of Education Next, proud father.
The end of affirmative action helped mostly white women, not white men: "Among 71 private, highly selective colleges, only 72 more white male students enrolled in 2024 than in the previous fall. (White women increased by 479 students at those colleges.)"
hechingerreport.org/after-affirm...
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Did the end of affirmative action lead to fewer Black and Hispanic students?
Most people believed the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to end affirmative action would cause a big drop in Black and Hispanic enrollment at the nation’s top colleges. What actually happened is more co...
https://hechingerreport.org/after-affirmative-action-takeaways-and-puzzles-from-college-admissions-data/
1 day ago
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Adam Gamoran
7 days ago
I don’t represent an education reform organization, but I would sign this letter penned by
@michaelpetrilli.bsky.social
fordhaminstitute.org/national/com...
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ICE and ed reform
In private conversations, and at policy conferences, education reformers are increasingly asking whether we should join the resistance against ICE. Some of you will surely think that this question is ...
https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/ice-and-ed-reform
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A way forward on ICE for ed reformers, with perspectives from
@deniseforte.bsky.social
@conorpwilliams.bsky.social
@karenvaites.bsky.social
&
@radiokeri.bsky.social
. A narrow focus on reinstating schools as safe zones can attract broad support. Demanding everyone join the ICE
#resistance
will not.
8 days ago
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Cara Jackson
12 days ago
At minimum I'd like to see reformers acknowledge that ICE is compromising schools' ability to operate in accordance with Plyler v. Doe. It would also be great to see attention to the evidence on this issue
www.nber.org/papers/w34452
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The Effects of Immigration Enforcement on Student Outcomes in a New Era of Immigration Policy in the United States
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...
https://www.nber.org/papers/w34452
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Jen Jennings
13 days ago
Anyone who believes in the rule of law should oppose stopping people based on their assumed race/ethnicity, attempting to change established asylum law by force rather than through legislation, targeting children, and creating an environment of state terror.
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Opinion | State Terror Has Arrived
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/opinion/state-terror-has-arrived.html?searchResultPosition=1
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Should education reformers join the resistance against ICE?
schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/should-edu...
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Should education reformers join the resistance against ICE?
SCHOOLED | Friday, 2/6/26
https://schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/should-education-reformers-join-the
13 days ago
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I'm with the teachers unions on this one, which is not something I say often. Schools are for learning, not immigration enforcement.
add a skeleton here at some point
14 days ago
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Minnesota teachers sue to keep ICE off school property Two school districts and a teachers union allege that the immigration crackdown has spilled onto campuses and interrupted the functioning of schools across the state.
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
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Minnesota teachers sue to keep ICE off school property
Two school districts and a teachers union allege that the immigration crackdown has spilled onto campuses and interrupted the functioning of schools across the state.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/02/04/minnesota-teachers-sue-ice/
14 days ago
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Jen Jennings
16 days ago
All of this via Boston College's John Reyes via
@michaelpetrilli.bsky.social
: "More expansive approaches to parental choice that de-prioritize serving populations most in need...in favor of universal access is hard to square with the Church’s teaching on the preferential option for the poor."
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Jen Jennings
20 days ago
This is a
@michaelpetrilli.bsky.social
appreciation post. Everyone should read his newsletter today, which dissects what's going on with private vs. charter choice w great clarity.
add a skeleton here at some point
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For National School Choice Week, supporters keep moving the goal posts Their latest demand: Funding parity for private schools, even though they exclude all manner of kids and aren't held accountable for results.
schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/for-nation...
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For National School Choice Week, supporters keep moving the goal posts
SCHOOLED | Friday, 1/30/26
https://schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/for-national-school-choice-week-supporters
20 days ago
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Should tutoring play a big role in America’s schools going forward? That's the question we've been debating over at SCHOOLED for the past two weeks, with
@lizcohen12.bsky.social
@kevinhuffman.bsky.social
@mattbarnum.bsky.social
@matthewakraft.com
@cedr.bsky.social
and many more.
29 days ago
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Here's hoping that more Democrats--and more presidential aspirants--embrace education reform like Rahm has.
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
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Republicans took control of education. Can Democrats take it back?
Democrat Rahm Emanuel, eyeing a presidential run, says his party must focus on educational achievement, not culture wars.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/01/21/rahm-emanuel-democrats-education/
29 days ago
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Morgan Polikoff
29 days ago
“It is a very strange phenomenon, but the fact that you have states left, right and center adopting mandates that children learn cursive is not something I could have predicted,” Mr. Polikoff added. “Who hand-writes hardly anything?”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/n...
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Cursive Makes a Comeback in New Jersey Schools
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/nyregion/cursive-new-jersey-schools.html?unlocked_article_code=1.F1A.gQSV.-A3eKRoF6-1i&smid=url-share
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How Do Charter Schools Serve Students with Disabilities? Lessons from Michigan
reachcentered.org/publications...
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How Do Charter Schools Serve Students with Disabilities? Lessons from Michigan | REACH
The mission of REACH is to provide objective, rigorous, and applicable research that informs and improves school choice policy design and implementation to increase opportunities and outcomes for disa...
https://reachcentered.org/publications/the-effect-of-charter-schools-on-identification-service-provision-and-achievement-of-students-with-disabilities
30 days ago
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As reporters get ready to publish their "Trump year one" stories, I hope someone can nail down what has and hasn't changed in the real world. Including: Did they really end up cutting many grants? Contracts? Including from IES? All the money went out the door, so where did it go?
about 1 month ago
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Liz Cohen and Kevin Huffman make the case for tutoring
schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/liz-cohen-...
@lizcohen12.bsky.social
@kevinhuffman.bsky.social
@marcportermagee.bsky.social
@alexanderrusso.bsky.social
@mattbarnum.bsky.social
@matthewakraft.com
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Liz Cohen and Kevin Huffman make the case for tutoring
SCHOOLED | Friday, 1/16/26
https://schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/liz-cohen-and-kevin-huffman-make
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Paul Bruno
about 1 month ago
Do Universal SEL Programs Raise Test Scores?
www.educationnext.org/do-universal...
Maybe not super clear.
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Do Universal SEL Programs Raise Test Scores?
Policymakers should approach new claims with caution
https://www.educationnext.org/do-universal-sel-programs-raise-test-scores/
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Paul Bruno
about 1 month ago
The Education Exchange: Teacher Salaries Cut, Even When Public Districts Have More Money
www.educationnext.org/the-educatio...
It seems like maybe a strategic political - and quite possibly substantive - error for the left to keep ceding ground on teacher salaries to the right.
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The Education Exchange: Teacher Salaries Cut, Even When Public Districts Have More Money
Paul E. Peterson interviews Aaron Smith, Director of Education Reform, Reason Foundation
https://www.educationnext.org/the-education-exchange-teacher-salaries-cut-even-when-public-districts-have-more-money/
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Dan Goldhaber
about 1 month ago
Love this review of
@aefpweb.bsky.social
's Live Handbook (
@aefplivehandbook.bsky.social
), a terrific resource for those wanting a quick take on many ed policy/practice topics, the connections between them, & where you can go to get more info:
livehandbook.org
fordhaminstitute.org/national/com...
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Evidence-Based Education Policy Research | Live Handbook
Explore evidence-based education policy research at our digital hub. Access data-driven insights to improve learning outcomes and shape effective policies.
https://livehandbook.org
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Via
@mattyglesias.bsky.social
: Schools are getting worse in most red states The “Southern surge” is great, but it’s just four states.
www.slowboring.com/p/schools-ar...
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Schools are getting worse in most red states
The “Southern surge” is great, but it’s just four states.
https://www.slowboring.com/p/schools-are-getting-worse-in-most
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Matt Barnum
about 1 month ago
wait, so where did the idea that small-group tutoring failed and was a waste of money come from? or is it just that it fell short of the highest effect sizes from prior literature?
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Matt Barnum
about 1 month ago
I mean these effects are not quite as big as we might have hoped but nothing to sneeze at.
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Matt Barnum
about 1 month ago
I admittedly have not dug into the research super closely or read Liz's book yet (though I plan to). But I don't look at this graph and think all the money on tutoring has been "wasted." I think we've run a bunch of underpowered studies but in aggregate they clearly lean positive.
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Cara Jackson
about 1 month ago
So tutoring doesn’t necessarily require a huge influx of cash. Re: idea of grade retention, short-term test score gains might be offset by long-term losses, e.g.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
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The Effects of Grade Retention on High School Outcomes: Evidence from New York City Schools
This study examines the causal impact of grade retention on high school attainment outcomes. We use administrative data on New York City public school students and a regression discontinuity design...
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19345747.2023.2287607?casa_token=kZF3jpBjzaUAAAAA%3Aw_X93wLx7wgms4FsmAXvVrPY1ZqlPvDm77Dr9-vKXABerbn94FwnK6r0CVqtm7dfifH3ALAUDQ7r#abstract
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Cara Jackson
about 1 month ago
As you note, “tutoring” in-school is sometimes equivalent to “small group instruction.” It’s also basically “Response to Intervention” in some cases (side note: that’s not a criticism; people who call RTI tutoring are likely just trying to get $ for cash-strapped systems).
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Matthew A Kraft
about 1 month ago
But also count me on team — lets make targeted investments in teacher compensation and provide educators with great support and instructional materials. 3/3
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Matthew A Kraft
about 1 month ago
I think we got the order wrong in our understandable attempt to help as many kids as we could as fast as possible. We went for scale and are now trying to get to quality. We need to focus on quality & then scale horizontally (lots of small programs) instead of vertically (expanding program size) 2/3
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Matthew A Kraft
about 1 month ago
Mike - I think you are asking the right questions. My take is while the post-pandemic tutoring evidence has been less positive than hoped, that is in part because our expectations were inflated and our evaluations were premature. These programs take time get right at scale. 1/3
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Should tutoring play a big role in America’s schools going forward? I'm not so sure. What do you think?
schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/should-tut...
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Morgan Polikoff
about 1 month ago
Our experiment in answering the question "what if you made the single worst person the most powerful man on the planet?" is really not going well.
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Matt Barnum
about 1 month ago
A new roundup from me: -Was the Mississippi miracle really debunked? -Can better schools help address affordability? -An update: Which party do voters trust on education -Higher-ed's "vibecession" continues
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/a-debunkin...
?
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Has the “Mississippi miracle” been debunked?
Chalkbeat Ideas roundup: Debunking a purported debunking, examining affordability and education, and higher-ed’s crisis of vibes
https://cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/a-debunking-debunked-affordability-and-schools-higher-ed-s-vibecession-and-more
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The Middle Class Is Shrinking Because of a Booming Upper-Middle Class
www.aei.org/research-pro...
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https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/the-middle-class-is-shrinking-because-of-a-booming-upper-middle-class/
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Dan Goldhaber
about 1 month ago
Teacher human capital...more evidence that it really matters for long-run student outcomes:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Chad Aldeman
2 months ago
{new} The rate at which teachers leave the profession has been remarkably stable for the last 40 years. Read my latest for
@educationnext.bsky.social
-->
www.educationnext.org/are-teachers...
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Are Teachers Abandoning Teaching?
On the contrary, data show teacher turnover remains consistently low
https://www.educationnext.org/are-teachers-abandoning-teaching-data-show-teacher-turnover-remains-low/
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Dan Goldhaber
2 months ago
I'd also add that I wish we saw more federal leadership on education, at least bully pulpit work drawing attention to the fact that we need to do better for the nation's students.
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Dan Goldhaber
2 months ago
I do feel like we've turned a corner based on the reaction to stories like those about the UCSD report, but I'll believe that things have really changed when we see policy changes. Also, I'm sure my views are colored by living in WA state, which is very anti testing.
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Dan Goldhaber
2 months ago
Episode 999 altert! I love the year end summaries, especially when it's about ed policy/research. And while I might change the emphases - a bit less optimistic - this one is great. 👇
fordhaminstitute.org/national/res...
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The good, the bad, and the best research of 2025 | Episode 999 of The Education Gadfly Show
This week, Mike Petrilli looks back at the highs and lows of education reform in 2025 as we wrap up our final episode of the year.
https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/resources/good-bad-and-best-research-2025-episode-999-education-gadfly-show
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Robert Kelchen
2 months ago
Workers are feeling increasingly anxious about losing their jobs in a tough labor market...and those with higher education levels aren't exempt. The prospect of AI being used for job cuts is scaring people.
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
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Smart, from Josh Barro, especially: "Many of the people who have pushed this anti-assessment agenda are the same people who lament declining political support for educational institutions and declining funding for their activities."
2 months ago
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Morgan Polikoff
2 months ago
Four day school weeks are featured prominently in my upcoming book about bad ideas in education because they are one of the absolute worst ideas in education.
add a skeleton here at some point
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Of all the terrible ideas... Toledo Public Schools is considering a four-day week. This is a TERRIBLE move for rural schools, but at least you can understand the argument wrt long bus rides. But an urban district? Despicable!
www.toledoblade.com/local/educat...
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Toledo Public Schools considering sweeping cuts and changes
Toledo Public Schools is bracing for millions in state and local funding cuts beginning in 2026, a shortfall that district leaders say will force sweeping ...
https://www.toledoblade.com/local/education/2025/12/08/toledo-public-schools-considering-sweeping-cuts-changes/stories/20251208096
2 months ago
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Matt Barnum
2 months ago
I enjoyed joining
@michaelpetrilli.bsky.social
to discuss the new mythologies of higher education. Net tuition is not soaring, the value of a degree is not plummeting and neither is four-year college enrollment.
educationgadflyshow.substack.com/p/is-the-col...
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Is the “college enrollment crisis” a myth?
Episode 998 of The Education Gadfly Show
https://educationgadflyshow.substack.com/p/is-the-college-enrollment-crisis
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My Fordham Institute colleagues David Griffith and Jill Hoppe on a recent study by Michael Hartney &
@dmhouston.bsky.social
Better Schools Start with Better School Board Elections
www.the74million.org/article/bett...
@the74.bsky.social
@mpolikoff.bsky.social
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Better Schools Start with Better School Board Elections
Griffith and Hoppe: Aligning school board contests with November elections can improve turnout and representation.
https://www.the74million.org/article/better-schools-start-with-better-school-board-elections
2 months ago
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Morgan Polikoff
3 months ago
@michaelpetrilli.bsky.social
with a nice roundup of responses to that "debunking" of the Mississippi Miracle (which was pretty thin gruel, I agree). Really enjoying this newsletter - worth the (free) subscription.
schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/debunking-...
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Debunking the debunkers on the Mississippi Miracle
SCHOOLED | Friday, 12/5/25
https://schooledbymikepetrilli.substack.com/p/debunking-the-debunkers-on-the-mississippi
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Wow, good for Governor Polis! Colorado governor plans to opt into Trump-endorsed initiative that some fear will lead to voucher program
coloradosun.com/2025/12/05/c...
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Colorado governor plans to opt into Trump-endorsed initiative that some fear will lead to voucher program
The federal program would dole out scholarships to both public and private school students through donations from taxpayers in exchange for federal tax credits
https://coloradosun.com/2025/12/05/colorado-federal-tax-credit-scholarship-program-voucher/
3 months ago
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Nate
3 months ago
🔥🔥🔥
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Jenn Borgioli Binis
3 months ago
One of THE hardest conversations to have in progressive spaces is about supporting public ed and what that means. Part of that is accepting it's a conservative (small c) project and that means that sometimes, Conservatives (big C) are worth listening to and make good allies. Case in point.
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Adam "I Was Hoping We Could Keep It" Laats
3 months ago
What do knowledgeable GOP ed leaders think of Linda "A1" McMahon moving Ed programs to the Dept of Labor? "absurd on its face."
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
Michael Petrilli
Morgan Polikoff
3 months ago
A smart conservative points out the obvious
add a skeleton here at some point
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