DML Morning Briefing, Nov. 15

Today is November 15. Below are some of the stories grabbing headlines this morning. I hope you share this briefing as doing so will make you the smartest person in the room.

1.Maryland school district unveils LGBTQ book list that teaches words ‘intersex,’ ‘drag queen’ to pre-K students
FoxNews–Maryland’s wealthiest school district has unveiled a new LGBTQ-inclusive book list for elementary schools that teaches words like “intersex” and “drag queen” to children as young as 4.

A PowerPoint presentation by Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) shows a list of LGBTQ+ books that will be provided for pre-K through fifth-grade classrooms this year. The presentation explains that the LGBTQ-inclusive reading list aims to “reduce stigmatization and marginalization of transgender and gender nonconforming students.”

“All students deserve to see themselves in their school and classroom, including students who identify as LGBTQ+ and come from LGBTQ+ headed families and have family members that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community,” the presentation states. “There are no planned explicit lessons related to gender and sexuality, but these books do mean that LGBTQ+ identities will be made visible. Inclusive curricula support a student’s ability to empathize, connect, and collaborate with a diverse group of peers, and encourage respect for all.”

Ryan Lynch: We need to stop exposing our youth to these books that propagate young students into believing it’s okay to change your gender or to identify as whatever you want. Pre-K through fifth grade is unacceptable, kids should be reading about courage, respect, honesty, family, and love, not LGBTQ+.

2.GOP Rep. Calvert wins election in competitive California House seat
FoxNews–The Associated Press projects that GOP Rep. Ken Calvert will defeat his Democratic challenger, Will Rollins, following a competitive race for California’s 41st congressional district.

This race, considered a must-win for Republicans, pushes the GOP one seat closer to the 218 seats needed to regain a House majority, though control of the House is still up for grabs according to Associated Press race projections.

The Republicans currently have 217 seats in GOP control, and there are 13 seats left in play to determine the balance of power in the House.

Calvert has represented California’s ‘Inland Empire’ since 1993, though this is his first time running in the newly redrawn 41st district that includes parts of the Coachella Valley and Riverside County in Southern California.

Ryan Lynch: Every day it seems we are getting closer to a House majority. I pray it does happen so we can begin to open investigations and ultimately have a hurdle for Biden to get over.

3.Walmart raises outlook as groceries boost sales, inventory glut recedes
CNBC–Walmart said Tuesday that sales rose by nearly 9% in the fiscal third quarter, as Americans across income levels bought the company’s low-priced groceries.

The discounter beat Wall Street’s expectations for the quarter and raised its outlook to reflect that beat.

Shares rose more than 6% in premarket trading.

Here’s what Walmart reported for the three-month period ended Oct. 31, according to Refinitiv:

Earnings per share: $1.50 adjusted vs. $1.32 expected
Revenue: $152.81 billion vs. $147.75 billion expected

Walmart posted a net loss of $1.8 billion, or 66 cents per share, down from a profit of $3.11 billion, or $1.11 per share, a year earlier.

Ryan Lynch: Retail has been on the downfall over the course of the last two decades. But Walmart isn’t going anywhere and neither is their stock.

4.Yellowstone’s new season premiere breaks ratings record with 12.1 million viewers watching neo-Western drama on niche Paramount Network: ‘Anti-woke’ drama was most watched scripted television premiere of 2022
DailyMail–The season premiere of the ‘anti-woke’ neo-Western drama Yellowstone on Paramount Network racked up a ratings record with 12.1 million viewers watching.

The highly anticipated premiere of the series starring Kevin Costner, 67, as the Dutton family patriarch also featured Dutton family tragedy with a car crash and potential problems for the new governor with the neighboring national park and his conflicted son Jamie Dutton played by Wes Bentley.

Yellowstone was the most-watched show outside of the National Football League last year with viewers under the age of 50, beating out all broadcast network series despite airing on the Paramount Network.

Ryan Lynch: Do you all like Yellowstone?

5.Arizona gov election: Katie Hobbs defeats GOP challenger Kari Lake, race may now go to recount under state law
FoxNews–The Fox News Decision Desk can project that Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs will be the next governor of Arizona. She defeats GOP candidate and former local news host Kari Lake.

Per Arizona law, the race may go to a recount.

Lake is a former TV news anchor who stepped down last year after 22 years with the Fox affiliate in Phoenix to run for governor. Thanks in part to her strong support for former President Donald Trump and his unproven claims that the 2020 election was “stolen” and rigged,” Trump endorsed and heavily backed Lake as she narrowly won the GOP nomination over a candidate backed by Ducey

Lake highlighted her “common sense conservatism” as she centered her campaign on the issues of border security, homelessness, banning critical race theory in Arizona classrooms, support for school choice, and opposition to abortion.

Ryan Lynch: Especially after the entire situation in Maricopa County I believe both Lake and Arizona deserve a recount.