Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Kansas Republicans override veto of bill banning gender-transition drugs, surgeries for minors
For the third time, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a bill banning gender-transition procedures for minors, but for the first time, Republican legislators had the votes to overcome her veto. Published February 18, 2025
Trump administration warns schools to eradicate DEI or lose federal funding
Schools across the country that use racial preferences in admissions, hiring and scholarships risk losing their federal funding by the end of the month under the latest guidance issued by the Trump administration aimed at rooting out diversity, equity and inclusion in academia. Published February 17, 2025
CBS host Margaret Brennan ripped for ‘crazy’ claim about free speech fueling Holocaust
The legacy media is inevitably skeptical of anything favored by the Trump administration, and that apparently includes free speech. Published February 17, 2025
Judge pauses Trump order targeting gender-transition treatment for youth
A federal judge temporarily blocked President Trump's executive actions denying federal funding to hospitals offering gender-transition treatment to minors, responding to a lawsuit filed by seven adolescents and teens seeking cross-sex drugs and surgeries. Published February 13, 2025
FCC chairman orders DEI investigation into Comcast, NBCUniversal
The Federal Communications Commission is investigating whether NBCUniversal and its parent company Comcast are violating federal law with their diversity policies, the latest news broadcasting company to face scrutiny under the Trump administration. Published February 13, 2025
California, Minnesota hit with federal probe after defying Trump executive order on girls’ sports
Both California and Minnesota have vowed to flout the Trump administration's ban on biological males in girls' sports, but it turns out the president's executive order wasn't a suggestion. Published February 13, 2025
Missouri sues Starbucks over DEI policies, says they promote discrimination
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has sued Starbucks over its diversity policies, saying the company made hiring and promotion decisions based on race in violation of state and federal anti-discrimination laws. Published February 11, 2025
Education Department wants NCAA to erase records by transgender athletes
Bad news for Lia Thomas: The Trump administration wants the NCAA to claw back the transgender swimmer's women's collegiate crown. Published February 11, 2025
Women’s sports advocates seek blue-state breakthrough in New Mexico
No Democratic governor has ever signed a bill banning biological males in female sports, but advocates for single-sex athletics are hoping to break the blue-state barrier this year, starting in New Mexico. Published February 11, 2025
Transgender-friendly Nike hit with blowback for ad extolling women’s sports
Nike has championed male-born competitors in women's sports for years, which is why its Super Bowl ad paying tribute to female athletes was accused of being hypocritical, not to mention a few decades behind the times. Published February 10, 2025
Daughters of American Revolution board rejects ban on biological males
The Daughters of the American Revolution leadership has nixed a proposal to ban transgender women, fending off for the second time a membership revolt against transgender applicants. Published February 10, 2025
NCAA bans trans athletes from women’s sports after Trump executive order
The NCAA voted Thursday to ban male-born students from women's sports, retreating on years of transgender inclusion just one day after President Trump's executive order on female scholastic sports. Published February 6, 2025
Trump administration probes Penn, San Jose State over transgender athletes
The Education Department launched investigations Thursday into three institutions where biological males who identify as female have played female sports, citing President Trump's executive order on scholastic athletics issued the day before. Published February 6, 2025
Trump signs order banning biological men from women’s sports
President Trump ordered a ban Wednesday on biological males seeking to participate in girls' and women's scholastic sports, fulfilling a campaign promise and posterizing Democrats on an issue that has become a slam dunk for Republicans. Published February 5, 2025
Former teammates target Thomas’ swimming records in Title IX lawsuit against Ivy League
Three former University of Pennsylvania swimmers have sued to expunge the women's swimming records set by Lia Thomas, arguing that the male-born athlete who identifies as female was allowed to compete in violation of Title IX. Published February 5, 2025
Trump to sign ban on biological males in girls’ and women’s sports
President Trump is scheduled to sign an executive order Wednesday barring male-born athletes from girls and women's sports, fulfilling a campaign promise on an increasingly high-profile issue pitting fairness and safety against against transgender inclusion. Published February 5, 2025
Trump administration promises smooth FAFSA rollout, drops ‘nonbinary’ option
Things have changed since President Trump's team took over at the Department of Education, and that includes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid rollout. Published February 4, 2025
Trump’s ban on gender-transition drugs, surgeries for youth hit with lawsuit
Transgender rights advocates sued Tuesday to block President Trump's order cutting off federal funds for gender-transition drugs and surgeries prescribed to those under 19, arguing that the directive exceeds the president's authority. Published February 4, 2025
Conservative nonprofits battle racial discrimination in education fueled by DEI
Racial discrimination in education has been illegal for 60 years, and yet race-exclusive programs continue to crop up at K-12 schools and universities in the name of promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. Published February 4, 2025
Boston University shuts its antiracism center, as founder Ibram Kendi decamps to Howard University
Boston University plans to shut down its Center for Antiracist Research and part ways with founder Ibram X. Kendi. Published February 4, 2025
