Politics can be divisive, and in the current political climate we are taught to fear or hate each other. Misleading propaganda and extremism is behind much of it on both sides. I became physically sick to my stomach over a recent interaction. As a liberal and inclusive person, I have some conservative friends who also disagree with some of the awful things this country is experiencing (like medicare cuts, hospital closings, targeting ethnic and LGBTQ groups, etc.). Last week, someone I called a friend for about 15 years said he "Stands 100% behind everything happening" - including gutting science (I'm a scientist) saying science is useless and invalidating gay marriages (it's AGAIN going to the Supreme court next year). I would never tell someone their career or marriage is useless. That's insulting and hurtful. But, today's Blog is about how Misinformation and Extremism blinded this person, and led to the end of a long friendship, sadly. HERE'S THE BLOG
So why do right-wing people hate liberal people? They're being fed select bits of information and untruths, repeated over and over to generate hatred of others. (We need to question what we read) .
As for my situation, despite the insults, this friend of 15 years obviously doesn't know who I am nor really care. I've helped this person through deep grief after his pet passed and loaned him money several times to help get out of debt during crises. Sadly, all of those things meant nothing. His statements and my responses are below.
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TODAY'S BLOG EXAMINES THOSE CLAIMS and either supports or debunks them. Fox has focused on several things: Trans people, fake stories about litter boxes in classrooms, a 1994 science experiment with animals, mis-characterizing all anti-Trump protests (calling them all violent because of two out of hundreds) and more.
Here's his email in RED (and my Fact checks & thoughts in BLUE)
I'm a scientist and I told him that science is critical to understand things from medical science, to sickness to weather and climate, pollution, etc. I explained how cuts to the National Weather Service (like removing funding for PM balloon atmospheric soundings to go into forecast models) have led to the degradation and inaccuracies of forecasting this year, especially in the last 3 months. Instead, he dismissed science, and my entire career to focus on a study from 31 years ago.
OK, so I've thought long and hard on my response to this.
First, science?
Federal funding on research to see what the effects cocaine had on the sexuality of monkeys? Really? That's where hard working American tax dollars was best sent?
THIS RESEARCH WAS DONE IN 1994 - Using Animals to see the effects of Cocaine on humans. - Why Fox News keeps repeating it is absurd.
Method: Researchers administered different doses of cocaine to male rhesus monkeys and observed changes in their copulatory behavior. Results: The study found that higher doses of cocaine impaired sexual performance in the monkeys, causing them to take longer to initiate and complete copulation. Relevance to human health: Animal models, particularly those using non-human primates like rhesus macaques, are used in substance abuse research because their brain systems and menstrual cycles are physiologically similar to humans. This type of research aims to provide insights into how drugs like cocaine affect human health and behavior, including issues like addiction and risky sexual behavior
I watched 4 years of teaching children that because you have a sex change you are now the opposite sex. He/she doesn't exist anymore.
FALSE. He/she Exists.
AND TRUE. Children are introduced to the concept of being gay or transgender by 4th grade. It's to make them understand and accept, and prevent bullying. (it's different for every kid. I was 4 when I knew I was attracted to men. - Some kids feel drawn to things the opposite sex liked- like girls doing traditional 'boy' things, and boys doing traditional "girl" things. - I get that it makes the kids feel more comfortable.
yes, schools put litter boxes in restrooms because we allowed kids to identify as cats. That's not a joke, it happened here.
FALSE - here's Snopes article debunking it: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/litter-boxes-bathrooms/ AND https://www.snopes.com/news/2023/01/30/how-furries-got-swept-up-in-anti-trans-litter-box-rumors/
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT? Rumors that litter boxes were installed in schools for cat-identifying students affected a number of schools in different states, but the chain of events in each location was more or less the same. People would claim that they had heard secondhand information about the alleged litter boxes and get outraged, and then school officials, news outlets, and fact-checkers would step in and debunk the specific rumor. Despite those efforts, some would maintain their belief that litter boxes were being placed in schools. Rinse and repeat. (Source: SNOPES)
I watched a sporting event allow an adult male who had a sex change and now identifies as a woman almost kill the female opponent. I'm not ok with that and no man should be. I was raised to protect a woman. Fake science gave us that.
AGREE - I don't know what "Fake science" means, but I agree that transgender women who were born men, shouldn't compete in sports. Despite their soul as a woman, the muscularity of their bodies are male. BTW - Transgender people who make up less than 1% of the population.
Attack on education? Did you see what 8 years under Obama did to school lunches and math? 2+2 equals 4 still but takes you an hour to get there.
FALSE - That's another right-wing conspiracy theory.
Look at all the monuments that were torn down under the democratic leadership, the irony is, the "racist" monuments were because of the confederate, democratic generals that wanted to keep slavery. They don't teach that in school because they'd lose the ability to pander the black vote. Veterans?
I never supported tearing monuments down, because they are a sad reminder of that terrible time in history, and history needs to be remembered to prevent those tragedies from happening again.
TRUE - Confederate generals were either southern democrats or without a party. However, once the Confederate States of America was formed, it officially operated without a party system, as leaders like Davis sought a unified front.
Come on, we both know that your comment about attacking veterans is absurd.
NO, IT'S NOT ABSURD. FACT: Trump Did Insult Veterans - So my comment was correct: GOOGLE IT-
In 2020, The Atlantic reported that Trump privately referred to American war dead at a cemetery in France as "losers" and "suckers," and said he did not understand why people would volunteer for military service. John Kelly's corroboration: In 2023, John Kelly, a retired Marine general and former White House chief of staff under Trump, confirmed the contents of The Atlantic's reporting.
**Further, during his 2016 campaign, Trump criticized Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war, by saying, "I like people who weren't captured."
Now, on to federal spending cuts. You and I both worked for the government and know of the absurd amount of waste that was being charged to the American taxpayer. I know for a fact that too many federal employees got cushy positions and did nothing to earn their pay. Their pay was paid for by American tax dollars.
FACT (Google it) - While individual VA disability payments have not been reduced, the current administration, in coordination with the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has initiated staff and contract cuts within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The administration argues these cuts are aimed at increasing efficiency, while critics, including veterans' groups warn they will negatively impact veterans' access to care and benefits.
HOWEVER, there are beneficial things Trump did for Veterans (to prove that this is NOT Partisan) * Healthcare choice: He signed legislation such as the Veterans Choice Program Extension and Improvement Act to allow veterans to seek private healthcare outside the VA system when VA care is not readily accessible. * VA accountability: Trump signed the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, which made it easier to dismiss VA employees for misconduct or poor performance. *Student loan debt: His administration eliminated federal student loan debt for permanently disabled veterans.
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FACT: Federal funding changes and contributing factors to CLOSURES OF HOSPITALS IN 2025 (GOOGLE "how many hospitals have closed in 2025 due to federal funding") Reduced Medicaid spending: In July 2025, President Trump signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB) into law, which included an estimated $1.02 trillion in Medicaid spending cuts over ten years.
Impact on rural hospitals: Rural hospitals, which rely heavily on Medicaid reimbursements, are especially vulnerable to these cuts. The Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform reported in May 2025 that more than 300 rural hospitals were at "immediate risk" of closure.
Government waste needed cleaned up and if it had been Obama or Biden who had decided to get it done, everyone would have cheered until they were blue in the face. But instead, trump did it and everyone can't stand it, because they got caught wasting our money. The facts are there, plain as day but until people stop drinking the kool-aid and stop following the sheep in front of them, the Slaughter of common sense and individual thinking will continue to go out the window.
Government spending does need to be reigned in. But that study was done 31 YEARS AGO. Trump didn't stop it. What he DID do was fire thousands of civil servants like me without due cause. He also took people off the streets and deported them without due process. Sure, some were illegally here, but they deserve due process. Also, thousands of people lost their jobs that provided services to the American public.
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The fact that you support a group of people that called for riots after George Floyd died, watching thugs cut hoses being used by firefighters to put out their own town confuses me a bit. That's not an opinion,it's facts. I saw the riots and heard them call for rioting. Think long and hard before you condemn one man for trying to save this country then turn around and support those that have been trying to destroy it for decades.
First, NO Democrat supported the riots after George Floyd's death. That's propaganda. It was also an ANOMALY.
Second, Democrats are known for Peaceful protests: Look at the hundreds of peaceful protest from coast to coast on "No Kings Day" against Trump's Policies. There was no violence.
RESEARCH THEM ALL HERE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_against_the_second_Trump_administration
Only 1 other protest turned violent in 2025: In Los Angeles June 6, 2025 when protestors clashed with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and ICE, but most remained peaceful and occurred within a small stretch of downtown Los Angeles.
Third, I NEVER promote violence against anyone. I try to talk with people who disagree to reach an understanding. Sadly, it didn't work here because I've already been accused of promoting violence that I totally, morally disagree with.
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So there are good and bad points on both sides.
Sadly, since he supports everything that has been done and is being done- and he's attacked my profession and marriage as both useless, It's toxic to me to maintain that relationship.
We need to surround ourselves with people who support us. True, we may not all agree on everything and that's not expected.
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