COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio Republican lawmaker is defending his controversial bill that would charge teachers and school district librarians with felonies for "pandering" so-called "obscene" material. Bridget Rueter’s kids love reading, which has inspired her mission to...
Book Bans
The PA mother who’s standing up against book bans—and the Dems standing with her
Pennsylvania ranks third in the nation for proposed book bans in academic libraries and public schools. This is a story about reading, but let’s start with some math: 644.That’s the number of book bans in Pennsylvania public school districts between July 2021 and June...
Wake school board backs LGBTQ, diverse books grants. But the vote comes after a fight.
‘Matters of life and death’ The debate at Tuesday’s school board meeting highlights the ongoing cultural wars going on across North Carolina and the nation. It led to state lawmakers adopting the “Parents’ Bill of Rights.” The law’s provisions include barring...
After fighting ‘extremist’ school boards, PA advocates network to help fight other efforts
Policies that end up culling library shelves and policing bathrooms don’t happen in a vacuum, and the concerted efforts of certain groups are no secret to longtime advocates in PAWInS. Localized social media groups on Facebook and other platforms can be a popular...
‘It’s an act of resistance:’ Groups ramp up efforts in the fight to stop book bans
WASHINGTON – They signed in for the online “Troublemaker Training’’ from places like Colorado, Michigan, New York and Tennessee. More than 70 attendees got tips on talking points they could use in the fight against book bans in their communities. “Book banning… seems...
Library debate combatants take fight to School Board, political organizing
Though the battle over Samuels Public Library is over, skirmishes in the nation’s culture wars continue to erupt in Warren County. Many involved on both sides have signaled their intention to continue fighting, shifting their focus to political organizing and public...
Red Wine & Blue Looks to Reappropriate the Term ‘Parental Rights’ and Fight Book Bans
Conservatives have been strategic in their push to ban books. The need to hide information and knowledge from students is critical in their quest for power. And with these non-stop attacks on education, it often feels like the right wing has out-strategized us. As...
‘Fight book bans’: Central York parent-planned read-a-thon will feature banned books
In addition to guest readers, nonprofit Red Wine and Blue will have their "Banned Bookmobile" parked outside the event. Red Wine and Blue, started after the 2018 midterm election, operates out of suburban swing districts in the United States and works to defeat...
Philadelphians, take a bow
Moms for Liberty — hereafter known to me as “The Mothers” — must’ve thought they picked a city that was ready for their proselytizing. But when they arrived in Philadelphia, they found themselves in what is probably their image of hell. Philadelphians, take a bow. You...
Moms For Liberty flexes its muscles — and faces pushback
“It was bold, very bold” of them to come to Philadelphia, said Kim Barbero, a Bucks County, Pennsylvania, mom and a deputy director for Red, Wine & Blue, a national group organizing progressive suburban women. “They bring chaos into our communities, and we need to...
Recent Posts
Watch This: How RWB Women Found Joy in 2025
As we reflect on 2025, we’re in awe of how much the women of Red Wine & Blue accomplished. It’s beautiful to see that even while facing the rise in extremism, we’re still able to find joy in our work together. See for yourself! Take a minute to watch this video...
Read This: Dear 2026
The end of 2025 is in sight, and for a lot of us, that is cause for celebration! The year started with the inauguration of the Trump administration, and from day one, they took actions that harmed average Americans. From dismantling the Department of Education, to...
Do This: Join Us for Wins in 2026
We’re still riding the high of all the local election wins we celebrated earlier this month – not just because it feels good to win, but because it means common sense and human decency are leading the way again in so many of our communities. Let’s take one more...
Watch This: Celebrating 2025 School Board Election Wins
Last week’s elections gave us a lot to celebrate. We’ve already highlighted some exciting statewide and municipal wins. Now let’s take three minutes to watch a round-up of inspiring school board victories: This is exactly what we mean when we say “going local”...
Read This: Celebrating 2025 Local Election Wins
Voters made a big statement this week: Common sense and human decency are still our values, and we’ll keep showing up to fight extremism head-on. You’ve probably heard about some exciting election wins, including Virginia electing its first female governor, Abigail...