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What Do Lawmakers Really Understand About Critical Race Theory?

Renee Bright
/
KUER

During a special legislative session May 19, Utah Republicans passed two controversial resolutions that banned critical race theory in Utah schools and designated Utah as a “Second Amendment sanctuary” state.

The Salt Lake Tribune’s Robert Gehrke told us that resolutions aren’t laws — they’re political messages. We’ll spend Friday at 11 a.m. talking about what the critical race theory resolution means for the state, and what led to its passing. We’ll also hear from reporter Adam Harris, whose piece in The Atlantic details the GOP’s recent obsession with critical race theory. He’s been tracking similar resolutions around the country, and he told us that many of them borrow language used by former-President Donald Trump. Back in September, Trump ordered the Office of Management and Budget to stop funding training of critical race theory as part of government diversity trainings. But the problem, Harris said, is that Trump and very few of these lawmakers really know what critical race theory is. 

GUESTS

Doug Fabrizio has been reporting for KUER News since 1987, and became News Director in 1993. In 2001, he became host and executive producer of KUER's RadioWest, a one hour conversation/call-in show on KUER 90.1 in Salt Lake City. He has gained a reputation for his thoughtful style. He has interviewed everyone from Isabel Allende to the Dalai Lama, and from Madeleine Albright to Desmond Tutu. His interview skills landed him a spot as a guest host of the national NPR program, "Talk of the Nation." He has won numerous awards for his reporting and for his work with RadioWest and KUED's Utah NOW from such organizations as the Society of Professional Journalists, the Utah Broadcasters Association, the Public Radio News Directors Association and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.