Frank Strong
@frankstrong.bsky.social
Teacher. Publisher of the Book-Loving Texan’s Guides to School Board Elections. Co-founder of Texas Freedom to Read Project.
Pinned
Mapping Texas Book Bans SY 25-26 - Google My Maps
Mapping Texas Book Bans SY 25-26
www.google.com
I made an interactive map! This is a look at the effects Tx book-banning laws have had just *since the end of last school year*. I made it because it's easy to hear a shocking story about a book ban and then forget it and lose the larger picture.
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
Every time I re-read this I'm gobsmacked by how much JD Vance's life story is just a fleshed-out version of the four paragraphs on Mr. C. It's uncanny.
harpers.org/archive/1941...
harpers.org/archive/1941...
Who Goes Nazi?, by Dorothy Thompson
harpers.org
January 24, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Every time I re-read this I'm gobsmacked by how much JD Vance's life story is just a fleshed-out version of the four paragraphs on Mr. C. It's uncanny.
harpers.org/archive/1941...
harpers.org/archive/1941...
Reposted by Frank Strong
🚨Call to Action, Texans we need your voices! 🚨TEA & The SBOE want to mandate what all TX school children MUST read, and the book list is out of touch with TX students & families. It was clearly created to stifle certain ideas & voices & funnel students toward a narrow tightly controlled worldview.
January 23, 2026 at 4:57 PM
🚨Call to Action, Texans we need your voices! 🚨TEA & The SBOE want to mandate what all TX school children MUST read, and the book list is out of touch with TX students & families. It was clearly created to stifle certain ideas & voices & funnel students toward a narrow tightly controlled worldview.
Reposted by Frank Strong
There is evil and then there is this
Two women trained as first responders were abducted by three ICE agents. One of the agents starts seizing. The other two don’t know what to do. The women jump into action and save the agent’s life, only to be re-handcuffed and processed.
www.startribune.com/detained-by-...
www.startribune.com/detained-by-...
Detained by ICE, two women became first responders during agent’s seizure
The women say they guided agents through the emergency, later raising concerns about medical protocols, weapons safety and accountability.
www.startribune.com
January 24, 2026 at 12:33 AM
There is evil and then there is this
Reposted by Frank Strong
It isn’t healthy to be this angry all the time. But it also isn’t healthy if this doesn’t make you angry.
they went to an emergency room seeking help for their 7 year old child.
ICE arrested the 7 year old and her parents.
the family is here legally.
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
ICE arrested the 7 year old and her parents.
the family is here legally.
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
ICE detains family seeking emergency care for child at Portland hospital
The Venezuelan parents and their 7-year-old daughter entered the U.S. legally.
www.oregonlive.com
January 24, 2026 at 3:38 AM
It isn’t healthy to be this angry all the time. But it also isn’t healthy if this doesn’t make you angry.
Reposted by Frank Strong
there's no good reason every public school student in a state should have to read the exact same books
Urgent call to action, Texans: we need to write to our State Board of Education members and tell them NOT to adopt the proposed required reading list they’re considering at the the end of the month. It is BAD. I wrote about why here: franklinstrong.substack.com/p/call-to-ac...
Call to Action: The State Board of Education is considering a list of required readings. It's bad.
We need your help to stop it.
franklinstrong.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:08 AM
there's no good reason every public school student in a state should have to read the exact same books
Reposted by Frank Strong
Texas English teachers and librarians, we need your help. Read @frankstrong.bsky.social post about the "proposed" Texas Required Reading list and then WRITE your State Board of Education member about your concerns. All the details here: ➡️ substack.com/home/post/p-...
Call to Action: The State Board of Education is considering a list of required readings. It's bad.
We need your help to stop it.
substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Texas English teachers and librarians, we need your help. Read @frankstrong.bsky.social post about the "proposed" Texas Required Reading list and then WRITE your State Board of Education member about your concerns. All the details here: ➡️ substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by Frank Strong
Urgent call to action, Texans: we need to write to our State Board of Education members and tell them NOT to adopt the proposed required reading list they’re considering at the the end of the month. It is BAD. I wrote about why here: franklinstrong.substack.com/p/call-to-ac...
Call to Action: The State Board of Education is considering a list of required readings. It's bad.
We need your help to stop it.
franklinstrong.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:57 AM
Urgent call to action, Texans: we need to write to our State Board of Education members and tell them NOT to adopt the proposed required reading list they’re considering at the the end of the month. It is BAD. I wrote about why here: franklinstrong.substack.com/p/call-to-ac...
Urgent call to action, Texans: we need to write to our State Board of Education members and tell them NOT to adopt the proposed required reading list they’re considering at the the end of the month. It is BAD. I wrote about why here: franklinstrong.substack.com/p/call-to-ac...
Call to Action: The State Board of Education is considering a list of required readings. It's bad.
We need your help to stop it.
franklinstrong.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:57 AM
Urgent call to action, Texans: we need to write to our State Board of Education members and tell them NOT to adopt the proposed required reading list they’re considering at the the end of the month. It is BAD. I wrote about why here: franklinstrong.substack.com/p/call-to-ac...
From a book challenge in Conroe ISD:
Q: For what age group would you recommend this resource?
A: MAYBE a mature high school age
🤦♂️
Q: For what age group would you recommend this resource?
A: MAYBE a mature high school age
🤦♂️
January 15, 2026 at 12:22 PM
From a book challenge in Conroe ISD:
Q: For what age group would you recommend this resource?
A: MAYBE a mature high school age
🤦♂️
Q: For what age group would you recommend this resource?
A: MAYBE a mature high school age
🤦♂️
Reposted by Frank Strong
“This is exceptional. @thelibrariansfilm.bsky.social is a beautiful, really important documentary.” —Jenna Bush Hager.
“Art can speak to the heart sometimes in ways the news can’t.” —Sheinelle Jones
Watch SJP talk about the documentary on The Today Show.
www.today.com/video/sarah-...
“Art can speak to the heart sometimes in ways the news can’t.” —Sheinelle Jones
Watch SJP talk about the documentary on The Today Show.
www.today.com/video/sarah-...
January 14, 2026 at 11:01 PM
“This is exceptional. @thelibrariansfilm.bsky.social is a beautiful, really important documentary.” —Jenna Bush Hager.
“Art can speak to the heart sometimes in ways the news can’t.” —Sheinelle Jones
Watch SJP talk about the documentary on The Today Show.
www.today.com/video/sarah-...
“Art can speak to the heart sometimes in ways the news can’t.” —Sheinelle Jones
Watch SJP talk about the documentary on The Today Show.
www.today.com/video/sarah-...
Reposted by Frank Strong
On today’s episode of pRoTeCt tHe ChiLdReN:
Check out this Conroe ISD formal book challenge to “I am Billie Jean King” by @bradmeltzer.com
Complaint: May result in “Aggressive gender equality and heterosexuality.”
🤔🤨🧐
Check out this Conroe ISD formal book challenge to “I am Billie Jean King” by @bradmeltzer.com
Complaint: May result in “Aggressive gender equality and heterosexuality.”
🤔🤨🧐
January 14, 2026 at 10:59 PM
On today’s episode of pRoTeCt tHe ChiLdReN:
Check out this Conroe ISD formal book challenge to “I am Billie Jean King” by @bradmeltzer.com
Complaint: May result in “Aggressive gender equality and heterosexuality.”
🤔🤨🧐
Check out this Conroe ISD formal book challenge to “I am Billie Jean King” by @bradmeltzer.com
Complaint: May result in “Aggressive gender equality and heterosexuality.”
🤔🤨🧐
Reposted by Frank Strong
Good (but depressing) article on the impact US book bans are having on publishing and marketing of LGBTQ stories, particularly in kidlit. Thanks to @adibkhorram.bsky.social @beccapodos.bsky.social @missdahlelama.dahliaadler.com and others speaking up about this!
thehill.com/homenews/lgb...
thehill.com/homenews/lgb...
thehill.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Good (but depressing) article on the impact US book bans are having on publishing and marketing of LGBTQ stories, particularly in kidlit. Thanks to @adibkhorram.bsky.social @beccapodos.bsky.social @missdahlelama.dahliaadler.com and others speaking up about this!
thehill.com/homenews/lgb...
thehill.com/homenews/lgb...
Reposted by Frank Strong
You combat hopelessness by doing something. In an era of unrepentant book bans and library attacks, you show up. You learn. You show up again.
Activism and advocacy are a practice.
Here are over 60 tasks for helping preserve the right to read, wherever you are.
bookriot.com/how-to-defen...
Activism and advocacy are a practice.
Here are over 60 tasks for helping preserve the right to read, wherever you are.
bookriot.com/how-to-defen...
60+ Small Tasks to Defend the Right to Read: Book Censorship News, January 9, 2026
No one is coming to save us, so we must do it ourselves. Here are 60+ small tasks to help defend the right to read in 2026 and beyond.
bookriot.com
January 11, 2026 at 1:32 PM
You combat hopelessness by doing something. In an era of unrepentant book bans and library attacks, you show up. You learn. You show up again.
Activism and advocacy are a practice.
Here are over 60 tasks for helping preserve the right to read, wherever you are.
bookriot.com/how-to-defen...
Activism and advocacy are a practice.
Here are over 60 tasks for helping preserve the right to read, wherever you are.
bookriot.com/how-to-defen...
This is both entirely predictable and beyond belief.
From an email to one of our faculty members....
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
January 7, 2026 at 3:01 AM
This is both entirely predictable and beyond belief.
Reposted by Frank Strong
kind of darkly funny that "gender studies" is the stereotypical "useless degree" because gender studies will help you understand a large and important chunk of the current psychosis in american life
January 6, 2026 at 2:00 AM
kind of darkly funny that "gender studies" is the stereotypical "useless degree" because gender studies will help you understand a large and important chunk of the current psychosis in american life
Don’t know if I’ve ever read truer words.
So much of American history is just impulsive and extremely stupid elites, who don't believe in consequences because they have never personally experienced them, doing highly consequential stuff because they're bored or believe it might make them richer. I guess a lot of our culture, too.
January 3, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Don’t know if I’ve ever read truer words.
Reposted by Frank Strong
So much of American history is just impulsive and extremely stupid elites, who don't believe in consequences because they have never personally experienced them, doing highly consequential stuff because they're bored or believe it might make them richer. I guess a lot of our culture, too.
January 3, 2026 at 7:22 PM
So much of American history is just impulsive and extremely stupid elites, who don't believe in consequences because they have never personally experienced them, doing highly consequential stuff because they're bored or believe it might make them richer. I guess a lot of our culture, too.
Reposted by Frank Strong
I made an interactive map! This is a look at the effects Tx book-banning laws have had just *since the end of last school year*. I made it because it's easy to hear a shocking story about a book ban and then forget it and lose the larger picture.
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
Mapping Texas Book Bans SY 25-26 - Google My Maps
Mapping Texas Book Bans SY 25-26
www.google.com
January 1, 2026 at 12:45 AM
I made an interactive map! This is a look at the effects Tx book-banning laws have had just *since the end of last school year*. I made it because it's easy to hear a shocking story about a book ban and then forget it and lose the larger picture.
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
Greg Abbott is BRAGGING about this. He sent out a press release this week listing SB12 & SB13 as accomplishments--as if they aren't actively harming Texas kids. If that pisses you off as much as it does me, it's a great day to donate to @ginafortexas.bsky.social. ginafortexas.com
January 1, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Greg Abbott is BRAGGING about this. He sent out a press release this week listing SB12 & SB13 as accomplishments--as if they aren't actively harming Texas kids. If that pisses you off as much as it does me, it's a great day to donate to @ginafortexas.bsky.social. ginafortexas.com
Reposted by Frank Strong
Texas worked hard to take the lead in book bans in 2025. I'm grateful @frankstrong.bsky.social and @txfreedomread.bsky.social work so hard to make these quiet bans public.
And, even with all their work, this reckoning is a vast under-count.
Primaries are in March. Are you registered to vote?
And, even with all their work, this reckoning is a vast under-count.
Primaries are in March. Are you registered to vote?
I made an interactive map! This is a look at the effects Tx book-banning laws have had just *since the end of last school year*. I made it because it's easy to hear a shocking story about a book ban and then forget it and lose the larger picture.
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
Mapping Texas Book Bans SY 25-26 - Google My Maps
Mapping Texas Book Bans SY 25-26
www.google.com
January 1, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Texas worked hard to take the lead in book bans in 2025. I'm grateful @frankstrong.bsky.social and @txfreedomread.bsky.social work so hard to make these quiet bans public.
And, even with all their work, this reckoning is a vast under-count.
Primaries are in March. Are you registered to vote?
And, even with all their work, this reckoning is a vast under-count.
Primaries are in March. Are you registered to vote?
Reposted by Frank Strong
Curious about censorship actions in Texas? Be sure to check out this thread 🧵
Thank you @frankstrong.bsky.social for the new Substack post and map! @freadomfighters.bsky.social
Thank you @frankstrong.bsky.social for the new Substack post and map! @freadomfighters.bsky.social
I made an interactive map! This is a look at the effects Tx book-banning laws have had just *since the end of last school year*. I made it because it's easy to hear a shocking story about a book ban and then forget it and lose the larger picture.
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
Mapping Texas Book Bans SY 25-26 - Google My Maps
Mapping Texas Book Bans SY 25-26
www.google.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Curious about censorship actions in Texas? Be sure to check out this thread 🧵
Thank you @frankstrong.bsky.social for the new Substack post and map! @freadomfighters.bsky.social
Thank you @frankstrong.bsky.social for the new Substack post and map! @freadomfighters.bsky.social
Reposted by Frank Strong
More trans joy in 2026!
www.texasobserver.org/protect-tran...
(thanks to @kitoconnell.com for this lovely coverage in Austin)
www.texasobserver.org/protect-tran...
(thanks to @kitoconnell.com for this lovely coverage in Austin)
At Barton Springs, Trans Existence Becomes Resistance
Following a transphobic incident earlier this year, community members gathered to "protect trans joy."
www.texasobserver.org
December 31, 2025 at 11:09 PM
More trans joy in 2026!
www.texasobserver.org/protect-tran...
(thanks to @kitoconnell.com for this lovely coverage in Austin)
www.texasobserver.org/protect-tran...
(thanks to @kitoconnell.com for this lovely coverage in Austin)
I made an interactive map! This is a look at the effects Tx book-banning laws have had just *since the end of last school year*. I made it because it's easy to hear a shocking story about a book ban and then forget it and lose the larger picture.
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
Mapping Texas Book Bans SY 25-26 - Google My Maps
Mapping Texas Book Bans SY 25-26
www.google.com
January 1, 2026 at 12:45 AM
I made an interactive map! This is a look at the effects Tx book-banning laws have had just *since the end of last school year*. I made it because it's easy to hear a shocking story about a book ban and then forget it and lose the larger picture.
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
Reposted by Frank Strong
Interesting secondary finding: "Identity turns out to be a poor proxy for ideology, with limited governance effects that are fully explained by differences in policy priorities."
Wow, the estimated effects of the orientation of elected school board members are enormous!
Identity and Ideology in the School Boardroom www.nber.org/papers/w34590
Identity and Ideology in the School Boardroom www.nber.org/papers/w34590
Identity and Ideology in the School Boardroom
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...
www.nber.org
December 31, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Interesting secondary finding: "Identity turns out to be a poor proxy for ideology, with limited governance effects that are fully explained by differences in policy priorities."
Reposted by Frank Strong
I love this story of real parents pushing back against out-of-town book banners in San Marcos, Texas. It also has a message on the power of persistence to bring into 2026.
substack.com/@franklinstr...
substack.com/@franklinstr...
Frank Strong (@franklinstrong)
substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:35 AM
I love this story of real parents pushing back against out-of-town book banners in San Marcos, Texas. It also has a message on the power of persistence to bring into 2026.
substack.com/@franklinstr...
substack.com/@franklinstr...