Moms Into Literary Freedom

Courtney tells Jennifer the ENTIRE plot of 1984 by George Orwell. Spoilers and all. She can’t help it…there are just too many comparisons to draw between Big Brother and the United States government. “Doublethink” is a very important concept in the book that can be seen on a daily occurrence in our new authoritarian America. It’s basically like telling someone it is raining while pissing on their leg. Today, it can be applied to the millions of MAGA followers who will be told that Trump is in the Epstein files but will simultaneously refuse to believe it, holding onto their unwavering support despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. This contradiction allows them to maintain loyalty and trust in their chosen leader while dismissing inconvenient truths, perfectly embodying the unsettling power of doublethink in shaping perception and reality.Thanksgiving baskets, AI, the destruction of the orgasm, and Trump’s golden ballroom are just a few of the topics that Jennifer and Courtney cover to draw parallels between 1984 by George Orwell and American Fascism by MAGA. Yes, it is a long one, but there are just so many comparisons to make…you’d be surprised…Or maybe you wouldn’t be.View on milf4books.substack.com for clickable links.✨ Action steps:* Donate to Lavonnia’s GoFundMe to help her relocate to be a librarian again!* Email your school district 🏫 demanding (nicely) to stock the books that reallymatter. 🙌 Customize this K-8 letter or this 9-12 letter based on which state you live, and which books have been banned!👣 Follow @milf4books on IG, Threads and Bluesky and @momsintoliteraryfreedom on TikTok✨ What You Get When You Join the MILFia on Patreon:By supporting us on Patreon, you get access to exclusive perks that bring you deeper into the conversation — and help us keep making content that matters🗣️ A voice in what we cover nextVote on upcoming banned books, themes, and deep dives.📚 Exclusive Zoom invites to the MILFia Book ClubRaw, real discussions about the books they don’t want us reading.☕️👚 First dibs on our handmade, snarky merchThink mugs and tees that say what we’re all thinking.➕ Bonus episodes connecting today’s politics to banned historyBecause history repeats itself — unless we call it out.💬 Direct access to usQ&As, behind-the-scenes updates, and community chats with Courtney and Jennifer.→ Join us on Patreon — starts at just $5/month.Sources:https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/fact-check-cheaper-walmart-thanksgiving-meal-touted-by-trump-has-fewer-items-than-last-year-s/ar-AA1PXOpKhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/general/lakewood-church-responds-to-tiktok-series-asking-for-baby-formula/ar-AA1QfCqOhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/exclusive-trump-administration-holds-situation-room-meeting-over-house-effort-to-force-release-of-all-of-doj-s-epstein-files/ar-AA1QiWQ6 Get full access to @milf4books with Court & Jen at milf4books.substack.com/subscribe

This was recorded three weeks ago, but the government is STILL shutdown so it is unfortunately, still relevant. In this episode, we cover the YA novel Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi. Winning several awards, including Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best, Yolk is a beautiful and accurate account of sisterhood, American healthcare, toxic relationships, eating disorders, and so much more. We do not believe in spoiling books, so you’ll have to read this one yourself, but you will not regret it! To us, Yolk is a window offering a beautiful glimpse into Korean familial culture…leaving us yet again mystified at is censorship. A cautionary tale to some and a lifeline to others, this book does nothing other than equip its readers with empowerment to seek mental healthcare while providing them with a sense of belonging and understanding. Why was it banned? Who the hell knows anymore. It could be due to the realistic depictions of bulimia, but then that would also include the inspiring journey to recovery. Or could it be the potentially triggering descriptions of SA? Then it would have to include the fact that survivors are being provided with visibility and empowerment to seek healing. I suppose it could even be from the inevitable consequences of abusing drugs and alcohol, but… do the “Moms for Liberty” actually think that reading about vomiting in front of your crush will encourage you to drink?Just kidding, we know that don’t do real thinking. ✨ Action step: Email your school district 🏫 demanding (nicely) to stock the books that really matter. 🙌 Customize this K-8 letter or this 9-12 letter based on which state you live, and which books have been banned!👣 Follow @milf4books on IG, Threads and Bluesky and @momsintoliteraryfreedom on TikTok✨ What You Get When You Join the MILFia on Patreon:By supporting us on Patreon, you get access to exclusive perks that bring you deeper into the conversation — and help us keep making content that matters:🗣️ A voice in what we cover nextVote on upcoming banned books, themes, and deep dives.📚 Exclusive Zoom invites to the MILFia Book ClubRaw, real discussions about the books they don’t want us reading.☕️👚 First dibs on our handmade, snarky merchThink mugs and tees that say what we’re all thinking.➕ Bonus episodes connecting today’s politics to banned historyBecause history repeats itself — unless we call it out.💬 Direct access to usQ&As, behind-the-scenes updates, and community chats with Courtney and Jennifer.→ Join us on Patreon — starts at just $5/month.Sources:ICE officer caught on video pushing woman is placed on leaveICE office who attacked woman is reinstatedVideo shows ICE with 5-year-old girl while agents attempt to arrest her fatherChicago South Shore building residents recount ‘humiliating’ ICE raidFormer Texas megachurch pastor Robert Morris pleads guilty to child sex abuse charges | PBS NewsRepublican legislator in South Carolina agrees to plead guilty to child sexual abuse imagery chargesRoger Goodell: NFL won’t reconsider Bad Bunny SB halftime show - ESPN Get full access to @milf4books with Court & Jen at milf4books.substack.com/subscribe

Courtney and Jennifer review and read "A Map for Falasteen" by Maysa Odeh, a poignant and relevant story about a little girl named "Falasteen" who cannot find her home, Palestine, on a school map. Based on a true story, Falasteen learns about her homeland's heart-wrenching history as her family gives her hope and courage to help keep her country and its people's live on in her even as people try to erase them. This episode is safe for little ears. Buy the book here!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/moms-into-literary-freedom--6617805/support. Get full access to @milf4books with Court & Jen at milf4books.substack.com/subscribe

Courtney sits down with Oklahoma AP Government teacher Aaron Baker to unpack the curious details of Trump’s “God Bless America” Bible. From its leather binding to the inclusion of Lee Greenwood’s lyrics, they explore this troubling addition to public schools. Most notably, they dig into the confusing and controversial decision to include the Three-Fifths Compromise. If you’re not sure what that means, don’t worry—Aaron breaks it down with the clarity of a master teacher, explaining not only what the compromise was, but why its presence in a modern Bible...that is present in a public classroom...is so unsettling. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/moms-into-literary-freedom--6617805/support. Get full access to @milf4books with Court & Jen at milf4books.substack.com/subscribe

Courtney and Jennifer have BIG news! On Oc. 6th at 6 pm EST, they are honored to host their very first Book Club WITH author, ASHLEY HOPE PEREZ! For Banned Books week, and in collaboration with Defense of Democracy, they are inviting YOU to join them in a discussion with Ashley Hope Perez about her award-winning and censored historical fiction: "Out of Darkness". Sign up FOR FREE here: https://givebutter.com/outofdarkness (Donations are optional but greatly appreciated and go towards Defense of Democracy, not MILF4books).Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/moms-into-literary-freedom--6617805/support. Get full access to @milf4books with Court & Jen at milf4books.substack.com/subscribe

In this week’s episode, Jen and Courtney review just a few of today’s overwhelming—and unacceptable—world events before turning the discussion towards the Tulsa Race Massacre and Blackbirds in the Sky by award-winning author Brandy Colbert. (The book discussion starts around the 39 minute mark.)World topics range from the Gaza-bound Flotilla, who refuse to be intimidated by Israeli drone strikes as they attempt to deliver food, baby formula, and medicine to besieged and deliberately starved Palestinians, to the “Unconscionably Irreconcilable” SCOTUS decision permitting the racial profiling of Hispanic people. See sources below for more topics discussed. Please note: This episode was recorded on September 9, 2025—before the death of Charlie Kirk. We will discuss this in our next full episode. Sources:Palestinian authors grapple with a wave of censorshipBuy Blackbirds in the Sky by Brandy ColbertThat in turn led to Lee asking: “Do you know what the Tulsa race massacre is?” McMahon replied: “I’d like to look into it more.”Why Trump’s ‘anti-woke’ attack on the Smithsonian matters | Kimberlé Crenshaw and Jason Stanley | The GuardianFootage shows second claimed attack on Greta Thunberg Gaza flotillaChristian Smalls (United States) - Freedom FlotillaOperation Warp Speed - WikipediaTrump calls Florida's vaccine mandate elimination a 'tough stance' | Fox NewsTrump's 'Chipocalypse Now' is no joke, though it absolutely sounds like oneTrump rebrands Department of Defense as Department of War Hundreds of struggling Arkansas farmers ask federal government to save themBefore-and-after photos show changes Trump has made to the White House decor, so far‘Most expensive gardeners in history’: What the National Guard are doing in DCBaltimore Mayor Brandon Scott discusses how the city has brought violent crime downJudge Rules that Trump Deployment of National Guard to LA was IllegalSotomayor Blasts Supreme Court's 'Unconscionably Irreconcilable' Decision - NewsweekSupreme Court lifts restrictions on LA immigration stops set after agents swept up US citizens - OPBU.S.-born American citizen under ICE hold in Florida after driving from GeorgiaMore than 300 Koreans detained by ICE at Georgia Hyundai plant heading home - CBS NewsTrump vowed to deport the 'worst of the worst' -- but new data shows a shift to also arresting non-criminals - ABC News"Undocumented immigrants have substantially lower crime rates than native-born citizens and legal immigrants across a range of felony offenses."NRA says it opposes idea of banning transgender Americans from owning guns | CNN PoliticsMap of Countries That Have Stopped Weapons Exports to Israel - NewsweekUAE warns White House that Israeli annexations could unravel Abraham AccordsExplainer-Was the deadly US attack on the Venezuelan vessel legal? By ReutersThe Voice of Hind Rajab - Where to Watch and Stream - TV GuideBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/moms-into-literary-freedom--6617805/support. Get full access to @milf4books with Court & Jen at milf4books.substack.com/subscribe

Join our Patreon...Or, rate, review & subscribe wherever you listen!Jennifer and Courtney look for rainbows in the storm of LGBTQ+ erasure stirred up by the bloated orange Fanta himself. From rainbow-chalk resistance at the Desantis-erased Pulse memorial to lawsuits torching the unconstitutional bans on gender-affirming care—and, because it’s Florida, an alligator and Jello gender reveal—they spotlight resilience, resistance, and joy, topped off with a heartwarming read of When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff and Kaylani Juanita.Regarding the recent court ruling about Florida’s Book Banning/Don’t Say Gaw Law:On August 13, 2025, a federal court struck down key parts of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” HB 1060 law, saying books can’t be banned just for including LGBTQ+ content.That doesn’t automatically put books like When Aidan Became a Brother back on shelves, but it gives parents, students, and teachers stronger legal ground to fight for them.It’s a big reminder of why intellectual freedom matters and why students should be able to read diverse stories.Action step: Check with your child’s school media specialist—do they have this book? If not, ask them to get it!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/moms-into-literary-freedom--6617805/support. Get full access to @milf4books with Court & Jen at milf4books.substack.com/subscribe