I think it is undeniable at this point that a big reason for President Donald Trump's dominance in Republican politics over the years has been his willingness to fight without pulling any punches, something conservative voters were looking for after decades of feeling ignored by elected GOP officials at all levels of government.
Fortunately, the "Trump fights" philosophy has had the net effect of emboldening other Republican officeholders to drop the "let's play nice" filter at the door, and to put it all out on the table.
This was something that was on full display during a recent hearing that pitted North Carolina state Republican lawmakers against a woke school district that stood accused of flouting the parental rights law that went into effect in 2023 amid pushback from parents in states across the country against inappropriate materials being promoted in public school classrooms and libraries.
SEE ALSO: Glenn Youngkin Goes for the Jugular After Terry McAuliffe’s Stunning Declaration on Public Education
The House Select Committee on Oversight and Reform held the hearing on Wednesday, and suffice it to say that Republican House Majority Leader Brenden Jones held absolutely nothing back as he fired off receipts against officials with Chapel Hill‒Carrboro City Schools who had been caught talking about defying the parental rights law's provisions that were designed to protect young students from age-inappropriate materials and to keep parents informed of issues like pronoun usage:
"You’re here today because you chose to wage war against the law," Jones said. "You chose to deceive the public, and now you’re here because you got caught."
"This wasn’t passive resistance," he added. "It was a coordinated middle finger to this legislature and every parent in your district."
During the hearing, Jones held up several books he said were being promoted by the district on its website, including "Santa’s Husband," which tells the "true story of Mr. and Mr. Claus" and features "a Black Santa, his White husband and their life at the North Pole." Jones said the book had been promoted as a "top pick" for elementary students.
Watch as Jones reads off some of the books during the hearing, and throws them behind him as he goes to the next one (content warning):
Absolutely insane—these are the books Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools are forcing into North Carolina classrooms. #ncpol #ncga @BrendenJonesNC @mattvanswol @libsoftiktok @GuntherEagleman pic.twitter.com/RTACTMJ5Uj
— Nick Craig (@nicholasmcraig) December 10, 2025
He also shared some of them on X:
Chapel Hill–Carrboro Schools is really embracing the holiday spirit with a “top pick” book for 2nd and 3rd graders called…
— Rep. Brenden Jones (@BrendenJonesNC) December 4, 2025
Santa’s Husband, the story of a Black Santa, his white husband, and their life at the North Pole. #ncpol pic.twitter.com/5EDx7j9Jth
Chapel Hill Carrboro’s elementary school resources page includes four sexually explicit recommended books for K-4th graders.
— Rep. Brenden Jones (@BrendenJonesNC) December 5, 2025
“These are my EYES, This is my NOSE, This is my VULVA, These are my TOES”
Bodies are Cool
The Bare Naked Book
It Isn’t RUDE to be NUDE #ncpol pic.twitter.com/y9Oj2acqLk
School Board Chairman George Griffin, in particular, felt the heat from Jones after denying that they had any intention of not abiding by state law. Jones had some receipts for him, too:
This was the email he sent. #ncpol pic.twitter.com/kRD8hs4PYL
— Rep. Brenden Jones (@BrendenJonesNC) December 10, 2025
Griffin is also on video urging refusal to comply with the law during a board of education meeting in 2024:
Chapel Hill Carrboro Schools is going to pretend that they’re in compliance with State law.
— Rep. Brenden Jones (@BrendenJonesNC) December 9, 2025
It’s too bad we have a video of their School Boards Chair George Griffin recommending that they don’t comply with SB 49.
See you tomorrow George. #ncpol pic.twitter.com/VWItpRZiKB
As are other officials:
They said the quiet part out loud.
— NC House Gov Ops (@NCHouseGovOps) December 9, 2025
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools officials claim they're complying with the law, but board member Vickie Feaster admits to making it look like they're complying, while thinking they know better than the General Assembly. We'll get answers tomorrow.… https://t.co/YTjIt2gIom pic.twitter.com/1az40DRYnv
They know these are recorded for the public, right?? 🤡
— NC House Press (@nchousepress) December 9, 2025
Here’s another video of new Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board Chair Riza Jenkins telling members to “live in the gray,” rather than abide by the law. #ncpol https://t.co/drKvLTF6Sc pic.twitter.com/Wm3qK1ABRl
In addition to Griffin, School Superintendent Rodney Trice also received pushback after he proclaimed that the schools were in compliance with the parental rights law, with GOP state lawmaker Jeff McNeely reminding Trice they needed state help with some of their educational funding:
“That evening [during a January 2024 meeting], we enacted seven parts of the bill—all the parts—except for putting in policy the one clause on pronouns,” Griffin said. “It was our understanding that the board should direct staff to develop written guidance for that issue, and that is what we did. ‘In our judgment, that is in complete compliance with the law, and that’s where we left things at the end of the night.”
Rep. Jeff McNeely (R-Iredell) asked, “So you thought the law that we gave you was multiple choice? You could kind of choose what you liked?” he asked.
McNeely also questioned Trice about the district’s finances and reliance on state funding. “So y’all don’t have the money to be able to educate these kids with your own money, you’re going to need some help, aren’t you?”
Watch:
Rep. Jeff McNeely says school districts in NC that ignore the law could have the state funding cut, including the Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools #ncpol #ncga pic.twitter.com/PNtPZ6s1DC
— Nick Craig (@nicholasmcraig) December 10, 2025
While it's unclear what repercussions the school district will face in the aftermath of the hearing, what was clear is that some Democrat state lawmakers are perfectly fine with school districts ignoring parts of state law they don't like in the name of "civil disobedience" for the LGBTQ community:
Rep. Allison Dahle goes on a tirade about being gay and then openly claims she’s proud school districts ignore state law. #ncpol #ncga pic.twitter.com/j3s71uFl79
— Nick Craig (@nicholasmcraig) December 10, 2025
Before he concluded the hearing, Jones declared, "Let me be real clear: This General Assembly will use every tool, every statute, and every ounce of our authority to protect children and to force you to comply with the law."
In other words, accountability is coming. Stay tuned.
Update: Jones dropped another receipt Thursday morning:
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools still claims the filth I exposed yesterday is not on their website.
— Rep. Brenden Jones (@BrendenJonesNC) December 11, 2025
Well, explain to me then Dr. Trice why they are STILL up and recommended?
I’ll make this easy. Take them down, stop the grooming, and resign! #ncpol pic.twitter.com/SjjRvHZ1zb
Editor's Note: President Trump is fighting to dismantle the Department of Education and ensure America's kids get the education they deserve.
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