In the Scopes Trial of 1925, William Jennings Bryan spoke against teaching evolution, saying “I have all the information I need to live and die by.” Today’s intense fight against teaching Critical Race Theory is more of the same. To many Americans who have been economically hurt, disoriented, and confused by the rush of change, the familiar simplicity is both a safe retreat and a weapon to be used against actual experts. On this show historian Chuck Holden looks at the many examples in our history of rejecting education and knowledge in a serious turn away from democracy. And Trump gave permission for Americans to be incurious and to mock the educated. The opposition to teaching CRT is about pushing back against a scary new world. Democrats don’t need to educate them, we need to listen.