Latest news with #ExecutiveOrder14172
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana schools to adopt ‘Gulf of America' name in updated social studies standards
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) announced today, March 12, that it is updating its Freedom Framework social studies standards to reflect the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America following President Trump's Executive Order 14172. The executive order, signed on Jan. 20, directed federal agencies to adopt the new name in official documents, maps, and communications. Louisiana is among the first states to formally implement the change in educational standards. 'The Gulf is a sustaining engine for Louisiana—it helps fuel our energy sector and food and seafood industry and sustains generations of families,' State Superintendent Cade Brumley said. 'Updating our academic standards ensures alignment with the leadership of President Trump and Governor Landry while reinforcing the Gulf's significance to our state's future.' Louisiana's Freedom Framework standards specifically reference the Gulf in fourth and fifth-grade social studies lessons. The updated curriculum will take effect in the 2025-2026 school year, with no immediate requirement for schools to purchase new instructional materials ahead of their regular update schedule. Digital materials are expected to reflect the change sooner than printed textbooks. According to LDOE, the state is working with publishers of fourth and fifth-grade Tier 1 social studies materials to incorporate the changes. Guidance for school systems will be issued in the coming months. While Louisiana is one of the first states to integrate the change into its educational standards, several other states have proposed or discussed similar updates. Alabama: Legislation has been introduced to require all state and local agencies, including schools, to adopt the term Gulf of America in official publications. Florida: Lawmakers have considered replacing Gulf of Mexico with Gulf of America in state laws and school materials. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has already adopted the new terminology. Oklahoma: Superintendent Ryan Walters announced updates to the state's history standards requiring the use of Gulf of America, though details remain unclear. In a press release sent to Louisiana First News' sister station KFOR, Walters said that Oklahoma is the first state to comply with the executive order. Texas: A bill has been introduced that would require an amendment to the Texas Constitution to officially recognize the renaming. , , and have also debated similar changes, though some measures have stalled in legislative sessions. It remains to be seen how widely 'Gulf of America' will be adopted in state educational standards, as implementation varies across the country. The White House says it's a 'fact' that the Gulf of Mexico has been renamed. Is that right? President Trump's executive order emphasized the Gulf's economic, historical, and strategic significance to the United States, calling it a 'vital artery for American commerce, energy production, and fisheries.' The administration framed the renaming as part of a broader effort to emphasize American exceptionalism and remove what it described as 'foreign branding' from national landmarks. Since the order, federal agencies such as the National Weather Service (NWS), National Hurricane Center (NHC), and U.S. Geographic Names Information System have adopted the new name for hurricane tracking, emergency alerts, and public safety communications. Major corporations, including Google, Apple, Chevron, Murphy Oil, and Shell, have also adjusted their materials to reflect the new terminology. In Louisiana, state agencies have followed suit, with departments such as the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries updating their official materials to reflect the change. Louisiana's Freedom Framework social studies standards were first adopted in 2022 and implemented statewide in 2023. The standards reflect a commitment to American exceptionalism while ensuring historical events are presented in a chronological and skill-based manner. Superintendent Cade Brumley has called the Freedom Framework one of the strongest in the country and has advised other states on developing similar curricula. The 2025-2026 update will be the first official revision since the Freedom Framework went into effect. The Louisiana Department of Education says no immediate action is required from schools, as updates will be incorporated gradually into new instructional materials. However, teachers and school districts will receive guidance from LDOE on how to incorporate the change in upcoming lessons. Indiana charter network to manage F-rated Baker schools Virginia track athlete facing assault charge after baton strike she said was accidental Trump says tariff approach shows 'flexibility' not 'inconsistency' Building continuity a factor in hiring new LSU football defensive line coach Attorney, victims demand transparency in 'Brave Cave' lawsuit settlement process Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
If Trump can rename the Gulf of Mexico, why can't a trans person adopt a new name and pronoun?
Philosophers have long wondered about the nature of names. Is there any essential way that words connect to the world, or are names merely arbitrary conventions made up for personal or political purposes? President Donald Trump's magical sharpie directs our attention to this perennial problem: His signature on Executive Order 14172, 'Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness', apparently suffices. He turned Alaska's Denali back into Mt. McKinley, and he imposed a previously unheard-of name, 'Gulf of America,' on the waters east of Mexico. In response, Mexico has threatened to sue, and Americans are left wondering: What is the true name of these things? Who gets to decide? Opinion Most philosophers think names are merely conventional and that there are no 'true names.' But mystics suggest that the true name of a thing provides a direct connection between word and object. As one of Plato's characters suggests, a thing's true name is given by the gods. A version of the 'true name' idea can be found in Trump's executive order about gender identity which is named, in part, 'Restoring Biological Truth To the Federal Government.' It states that there has been an 'ongoing and purposeful attack against the ordinary and longstanding use and understanding of biological and scientific terms,' and maintains that 'gender ideology' has resulted in 'invalidating the true and biological category of 'woman.'' But according to 'ordinary and longstanding use and understanding,' the Gulf of Mexico is the name of the body of water in question. If the president can rename it by fiat, why can't a person adopt a preferred pronoun or gender category in the same manner? Naming is often about power, privilege and control. A biblical myth says that God gave Adam the power to name things along with dominion over the world. He who bestows names also owns and dominates them. There is a kind of royal or religious prerogative in naming, christening and dubbing. Elaborate ceremonies are required to establish names and titles, and make subsequent changes. We see this in weddings, christenings and other rituals. When power shifts, things are often renamed. The renaming is part of the point of acquiring power. The conqueror, after all, has the right to name what he has conquered. Sometimes names are overtly practical. A 'computer' computes and an 'automobile' propels itself. A 'bicycle' has two wheels, while a 'tricycle' has three. Utilitarian and prosaic names function like 'true names,' directly expressing the meaning of things. But naming is often arbitrary and even whimsical. Elon Musk changed 'Twitter' to 'X,' which is also the name of one of his sons. Congressman Earl 'Buddy' Carter has (absurdly) proposed renaming Greenland as 'Red, White and Blueland.' Some names have deep significance, as when a child is named after a departed loved one. Others inspire and edify. But other names are silly or insulting (as in the effort to rename Greenland). Behind the words, of course, is the thing itself. This point was immortalized by Shakespeare, who asked, 'What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.' Juliet's love for Romeo is more substantial than their parents' feud about names, titles and power. Juliet begs Romeo to refuse and deny his family name so that it will no longer be an obstacle to their relationship. Romeo responds by announcing he will be newly baptized under the name of 'love.' This angsty teenage romance reveals something deep and true: Authentic things — love, beauty and self-identity — exist beyond names. Disputes about names are contrived by the powerful to control, dominate and limit. But the names shouldn't matter as much as the thing itself in all of its raw truth and natural glory. Plato wondered whether we have direct access to the 'real existence' of 'things without names.' Perhaps we do. For swimmers in the seas east of Mexico, the name of the gulf they're in is likely irrelevant. When Juliet and Romeo die in each other's arms, their loving embrace transcends their family names. But the history of the world is a struggle for the power of naming. That struggle begs us to consider what is true, what is real and who has the authority to name things. Andrew Fiala is the interim department chair of Fresno State University's Department of Philosophy.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Axios Adopts ‘Gulf of America' Name to Comply With Trump Executive Order
News website Axios said the editorial team will now refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America per Donald Trump's Executive Order 14172. 'Our top priority at Axios is to provide readers with clinical, fact-based reporting,' the news outlet posted on X. 'Our standard is to use 'Gulf of America (renamed by U.S. from Gulf of Mexico)' in our reporting because our audience is mostly U.S.-based compared to other publishers with international audiences.' But the statement from Axios continued, saying 'the government should never dictate how any news organization makes editorial decisions. The AP and all news organizations should be free to report as they see fit. This is a bedrock of a free press and durable democracy.' It was not immediately clear whether Axios had been standing its ground on the name choice, or faced any pushback. The outlet did not immediately respond Saturday to a request for comment. The decision was made Friday, hours Trump permanently banned the Associated Press from the Oval Office due to its refusal to refer to the body of water as the Gulf of America. 'The Associated Press continues to ignore the lawful geographic name change of the Gulf of America. This decision is not just divisive, but it also exposes the Associated Press' commitment to misinformation,' explained White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich on X on Friday. 'While their right to irresponsible and dishonest reporting is protected by the First Amendment, it does not ensure their privilege of unfettered access to limited spaces, like the Oval Office and Air Force One.' 'Going forward, that space will now be opened up to the many thousands of reporters who have been barred from covering these intimate areas of the administration,' Budowich continued. 'Associated Press journalists and photographers will retain their credentials to the White House complex.' Julie Pace, AP executive editor, said the decision was 'a deeply troubling escalation of the administration's continued efforts to punish the Associated Press for its editorial decisions.' The post Axios Adopts 'Gulf of America' Name to Comply With Trump Executive Order appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House Kerfuffle Erupts Over Use of ‘Gulf of Mexico' Amid Trump's New ‘Gulf of America'
A White House kerfuffle has erupted over presidential access and First Amendment rights this week after reporters with the Associated Press were denied access to Oval Office events because the news agency has continued using the term Gulf of Mexico, rather than President Donald Trump's revised, 'Gulf of America.' The White House said on Wednesday that it would continue to punish the agency for 'telling lies' by continuing to use the body of water's original name. AP reporters were barred from entering events in the Oval Office and the White House's Diplomatic Reception Room, the agency reports; later, AP staff were turned away at the Oval Office swearing-in of new National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard. More from The Hollywood Reporter Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Is Confirmed as Trump's Health Secretary After Close Senate Vote Grimes Speaks Out After Ex-Partner Elon Musk Brings Their Son to Oval Office Press Conference Can Ryan Murphy Save Bret Easton Ellis' 'The Shards' From HBO Development Hell? 'It is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America, and I'm not sure why news outlets don't want to call it that,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at Wednesday's press briefing. On Jan. 20, Trump signed Executive Order 14172, dubbed, 'Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness.' The order, one of a flurry that came immediately as he took office, called for the renaming of the body of water composed of 'the U.S. Continental Shelf area bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the State of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba in the area formerly named as the Gulf of Mexico.' Trump had brought up the forthcoming change during his inaugural address on Jan. 20. Cameras caught Hilary Clinton, sitting in the audience, laughing at the announcement. 'America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on earth, inspiring the awe and admiration of the entire world,' Trump said. 'A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and we will restore the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley, where it should be and where it belongs.' On Jan. 23, the AP, whose influential style book is used across hundreds of news organizations and is considered by millions to be a gold standard for news writing, responded to the unusual Executive Order on Jan. 23, saying it will keep using the traditional name for the body, the Gulf of Mexico, while giving Trump's name a nod. 'The body of water has shared borders between the U.S. and Mexico. Trump's order only carries authority within the United States. Mexico, as well as other countries and international bodies, do not have to recognize the name change,' the AP wrote in its missive. 'The Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years. The Associated Press will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen. As a global news agency that disseminates news around the world, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences.' The agency went on to explain that it understands the fluidity of language and that names of places and things change all of the time. This is regularly reviewed and guidance regarding name changes has shifted in several instances; the distinction between the Gulf of California, a name used in the U.S., and the Sea of Cortez, which refers to the inlet that separates the Baja California peninsula from the Mexico mainland. The agency also noted that it will now revert to calling the Alaskan mountain Denali since it was changed in 2015 by former President Barack Obama back to Mt. Mckinley. The AP justified making the change as the mountain is entirely within America's borders. 'The area lies solely in the United States and as president, Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country,' the AP wrote. On Thursday, while reporting on the situation, the AP claimed that this marks an escalation in Trump's adversarial relationship with the media as his administration is 'regulating language used by independent media.' 'The actions taken by this White House were plainly intended to punish the AP for the content of its speech,' Julie Pace, AP's senior vice president and executive editor, wrote to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on Wednesday. 'It is among the most basic tenets of the First Amendment that the government cannot retaliate against the public or the press for what they say.' The White House has justified the punitive actions by stating that any access granted at the White House or to Trump is a privilege, not a right. 'Nobody has the right to go into the Oval Office and ask the president of the United States questions. We reserve the right to decide who gets to go into the Oval Office,' Leavitt said, later adding, 'Pretty much every other outlet in this room has recognized that body of water as the Gulf of America.' It's unclear how many publications are falling in line with the Trump-coined 'Gulf of America' but Google did replace the name on its popular Google Maps application and website. The tech giant explained the change on Feb. 10. 'People using Maps in the U.S. will see 'Gulf of America,' and people in Mexico will see 'Gulf of Mexico.' Everyone else will see both names,' the company's statement reads. Soon, Apple and Microsoft decided to hop on the Gulf of America bandwagon, claiming that the policy is to follow the U.S. Geographic Names Information System. A poll from Marquette University, released on Wednesday, said that 71 percent of respondents opposed renaming the body of water and 29 percent were on board with the new Gulf of America name. As for the AP, the organization has a strong backer. White House Correspondents' Association president Eugene Daniels has said the organization stands with the agency and said that the Trump administration should 'immediately change course.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2024: Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Olivia Rodrigo and More
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pinellas lawmaker files bill to adopt ‘Gulf of America' name in Florida statutes
Video above: President Trump to rename Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Pinellas County lawmaker filed a bill that would change every mention of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida state statutes to the 'Gulf of America' name proposed by President Donald Trump. The 70-page bill was filed by Republican state Sen. Nick DiCeglie on Tuesday. Another norovirus outbreak reported on Florida cruise ship: CDC 'Here in Pinellas, we're making it official. Today I filed legislation to ensure Florida state records reflect the new name of this beautiful body of water – the Gulf of America. Thank you, @realDonaldTrump, for your bold leadership!' DiCeglie wrote in a post on X. The proposed legislation aligns with the president's Executive Order 14172, titled 'Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness.' Trump also declared Feb. 9 'Gulf of America Day.' Gov. Ron DeSantis was among the first to use the name in an official context, using it to describe the Gulf in an executive order declaring a state of emergency ahead of a winter storm that impacted Florida last month. Google Maps was recently updated to reflect the name change. Users outside of the U.S. will still see the body of water labeled as the Gulf of Mexico. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
