In this powerful second installment of a two-part deep dive on immigration and ICE in America, Rick and Tim break down the human cost of Donald Trump’s illegal and unconstitutional terror that he has unleashed into our communities. What begins as an observation quickly turns into a moment of real risk, as Tim knowingly puts his own freedom and safety on the line by stepping forward to film and engage ICE officers with his phone, fully aware that simply documenting their actions can make someone a target. Rick stayed behind, continuing to film the entire encounter, capturing not just the confrontation itself but the fear, tension, and imbalance of power that define these moments. Together, they illustrate how witnessing and documenting state violence is no longer theoretical activism but a dangerous, necessary act unfolding in real time, even in the most ordinary public spaces.

The episode centers on real incidents that expose the scope and randomness of modern immigration enforcement. Rick and Tim discuss ICE operations that resulted in people being detained without warrants, pepper-sprayed during protests, or taken while simply driving to work or school. They highlight cases involving a daycare teacher detained in front of children, teenagers seized near their schools, and families left traumatized and scrambling for answers. Throughout, they emphasize that official narratives often clash with eyewitness accounts and court rulings, revealing a pattern of overreach, ignored legal protections, and the erosion of due process.

The conversation then widens to national cases that illustrate how unchecked power affects the most vulnerable. Rick and Tim examine the detention of individuals with valid work authorization, asylum protections, or special immigrant juvenile status, showing how even legal victories can be hollow when enforcement agencies refuse to follow the law. They also unpack the high-profile case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, exploring allegations tied to gang registries, tattoos, and human trafficking claims rooted largely in circumstantial evidence. Ultimately, the episode argues that documentation, resistance, and public accountability are essential, not just to challenge specific cases, but to confront a system that is inflicting lasting trauma on families, students, and entire communities.

Rick also speaks openly about his fear of what comes next, when mass roundups and detention are no longer threats but policy in motion. He warns that once “the undocumented” are gone, history shows the target never disappears, it simply shifts, and the machinery built to dehumanize one group is inevitably turned on others who are deemed inconvenient, undesirable, or expendable, which includes him as an openly gay man.

This week’s “Let's Trigger Rictor” segment is about the use of voter suppression via the USPS and Trump’s claims that teachers are not professional anymore. Rictor creates a “Let’s Trigger Tim” segment, a first! Topic: The controversial comments Neil deGrasse Tyson said about teachers on the Joe Rogan podcast. Did it set off Tim?

In this powerful first installment of our two-part deep dive on immigration in America, Rick and Tim break it down to something startling and increasingly unavoidable: historical parallels. From the early tactics of Nazi Germany to the Japanese American internment camps on U.S. soil, we examine how cruelty becomes policy, how fear becomes a weapon, and how the U.S. immigration system has evolved into something darker than most Americans realize.

With humor (because if we don’t laugh, we’ll cry), personal stories, and a mountain of research, we break down:

👉 The rise of state-sanctioned intimidation

👉 Propaganda-driven fear campaigns 👉 ICE’s explosive new funding and militarized tactics 👉 Why modern enforcement resembles 1930s authoritarian playbooks 👉 How legal loopholes are weaponized by people like Stephen Miller, Tom Homan, & Jeff Sessions 👉 The human cost: families separated, communities terrorized, and due process eroded

We also look at disturbing recent cases, like the shooting of Marimar Martinez in Chicago, and examine how propaganda, cruelty-as-deterrence, and profit motive collide to shape today’s immigration reality. We’re talking detention expansion, off-shoring asylum seekers, CECOT-style camps, and the cultural normalization of dehumanization.

This episode blends history, politics, community experience, and straight-up receipts to show why “it can’t happen here” has never been less true.

This week’s “Let's Trigger Rictor” segment is about the use of pejoratives. Who gets to say them? Should they even be said by anyone? What about context? Clips included are from CNN, NBC News, ABC News, Sky News, Inside Edition, 60 Minutes, Fox News, Slice Full Doc, South Park, The Boston Globe, ProPublica, Smithsonian Channel, Women’s March Win, Reuters, Rupaul’s Drag Race, Bethenny, Noticias, Tiktokkers: ms_ryan, mollaanbbingtoncompass, julesandjessie, peeberr, marxistajohan, jon59663, and wily_lara.

If you appreciate truth, context, and the occasional drag-queen-level read, you’re in the right place.

Let’s break it down.

For this bonus episode of Red Pens & Red Flags, I sit down with alternative school educator Tazz Groffe to discuss what real accountability and care look like for students who the system has failed. We dig into state vs. federal control of curriculum, vouchers and funding, DEI done right, and why “choice” without oversight hurts the most vulnerable. Tazz shares frontline worries, from surveillance creeping into classrooms to National Guard deployments in U.S. cities, and the one thing that still gives him hope: students learning to think critically. If you care about the future of public education, this conversation is a must-listen. Teacher Groffe has a wonderful message to the Trump administration at the end of the podcast.

In this powerful season finale of Red Pens and Red Flags, we step outside the classroom and into the heart of the home with parent and advocate Bertha Robinson. A single mother of 14 (and counting), Bertha shares what it’s like raising a neurodiverse, multiracial family in today’s volatile education landscape. From busing and DEI rollbacks to special education funding and Project 2025, Bertha offers a raw, unfiltered view into how political decisions are impacting real families, especially those raising children with disabilities.

With humor, passion, and a deep sense of justice, Bertha calls out the hypocrisy of leaders who gut public education while never having relied on it themselves. She questions the morality of autism registries, defends ELD programs, and reminds us that equity isn’t charity, it’s a right. Whether she’s explaining why her autistic son plays 17 instruments or why she checks ParentSquare daily, Bertha shows us what real parental involvement looks like. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who thinks public education should serve all children, not just the privileged few.

After the interview, there are some closing thoughts from Rictor Riolo on the current state of public education, which ends with an inspiring quote from poet and teacher Maya Angelou. History is watching.

In this powerful sixth episode of Red Pens and Red Flags, host Rictor Riolo steps into the metaphorical (and literal) principal’s office to tackle the deeply unsettling implications of Project 2025 on America’s most vulnerable students. He’s joined by Jennifer Jones, a district administrator for alternative education, and Kaitlen Green, a high school social worker, who offer raw, unfiltered insights into how marginalized students are already fighting to survive in a system that’s stacked against them. Together, they examine the role of trauma-informed education, the erosion of federal protections, and what happens when discipline policies abandon equity in favor of “common sense” punishment. Spoiler: it’s anything but common or sensible.

The conversation doesn’t just critique, it galvanizes. Jennifer and Kaitlen bring receipts, personal stories, and decades of experience working with students who’ve been pushed out, written off, and underserved. From the gut-punch reality of the school-to-prison pipeline to the glimmers of hope in Oregon’s DEI resistance, this episode dares to imagine a better way forward, even as the walls seem to be closing in. If you care about public education, civil rights, or the survival of empathy in policy, this episode is required listening. Like what Mr. Rogers once said, "In times of disaster, look for the helpers."

In the fifth episode of Red Pens and Red Flags, self-described MAGA conservative high school math teacher, Aaron Megrian, joins the conversation to discuss the shifting landscape of American education. While he presents himself as a champion of neutrality, Aaron openly acknowledges that students may be treated differently based on race and socioeconomic status, yet he resists challenging these disparities. He frames assimilation as the solution, suggesting that tailoring education to meet diverse student needs is inconvenient for the broader community. Aaron advocates for returning power to the states, trusting local values over federal oversight, even though he admits that some states have historically failed marginalized groups. His comments reveal a preference for stability over equity and a belief that equality comes through conformity rather than transformation.

Despite insisting that political indoctrination has no place in the classroom, Aaron contradicts himself when discussing religious mandates. He expresses no concern over Bible placements in public school classrooms, arguing that moral instruction aligned with “traditional American values” is beneficial, so long as it reflects his personal ideology. He dodges a direct answer when asked if he supports DEI, opting instead to reframe it as a political buzzword that divides rather than unites. Likewise, when questioned about the educational inequities rooted in the Jim Crow era, he skirts the topic entirely, claiming he can’t speak to it. In doing so, Aaron inadvertently highlights a common tension in education today: the desire to appear apolitical while endorsing ideologies that reinforce existing power structures.

In this emotionally charged and deeply human 4th episode of Red Pens and Red Flags, host Rictor Riolo sits down with middle school band director Mylo, a fierce advocate, passionate educator, and proud queer non-binary teacher, to talk about what it means to hold space for students during a time when education feels like it’s under siege.

Mylo speaks candidly about the realities of being a public school teacher in a system riddled with inequities: from fighting for basic instrument repairs and equitable funding, to protecting students’ identities in a climate where DEI is being politicized and weaponized. They explain the emotional labor behind trauma-informed teaching and the pressure of showing up every day as a safe, nonjudgmental adult when many students don’t have that anywhere else. Through every moment, Mylo’s commitment to student voice, inclusive classrooms, and the power of the arts shines through like a spotlight on a quiet stage.

The conversation takes a turn as Mylo reflects on Project 2025, state-mandated religious materials in classrooms, and the frightening possibility of the Department of Education being dismantled. They articulate the heartbreak of having to hide their identity, and the devastation of watching students be told, implicitly or explicitly, that they don’t belong. And yet, despite the fear and the fatigue, Mylo offers hope. Their faith in youth activism, grassroots change, and the sheer tenacity of the next generation is inspirational. Whether you're a fellow educator, a student, or just someone trying to understand what’s at stake in today’s schools, this episode offers honesty, empathy, and a powerful reminder: the fight for inclusive, safe, and equitable education is personal, and it's far from over.

In this third episode of Red Pens and Red Flags, host Rictor Riolo sits down with Nancy Gonzalez, an ELD (English Language Development) paraprofessional at the middle school level, for an honest and insightful conversation about the realities of supporting multilingual learners in today’s political climate. Nancy discusses her role in guiding newcomer students, those who have recently arrived in the U.S., through their academic day, helping them navigate not only English but also the cultural shift of a new country. She opens up about the linguistic diversity she sees in the classroom, including students from Micronesia, Mexico, Ukraine, and Indonesia, and how tools like Google Translate, push-in support, and personalized assistance are essential in creating an inclusive environment. Nancy also critiques standardized assessments like the ELPA (English Language Proficiency Assessment), questioning whether they accurately reflect a student’s English ability and expressing concern over how long some students, especially U.S.-born kids, remain trapped in the ELD system, limiting their academic growth.

The conversation takes a powerful turn as Nancy addresses the political threats to the Department of Education, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, and dual language immersion. She reflects on the potential dismantling of these systems and what that would mean for vulnerable students who still need support, even if the programs disappear. Nancy passionately advocates for inclusive, integrated classrooms where students can see themselves reflected in their teachers and feel emotionally supported amidst growing national anxiety. She shares her own journey as a former ELD student, her aspirations to become a social studies teacher, and her unwavering hope that, even if the policies change, dedicated educators will continue to show up, speak up, and care deeply for every learner. This episode is a must-listen for anyone invested in the future of equitable education.