NPR Shocked By Republicans Who Mock Tim Walz’s Policy On Menstrual Products In Schools

NPR’s homepage lit up with a story by digital news editor and writer Rachel Treisman, “Why Republicans Call Walz ‘Tampon Tim.'” She summarized Republican mockery of Minnesota Gov. and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz for signing a law requiring public schools to provide menstrual products to students in grades 4 through 12.

In girls and the boys Toilets. This “free menstrual products” movement is supposed to help students stay in school during their difficult times. NPR promoted the idea in 2021. (Image via LA Johnson for NPR)

Treisman sidestepped the reason for the Republican mockery, avoiding the ridiculous image of tampon dispensers in elementary school boys’ restrooms, emphasizing instead the pride with which Democrats adopted Governor Walz’s “Tampon Tim” epithet.

She engaged in a bait and switch, portraying Republicans as being fiercely opposed to a liberal policy of free tampon machines in girls’ restrooms, when in reality they are opposed to a radical policy of tampon machines in boys’ toilets in primary schools.

The labeling was typical NPR.

After Vice President Harris announced her choice, Stephen Miller, a former adviser to former President Donald Trump, tweeted, “She actually chose Tampon Tim.” Chaya Raichik, who runs far-right social media account Libs of TikTokI photoshopped Walz’s face onto a Tampax box.

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The nickname refers to a law that Walz, the Minnesota governor, signed last year requiring public schools to provide menstrual products — including pads and tampons — to students in grades 4 through 12.

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But Republicans appear to take issue with the language of the law, which says the products must be available “for all female students having their periods in the toilets regularly used by female students.

Some Minnesota Republicans initially tried to limit the initiative to women’s and gender-neutral restrooms, but were unsuccessful.….

At least Walz’s Republican critiques are included, which helps achieve some balance. The “trust in science” advocates at NPR must have taken the day off, judging by the bizarre “women-attributed” jargon.

The bill’s inclusive language reflects the fact that not all people who menstruate are women.and not all women menstruate, which was important to those who lobbied for the law.

“It’ll make things more comfortable for everyone … people will be able to use whichever restroom they want without worrying,” Bramwell Lundquist, then 15, told MPR News last year.

But some members of the Republican Party — who has increasingly promoted anti-transgender policies and rhetoric — see this aspect of the bill as a reason to attack Walz.

The word “woman” only appears in the form “assigned female” and the word “girl” is not used in the online article. Wokeness won. Treisman cited state Rep. Sandra Feist to support this claim, because “one in 10 menstruating youth“I miss school, then Hillary Clinton.

Former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said it was “nice of the Trump camp to help get the governor out there.” Tim Walz’s compassionate, common-sense politics,” adding: “Let’s do this everywhere.”

Yet NPR has carefully avoided the heart of the issue, the reason it is being derided in the first place: Installing tampon dispensers in elementary school boys’ restrooms is not only ridiculous but wasteful. (Just anticipate the life expectancy of a tampon dispenser installed in the average boys’ restroom.)