Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Thursday, November 27, 2025

A Marketing Science study examined the staggered timing of book bans across states and found a 12 percent average increase in circulation for the most-targeted titles after a ban, compared with similar, unbanned books. The "ban effect" bled across borders: bans in one state nudged up checkouts in places without bans, too.

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Two hundred miles south, Fairhope Public Library offers a cautionary tale of unintended consequences. When Alabama's board suspended and then revoked Fairhope's 2025 state aid over teen-shelf content earlier this year, locals raised roughly $40,000 in five days, essentially replacing the lost check. "It came as a complete shock," said a board volunteer as donations poured in.

There's a deeper pattern here. Attempts to hide books -- especially those with LGBTQ+ themes -- often make them more popular.

In the landmark Wichita Falls case a quarter-century ago, two picture books about same-sex parents were barely read until a political campaign targeted them; afterward, each title was checked out over a hundred times.

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More from the article ...

... Two hundred miles south, Fairhope Public Library offers a cautionary tale of unintended consequences. When Alabama's board suspended and then revoked Fairhope's 2025 state aid over teen-shelf content earlier this year, locals raised roughly $40,000 in five days, essentially replacing the lost check. "It came as a complete shock," said a board volunteer as donations poured in.

There's a deeper pattern here. Attempts to hide books -- especially those with LGBTQ+ themes -- often make them more popular.

In the landmark Wichita Falls case a quarter-century ago, two picture books about same-sex parents were barely read until a political campaign targeted them; afterward, each title was checked out over a hundred times. ...



#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-11-26 03:19 AM | Reply

Got a link to a non-paywalled source?

#2 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-11-26 12:15 PM | Reply

The best way to sell something is say it won't be around or available soon.

#3 | Posted by bat4255 at 2025-11-27 10:19 AM | Reply

Re 2

archive.ph

Yer welcome lazy bones.

#4 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-11-27 10:30 AM | Reply

Sometimes I think we really shouldn't tell these fools their hateful plans are backfiring.

They will just find another way to inflict their revenge and retribution and hate onto others.

On the other hand it's so much fun to rub theirs noses into their own stupidity. It's so ... . Satisfying.

#5 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-11-27 10:37 AM | Reply

Am unaware if any state that has imposed a statewide ban on any books.

#6 | Posted by MSgt at 2025-11-27 11:47 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

AI Overview
Yes, states like South Carolina, Utah, and Florida have imposed statewide or near-statewide bans on books, with South Carolina having the most state-mandated bans on its books. While other states have seen numerous local book challenges, these three stand out for their state-level actions.

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www.google.com

#7 | Posted by Corky at 2025-11-27 11:57 AM | Reply

Course you are unaware, it wasn't ever an X meme.

#8 | Posted by mattm at 2025-11-27 12:11 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 5

Am unaware if any state that has imposed a statewide ban on any books.

#6 | POSTED BY MSGT

Being "aware" is way too close to being "woke" and we will not be having any of that!

#9 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-11-27 12:47 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

"However much you deny the truth, the truth goes on existing."

George Orwell

#10 | Posted by SomebodyElse at 2025-11-27 04:36 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

@#2 ... Got a link to a non-paywalled source? ...

Sadly, Newsweek is now paywalled. Similar to Axios site.

When I cited that, I did not know it was paywalled.

I have taken Newsweek off the bookmarks that I tend to visit.

Which is a shame because, I had liked Axios, I considered it an excellent news site. But if they want to cut themselves off from people, that is their choice. Ditto for newsweek.com.

Newsweek -- Bias and Credibility
mediabiasfactcheck.com

... Overall, we rate Newsweek Right-Center Biased based on editorial positions that slightly favor the right. We also rate them as Mostly Factual in reported rather than high due to having to make corrections on false information after publication. ...


Axios -- Bias and Credibility
mediabiasfactcheck.com

... Overall, we rate Axios just Left of Center biased based on story selection that slightly favors the left. They are High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and zero failed fact checks. ...


But they both have put up a paywall, as your comment notes.

{sigh}

Oh well...


#11 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-11-28 12:23 AM | Reply

Ban em all, let the idiots waste their money. Protecting children from being exposed to this kind of nonsense is far far more important.

Once some kid gets it in his head something like this is wrong with them and it's causing all that ails them it's difficult to get it out of their head, especially if they have a bunch of dorky leftist sympathizers raising them and entertaining the nonsense.

What you end up with is a life utterly destroyed by lies and sick people confirming confusion and utter nonsense.

Problems that afflict children and teens are grown out of by their mid 20s once they learn how to tackle life and solve problems and not blame garbage "I was born into the wrong body"

#12 | Posted by THEBULL at 2025-11-28 10:54 AM | Reply

#12 You mean like this, TheBovineExcrement: ifunny.co

#13 | Posted by A_Friend at 2025-11-28 11:17 AM | Reply

#13 "...and sick people confirming confusion and utter nonsense."

You mean like this, TheBovineExecrement:

en.wikipedia.org

#14 | Posted by A_Friend at 2025-11-28 11:19 AM | Reply

Ban em all, let the idiots waste their money. Protecting children from being exposed to this kind of nonsense is far far more important.

Yes ban everything! Ban all books. No one reads them anymore anyway. Knowing stuff is just too confusing! Eliminate everything controversial.. for the children!

Then buy them a gun and hand them a smartphone with unlimited internet access for Christmas.

It's simple and brilliant and all they will need to survive the Purge.

#15 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-11-28 11:31 AM | Reply

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