CBS's 'FBI' Says American Flag Outside a House is a Sign of a Republican

Last night, CBS's FBI admitted something that every political canvasser already knows: Republicans proudly fly American flags outside their home. On Tuesday night's season finale, "Ring of Fire," FBI agents hunt down Somali terrorists who killed CIA agents. The show begins with the mysterious murder of victims who have no social media presence and minimal personal information. After tracking down burner phone data, agents Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym) and Omar Zidan (Zeeko Zaki) find a restaurant where one of the victims, Christine, met with an unknown contact. They ask the restaurant owner for any information he may have about the man with whom Christine met. The owner tells them the man, Jack (Jim Conroy), that he flies "a flag outside" his home so criminals will think he is a Republican and a gun owner who can defend himself. Bell: That's Christine. Zidan: Do you know who she's with? Restaurateur: Oh, yeah, that's Jack. I don't know his last name, but he comes in here a lot. He lives in the neighborhood. Bell: Okay, do you know anything else about him? What he does for a living? Restaurateur: Just that he drives a pickup truck, and, um, he has a flag outside of his house. He said it keeps the criminals away. Bell: Really? Restaurateur: Yeah, you have a flag outside, people think you're a Republican. They think you own a gun. The flag outside Jack's home is indeed an American flag. It turns out Jack is a CIA agent. He helps the FBI connect the murders to Al-Shabaab terrorists on U.S. soil. The brief bit of dialogue at the restaurant, intentionally or not, captures certain realities: Republicans tend to be more patriotic and are associated with law and order and the right to self-defense. If there is an accidental conservative on FBI's writing staff, I hope he or she slips in some more revealing dialogue next season. Such moments of truth are rare on network television.

ABC's 'Grey's Anatomy' Says Texas Not 'Safe' for Trans Kids

Last night, ABC's Grey's Anatomy described the state of Texas as dangerous for its opposition to trans mutilation of minors. In the episode, "Blood, Sweat and Tears," on Thursday, a "trans" child named "Caroline" flies all the way from Texas to Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle for neurosurgery on a tumor. She and her mother consider Texas too hostile to trust doctors there. Caroline's family knows Dr. Monica Beltran (Natalie Morales), one of Grey-Sloan's doctors, because Beltran previously practiced in Texas. Caroline needs surgery on a neurofibroma, which is "a spontaneous growth in the nerve tissue" that can damage the nerve. The surgery itself does not relate to the child's trans identity, but the mother and child are uncomfortable with Texas doctors operating on her for anything at all. Last year, Texas banned puberty blockers, hormone "therapy" and other medicalized transgender harm against minors. During a conversation between Beltran and her colleague, Dr. Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone), Beltran describes Texas as a place where transgender children fear for their lives. Shepherd: They came a long way to see you. That must be flattering.  Beltran: It's enraging. Caroline shouldn't have to travel to see a doctor who treats her with respect.  Shepherd: You didn't want to stay in Texas, try to help more kids there?  Beltran: You know, as much as I hate it, I think maybe it is safer for them to come see me here. I mean, it's just gotten so hostile. [ Sighs ] Forget the awkward stares and the micro-aggressions. One family was talking about putting a bulletproof vest on their son, just to come see me, because he's trans.  Shepherd: That is... [ Sighs ]  Beltran: Yeah, there's no words to describe it. In reality, trans-identified radicals have been targeting the lives of those they oppose, with multiple shootings at Christian targets in particular. Hollywood consistently portrays opponents of the radical LGBTQUIA+ agenda as ticking time bombs when the reverse has been shown to be true. Grey's Anatomy has been a far-left show throughout its almost twenty years on the air, fear-mongering about everything from pro-life state laws to climate change. Apparently, there's an audience for such polarizing drama, because the series has had staying power for nearly two decades. Its hostile attitude towards political opponents will likely ramp up even more next season with an upcoming election. Inexplicably, audiences will also probably continue to watch.