A mother in Wisconsin just scored a major win in her battle to speak freely about what’s happening in public schools. Scarlett Johnson, a leader with Moms for Liberty in the state, faced a defamation lawsuit from Mary MacCudden, a former English teacher who also served as the “Social Justice Coordinator” for the Mequon-Thiensville School District. The suit stemmed from Johnson’s 2022 social media posts that took aim at the position and its focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Johnson shared a screenshot of MacCudden’s LinkedIn profile and questioned the role outright. “Why the hell am I paying for a ‘Social Justice Coordinator’ in my school district?” she posted. In another, she added, “This is just what @mtschools needs; more woke, White women w/ a god complex. Thank you, White savior.”
She went further in other comments, labeling DEI specialists as “woke lunatics” and “bullies” who push parents into “silence and compliance.”
MacCudden claimed these remarks damaged her reputation and filed suit soon after. The lower court let parts of the case move forward, but Johnson appealed with help from the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.
The appeals court ruled in her favor, finding that her words amounted to protected opinions rather than verifiable facts that could support a defamation claim. The judges explained that terms like “bully” count as subjective judgments or exaggeration, not something a court could prove true or false.
“The term ‘bully’ is a subjective assessment that cannot be proven as true or false… Johnson’s statements do not allege any specific act of bullying or a specific victim that could be proved or disproved at trial,” the opinion stated.
They applied the same logic to “lunatic,” calling it a personal view without factual backing. As for “woke,” “god complex,” and “white savior,” the court noted their vagueness: “The terms ‘god complex,’ ‘woke,’ and ‘white savior’ are vague and do not have a clear meaning or definition… We are not persuaded that the terms are definitive enough to allow a jury to determine whether these terms are true or false.”
One judge disagreed in a dissent, arguing the posts named MacCudden directly and might suggest hidden facts worth a jury’s review. But the majority shut that down, saying no reasonable reader would see the comments as implying specific misconduct like abusing power over students. Instead, they came across as Johnson’s reaction to the job title and description alone.
Johnson saw the lawsuit as more than a personal attack—it felt like part of a pattern to intimidate parents who challenge school agendas. She mentioned a similar threat right before a 2021 school board election, timed to knock her off balance.
“I felt I had to fight back in this case. It couldn’t be like the other. I had to stand up because this would never stop,” she said. “They’d keep going after parents like me.”
After the win, she emphasized the bigger picture. “Free speech belongs to every mom, dad, and citizen who demands answers and accountability from their government,” Johnson stated. “Parents across the country are speaking out against radical ideology in our schools, and our fight does not stop today.”
Her lawyer, Luke Berg from the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, echoed that sentiment. “Scarlett, like all of us, has the right to question and criticize her government. The defamation lawsuit against her was meritless and should have been promptly dismissed. We are pleased that the Court agreed, and that Scarlett can put this distraction behind her.”
This ruling arrives as debates over DEI programs in education heat up nationwide. In Wisconsin alone, similar concerns have led to pushback against what some see as overreach in classrooms, with groups like Moms for Liberty leading efforts to refocus on core academics over social activism. Johnson’s case could signal to other parents that voicing opposition won’t automatically land them in court, especially when lawsuits seem designed to scare off dissent.
MacCudden’s side hasn’t commented publicly since the decision, but the outcome reinforces that sharp criticism of public roles doesn’t cross into defamation just because it stings. For families worried about where tax dollars go in schools, this serves as a reminder that speaking up remains a fundamental right.
Why the National Debt Is the Looming Threat to Your Retirement Plans
The Hidden Crisis No One Is Talking About
Every day, headlines warn about inflation, market volatility, and global instability—but the greatest looming threat to your retirement might be something far more fundamental: America’s skyrocketing national debt.
You can learn more about how the national debt affects you by reading this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“.
With debt growing faster than most Americans can possibly fathom, the government’s borrowing habits have reached historic—and dangerous—levels. To cover spending, Washington is making moves with their budget packages, tariffs, and taxes. Is it enough? No. It’s not even close to what would be necessary to stop out-of-control debt, let alone reverse it.
How Debt Erodes Your Nest Egg
There are only so many levers government and the Federal Reserve can pull to try to protect Americans, assuming that’s even a top priority for them. Unfortunately, pulling one level to relive one pressure invariably adds pressure from another direction. This is why prices keep going up even as inflation reportedly slows.
For retirees and pre-retirees, that’s a perfect storm. The dollars you’ve worked hard to save lose value, and your cost of living increases while your investments lag behind.
If you’re relying solely on paper-based assets—stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—you’re essentially tied to the same system that’s creating the problem. It’s a system that was designed to work well in the 20th century, not in today’s world with people living longer and the dollar rapidly losing value.
This is why the 3-minute report, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now,” is so important.
The Precious Metals Hedge
Thousands of Americans are looking for a tangible, time-tested hedge: physical gold and silver.
Unlike paper assets, precious metals aren’t dependent on government policy or the stock market’s mood swings. They’re real, finite resources that have maintained value for thousands of years through wars, recessions, and inflationary periods.
In fact, during times of high inflation and fiscal instability, gold often performs its best—because it’s seen as a store of value when faith in the dollar weakens. This is why prices have skyrocketed this year and are expected by many economists to continue going up in the future.
Take Control with a Gold IRA
One of the most effective ways to protect your retirement from national debt fallout is through a self-directed Gold IRA. This IRS-approved account lets you hold physical gold and silver within your retirement portfolio, giving you:
- Direct ownership of your assets
- A hedge against inflation and dollar decline
- The control to diversify beyond Wall Street
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping Americans just like you take this step with confidence. The company has earned a strong reputation for transparency, education, and personalized service—making it one of the most trusted names in the industry.
The Next Step: Secure Your Financial Future
Augusta Precious Metals has helped thousands of Americans with at least $50,000 to invest from their IRAs, 401(K)s, TSPs, and other retirement accounts safeguard their savings through precious metals.
If you’re concerned about what the rising national debt could mean for your future, now is the time to act.
Read this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“ and learn the simple steps you can take to protect your retirement.