Ms Rachel has called for several traditional nursery rhymes to be retired, branding some children's songs 'racist' before an interview on SubwayTakes took a markedly more serious turn towards immigration detention and the suffering of children in Gaza.
The children's educator, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, told host Kareem Rahma that there was room for a 'new crop' of nursery rhymes, arguing that some classics could be rewritten while others should disappear altogether. Later in the conversation, she became emotional while discussing Palestinian children and referenced findings by a United Nations commission investigating the conflict.
Ms Rachel Wants 'Racist' Nursery Rhymes Retired
Asked whether some nursery rhymes and children's songs 'need to be retired,' Ms Rachel replied: '100% agree. It's time for a new crop.'
She suggested Three Little Kittens could be changed because the kittens are denied pie after losing their mittens, arguing that the mother could instead give them 'strategies' to help find the missing items.
Ms Rachel was more critical of Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater, pointing to the rhyme's depiction of a man keeping his wife in a pumpkin shell.
She then said: 'The ones that really need to be retired are racist ones', naming Jimmy Crack Corn, Oh! Susanna and Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe as examples.
Rather than preserving every traditional song, she argued that parents and educators could embrace existing alternatives or create new material for children.
Discussion Turns to Immigration Detention
The conversation shifted when Rahma introduced another proposition: 'No child should be in immigration detention.'
Ms Rachel immediately agreed, describing alleged medical neglect in detention as 'abuse' and saying some paediatricians she had spoken to had used the term 'torture.'
'The adults of the world have a responsibility to take care of all of the kids,' she said. 'It's one of our most sacred responsibilities.'
Her remarks came as she expanded the discussion beyond US immigration policy to the treatment of children globally, eventually focusing on Gaza.
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Ms Rachel Speaks About Children Killed in Gaza
Ms Rachel cited reports that more than 20,000 Palestinian children had been killed and spoke about children who she said had died from preventable causes.
A June 2026 report from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry said at least 20,179 Palestinian children had been killed and 44,143 injured since 7 October 2023. The commission said its investigation found extensive physical and psychological harm to children.
Ms Rachel also recalled criticism she received for speaking about hunger in Gaza, saying: 'These kids are starving, they should have food.'
'The UN Says It's Genocide'
Ms Rachel expressed frustration that reports about Gaza had not prompted the international response she expected.
'I always think, Kareem, that when this comes out, the world's going to act,' she said. 'When the UN says it's genocide with this report, the world's going to act.'
Her reference was consistent with findings from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which concluded in September 2025 that Israeli authorities and security forces had committed and were continuing to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. In June 2026, the commission's subsequent report examined the impact of the conflict on Palestinian children and documented the deaths and injuries of thousands of children.
Israel has rejected genocide allegations concerning its conduct in Gaza.
Ms Rachel ended the discussion by lamenting how attention to reports about Palestinian children can fade, telling Rahma: 'And then it goes back to silence. I'm so frustrated.'
