The veteran CPS defense attorney discusses his new book “When the State Knocks” and why parents can’t take their rights for granted
In an era where the balance between government authority and parental rights feels increasingly precarious, few voices carry as much weight as Michael Agranoff’s. A seasoned CPS defense trial lawyer, Agranoff has spent years in courtrooms defending families against state intervention. Now, he’s channeling that experience into his upcoming book “When the State Knocks,” a guide designed to educate parents about both their obligations and their rights in an age of expanding government reach.
What inspired you to transition from the courtroom to the written page?
“I have been blessed to have been a CPS defense trial lawyer and have learned things that are not common knowledge,” Agranoff explains. “I wish to share this knowledge with the parents of America, as I believe that strong families are the backbone of the country. It is important for parents to understand both their obligations and their rights. This is especially important in a society in which Socialist ideas are emerging, and in which many people believe that the State should control the raising of children.”
For aspiring writers looking to make a similar transition, what advice would you offer?
Agranoff’s counsel is refreshingly direct: “Use your own experiences, not simply what you have read of others. Determine what you have to say that has not been said before, or that provides a new insight. Use programs such as Autocrit to help you to refine your writing skills. Above all, do not give up.”
His writing routine reflects the discipline of his legal training. “I have found that mornings are best,” he notes. “Your day is not cluttered with the ordinary business of life. Very often, you have to get up early, leave your spouse, and hit the computer.”
The title “When the State Knocks” is particularly evocative. What’s its significance?
“‘When the State Knocks’ is both emotional and a highly-accurate description of the problem of getting a call from CPS,” Agranoff explains. “It can be, and almost always is, a frightening experience for parents who have no idea what to expect. There is no way you can prevent it from happening, although you can take steps to lower your risk.”
What’s the central message you hope readers take away?
His response is sobering: “That you cannot take your parental rights for granted. We live in an era of big government, and in a permissive society. You can never, but never, assume that raising your children to be law-abiding citizens will save you from State intervention.”
This theme becomes particularly relevant in one of the book’s more provocative sections, where Agranoff explores the concept of parental licensing. Drawing parallels to the licensing requirements for physicians, dentists, and even plumbers, he poses an uncomfortable question: if we license people for jobs involving dogs and toilets, why not for raising children?
In the excerpt, Agranoff writes: “Agent 007 had a license to kill. But an old leftist idea that’s been kicking around for years is that you need a license to parent.” He goes on to explore the potentially dystopian implications of such a system, questioning who would administer it and what criteria would be used.
The passage reveals Agranoff’s concerns about the current political climate: “Licensing of parents would be administered by the federal Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], which would set criteria for the states to follow. And would only child molesters and obvious psychopaths be excluded? Don’t bet on it. Leftists would also be in charge of HHS.”
His writing reflects the influence of Marshall McLuhan, particularly “The Mechanical Bride.” “McLuhan clearly and with brilliant humor illustrates the bureaucratic nature of our society, and the way in which people have become accustomed to subservience to views that are drummed into them endlessly by the media,” Agranoff observes.
How do you handle criticism of your political viewpoints?
“Discussions of how you could have better examples, or made your examples clearer, are to be taken serious. Make improvements when necessary,” he says. “However, if someone simply disagrees with your political viewpoints, do not spend time arguing with them; it seldom if ever helps.”
What has surprised you most about the writing process?
“It is amazing how much you learn. Things that you didn’t realize come to light. They say that a teacher may learn more than his students. Similarly, an author may sometimes learn more than his audience.”
Agranoff’s political convictions are clear throughout our conversation. When asked about his hero, he doesn’t hesitate: “President Donald Trump. Though he may be rough about the edges, he is an achiever, not a talker. He is trying to create a country that is safe for law-abiding, hard-working American citizens. I cannot imagine going back to the old ways.”
His favorite quote comes from Mark Twain: “Honesty – the best of all the lost arts.” Agranoff appreciates how these brief words “shattered the Dale Carnegie ‘tell-em-what-they-want-to-hear’ mentality so ubiquitous in our corporate marketing-oriented world.”
BOOK EXCERPT
Agent 007 had a license to kill. But an old leftist idea that’s been kicking around for years is that you need a license to parent. You can look up “Licensing of Parents” on the internet and find some interesting reading.
The argument goes like this. We license people for difficult and critical jobs. You can’t just work as a physician, dentist, veterinarian, plumber, electrician, lawyer, CPA, etc., until you have demonstrated certain skills. Surely parenting children is as critical as taking care of dogs or toilets, so why not license parents?
Fine, but who would do the licensing, and using what criteria?
Suppose that Gov. Gavin Newsom, like John F. Kennedy, is able to leverage his good looks into becoming President. He may take the Congress along with him. If the social workers’ unions had supported him, he might reward them by pushing through a law for the licensing of parents. After all, President Jimmy Carter, hardly a radical, rewarded the teachers’ unions for supporting him by pushing through the creation the federal DOE.
Licensing of parents would be administered by the federal Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], which would set criteria for the states to follow. And would only child molesters and obvious psychopaths be excluded? Don’t bet on it. Leftists would also be in charge of HHS.
And leftists believe in cancel culture. Look at what happened to Harry Potter author J.K. Rawling. Leftists tried to cancel her for complaining that “people who menstruate” should instead be called “women.” The media has identified hundreds of other examples, from famous celebrities to ordinary teachers and businesspeople.
Even I was threatened with being cancelled and assaulted just for saying publicly that CPS social workers, as a class, were not racists. I strongly disagree with leftists but have never even thought of cancelling them.
Why couldn’t cancelling be applied to parents and prospective parents who also express “unacceptable” views? Wouldn’t these views make them “questionable” as parents? HHS and social workers could think so.
Impossible? Suppose I had said, during the 2020 Presidential campaign, that a Biden victory would result in the FBI’s going after parents who protested at school board meetings that their young kids were being taught transgenderism.
Impossible indeed.
Licensing of parents is admittedly far-fetched by today’s standards. But not that long ago, so was gay marriage, girls encouraged or forced to strip in front of and play contact sports against boys, schools teaching transgenderism to elementary students, violent criminals being released on the streets with no bond, unvetted criminals and terrorists entering the country, and homeless people taking over San Francisco. Nothing is impossible by “progressive” standards.
They are your children. Do you want to take the chance?
We live in a slippery-slope society. Yesterday’s outrage is tomorrow’s standard.
The book’s excerpt concludes with a stark warning that encapsulates Agranoff’s core message: “They are your children. Do you want to take the chance? We live in a slippery-slope society. Yesterday’s outrage is tomorrow’s standard.”
Whether readers agree with his political perspective or not, Agranoff’s legal expertise and firsthand experience defending families make “When the State Knocks” a potentially valuable resource for parents navigating an increasingly complex relationship between family autonomy and government oversight. In an age where the boundaries of state authority continue to evolve, his voice adds an important dimension to the ongoing conversation about parental rights in America.
