Wisconsin state government got some good fiscal news when the nonpartisan legislative fiscal Bureau reported on August 31st that tax revenues were still relatively high this year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. That makes it less likely that the legislature will have to enact a budget repair bill for the current year. While the 2020 budget […]
The State of Public Education in the U.S. with Michael Apple
How do we understand the ongoing assaults on public education at all levels? What are the forces at play and what are the implications? In this episode, Allen approaches these questions with educational theorist Michael Apple. They spend the hour discussing the state of public schools in the U.S. and the struggle for democracy in […]
Madison Schools: Investing in Public Education
Today on the show, host Ali Muldrow is joined in the studio by former school board member Ed Hughes and Madison Teachers Inc. executive director Doug Keillor to discuss issues pertaining to Madison K–12 schools, including the budget, upcoming referendums, the search for a new superintendent, and the ongoing fight for public education. Ed Hughes […]
Learning from the Chicago Teachers Strike
The Chicago Teachers Union scored a victory for their district last week, following an eleven-day teachers strike that made national headlines. For today’s episode, guest host Richelle Wilson brings the strike into focus: how did it get started? What were the teachers’ demands? What was the outcome? And what does this all say about labor, […]
The Teachers’ Strike Wave and Working-Class Politics with Eric Blanc...
Last year, there was a wave of public education strikes throughout the U.S. in places like Los Angeles, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, Denver, and Oakland. Today on the show, guest Eric Blanc provides context for these strikes and discusses effective labor organizing through the lens of his book Red State Revolt: The Teachers’ Strike Wave […]
Exploring the Wisconsin State Budget
As the Wisconsin State Senate meets to vote on the state budget today, Ali explores all things budget with State Representative Chris Taylor of the Joint Finance Committee. With the input of listener-callers, they cover Tony Evers and the “People’s Budget,” special education, gerrymandering, and the role of money and privatization in shaping public and […]