Current Affairs "THE MOST DANGEROUS PERSON IN THE WORLD?" Why Fascists Fear Teachers (w/ Randi Weingarten)
Aug 23, 2025
Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, discusses her book, detailing why some see her as 'the most dangerous person in the world.' She tackles the manufactured distrust in education by right-wing figures and the vital role of teachers in fostering democracy and empathy. Weingarten also highlights the weaponization of anti-Semitism against academic freedom, the crisis in Gaza’s schools, and the essential role of teachers’ unions as defenders of democracy and the labor movement.
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Why Public Schools Threaten Authoritarianism
- Authoritarians attack public education because it fosters critical thinking and pluralism.
- Destroying public schools creates universal public-school distrust to weaken democracy.
The Strategy: Manufacture Distrust
- Chris Rufo openly described creating "universal public school distrust" as a strategy.
- That explicit tactic shows attacks are coordinated to replace public schools with private alternatives.
Strengthen Public Options, Don't Defund Them
- Support a wide array of strong public options like magnets, charters, and career-tech schools.
- Invest in making neighborhood schools excellent instead of defunding them to force privatization.
