The Al Franken Podcast

Episode: Randi Weingarten on Defending Our Public Education

Date: September 21, 2025
Guest: Randi Weingarten (President, American Federation of Teachers)
Main Theme: The threats facing public education in America, why authoritarian movements attack teachers, and how defending public schools is defending democracy.

Episode Overview

In this episode, Al Franken interviews Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers and author of the new book Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy. They discuss the historical and current attacks on public education, the crucial role of teachers and unions, the risks of privatization and vouchers, as well as timely topics like COVID’s impact on learning, school funding disparities, and the rise of book bans and curriculum censorship. The episode emphasizes why public education is fundamental to sustaining democracy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Randi Weingarten’s Path: Law, Teaching, and Union Leadership

• Randi started as a labor-focused lawyer but, inspired by her mother’s strike as a teacher, transitioned to union work and direct teaching in Brooklyn.
• Her background gave her first-hand knowledge of both the power of organizing and the vital role of educators.
• Quote: “I really thought, you can't really understand what people do unless you actually take the time, energy, and effort to do it.” —Randi Weingarten (06:26)

2. Why Fascists Fear Teachers: The Book’s Intent

• Randi stresses the book is not about calling anyone a ‘fascist’, but about exposing systemic attacks on teachers and public schools as intentional power moves.
• She highlights right-wing figures like Mike Pompeo and Chris Rufo as examples of those manufacturing distrust in public education to further privatization.
• Reference to Putin: “Wars are won by teachers”—a statement that is “a compliment and a veiled threat” (09:05).
• Quote: “They fear critical thinking. They fear us... In the absence of education, you create conditions for tyranny and you create the conditions for kings and tyrants.” —Randi Weingarten (09:05)

3. Threats to Public Education: Defunding and Department of Education

• Discussion of Trump’s push to eliminate the Department of Education; Randi frames this as an attack on the future and civil rights of students (10:42–12:00).
• Title I funding, which supports schools serving low-income students, is explained and its importance to poorer/rural communities is emphasized.

4. Changing Priorities & The Role of Career and Technical Education (CTE)

• There is a positive shift toward CTE, drawing lessons from European systems.
• 40% of US high school graduates don’t attend college—emphasizing the need for viable career paths.
• CTE teaches problem solving, teamwork, communication—skills essential beyond academics (13:22).
• Quote: “What career tech ed does is experiential learning, problem solving, it is critical thinking, working in relationships with a group of people, it’s communicating.” —Randi Weingarten (13:22)

5. The Tech Challenge: Phones, Devices, and AI

• Devices (especially phones) distract and negatively affect learning; Randi advocates minimal student phone use in schools (14:21–14:29).
• She warns about AI’s dual edge: powerful teaching aid or source of privacy invasion and plagiarism.
• Teacher training in AI usage is ongoing; experiential, project-based learning is emphasized to foster critical thinking (19:18–21:01).
• Quote: “If you’re just basically taking from ChatGPT... how are you thinking? How are you problem-solving?” —Randi Weingarten (20:10)

6. Testing: From Proficiency to Growth and Performance

• The move from high-stakes standardized testing (No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top) toward performance-based assessments is underway, though testing still dominates (15:39–16:44).
• Project-based and collaborative assessment is presented as the future.

7. How Schools Are Funded

• The American model: 40% local (mainly property tax), 40% state, 10% federal; this creates wide funding disparities (22:00–24:29).
• Other developed nations prioritize national funding for education, reducing inequality.

8. Unions and Power: Case Study Wisconsin v. Minnesota

• Scott Walker’s assault on teacher unions in Wisconsin led to wage cuts and damaged public education.
• In contrast, Minnesota, supporting unions and public schooling, thrived economically.
• Quote: “There are really...three ways that regular folks have any kind of power. One is through education...one is voting...and the third is to have some economic power...through a union.” —Randi Weingarten (26:19)

9. Charter Schools, Vouchers, and Privatization

• The origins of charter schools were rooted in innovation, not competition. The model shifted, taking funding from public schools.
• Randi supports diverse public school options but opposes models that remove resources from traditional public schools.
• Quote: “We have a responsibility in public schools to all kids...that’s why public schools are so important, because it’s for all.” —Randi Weingarten (33:06)

10. COVID’s Impact: Prolonged Closures & Inequities

• Public schools lacked rapid access to necessary funding for safety measures during COVID, unlike many private schools.
• Randi acknowledges schools remained closed too long but details AFT’s early plans to reopen safely (36:44–38:36).

11. Culture Wars: Book Bans, “Don’t Say Gay,” and Curriculum Censorship

• Laws and policies in states like Florida ban discussion of sexuality or restrict diverse stories, fostering “us vs. them” thinking that undermines pluralism and trust.
• Books like Anne Frank and Ruby Bridges are banned for representing diversity and historical truth.
• Quote: “This is the otherizing. This is what fascistic behavior starts at. Us versus them...Then dehumanizing the them, then denigrating the them. This is how fascists operate.” —Randi Weingarten (39:17)

12. Career/Technical Ed: Essential Skills for Modern Students

• American CTE is less robust than Europe’s; stronger federal prioritization could expand options and engagement (42:46–45:27).
• CTE fosters resilience, collaboration, and practical skillsets.

13. Message of the Book & Final Takeaways

• Randi’s book is a “love letter” to teachers and a call to recognize public education as the keystone of democracy.
• The far right’s attacks on teachers are strategic efforts to undermine knowledge and pluralism.
• Quote: “What we do in the United States of America to teach kids knowledge, critical thinking, create a welcoming and safe environment, this should be revered, not reviled.” —Randi Weingarten (46:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Wars are won by teachers.” (Citing Putin, 09:03)
• “They fear critical thinking. They fear us...” (Randi Weingarten, 09:05)
• “When you say you want to get rid of...the Department of Education, what you’re saying is you want to get rid of the civil rights of kids.” (Randi Weingarten, 11:16)
• “I’m never going to say you should or shouldn’t do [private/voucher/homeschool]. But...I want them to have enough funding in [public] schools.” (Randi Weingarten, 35:43)
• “This is the otherizing...us versus them...This is how fascists operate.” (Randi Weingarten, 39:17)
• “...to love teachers...this is for me was a love letter for them.” (Randi Weingarten, 45:34)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Al’s personal story about Mrs. Moline and intro — 01:12–04:18
• Randi’s background and motivation — 04:18–06:42
• Motivation for the book — 06:42–10:27
• Trump’s stance & Department of Education — 10:27–12:00
• Title 1 Funding and equity — 12:00–13:22
• Career & technical education — 13:18–14:20, 42:37–45:27
• Phones/devices in schools; impact on learning — 14:20–15:39
• Shifting views on standardized testing — 15:39–16:44
• Impact and promise of AI in education — 16:59–21:01
• How public schools are funded — 22:00–24:29
• Unions & the Wisconsin case — 25:37–28:38
• Charter schools, vouchers, privatization — 29:29–36:35
• COVID, learning loss, and school priorities — 36:35–38:36
• Book bans, censorship, ‘don’t say gay’ — 38:36–41:46
• Randi’s message and final thoughts — 45:27–47:02

Episode’s Language and Tone

The episode deftly weaves Al Franken’s trademark humor and warmth (especially in his stories of his own teachers) with Randi Weingarten’s plainspoken, passionate advocacy for teachers and public education. Randi presents policy arguments in accessible language, repeatedly shifting to the human impact—making the episode equally informative and emotionally resonant.

Final Note

A must-listen for anyone interested in the future of American democracy, the realities facing public schools, and the crucial importance of teachers in our society. Randi Weingarten’s urgent defense of public education is both a call to action and a tribute to a profession under siege.