The Sage Steele Show: Secretary of Education Linda McMahon (EP 75)

Date: October 1, 2025
Host: Sage Steele
Guest: Linda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Education, former WWE executive

Overview

In this episode, Sage Steele hosts Linda McMahon, delving into her personal journey from building WWE, to running for political office in Connecticut, serving in the Trump administration, and now leading transformative reforms as the U.S. Secretary of Education. Their wide-ranging conversation explores political lessons, balancing career and family, university free speech battles, protecting women’s sports, restoring state control in education, and Linda’s legacy focus on empowering students and families.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Transition from WWE to Politics

• Political Launch in Connecticut:
  • Linda reflects on leaving WWE in 2009 to run for the U.S. Senate, emphasizing the challenge of campaigning as a Republican in a deeply Democratic state.
  • “Retail politics means you're shaking hands, you're out there, you're talking... that's what they call it, you're shaking hands, you're meeting people one on one.” (Linda McMahon, 02:04)
  • She lost both Senate races by the same margin but notes it energized the Republican base and advanced the party locally.
  • Voting culture in Connecticut: Residents commonly split tickets between local Republican officials and Democratic federal candidates.
  • Linda shares lessons in resilience and understanding the electorate:
    “I learned that I was really good at retail politics because I like people... I enjoyed being with the people of Connecticut.” (Linda, 06:19)

Career, Family, and Resilience

• Building WWE & Surviving Bankruptcy:
  • Early WWE days involved grassroots efforts, co-promotions with local charities, and facing precarious finances.
  • Personal bankruptcy after an outside business investment marked a turning point:
    “Don’t be afraid to take risks because you learn from your mistakes… it’s not how you fall, it’s how you get back up.” (Linda, 17:25)
• Motherhood and “Having it All”:
  • Sage and Linda candidly swap stories of working motherhood, the myth of “work-life balance,” and the evolution of women’s roles over decades.
  • “You can have it all, just not all at the same time.”—Linda's recurring advice from her leadership series for young women (21:16)
• Grandparenting & Presence:
  • Despite a busy cabinet role, Linda prioritizes quality time with her six grandchildren:
    “It’s not always quantity of time, but quality of time. And that you've made the effort to get there, to watch that or to see that. And it just thrills me…” (Linda, 25:42)

Trump Administration Roles & Policy Making

• Appointment to SBA and Education:
  • Trump’s rationale for selecting Linda:
    “You've built a business. You understand about business... I want somebody who really does understand what it's like to run a business.” (Linda, 11:49)
  • Accepting the Education Secretary post, Linda now implements major reforms consistent with Trump’s vision.

Higher Education Battles: Merit, Free Speech, and Title IX

• Confronting University Issues:
  • Linda details actions against major universities—Columbia, Brown, and UPenn—over antisemitism, race-based admissions, and violations of student rights.
  • Suspension of federal funding became a key pressure tactic:
    “If you are a university that receives federal funding, then you must abide by the laws of the United States.” (Linda, 33:10)
  • Agreement with Columbia became a template for other institutions (32:42).
• Restoring Fairness in Women’s Sports (Title IX):
  • Landmark enforcement removing biological men from women’s athletic spaces and competitions.
  • Notable result: Lia Thomas stripped of medals, and female athletes apologized to by Penn.
  • Federal funding at risk for non-compliance:
    “No more men in women’s sports or in their private spaces or in their locker rooms… there is the right to withdraw that funding if they are in non-compliance.” (Linda, 40:00)
  • Supreme Court pending decision on gender and sports eligibility.
• Monitoring and Compliance:
  • Extensive federal monitoring, including “dear colleague” letters, on-campus monitors, and reporting rules.
  • Universities proactively aligning with new rules to avoid penalties.

Reform in K-12 Education

• Returning Control to States & School Choice:
  • Linda describes the process of devolving educational oversight from federal to state governments: “We want to find those places where some of the programs that are in education today move to other agencies where it's truly a better fit, more efficient, more economical to do it. Better outreach to our kids...” (Linda, 48:13)
  • Advances in school choice, notably in Iowa and 37+ states.
  • Tax-incentivized donation programs fund scholarships for students to escape failing schools.
• Academic Standards & Literacy:
  • New focus on literacy—emphasizing science of reading, phonics, and evidence-based curriculum.
  • Highlighting sharp declines in reading proficiency:
    “When only 30% of 8th graders can read proficiently, that means 70% cannot. So my main message... is going to be literacy.” (Linda, 54:13)
  • Toolkit of best practices shared across states; no one-size-fits-all approach.
• Curriculum & Basics:
  • Call to return to penmanship, reduce screen time, and eliminate cell phones from classrooms due to negative impact on learning retention.
  • Acknowledges that despite huge federal investments since 1980, educational outcomes have lagged.

Physical Fitness Initiatives

• Restoring the Presidential Fitness Test:
  • Reviving fitness focuses on holistic development:
    “If you think about the Greeks they always said—a sound mind and a sound body, part of the original Olympics. … All the research and the studies ... you are more physically fit.” (Linda, 61:02)
  • New program enlists athletes and coaches nationwide.

Linda’s Vision and Legacy

• “Firing Herself” as Secretary:
  • Trump’s directive and Linda’s ambition is to “fire herself” by devolving duties to states, closing the federal department, and cementing lasting change.
  • “I will have a successful job performance when I have fired myself.” (Linda, 63:29)
• Reflecting on Her Legacy:
  • Hopes her legacy is one of giving back, empowering children, and supporting her family and community.
  • “That their lives have been enriched by some of that ... all of us who are servant leaders want to give back.” (Linda, 65:19)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Don’t be afraid to take risks because you learn from your mistakes… It’s not how you fall, it’s how you get back up.” —Linda McMahon, 17:25
• “You can have it all, just not all at the same time.” —Linda McMahon, 21:16
• “If you are a university that receives federal funding, then you must abide by the laws of the United States.” —Linda McMahon, 33:10
• “Let’s eat well. Let’s get rid of the junk, let’s get rid of the cell phones, let’s have physical fitness.” —Linda McMahon, 61:30
• “I will have a successful job performance when I have fired myself.” —Linda McMahon, 63:29

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Early Political Years & Senate Campaigns: 01:08–09:14
• WWE, Family, and Career Resilience: 13:52–19:08
• Work-Life Balance & Advice for Women: 19:08–23:01
• Role as Secretary of Education, Family Life: 12:35–25:41
• Universities, Title IX, Free Speech Battles: 29:11–41:28
• Federal Funding Pressure & Compliance: 33:01–39:13
• School Choice & State-Led Education: 45:52–54:00
• Literacy Crisis & Curriculum Reform: 54:00–57:44
• Penmanship & Learning Retention: 56:45–58:44
• Physical Fitness Test Revival: 60:18–63:21
• Vision and Legacy Reflection: 63:21–66:22

Tone and Atmosphere

Warm, direct, and optimistic. The episode is a blend of personal reflection, practical leadership insights, and strong ideological commitments—emphasizing accountability, resilience, family, and a belief in returning control of education to states and parents.

For listeners seeking insight into today’s educational reforms and the values driving them, this episode offers clarity, candor, and a compelling window into Linda McMahon’s leadership philosophy.