A lot of public school advocates have become pretty disillusioned trying to find a politician from either party who seems to actually “get it” when it comes to public education. So many teachers and parents are yearning for a candidate who supports traditional public schools, recognizes charter schools as an expensive, unnecessary, and dangerous distraction, and reject all efforts to […]

I’ve noticed an uptick lately in the number of folks talking about school choice, charter schools, and competition. I’m guessing this is a by-product of the recent swing in public opinion against charter schools, and the attendant backlash against 2020 presidential candidate and big charter school cheerleader, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. The conversation around charters and choice, however, like […]

Trump and his Republican enablers, like Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, are beginning to realize that they have approximately zero chance of ever winning another election–if held and run fairly–on the issues, so they are scrambling frantically to redefine these issues in a clumsy and desperate effort to confuse and distract voters. Here are just 2 examples; one from national […]

The worst governor in U.S. history requires the infamy he’s earned Frontline points out there is still no one in jail for the Flint Water Crisis. Meanwhile, Rick Snyder walks free. Snyder is free to plot his “next act” — which is what rich people do while 4.8 million federal employees plot their next meal — and travel the world […]

It wasn’t easy narrowing this list down to just 5 things, but here we go! She Set the Predatory Lenders Free. By gutting regulations intended to protect students, many of whom are veterans, minorities, and first-generation college attendees, from being defrauded by predatory schools and colleges, Betsy has put the interests of these for-profit colleges—some of which she has personal financial […]

In this installment of The Charter School Follies we meet our hero, Eva Moskowitz, the CEO and founder of one of America’s most well-known “No Excuses” charter management corporations, Success Academy Charter Schools in New York City. Ms. Moskowitz, who never studied education, never taught in a public school, and “thought half of her teachers in high school were incompetent”, shares in […]

Americans work too hard and make too little — and Republicans want to keep it that way You’ve probably seen this chart that shows that when adjusted for inflation, wages are down since July of last year: Despite the strength of the economy Trump inherited, most of the growth — like most of the tax cuts Republicans passed — is […]

Photo by Anne C. Savage Yesterday morning I got a text from my friend Stephanie White that said, simply, “Sad news about Tony.” I hadn’t heard any news but I knew which “Tony” she meant. I know several Tonys but THE Tony is and has always been Tony Trupiano. I went to Facebook and quickly saw what I was terrified […]

A team of researchers from Stony Brook University have asked us to help them study the role that emotion plays in politics. I have completed the survey myself and I actually found it to be very interesting and kinda fun! The survey is completely anonymous and it only took me a few minutes to finish. Click HERE to begin the […]

Sometimes we need to take a break from politics to marvel at how badass science is. And, given the current situation, there’s no time like NOW! Plus I’m a scientist so I just can’t help myself. Last week, scientists from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley presented a paper at the 254th National Meeting & Exposition of the American […]

Michigan Indivisible groups to hold health care town halls in two districts where constituents want answers from their Republican representatives. It’s tempting to feel cynical about American politics right now. But if Congressman Dan Kildee still has faith in democracy, who are any of us to argue? After all, the Democratic Congressman from Flint, Michigan, has witnessed more than his […]