#1767 Wars Are Won By Teachers and Trump is Attacking Them Like a Foreign Adversary

#1767 Wars Are Won By Teachers and Trump is Attacking Them Like a Foreign Adversary

Author: Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics January 25, 2026 Duration: 2:48:05

Air Date: 1/25/2026

Today we examine education as the battleground for democracy itself. We'll hear how authoritarians erase history to maintain power, why liberal arts colleges don't exist in authoritarian societies, how the administration is punishing universities for their political views, and what the detention of student protesters reveals about the cost of dissent in Trump's America.

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Full Show Notes

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: Rewriting Reality How the Battle for History Shapes the Future - WhoWhatWhy's Podcasts - Air Date 9-26-24

KP 2: Fighting Fascism with Education - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 9-26-25

KP 3: 'Abandoning' Kids' Futures AFT Pres. Slams Trump Dept. of Education Changes - MS NOW - Air Date 11-19-25

KP 4: 50 Years After the Birth of Special Education, Some Fear for Its Future Under Trump - All Things Considered - Air Date 12-3-25

KP 5: How Trumps Agenda Hurts College Students - Right Now With Perry Bacon - Air Date 11-19-25

KP 6: Trump Set to Garnish Wages for Student Loan Defaults - Democracy Now! - Air Date 12-30-25


(00:46:40) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On the American and Chinese Cassandras of authoritarianism


DEEPER DIVES

(00:54:44) SECTION A: EDUCATION AND DEMOCRACY

A1: Rewriting Reality How the Battle for History Shapes the Future Part 2 - WhoWhatWhy's Podcasts - Air Date 9-26-24

A2: Fighting Fascism with Education Part 2 - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 9-26-25

A3: Because Democracy Depends On It - Ralph Nader Radio Hour - Air Date 11-29-25

A4: The Great US Brain Drain - Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - Air Date 1-9-25


(01:31:21) SECTION B: EDUCATION AND MONEY

B1: Republicans Plan to Overhaul the Federal Student Loan System. Here's What to Know - Trump's Terms - Air Date 4-30-25

B2: How Trumps Agenda Hurts College Students Part 2 - Right Now With Perry Bacon - Air Date 11-19-25

B3: Federal Student Loans Are Changing. Here's What to Expect in 2026 - Morning Edition - Air Date 12-23-25

B4: Community Colleges Face New Challenges as Trump Battles with Higher Education - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 11-18-25

B5: Trump Officials Loosen Strings on Federal Education Money for Iowa. More States Could Follow - Latest Stories From The Associated Press - Air Date 1-7-26


(01:56:44) SECTION C: EDUCATION AND FREE SPEECH

C1: 'If You Can Keep It' Trump Takes Aim At Academic Freedom Part 1 - 1A - Air Date 10-20-25

C2: Student Detained for Foreign Policy Views Speaks - Brian Lehrer A Daily Podcast - Air Date 12-22-25

C3: 'If You Can Keep It' Trump Takes Aim At Academic Freedom Part 2 - 1A - Air Date 10-20-25

C4: Student Detained for Foreign Policy Views Speaks Part 2 - Brian Lehrer A Daily Podcast - Air Date 12-22-25


(02:27:06) SECTION D: EDUCATION AND THE DOE

D1: Inside the Trump Administrations Plan to Change Public Education - ProPublica - Air Date 1-6-25

D2: Trump Hurts His Base Again Education Cuts Hit Red States More, Ending Help for Most Vulnerable - The Briefing - Air Date 7-16-25

D3: Inside the Trump Administrations Plan to Change Public Education Part 2 - ProPublica - Air Date 1-6-25


SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Close up photo of the seal of the US Department of Education with a sign over it that says "CLOSED"

Credit: Internal composite design. Elements from Pixabay | Pixabay License

 

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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For over fifteen years, Best of the Left-Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy has served as a vital, human-curated digest of voices from across the progressive spectrum. Instead of presenting a single opinion, each episode is built around a specific theme-from economic inequality to climate policy to cultural shifts-and weaves together insightful commentary from a diverse array of journalists, activists, and thinkers. This approach allows you to efficiently grasp the nuances of complex issues by hearing multiple expert angles in one sitting, all while discovering new commentators and sources you might not have encountered otherwise. The result is a richly layered analysis that algorithms simply cannot replicate, offering depth and context often missing from the daily news cycle. Since 2006, this award-winning podcast has cut through the noise, drawing from hundreds of independent and established sources to provide a coherent, thoughtful examination of the forces shaping our society and governments. Tuning in means joining a long-running conversation dedicated to understanding and advancing democratic principles, social justice, and a more equitable economy, all through the focused lens of leftist thought.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
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