Union Talk

President Trump has declared war on America's colleges and universities. The administration has launched investigations into dozens of colleges and universities and stripped billions in research grants from schools. The administration is disappearing students who are in the U.S. legally for exercising their First Amendment rights. Three professors and union leaders join AFT President Randi Weingarten to provide a view from the frontlines of Trump's war on knowledge and discuss how we can fight back.

We're talking economics on this episode of Union Talk, but you won't need a Ph.D. to join the conversation. This episode focuses on how the economic policies of President Trump and Elon Musk hurt working and middle-class Americans—many of the same people who voted for Trump hoping he would help reduce costs and help working people achieve a better life. Economic expert Damon Silvers joins to set the baseline for the damage Trump and Musk are doing, and teachers Greg Cruey and Ternesha Burroughs share what their communities in Minnesota and West Virginia are experiencing. The group also discusses the labor movement's role in moving an agenda for broad-based opportunity and ensuring working people and their children have a shot at the American dream. 

Direct from the classroom, four teachers join AFT President Randi Weingarten to talk about the devasting impact that President Trump's and Elon Musk's education cuts will have on their students and communities. From ripping away services for special education students and supports for impoverished kids to robbing working-class students of Pell Grants and the chance to go to college, social studies teachers Heather Stambaugh and Rodney Fresh and special education teachers Marsena Toney and Jennifer Graves give a firsthand account of how these cuts will hurt kids. They also discuss ways they are standing up to protect kids and preview actions happening across the country on March 4 to stop these cuts.

5,000 nurses, physicians and other medical professionals are on strike in Oregon, the largest healthcare strike in the state's history. After a day on the strike line, Dr. Lesley Liu and Rebekah Van Dyke, RN, join AFT President Randi Weingarten to share why they're on strike and how they're standing up for their patients, their profession and a fix to a healthcare system that puts profits before patients and caregivers.

AFT President Randi Weingarten sits down with two union members — one who voted for Harris and one who voted for Trump – to discuss not only what the November election meant to them, but how we can all find common ground within our union to fight for workers across America.

AFT President Randi Weingarten goes one-on-one with Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su to discuss the transformative power of labor, the recent rise of labor unions and how we can secure a better future for our kids by connecting education and industry in exciting ways.

AFT President Randi Weingarten invites election canvassers and organizers to discuss the importance of talking face-to-face to get out the vote during the crucial last few days of election season. Her guests are Labor Council for Latin American Advancement Westchester Chapter President Maria Kercado, Yolanda King from the Detroit Federation of Teachers, Ashanti Wood from For Our Future and Kate Sundeen from the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. 

AFT President Randi Weingarten sits down with Joe Radosevich, vice president of campaigns and outreach at the Center for American Progress, for a searing episode about how Donald Trump's Project 2025 would decimate public education, our healthcare system, labor unions and our systems of justice—and how we can fight back.

Join the AFT Votes campaign during the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference for a political town hall and special live recording of the Union Talk podcast – discussing the modern rise of unionism and pro-labor values, the power of collective action and solidarity between workers, parents, students, and community, and the path to a progressive agenda with real solutions from the workplace to our communities to the polls.

AFT President Randi Weingarten sits down with Minyon Moore, the chair of the Democratic National Convention, to get the inside story of this summer's biggest week in politics. The two discuss how the party celebrated the nomination of Kamala Harris, the perils of Project 2025 and the huge stakes of this election.

AFT President Randi Weingarten is joined by Jeff Freitas, president of the California Federation of Teachers, and Melissa Cropper, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, to discuss the union's ongoing efforts to ensure that our nation's educators stay central and engaged during the rise of artificial intelligence technology in our classrooms and in our lives.

In a landmark State of the Union address delivered at the AFT's 88th biennial convention before 3,500 delegates in Houston, President Randi Weingarten highlighted the union's historic membership gains, a new fight to protect those with student loans, the union's full-throated support for Kamala Harris' presidential nomination, and “Real Solutions for Higher Education,” a new campaign focusing on college affordability, access and academic freedom. Listen to the full speech in this special episode of Union Talk.

AFT President Randi Weingarten is joined by Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery and Illinois special educator Maggie Stewart to discuss the state of special education and turn a spotlight on Bridges, an extraordinary program committed to ensuring differently-abled students thrive and lead healthy, independent lives.

AFT President Randi Weingarten and Brian Bond, the executive director of PFLAG, celebrate Pride encouraging everyone to build community in solidarity as a way to push back against bigoted legislation that targets LGBTQIA+ kids and teachers.

Celebrate with AFT President Randi Weingarten, First Book co-founder and CEO Kyle Zimmer and AFT Massachusetts Secretary-Treasurer Brant Duncan as they recognize the impact of distributing 10 million books to kids and communities and the power of literacy against divisive politics and fear.

Get ready to be inspired as AFT President Randi Weingarten sits down with the electrifying Emmy-winning actor Sheryl Lee Ralph in this exhilarating excerpt from our 2023 Teacher Appreciation Week episode.

Join AFT President Randi Weingarten in an exciting episode as she sits down with Dr. Sonya Lisa Romero-Autrey and Leslie Hu, passionate advocates for community schools. Together, they delve into the transformative power of community schools, showcasing their capacity to enhance connections, improve academic performance and reshape public schools into vibrant neighborhood hubs tailored to the unique needs of students and families.

Join AFT President Randi Weingarten and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in this enlightening episode recorded at the Albert Shanker Institute's Passion Meets Purpose conference, a unique event celebrating the transformative power of experiential learning. They explore how experiential learning not only enriches education but also provides students with an amazing pathway to success and fulfilling careers. Don't miss this insightful conversation on harnessing the magic of experiential learning to shape the future of education.

AFT President Randi Weingarten hosts a robust conversation featuring co-chairs from Standing Together, a grass-roots group of Jews and Palestinians who are fighting for peace, security, justice and self-determination. Included in the panel are: Standing Together co-Chairs Sally Abed and Alon-Lee Green, Amy Spitalnick from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs andDaily Beast columnist Wajahat Ali.

Join AFT President Randi Weingarten alongside Laura Wiederhoeft, a registered nurse at Planned Parenthood, and Jessica Tang, president of the Boston Teachers Union, as they delve into a compelling discussion on the ongoing struggle for reproductive rights. Listen as they explore how assaults on abortion and contraception intersect with broader challenges to freedom, labor rights and the foundations of democracy.

In the second installment of this unique live episode, AFT President Randi Weingarten and her guests delve into the complex dynamic surrounding Bayard Rustin's dual identity as both a civil rights pioneer and a gay individual in a society that grappled with acceptance. Join the conversation with former AFT political director Rachelle Horowitz, AFT Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus Lorretta Johnson, A. Philip Randolph Institute President Clayola Brown and Rustin co-screenwriter Julian Breece and co-producer Bruce Cohen.

In part one of this unique live episode of Union Talk, AFT President Randi Weingarten honors the legacy of civil rights luminary Bayard Rustin alongside esteemed labor figures who shared his acquaintance: Rachelle Horowitz, former AFT political director; Lorretta Johnson, AFT secretary-treasurer emeritus; and Clayola Brown, president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute. Also joining the discussion are Julian Breece, co-screenwriter of Rustin, and Bruce Cohen, co-producer of the film.

U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna from California joins AFT President Randi Weingarten to outline strategies for ensuring that artificial intelligence serves to enhance the nation's workforce rather than displace it. They discuss essential institutional safeguards needed to protect our economy and democracy in the face of AI advancements.

In this excerpt from our “Teaching Honest History” episode, AFT President Randi Weingarten talks to scholars Dr. Marcia Chatelain of Georgetown University and professor Peter Levine of Tufts University to pull back the curtain on what is behind the efforts to use critical race theory to divide parents and teachers, the importance of teaching honest history, how to support educators under attack, and how teachers and parents can partner to help all students thrive.

In this excerpt from our “Finding the Real Rosa Parks” episode, AFT President Randi Weingarten is joined by award-winning journalist Soledad O'Brien to discuss her new documentary, The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks, the political threat to Black history and the importance of good storytelling.

In this excerpt from our “After the Shootings: How to Help Our Kids and Ourselves” episode, AFT President Randi Weingarten talks with Dr. Pamela Cantor (founder of Turnaround for Children), Abbey Clements (co-founder of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence) and Sarah Lerner (teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School) about the real solutions that educators and parents can use to help their children navigate and heal from the traumatizing news about school shootings.

Radio host and author Zerlina Maxwell joins AFT President Randi Weingarten for a riveting discussion about the state of American democracy, the threat of a second Trump presidency and the crucial steps everyone can take now to preserve our union.

Randi Weingarten is joined by Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, and Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers, to discuss their unions' first-of its-kind partnership with Micron Technology to create and distribute a $4 million tech framework driving STEAM programs and experiential learning in New York state, offering students more opportunities to develop skills and creating a job pipeline in the state.

Randi Weingarten talks with Virginia Mancini about her November 2023 victory in a Minnesota local school board election and how it reflects a promising trend: More parents and voters nationwide are rejecting anti-public education extremists and their destructive policies, in favor of safe, welcoming public schools and candidates who support that agenda.

In this excerpt from our “Are School Vouchers Good for Education?” episode, AFT President Randi Weingarten talks with Michigan State University education policy professor Joshua Cowen to discuss the real impact school vouchers are having on public education, students and our democracy.

Recorded live at the AFT's Civil, Human and Women's Rights Conference in Houston, this episode features mini-keynotes from AFT leaders who have stood up for the union's core values—social justice, democracy and authentic community engagement. AFT President Randi Weingarten is joined by co-host and political commentator Richard Fowler and four local or state presidents: Jeff Freitas (California Federation of Teachers), Stacy Davis Gates (Chicago Teachers Union), Karla Hernandez-Mats (United Teachers of Dade) and Terrence Martin (Michigan Federation of Teachers).

AFT President Randi Weingarten is joined by Educators Thriving founder Tyler Hester and school psychologist Amy Such to discuss the recent “Beyond Burnout” report and the very real solutions it offers for teachers who are looking for ways to recover and thrive after years of stress, politics and lack of respect.

In this excerpt from our “Engaging Students Through Career and Technical Education” episode, AFT President Randi Weingarten talks with Brent Parton from the U.S. Department of Labor and Billie Helean from the Rio Rancho School Employees Union about how experiential learning is transforming the education landscape and offering students more than one post-high school route to achieve their dreams.

In this excerpt from our “Social Media and Our Kids” episode, AFT President Randi Weingarten talks with Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen and two high school students—Lola Nordlinger and Devin Lee—about the real impact social media has on the lives of teens and what steps they can take in order to use the platforms safely.

Join AFT President Randi Weingarten as she engages in a thought-provoking conversation with educator Kelly Butler, delving into the pivotal role of literacy in the Real Solutions for Kids and Communities campaign. Enjoy their discussion on promoting the science of reading, addressing book bans and the birth of the innovative online resource known as Reading Universe.

In this excerpt from “The Promise of Community Schools” episode of Union Talk earlier this year, AFT President Randi Weingarten engages in a captivating conversation with two dedicated educators hailing from a Baltimore-area community school. Together, they delve into the school's transformative strategies and comprehensive wraparound services―and the effect they are having on the students and families in the community. Discover the pivotal role that community schools play in the heart of the AFT's visionary Real Solutions for Kids and Communities campaign by going to www.aft.org/realsolutions.

AFT President Weingarten hosts a session with influential journalist and author Alexandra Robbins, known for impacting various areas, including changing baby food labels and revealing hidden academic records of a U.S. president. They take a candid look at today's teaching profession and discuss Robbins' latest book—The Teachers: A Year Inside America's Most Vulnerable, Important Profession—and explore ways to support our nation's educators.

AFT President Randi Weingarten sits down with Dani Elazar and Manar Hayadre to discuss the impact their multicultural Hand in Hand schools, which bring Jewish and Arab students and teachers together, are having on Israeli society and how empathy can be a good tool for combating decades long strife.

AFT President Randi Weingarten delivers the keynote speech at the TEACH (Together Educating America's Children) conference and launches the union's new “Real Solutions for Kids and Communities” campaign, which focuses on literacy, experiential learning, community schools, students' mental health and well-being, and appropriate funding for our public schools.

In a special Pride Month episode of Union Talk, AFT President Randi Weingarten and Brian Bond, the executive director of PFLAG, discuss the history and power of the LGBTQIA+ community and the current fight against hateful policies impacting students, teachers and families.

AFT President Randi Weingarten talks with Brent Parton from the U.S. Department of Labor and Billie Helean from the Rio Rancho School Employees Union to discuss the success of career and technical education programs and dispel any myths about these programs, which are transforming the landscape and offering students more than one post-high school route to achieve their dreams.

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, AFT President Randi Weingarten welcomes Emmy-winning actor Sheryl Lee Ralph to discuss how “Abbott Elementary” shows love to educators, the importance of books and real-world solutions to heal our education system in America.

In an address to the National Press Club, AFT President Randi Weingarten delivers a major speech to defend public education, transform learning and support children as the institution comes under existential threat from extremist, culture-war peddling politicians. Weingarten outlines a four-part plan to help overcome learning loss and reclaim the purpose and promise of public education: 25,000 community schools; experiential learning for all kids, including career and technical education; the revival and restoration of the teaching profession; and deepened partnerships with parents and the community.

Most American workers are forced to choose between getting paid and caring for their families. In this episode, AFT President Randi Weingarten joins Kansas City Federation of Teachers President Jason Roberts and Ohio Federation of Teachers organizer Kristin McCormick to discuss recent victories and ongoing struggles to ensure working families have paid leave.

AFT President Randi Weingarten is joined by award-winning journalist Soledad O'Brien to discuss her new documentary, The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks, the political threat to Black history and the importance of good storytelling.

AFT President Randi Weingarten talks with Michigan State University education policy professor Joshua Cowen to discuss the real impact school vouchers are having on public education, students and our democracy.

AFT President Randi Weingarten is joined by Mark Gaither and Katrina Kickbush, educators at Baltimore's Wolfe Street Academy, for an inspirational conversation illustrating how community schools deliver on the promise of public education.

Showcasing that elections matter, AFT President Randi Weingarten joins New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker to discuss how they've turned their election wins into real progress for public education, healthcare and pro-democracy efforts in their states.

Randi Weingarten is joined by Cleveland Teachers Union President Shari Obrenski and first-grade teacher Jillian Ahrens to discuss the success of the AFT's Reading Opens the World campaign, the relentless work of AFT members to bring 1 million free books to kids and families across the nation, and the comfort and joy books bring kids—as well as helping them improve their literacy skills.

With hospitals reaching capacity nationwide and a shortage of healthcare professionals, AFT President Randi Weingarten assembles a roundtable of nurses and nurses' union leaders to discuss the most immediate and tangible solutions to prevent dangerous conditions for patients and healthcare professionals alike. Listen as January Belcher (RN), Howard Sandau (RN), and David Keepnews (Executive Director/Washington State Nurses Association) get honest about what needs to be done.

AFT President Randi Weingarten is joined by four congressional candidates—Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Jahana Hayes (Connecticut) and candidates Nikki Budzinski (Illinois) and Robert Zimmerman (New York)—during the AFT Votes bus tour to discuss what is truly at stake during this pivotal election.