Betsy DeVos Is Still Making Moves to Destroy Public Schools
Randi Weingarten, American Federation of Teachers president, came on The New Abnormal podcast to share exactly how DeVos is destroying education.
Photo Illustration by Erin O’Flynn/The Daily Beast/Reuters, Getty Images and Pixabay
Betsy DeVos is no longer former President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Education, but that hasn’t stopped the Republican donor from actively making moves to “destroy” the public school system.
That’s according to Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, who came on this episode of The New Abnormal podcast to share exactly how DeVos, “one of Michigan’s least popular people,” is working to undermine public education.
Subscribe to The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Overcast.
Her latest move: Financially backing an advocacy group that’s supporting Paul Vallas’ campaign for mayor in Chicago, a candidate who—shocker—backs charter schools and vouchers for private schools.
“This is what DeVos does,” Weingarten tells co-host, Danielle Moodie. “They starve public schools of the funds they need to succeed. They then criticize them for their shortcomings. They erode the trust in public schools by stoking fear and division. And then they replace public schools with private, religious, online, and home schools.”
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
“And frankly that’s how he’s running right now,” she adds of Vallas. “A fear campaign in Chicago, creating this kind of division now paid for by people like the richest former people who lived in Illinois.”
But this is one of a few moves DeVos has made, says Weingarten, telling Danielle all about how the Republican has “saddled” up with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Weingarten also shares her take on mass shootings in schools, (“They’ll ban a book before they’ll even talk about what to do with assault weapons”) as well as the state of teaching in America because of it all.
“It’s really remarkable that people stay in the profession,” she says.
Also in this episode: Hosts Danielle and Andy Levy listen to clips of Lauren Boebert getting owned over “public urination” and Trump saying truly dumb things, including that he may not love his children.
Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.