Politics with Amy Walter: The Political Power of Teachers

It feels like every day someone new announces they are running for President. But Andrew Yang, the founder of the fellowship program for recent college graduates Venture for America, was one of the first to declare. If elected, he says he would implement a universal basic income, meaning that every American citizen over 18 years of age would get $1,000 a month. We speak to him about how that would actually work, and how he would pay for it.

Also, the teachers’ strikes across the country that began in 2018 are a sign that teachers’ unions are stronger than ever. As the 2020 Democratic candidates compete for their support, they are laying out ambitious education proposals. Will this be the election that people vote on education? Or is this still largely viewed as a state issue, not a federal one? 

Guests:

Andrew Yang, Democratic presidential candidate 

Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers

Sarah Reckhow, Associate Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University

Jeffrey Henig, Professor of Political Science at Teachers College, Columbia University

Linda Tillman, Ph.D., Professor Emerita at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill