Executive Director, 21st Century School Fund
Executive Director of the 21st Century School Fund, a nonprofit advocacy organization working in Washington, DC and other urban districts on education equity; parent of three children who studied in DC public schools
Does Rhee's Departure Signal End to Teacher-Centered Ed Reform? As Chancellor of Washington, DC's notorious public schools, Michelle Rhee got national attention for closing 23 poor-performing schools and firing 500 teachers. But the poster-child for President Obama's " Race to the Top " has resigned after the mayor who hired her lost his bid for re-nomination. What will that mean for "Race to the Top" and school reform based on teacher accountability? Is it a win for teachers' unions and the seniority system? Are other factors just as important as teachers when it comes to improving the quality of public education? Our guests today include Davis Guggenheim, director of the school-reform documentary, Waiting for Superman .
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
What happens when America retreats from the world? Is President Trump taking his "America First" agenda to extremes, withdrawing the country from the international stage on trade and climate change, distancing America from its traditional allies across the Atlantic and even threatening to physically isolate the country through the building of a wall along its southern border? León Krauze guest hosts.
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?