Pushkin.

It's hard to read the news these days without asking yourself, how did we get here?

Fiasco is a history podcast for the co-creators of Slow Burn.

In our first season, Bush v. Gore, we examine an unmistakable turning point in American politics, the 2000 election, which resulted in a high-stakes stalemate, ended with one of the most controversial rulings in Supreme Court history. So if you're trying to make sense at the present moment, check out Fiasco, Bush v. Gore. Listen on theHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

From Pushkin Industries, this is deep background, the show where we explore the stories behind the stories in the news.

I'm Noah Feldman. One of the most remarkable controversies around the exercise of power that took place during

the entirety of the COVID-19 pandemic was the struggle in the United States between teachers

in some jurisdictions who were afraid to go back to school because they were concerned

about catching COVID and some parents who really wanted their kids to be back in school.

At the center of these debates were teachers' unions,

themselves one of the most significant remaining forms of labor unionism in America today,

and also in certain respects among the most controversial.

To discuss the question of public sector unions, power, COVID-19, and where we're going on this

complex of difficult issues, were joined by Randy Weingart.

Randy is the head of the American Federation of Teachers, the second largest teachers union

in the country.

That makes her one of the most powerful, visible, and vocal union leaders in the United

States today.

And she's also a person who, as a lawyer, has a powerful understanding of the constitutional

and legal issues around unionism,

as well as the history of unionism and its rise and fall.

Randy, thank you so much for being here.

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