Scott Detrow

John King ran the department during Barack Obama's second term, and Margaret Spellings was education secretary in the George W. Bush administration. They both joined me now to talk about what all of this could mean. Welcome to the show.

John King ran the department during Barack Obama's second term, and Margaret Spellings was education secretary in the George W. Bush administration. They both joined me now to talk about what all of this could mean. Welcome to the show.

Let me start here. I would love each of you to tell me what you think the most important role the Department of Education plays. Margaret, I'll start with you.

Let me start here. I would love each of you to tell me what you think the most important role the Department of Education plays. Margaret, I'll start with you.

Let me start here. I would love each of you to tell me what you think the most important role the Department of Education plays. Margaret, I'll start with you.

You know, there's a lot we don't know yet. But the thing that the Trump people are talking about is they want to keep a lot of that critical funding, but perhaps get rid of the department itself or massively cut down the department or shift these funding programs to some other department. I'm curious, and John, I'll start with you.

You know, there's a lot we don't know yet. But the thing that the Trump people are talking about is they want to keep a lot of that critical funding, but perhaps get rid of the department itself or massively cut down the department or shift these funding programs to some other department. I'm curious, and John, I'll start with you.

You know, there's a lot we don't know yet. But the thing that the Trump people are talking about is they want to keep a lot of that critical funding, but perhaps get rid of the department itself or massively cut down the department or shift these funding programs to some other department. I'm curious, and John, I'll start with you.

How would that change thing if, again, the bulk of this money remains, but? the apparatus administering it is gone. How much does that worry you?

How would that change thing if, again, the bulk of this money remains, but? the apparatus administering it is gone. How much does that worry you?

How would that change thing if, again, the bulk of this money remains, but? the apparatus administering it is gone. How much does that worry you?

Margaret Spellings, Department of Education money, but no Department of Education. Is that a doable thing in your mind?

Margaret Spellings, Department of Education money, but no Department of Education. Is that a doable thing in your mind?

Margaret Spellings, Department of Education money, but no Department of Education. Is that a doable thing in your mind?

I want to talk about some of those things, and I really want to talk about just the broader state of education. But Margaret Spelling, quick question to you. For a long time, Republicans have criticized the reach, the size of the Department of Education. How different to you is this particular moment what the Trump administration is calling for from what we've seen for decades?

I want to talk about some of those things, and I really want to talk about just the broader state of education. But Margaret Spelling, quick question to you. For a long time, Republicans have criticized the reach, the size of the Department of Education. How different to you is this particular moment what the Trump administration is calling for from what we've seen for decades?

I want to talk about some of those things, and I really want to talk about just the broader state of education. But Margaret Spelling, quick question to you. For a long time, Republicans have criticized the reach, the size of the Department of Education. How different to you is this particular moment what the Trump administration is calling for from what we've seen for decades?

John King, I want to ask you about another big part of this. We're seeing these executive orders ordering schools to get rid of DEI. What are you most worried about when it comes to these ideological orders coming out of the Trump administration and how it affects education in local school districts?

John King, I want to ask you about another big part of this. We're seeing these executive orders ordering schools to get rid of DEI. What are you most worried about when it comes to these ideological orders coming out of the Trump administration and how it affects education in local school districts?

John King, I want to ask you about another big part of this. We're seeing these executive orders ordering schools to get rid of DEI. What are you most worried about when it comes to these ideological orders coming out of the Trump administration and how it affects education in local school districts?