Why are America’s schools so short-staffed? Experts point to a confluence of factors including pandemic-induced teacher exhaustion, low pay and some educators’ sense that politicians and parents — and sometimes their own school board members — have little respect for their profession amid an escalating educational culture war that has seen many districts and states pass policies and laws restricting what teachers can say about U.S. history, race, racism, gender and sexual orientation, as well as LGBTQ issues.

“The political situation in the United States, combined with legitimate aftereffects of covid, has created this shortage,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. “This shortage is contrived.”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hayward's Assistant City Manager, Jennifer Ott, talks to Pat Thurston about the lottery for dozens of new below-market-rate homes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Noah Bookbinder, president and CEO of CREW - Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington - joins Pat Thurston to explain why Republicans intend to purge federal workers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pat Thurston reviews the fiasco happening in Berkeley over People's Park.

Police cleared out People's Park in Berkeley early Wednesday morning, after a long battle over the historic area. The area was cleared so that UC Berkeley can prepare to build student housing for 1,100 students on less than half of the 2.8-acre location.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Brian is joined by show regulars Don Reed & Lauren Mayer to discuss this week's current events. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Garamendi, representing California's third district in Congress since 2011, joins Pat Thurston to discuss Brittney Griner being sentenced to nine years in Russian prison.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to Thursday's complete podcast of The Mark Thompson Show.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Gregory Jaczko, author of "Confessions of a Rogue Nuclear Regulator" is with Mark Thompson to discuss the predicament of fossil fuels.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.