Michelle Myers draws on her experience as a professor, activist, and poet to foster a space for listeners where it’s humanly possible to make humanity possible. Each episode, Michelle discusses difficult topics with a focus on practicing mindfulness and self-care as well as on claiming a personal space of acceptance, healing, and compassion.

In this episode, Michelle breaks down Trump’s $6.8 billion education funding cuts, the political attacks on K–12 and higher education, and asks a fundamental question: Who gets to learn? From DEI rollbacks to threats against academic freedom, we explore how these policies harm vulnerable students—and why access to education must remain a human right.

Below are links to articles about the topics discussed in the episode. This is not an exhaustive list and our listeners are encouraged to research these topics on their own as well:

“Donald Trump loves the 'poorly educated' — and they love him”

By Josh Hafner, USA TODAY - February 24, 2016

“Trump loves the poorly educated”

By Julianne Malveaux, The Chicago Crusader - March 28, 2025

“‘It’s been chaos:’ WVU nears end of tumultuous academic year after jobs, programs unexpectedly cut”

By Amelia Ferrell Knisely, West Virginia Watch - April 23, 2024

“Trump Has Targeted These Universities. Why?”

By Alan Blinder, The New York Times - June 30, 2025

“A Look at the Universities with Federal Funding Targeted by the Trump Administration”

By Makiya Seminera, Associated Press - April 15, 2025

"Rural Schools Feel the Pinch from Trump administration's cuts to mental health grants"

By Associated Press - June 27, 2025

"Who Will Bear the Brunt of Trump's Hold on $6.8 Billion in School Funds?"

By Mark Lieberman, Education Week - July 7, 2025

"See How Much School Funding Trump is Holding Back from Your State"

By Mark Lieberman, Education Week - July 1, 2025

"Democrats are Too Educated for Our Own Good"

By Chris Conrad, Political Science at Haverford College - October 27, 2020

“School districts sue Trump administration over $6 billion funding freeze”

by Arthur Jones II, ABC News - July 21, 2025

“School Districts, Parents, Educators, and Advocates Sue Trump-Vance Administration for Unlawfully Blocking Billions in Funding”

By Democracy Forward - July 21, 2025

“What Republican senators are now saying about Trump admin’s education funding freeze”

By Arthur Jones II, ABC News - July 23, 2025

“GOP senators urge Trump administration to reverse $6 billion education funding freeze”

By Arthur Jones II, ABC News - July 16, 2025

“24 states sue Trump admin to unfreeze more than $6 billion in education grants”

By Sequoia Carrillo, NPR - July 14, 2025

“Columbia University to pay $200m in settlement with Trump administration”

By Brandon Drenon, BBC News, Washington DC - July 24, 2025

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Host: Michelle Myers

Producer: Myong McCloud