In this new episode, guest host @troy-a-swanson.bsky.social chats with @bradleydeanc.bsky.social about his experience at the U.S. Department of Education, the impact of recent mass firings, and what these changes mean for students, educators, and the future of American education.

My reflections on the illegal destruction of the U.S. Department of Education for @circulatingideas.bsky.social. It’s not too late to fix this! #highered #academicsky

I was honored to interview Bradley Dean for the Circulating Ideas podcast. Bradley really did a fantastic job in this interview. @circulatingideas.bsky.social circulatingideas.com/2025/11/24/3...

Not really sure what to make of this government shutdown? This discussion from our MVCC faculty was fantastic. It is worth the time. Congrats to Kevin & Merri on this great talk. www.youtube.com/live/gPgX_sv...

We were excited to welcome The Workers’ Center for Racial Justice to campus today. Check out their amazing talk here: www.youtube.com/live/cf-BcPJ... Their discussion of supporting formerly incarcerated individuals & organizing for policy reform was excellent. @c4racialjustice.bsky.social

Nice event for Speaker Welch tonight

I was excited to interview Nicole Cooke on her new collection of essays on black women in librarianship. This is on the Circulating Ideas podcast. @circulatingideas.bsky.social circulatingideas.com/2025/09/02/2...

Organized labor marched today in honor of Labor Day and to push back on the Trump agenda. Today, trade unions, k12 unions, higher ed unions, & government employee unions came together.

It was a nice day to be on the veranda at McCormick Place overlooking Lake Michigan for the Chicago Federation Of Labor’s Labor Day Luncheon. Normally this event is insufferably hot & humid but today was beautiful. Great to connect with union allies & legislative partners.

We are very excited that Governor Pritzker signed HB 3385 and the law requiring licensed mental health professionals on campuses. This was a legislative priority, and we are very much appreciative of our partners who helped make this happen!! www.ccctu.org/post/governo...

We were proud to support many pro labor, pro public education, elected officials this week.

With only a few hours left in the legislative session, HB 3385 passed the house. This was a Local 1600 initiative that requires higher education institutions to have licensed mental health professionals on campus to support students.

HB 1859 has now passed the Senate and the house. It is awaiting the signature of a governor to become law!! This ensures that only humans can award credit in community colleges. A first step in regulation of artificial intelligence in Illinois higher education!!

Listen to @troy-a-swanson.bsky.social talk about important community college issues. www.podbean.com/ep/pb-pnrmd-...

I was honored to be interviewed on the AWF Union Podcast where I discussed SB 1693 which establishes an elected board of trustees for the City Colleges of Chicago (and why this bill is stalled). You can listen here: awf.labortools.com/listen/ccctu...

We continue to press forward on our legislation for an elected board of trustees for the City Colleges of Chicago. We have 70% of the IL Senate but our bill (SB1693) is not moving forward. Nice to see this article. citizennewspapergroup.com/news/2025/ma...

We should be clear about Trump’s higher ed budget: these cuts are not about making education more affordable. They make it more exclusive, more privatized, & more out of reach for the people who need it most. It’s a direct assault on the promise of public education.

May Day march today. Unions, community groups & regular folks took to the streets to protest the Trump administration. It was a great day with 15,000+ marchers. #mayday2025

Last night we held a policy briefing on SB 1693 which establishes an elected board of trustees for the City Colleges of Chicago. You can watch the presentation here (18 minutes). youtu.be/nVNRGu47YMA

Today, HB 1598 passed the House of Representatives. We have worked hard on this bill which mandates licensed clinical counselors on college campuses. Thanks to Rep. Norma Hernandez for her leadership on this. Now, on to the Senate!!

HB 1859 passed the House! This bill requires credit in community colleges to only be awarded by humans (not AI). Thx to Rep Rashid for his leadership! www.ccctu.org/post/protect...

I was excited to be part of an excellent panel discussion this week on the state of the media ecosystem. www.youtube.com/live/SWHjn60...

Western Illinois University cannot call itself a research institution as it cuts its librarians. It is failing its faculty and its students. It is heartbreaking to see such dedicated professionals being cut with no regard for the role they play within their institution.

Rep Hernandez, Shanya Gray & Tony Johnston did a great job testifying in the Illinois House Higher Ed committee today in support of HB 3385 supporting licensed counselors on our campuses.

If you are a federal employee in one of our scientific agencies who has been fired, please consider filling out this form. The House GOP may not give a damn about the the Enlightenment, objective truth or the Constitution but we do. democrats-science.house.gov/sciencefirings

Eric Zorn: Trump's 'Gulf of America' nonsense has become a test for journalism open.substack.com/pub/ericzorn...

“Tyranny requires your fear and your silence and your compliance. Democracy requires your courage. So gather your justice and humanity, Illinois, and do not let the “tragic spirit of despair” overcome us when our country needs us the most.” —Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker

If you missed it, it is worth listening youtu.be/lKQBk50H3u8

An interesting talking point that might be useful. The first signs of AI job displacement may be hidden in the most recent jobs data. www.entrepreneur.com/business-new...

I was honored to interview Elizabeth Kamper, Gail Porter, & Hunter Dunlap about the need for & impact of academic librarians in higher education. This focused on the elimination of the librarian positions at Western Illinois Univ. @circulatingideas.bsky.social circulatingideas.com/2025/01/27/2...

Our Civil Rights Committee for Local 1600 did a nice job on these shirts. www.rayguncustom.com/collections/...

Librarians & equity is the exact issue discussed by Nora Wiltse when I interviewed her on the Circulating Ideas podcast: circulatingideas.com/2024/10/01/2...

We need Illinois to become a bastion of scholarly accuracy in the same way it protects reproductive freedom. Want to study actual reality & actual evidence? Attend a college in Illinois.

Nevaeh Crain…this is the country in which we live. www.propublica.org/article/neva...

I learned today that Bob Blackwood passed away. Most of you (all of you?) have not heard of Bob but he had an impact on me as a new union leader in Local 1600.

The Cook County College Teachers Union, AFT Local 1600 seeks a Professional Staff Assistant to be based in Chicago, IL. Details can be found at: unionjobs.com/listing.php?id=27782 #1u #UnionStrong

🎧 @rweingarten.bsky.social's interview with Hard Knock Radio is worth a listen. She discusses the future of public education, labor rights, and challenges facing public school teachers and students. kpfa.org/episode/hard...

This is an interview I did with @circulatingideas.bsky.social regarding my newest book Knowledge as a Feeling published by Rowman & Littlefield. circulatingideas.com/transcripts/...

I was excited to interview Nora Wiltse about the @ctulocal1.bsky.social focus on librarians in their ongoing negotiations.

Excited to be part of the rally for retirement equity for Tier 2 pensions in Springfield.