Politics and views in the United States.

Labor Day protests target the political power of the very wealthy. Advocates press for childcare and education funding and Chicago leaders resist a possible federal troop deployment.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to 2025 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times. 50/51 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.

Bring people together across the country, regardless of blocks of life, in opposition to the executive overreach of the current administration, because it hurts everyone, unless you're a billionaire.

Hunter Dunn with the 50/51 movement says nationwide protests are pushing back Labor and community groups are planning nearly 1,000 events.

Teachers unions warn that President Donald Trump's dismantling of the Department of Education and ending its grants could break already overstretched school budgets.

The administration had frozen nearly $90 million in education grants until forced to release them.

In Kentucky, Boone County Education Association President Kelly Reed says one problem was schools had already built the funding into their budget plans.

When you make a promise, you need to fulfill that promise. when you make a promise to communities, and really when you make a promise to students who are the most vulnerable.

Kentucky data show teacher pay adjusted for inflation is nearly 20 percent below 2008 levels.

Wisconsin advocates are pressing Congress to pass the Child Care for Working Families Act, which would cap costs at 7 percent of a family's income.

Paula Drew with the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association says she experienced the issue firsthand.

The cost of child care then was more than our mortgage payment.

And we were definitely making other decisions of what not to do with our finances in order to be able to afford the necessities.

And I would really consider child care as being a necessity.

The bill is backed by most Democrats, but Republicans argue it's too costly.

Supporters say it would benefit more than 90 percent of Wisconsin families and stabilize the early care workforce.

The White House has been threatening to send the National Guard to Chicago and now says it may use a Navy base north of the city to support migrant detentions.

As in most big cities, violent crime in Chicago has fallen sharply, but White House Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt says the administration has to act because of the failings of Illinois' Democratic governor.

This is J.B. Pritzker's legacy, by the way.

Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson say they'll sue to block any military deployment, calling it harmful and illegal.

Former President and Illinois Senator Barack Obama also warned the expanded use of troops on U.S. soil puts the liberties of all Americans at risk.

CDC Director Susan Menendez is challenging the legality of her firing, and three top agency officials have resigned in protest over what they call the weaponization of health policy.

Senator Sayville questioned Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about the shakeup at the Finance Committee hearing next week.

Nearly 200 former and current FEMA staff signed an open letter accusing Secretary Christy Nome and the Department of Homeland Security of dismantling disaster relief programs.

I'm Farah Sidiqi for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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