In the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a moment when leaders across the political spectrum should be dialing back the rhetoric and fostering unity, Randi Weingarten has charged ahead with her divisive agenda.
As president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), she has doubled down on promoting her new book, which brands conservatives as “fascists.” This inflammatory approach comes at a time when the nation is reeling from violence, yet Weingarten shows no signs of restraint.
Her recent appearances underscore this troubling pattern. On MSNBC, while hawking her book, Weingarten suggested the US is under “Nazi occupation,” claiming she now wears a paperclip as a symbol of resistance. She elaborated on a podcast, explaining that teachers in Norway wore paperclips “as a resistance against the Nazis.” In the very next breath, she urged protests against President Trump, demanding that people tell him: “Do not take our freedoms away. Do not take our democracy away.”
Such casual invocation of the Holocaust and Nazi history to score political points trivializes one of history’s greatest atrocities. It equates policy disagreements with genocidal regimes, a tactic that poisons public discourse and erodes trust.
Weingarten’s missteps extend beyond rhetoric. She deleted a social media post that pushed a false flag conspiracy theory, alleging the assassin of Charlie Kirk was a “right-winger.” This baseless claim fueled division rather than healing. Worse, the AFT under her leadership issued a statement defending teachers who celebrated Kirk’s murder, framing it as protected free speech.
Teachers do enjoy broad freedoms of expression, but those rights come with limits in professional settings. Employers, including school districts, retain freedom of association. Unhinged individuals spewing hateful rhetoric have no inherent right to shape young minds or indoctrinate children with toxic ideologies. Schools should be places of learning, not platforms for extremists.
Financial improprieties add another layer to the case against Weingarten. The AFT’s latest LM-2 report reveals payments totaling $171,715 to Feldman Strategies, a progressive public relations firm. That same firm recently boasted on social media about promoting Weingarten’s book. Why are teachers’ hard-earned dues funding a PR machine that advances her personal projects? Weingarten already earns over half a million dollars annually. This apparent misuse of funds raises serious questions about accountability and priorities within the union.
Undeterred by controversy, Weingarten is pressing forward with a book event hosted by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) on October 8. This book talk comes amid intense backlash against the CTU for glorifying a convicted cop killer who once appeared on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists List. The union’s defense of such figures alienates mainstream educators and undermines public confidence in the teaching profession. Weingarten’s involvement signals a lack of judgment and an absence of shame.
A leaked email from Leo Casey, Weingarten’s assistant who earned $234,400 last year, exposes further cracks in the union’s leadership. Writing on an internal Democratic Socialists of America listserv, Casey expressed doubts about Zohran Mamdani’s “ability to govern,” noting his lack of experience in city government.
Casey drew parallels to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, whose favorability rating has plummeted to 14 percent, with 80 percent unfavorable, an all-time low. “Something has clearly gone wrong,” Casey wrote, insisting it couldn’t be blamed solely on opponents. “Winning an election does not necessarily translate into the ability to govern.” He confirmed the email’s authenticity in a response to me on X.
This critique is particularly damning given the AFT’s and CTU’s investments in Johnson. The CTU poured $2.4 million of member dues into his campaign, while the AFT added another $2.2 million to secure his victory. Neither Weingarten nor Casey has addressed these concerns publicly, despite responding to me on X about the email. Their silence suggests an unwillingness to admit that union resources – teachers’ money – were squandered on what Casey himself described as a governance failure.
Teachers deserve better representation. A recent union magazine, shared with me by a concerned educator, features Weingarten’s book prominently on the back cover. The teacher posed pointed questions: “How is this allowed and why are our union dues paying for this?” These sentiments reflect growing frustration among rank-and-file members who feel their contributions are being diverted to personal and political pursuits.
Weingarten herself has acknowledged the right to dissent. On a New York City radio show, she told a caller upset about the union’s politicization: “The union can be as political as it wants as long as it’s democratic.” She advised the teacher: “You have the right to pull back on your [union] contributions if you don’t like the direction of the union.”
Rational educators who reject Weingarten’s leadership should heed her words. They can opt out of dues and join alternatives like the Teacher Freedom Alliance, which provides personal liability insurance at no cost.
Weingarten’s tenure has been marked by extremism, financial opacity, and a failure to prioritize teachers over ideology. She must resign in disgrace to restore integrity to the AFT. If she refuses, teachers should withdraw en masse, forcing the change the union desperately needs.
