Impolitic with John Heilemann
Impolitic with John Heilemann
Audacy | Puck
James Traub: When the Bough Breaks
1 hour 22 minutes Posted May 26, 2026 at 2:58 pm.
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Show notes
John welcomes author James Traub to discuss his latest book, “The Cradle of Citizenship: How Schools Can Help Save Our Democracy.” Traub describes the year he spent reporting in K-12 classrooms across the country; the fierce culture wars after the Covid-19 pandemic in many school systems around race, gender, curricula, and library collections; the debate over the 1619 Project and 1776 Report; and other signs of politicized rot in primary and secondary education. He also points to signs of hope, including the rise of so-called "classical" charter schools—and explains why the reflexive liberal opposition to them is misguided.