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Educating an idealist on a messy world

caption: Former UN Ambassador Samantha Power is pictured with (from left): Kofi Annan, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama.
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Former UN Ambassador Samantha Power is pictured with (from left): Kofi Annan, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama.

How an idealist got caught up in the pragmatic slog of international policy. What teachers are paying to build supportive classrooms for your kids. And how Israel has made its way into American politics.

Listen to the full show by clicking the play button above, or check out one of the show’s segments below. You can also subscribe to The Record on your favorite podcast app.

Samantha Power, The Education of an Idealist

How high is the danger of war between Iran and Saudi Arabia? As the former American ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power is uniquely placed to answer that question. Her new memoir, The Education of an Idealist, talks about her experience in those green marbled halls.

Teacher classroom costs

Back in August, along with the field trip and immunization forms, you might have received a list of classroom supplies from your child’s school. A lot of those are utilitarian things, like staples and tissues. But some of the more elaborate classroom improvements cost money. Second grade teacher Morgan Leming of Whittier Elementary told Bill Radke what her classroom is like and what she spends on it.

Israeli politics, American ripple effects

The Israeli elections are tomorrow, and the outcome will affect the possibility of a two-state solution. How does that affect American politics? Noam Pianko is a professor at the Jackson School of International Studies, and director of the UW Stroum Center for Jewish Studies.

Why you can trust KUOW