On this episode of The Middle, we ask: what are the biggest challenges facing teachers today?From burnout and budget cuts to the rise of AI in the classroom and the persistent threat of school shootings, educators are navigating a growing list of complex issues that can make it harder to help every student succeed.Jeremy is joined by Hechinger Report editor and writer Jill Barshay and Kurt Russell, a high school history teacher in Oberlin, Ohio, who was named the 2022 National Teacher of the Year.As always, we hear from listeners across the country to get your perspective on the state of education and the challenges facing teachers today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of The Follow Up, Jeremy speaks with journalist Femi Oke about social media addiction, and whether current fears about it are starting to cause a backlash among users. They also talk about the benefits of social media, and about how journalists have used it in the past and how that has changed over the years. Listeners from across the country weigh in with their thoughts as well. #SocialMedia #DigitalCulture #MediaLiteracy #PublicDiscourse #DigitalCommunication #SocialMediaImpact #OnlineCommunities #Misinformation #FutureOfMedia #TechAndSociety #DigitalLife #MediaInnovation #NewsMedia #InformationAge #DigitalCitizenship #SocialNetworks #MediaTrends #TheFollowUp #FemiOke #DigitalTransformation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of The Middle, we ask: what is social media addiction doing to us? The average American is spending hours per day on social media apps like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, X and Facebook. Studies have shown that social media addiction can lead to depression, lack of sleep, even weight gain. Jeremy is joined by Dino Ambrosi, founder of Project Reboot, which aims to help young people reset their tech habits. As always, we take calls from listeners across the country to hear your perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of The Follow Up, Jeremy speaks with Tribune Content Agency columnist Mary Sanchez in Kansas City about how President Trump's immigration crackdown has affected immigrants and the economy overall, and why Trump has lost so much public support for his efforts in the last 18 months. Listeners from across the country weigh in with their own thoughts as well. #Immigration #BorderSecurity #ImmigrationReform #USPolitics #BorderCrisis #MigrantCrisis #AsylumSeekers #ImmigrantRights #SecureTheBorder #DACA #Dreamers #Citizenship #IllegalImmigration #LegalImmigration #RefugeesWelcome #MigrationPolicy #BorderPatrol #HumanRights #AmericaFirst #ImmigrationPolicy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this special episode of The Middle, we continue our conversation about federal immigration enforcement recorded before a live audience in St. Paul, Minnesota shortly after the fatal shootings of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal immigration agents earlier this year. Later, Jeremy gets an update from Minnesota Public Radio's Catherine Richert on how the shootings and continued ICE presence shape life across Minnesota today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this special episode of The Middle, we’re bringing you a conversation recorded before a live audience in St. Paul earlier this year shortly after the fatal shootings of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.Jeremy is joined by Minnesota Public Radio's Catharine Richert.Before that conversation, Jeremy speaks with CBS News immigration correspondent Camilo Montoya-Galvez about how federal immigration enforcement has evolved in the months following the shootings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of The Middle, we ask: would you move to another state for a lower tax burden? As taxes becoming an increasingly political issue, some states are positioning themselves as more attractive to residents and businesses with lower-tax policies, while others are expanding taxes on high earners and large corporations. Jeremy is joined by Tax Foundation senior fellow Jared Walczak and Betsey Stevenson, former Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Labor, now a professor of economics and public policy at the University of Michigan. Plus, as always, we take calls from listeners across the country to hear your perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of The Follow Up, Jeremy speaks with author and transportation expert Andrew Miller about the latest developments in self-driving cars, and what their rapid expansion means for the future of driving as a whole. Listeners across the country weigh in with their own thoughts and questions. #AutonomousVehicles #SelfDrivingCars #AVTechnology #AutonomousDriving #FutureOfMobility #MobilityTech #SmartMobility #DriverlessCars #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #ElectricVehicles #EVs #TransportationTech #ConnectedCars #MobilityInnovation #AutomotiveTech #Robotaxi #SmartCities #Innovation #TechNews Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of The Middle, we ask if you are ready for autonomous vehicles. Companies like Waymo, Zoox, and Tesla already operate them in many parts of the United States and they are expanding rapidly. Proponents see self-driving cars as a safer alternative to human-driven vehicles, and say they'll make transportation more convenient and more accessible. But many people still don't trust them, and there are fears about handing another industry full of jobs over to artificial intelligence. Jeremy is joined by Axios transportation correspondent Joann Muller and transportation innovation expert Karina Ricks of Cityfi, to discuss what autonomous vehicles could mean for safety, jobs, traffic, and daily life. Plus, as always, we take calls from listeners across the country to hear your perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of The Follow Up, Jeremy speaks with veteran and former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander (who also hosts the podcast Majority 54) about the mental health crisis affecting active duty servicemembers and veterans, and the barriers many face when seeking help. Listeners across the country weigh in with their own stories and ideas. #MentalHealth #MilitaryMentalHealth #Veterans #VeteranSupport #ActiveDuty #ArmedForces #PTSD #PostTraumaticStress #TraumaRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #EndTheStigma #SupportOurTroops #MilitaryFamilies #VeteranCare #SuicidePrevention #Wellbeing #PsychologicalHealth #ServiceMembers #HealingJourney #InvisibleWounds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices