On a Mission from God: The Rise of School Vouchers in America with Alec MacGillis, ProPublica

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright sits down with investigative journalist Alec MacGillis from ProPublica to discuss his latest exposé, "On a Mission from God: Inside the Movement to Redirect Billions of Taxpayer Dollars to Religious Schools." Alec provides a deep dive into the rapid expansion of private school voucher programs, particularly in Ohio, and how they are fundamentally reshaping the landscape of public education. He details how these programs, originally marketed as a means to provide alternatives for struggling students, are overwhelmingly subsidizing families who were already enrolled in private schools—predominantly religious institutions. The conversation also explores the historical roots of the voucher movement, its ties to Christian education, and the political strategies that have driven its success. Will and Alec discuss the broader implications for public schools, the constitutional concerns over church-state separation, and the potential for further expansion under a second Trump administration. If you care about the future of education in America, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.Read the article 'On a Mission From God: Inside the Movement to Redirect Billions of Taxpayer Dollars to Private Religious Schools': https://www.propublica.org/article/school-vouchers-ohio-church-state-tax-dollars-private-religiousRead Alec's latest follow up report 'In the Wild West of School Voucher Expansions, States Rely on Untested Companies, With Mixed Results': https://www.propublica.org/article/school-voucher-management-classwallet-odyssey-merit-student-firstGuest Bio: Alec MacGillisAlec MacGillis is an award-winning investigative journalist with ProPublica, focusing on issues like economic inequality, gun violence, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education. Before joining ProPublica, he reported for The New Republic, The Washington Post, and The Baltimore Sun. His work has won numerous national journalism awards, and his reporting consistently sheds light on undercovered but crucial topics shaping American society. His latest investigative piece, "On a Mission from God," examines the political and religious forces driving the rise of school vouchers in the U.S. Support Sarah Stankorb’s work and preorder Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889837091Website: https://www.sarahstankorb.com/Support the showKeep the conversation going.Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, suggest a future guest, or connect with us directly?Visit our website:faithfulpoliticspodcast.comBrowse our bookstore, featuring books from many of our guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstoreSupport the show and help us keep these conversations going:patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPoliticsSubscribe for behind-the-scenes content, reflections, and updates:faithfulpolitics.substack.comContact the hosts:Josh Burtram, Faithful Host: [email protected] Wright, Political Host: [email protected] Faithful Politics:Instagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast