The New Frontline

In this special 50th episode, Siena looks back on the journey so far, revisiting some of her most memorable sound bites and favorite memories from the first 49 episodes. She also shares the two biggest lessons she's learned after spending the past year talking with teachers, public employees, policy experts, and workers fighting for greater freedom and accountability in government unions. Whether...

On this episode of The New Frontline, Siena is joined by Freedom Foundation attorney Shella Alcabes to discuss how public employees have been pressured, misled, and trapped into paying union dues by organizations that claim to represent their best interests. Drawing on firsthand accounts from public employees, Shella and Siena break down the 36 unfair labor practice complaints recently filed in Ca...

Many public employees are unaware of just how much power they have to break free from unions and control their own futures. Allison Beattie, Freedom Foundation's director of labor relations, sits down with Siena Rose to dive into a new website called "Empowered-Employees.com."  If you're feeling stuck in a union that doesn’t serve your interests, this episode is your essential guide to reclaiming...

Teachers' unions have long been among the most influential forces shaping education policy, but new research suggests their grip is weakening across the country. In this episode, Siena Rose uses an article from The Lion to help break down what the decline of union influence means for teachers, parents, and public employees—and why growing worker freedom is reshaping the education landscape.

Kelley LaBedz has worked as a senior litigator, civil court director, HR director, and history teacher—so if there's anything she knows, it's America's law and culture. In this episode of The New Frontline podcast, LaBedz shares eye-opening stories from her eight years in the classroom and explains how she helped advocate for Florida's SB 1296—an essential reform for union accountability. Kelley a...

Writer, speaker, and parental advocate Sara Huff joins The New Frontline with Siena Rose to discuss her journey from radical left-wing activism in Brazil to becoming a vocal advocate for family values and parental rights. Sara shares how she was drawn into feminist and activist circles, what made her walk away, and why she sees alarming similarities between the ideological movements she witnessed...

Randi Weingarten is furious that we're telling the world about the unethical use of her union's funding to subsidize her new anti-American book. Siena dives into a recent Freedom Foundation report that uncovered that the AFT spent over $1.4 million in member dues to write, edit, and promote Weingarten's personal vanity project — and her only response was a press release full of personal attacks. E...

California teacher and lawsuit plaintiff Barry Blisten sits down with Siena Rose to share his firsthand experience watching the United Teachers of Los Angeles' shift from protecting teachers to pushing divisive political agendas funded by mandatory dues. He breaks down what exclusive union representation means for teachers' rights, why he chose to fight back, and what he hopes the public takes awa...

Siena Rose sits down with Natalya Murakhver to talk about her nonprofit Restore Childhood, their new "15 Days" film and her goal to educate others on the dangers that far-left activists and union leaders present.      Murakhver shares how her experience navigating school shutdowns led her to launch parent-focused initiatives and challenge what she sees as growing political influence within educati...

Siena went to Chicago undercover to cover the May Day protests, capturing unfiltered footage and interviews with attendees to document what was actually happening on the ground.      What she found raises serious questions about the role of unions, the presence of students at these events, and how radical ideology gets packaged in spaces deceptively framed as educational.      Unions like the Chic...

*The New Frontline with Siena Rose – a podcast and variety show from the Freedom Foundation.* Are teachers unions still focused on students—or have they shifted toward politics? Siena Rose sits down with Heritage Foundation researcher Madison Doan to break down new polling, union activism, classroom influence, and the growing disconnect between what parents want and what unions are prioritizing.

Siena Rose breaks down how teachers’ unions are using May Day to push political activism into elementary classrooms, training even young students to adopt an “us vs. them” worldview. From curated lesson plans that break down labor issues for third graders to protest messaging meant to highlight the “beauty and humanity,” it exposes how education is being reshaped to prioritize ideology over actual...

Democrats in Oregon passed the "Worker Fraud Protection Act," a union-backed law that targets the Freedom Foundation by imposing ridiculous fine on outreach efforts. Now, similar bills have surfaced in Hawaii and New York that take these unconstitutional attacks to the next level. In this episode, Siena dives into a Wall Street Journal article by the Editorial Board, and CEO Aaron Withe's recent o...

Litigation counsel Shella Alcabes joins host Siena Rose to break down some of Freedom Foundation's most significant legal battles, and explains why First Amendment rights are at the heart of the fight for workers' freedom. Hear about two explosive cases involving Jewish teachers in Los Angeles and Portland who are suing their unions over antisemitic rhetoric, hostile work environments, and curricu...

Podcast host Siena sits down with Robbye Kirkpatrick, former public school teacher, real estate professional, and founder of Texas TransformED, to explore the deep systemic failures of Texas' public education system. Robbye shares her uniquely personal and comprehensive lens on why a state ranked #1 in business sits at #44 in education, and more importantly—what it will take to change that.

What happens when union officials forget they're being watched? Through a public records request in Benton County, Oregon, we uncovered an internal email exchange that reveals the true character of union leadership—complete with profanity and schemes to retaliate.

Student ICE protests aren't the grassroots movements they claim to be—they're orchestrated by teacher unions pushing political agendas. In this episode, Siena exposes how and why union leaders are lying straight to your face about all of it.

Utah teacher and State Board of Education member Cole Kelley joins Siena Rose to expose how the Utah Education Association misled members about spending their dues on political activities, despite written claims to the contrary. Now partnering with Freedom Foundation in a lawsuit against the UEA, Kelley encourages teachers nationwide to investigate where their union dues actually go and to speak o...

As America's union movement must face it's declining influence, teachers unions are resorting to desperate tactics to maintain their grip on education. In this episode Siena exposes how union leaders are hijacking public schools to advance their political agenda, and as school choice gains momentum national leaders and politicians must question their alliance with a "outdated and rusty" union mech...

Siena examines how major government unions have expanded beyond their core mission to engage in political activism and social agitation. She explores how union leaders manufacture outrage over issues unrelated to labor policy, while using their moral authority to mobilize members as pawns in ideological warfare--an important issue to highlight in the ever-changing cultural landscape of 2026.

Siena follows the money to expose how the National Education Association is funneling teachers’ dues into far-left political causes, radical PACs, and private social-justice consulting firms. Financial records reveal millions spent on ballot initiatives, identity-driven nonprofits, and organizations tied directly to NEA leadership itself. Siena dives into why you should care about this, and how un...

(00:00:00) New Year, Same Union Drama (00:00:25) Chicago Teachers Union's Controversial Actions (00:03:07) CTU's Radical History and Influence (00:06:30) National Education Association Leadership Race (00:08:12) Union Corruption and Greed (00:09:16) California's Union-Backed Tax Proposal (00:10:46) The Broader Impact of Union Power This episode exposes the inherent corruption and political overrea...

The letter from Freedom Foundation CEO Aaron Withe, and a very Grinchy Christmas poem.

Some special deliveries went out to the leaders of the NEA, AFT, AFSCME, the Teamsters, and SEIU! Even Grinches deserve some Christmas treats.

Siena Rose sits down with  Defense of Freedom Institute's  Director of Media Outreach and Spokesperson, Angela Morabito, and Senior Council on Policy and Regulatory, Paul Zimmerman, to break down DFI’s explosive new report, The Fall of Woke . Together, they expose how America’s largest teachers unions are doubling down on radical ideology—from DEI mandates to antisemitism—while students fall furth...