FEBRUARY 22, 2025

This week Matter of Fact travels to Indiana to see the innovative way the state is addressing a national shortage of special education teachers.

I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. WELCOME TO MATTER OF FACT. 50 YEARS AGO, SPECIAL EDUCATION BECAME A FEDERAL MANDATE. THE GOAL? GIVING ALL CHILDREN A FAIR SHOT AT ACADEMIC SUCCESS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE KIDS ARE OUR FUTURE. IF WE DON’T TEACH THEM, WHO WILL. BUT IN RECENT YEARS, SCHOOLS HAVE STRUGGLED TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN SPECIAL ED TEACHERS. WHERE’S THE TEACHERS? WHY IS EVERY TIME WE TURN AROUND, THERE’S A NEW PERSON? OUR KIDS NEED MORE. NOWADAYS. WE JUST DON’T ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO THAT. COULD A PROGRAM IN INDIANA BE A BLUEPRINT FOR TRAINING MORE EDUCATORS? PLUS, IT’S CALLED BIRD FLU. BUT IT’S NOT JUST BIRDS THAT ARE GETTING SICK. WE CAN SEE THAT THE VIRUS IS DOING WHAT VIRUSES DO. THEY ADAPT. THE OUTBREAK HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. COULD LESSONS FROM THE COVID PANDEMIC HELP BRING IT TO AN END? AND INFORMATION IS ITS OWN POT OF RICHES. IT BETTERS US ALL. HOW A COLLEGE PROGRAM IS HELPING COMMUNITIES BUILD WEALTH BY ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO SHARE WHAT THEY’RE LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM. THOSE STORIES RIGHT NOW ON MATTER OF FACT. ABOUT 15% OF STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION OR RELATED SERVICES. THAT’S MORE THAN 7 MILLION STUDENTS NATIONALLY, THOUGH THERE AREN’T ENOUGH TEACHERS TRAINED IN THIS AREA FOR THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR, 74% OF PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS REPORT HAVING DIFFICULTY FILLING SPECIAL EDUCATION VACANCIES. THIS IS A LONG RUNNING PROBLEM. IN 2021, THE STATE OF INDIANA DECIDED TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. IT LAUNCHED A PROGRAM AIMED AT MAKING IT EASIER FOR TEACHERS TO BECOME LICENSED IN SPECIAL ED. OUR CORRESPONDENT DAN LIEBERMAN, TAKES US TO THE HOOSIER STATE TO SEE HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS AND WHETHER IT’S HELPING FILL THE GAP. WE’VE HAD GREAT EDUCATORS, BUT THE CONSISTENCY GONE. ONE YEAR. HALF THE YEAR THEY’RE THERE AND THEN THEY’RE NOT THERE ANYMORE. SHAWANDA TYSON SAYS THAT FINDING CONSISTENT AND GOOD TEACHERS FOR HER 16 YEAR OLD SON WITH SPECIAL NEEDS HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE. THEY DIDN’T HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN PLACE FOR HIM. THEY DIDN’T TAKE THE TIME TO FIGURE OUT ANY ADJUSTMENTS FOR HIM. IN INDIANA, WHERE TYSON AND HER SON MARELL LIVE SCHOOLS HAVE LONG STRUGGLED TO KEEP SPECIAL ED TEACHERS IN THEIR JOBS. THE TEACHER, THAT’S THEIR BEST FRIEND, AND THEY CLING ON TO THEM AND THEY LOOK FOR THEM. THEY LIVE FOR THEM TO HELP THEM THROUGH THE DAY. AND THEN THEY SHOW UP ONE DAY. AND THIS PERSON DOES NOT RETURN. THE PROBLEM? HIGH TURNOVER AND DIFFICULTY RECRUITING IS NATIONWIDE, AND IT’S GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THE PANDEMIC. ACCORDING TO RECENT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DATA, NEARLY HALF OF SPECIAL ED JOBS ARE CURRENTLY VACANT, AND 78% OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE REPORTING DIFFICULTY IN HIRING SPECIAL ED STAFF. BUT SOME STATES, LIKE INDIANA, ARE SUCCESSFULLY CHIPPING AWAY AT THE SHORTAGE. THEY NEEDED SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, AND I’M THINKING TO MYSELF, OH, YOU KNOW, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT BECAUSE I’M NOT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL. AND THEY WERE LIKE, NO, THEY’RE THE STATE OF INDIANA IS TRYING TO FIX THE TEACHER SHORTAGE PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. SO THEY’LL PAY FOR IT. YOUR DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ARE WORTH 20 POINTS. INDIANA RESIDENT KALANI TOOKS TRIED OUT DIFFERENT CAREERS, BUT DECIDED TO GO INTO SPECIAL ED AFTER SEEING HER DAUGHTER, WHO HAS ADHD, STRUGGLE TO GET THE HELP SHE NEEDED IN SCHOOL. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE KIDS ARE OUR FUTURE. IF WE DON’T TEACH THEM, WHO WILL? TOOKS FOUND A WAY IN WITH I SEAL. A STATE FUNDED PROGRAM WHERE BOTH TEACHERS AND NON TEACHERS CAN RECEIVE FREE FAST TRACK TRAINING AND LICENSURE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN 2021 AFTER THE STATE WAS FOUND TO BE IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW FOR GRANTING THOUSANDS OF EMERGENCY PERMITS TO UNQUALIFIED SPECIAL ED TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO FILL ITS WORKFORCE SHORTAGES. THE SHORTAGE IS REAL. WE’RE STILL HAVING TROUBLE. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE. OUR KIDS NEED MORE NOWADAYS, AND WE JUST DON’T ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO THAT. ICL PROVIDES ONLINE COURSES AND HANDS ON TRAINING IN THE CLASSROOM. MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE HAVE ENROLLED IN. HUNDREDS ARE NOW TEACHING IN CLASSROOMS AROUND THE STATE. TOOKS COMPLETED THE PROGRAM AT THE END OF 2024 AND IS NOW FULLY CERTIFIED. WHAT IS IT? THE TEST? SHE’S JUST JUMPED IN, SO SHE’S REALLY TAKING HER CLASSES VERY SERIOUSLY. SHE’S ALWAYS SHARING WITH ME WHAT SHE’S LEARNING. AND SO I’M SO VERY, VERY HAPPY THAT OUR DISTRICT SAID, HEY, YOU CAN GO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, GET THE CERTIFICATION. TOOKS TAKES PRIDE IN BEING A SPECIAL ED TEACHER, BUT SAYS SHE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY OTHERS LEAVE THE PROFESSION. MOST SPECIAL ED TEACHERS ARE DOING, UNFORTUNATELY, DOUBLE WHAT GEN ED TEACHERS ARE DOING. YOU GET BURNED OUT SO FAST. THE BURNOUT STEMS IN PART FROM LACK OF FUNDING. IN 1975, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TO COVERING 40% OF THE COST OF SPECIAL EDUCATION. BUT IN THE 50 YEARS SINCE, IT HAS TYPICALLY ONLY COVERED ABOUT 15%. YOU HAVE TEACHERS THAT ARE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR THESE KIDS JUST BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT THOSE KIDS. THE LACK OF SUPPORT MAKES YOU EVENTUALLY FEEL LIKE, WHY AM I WASTING MY TIME IF I’M THE ONLY ONE THAT CARES ABOUT THESE BABIES? SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS REPORT THAT THEY HAVE FAR TOO MANY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THEIR RESOURCES. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ELIZABETH BETTINI STUDIES WORKFORCE ISSUES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. SHE SAYS THAT WHILE PROGRAMS LIKE IXL ARE GREAT FOR GETTING NEW PEOPLE IN THE DOOR, THEY DON’T ADDRESS THE BIGGER ISSUE, WHICH IS RETENTION. THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS TO BE EFFECTIVE, THEY CAN’T JUST BE BRINGING PEOPLE IN. THEY NEED TO BE SUPPORTING THEM ONCE THEY’RE THERE. THAT SUPPORT, SHE SAYS, SHOULD COME FROM SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WHO AREN’T GIVEN ENOUGH TRAINING IN SPECIAL ED. SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, SCHOOL VICE PRINCIPALS. THEY’RE TYPICALLY REQUIRED TO TAKE ONE COURSE THAT ADDRESSES SPECIAL EDUCATION. AND THAT BASICALLY IS A COURSE ABOUT HOW NOT TO GET SUED. IT’S NOT A COURSE ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS. WELL, HOW TO STRUCTURE YOUR SCHOOL WELL. AND THAT, I THINK, IS A REAL FLAW IN OUR PREPARATION PROGRAMS FOR LEADERS THAT COULD BE FIXED AT A POLICY LEVEL. IS THAT MISS SMITH’S AGAIN? NO. MISS WEST. SEEING MARELL GO THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, HOW DO YOU THINK IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE? WHAT I REALLY WANT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS TO SIT DOWN, WORK ON KEEPING AND RETAINING TEACHERS THAT REALLY CARE, THAT REALLY PUT THEIR ALL INTO IT. PARENTS THAT HAVE ALL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. WE REALLY JUST WANT TO BE HEARD, AND WE JUST REALLY WANT OUR KIDS TO HAVE THE BEST. FOR MATTER OF FACT, I’M DAN LIEBERMAN IN INDIANA. COMING UP, WE HAVE GRANDPARENTS WHO TAKE THEIR MONEY AND PUT IT IN THE FREEZER AND SAY, THAT’S THE WAY THEY’RE GOING TO KEEP UP WITH MONEY, AND THAT’S HOW THEY’RE GOING TO KEEP THEIR MONEY. THAT’S NOT TRUE. HER MISSION TO TEACH OTHERS HOW TO LEAVE A FINANCIAL LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. PLUS, HOW MUCH DOES THE US SPEND HELPING OTHERS? AND WHERE’S THAT MONEY GO? WE BREAK DOWN THE BASICS OF U.S. FOREIGN AID. BUT FIRST, THE ONGOING AVIAN FLU OUTBREAK IS TAKING A TOLL ON OUR POULTRY INDUSTRY. THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR IS REALLY WIPING OUT HUGE TENS OF MILLIONS OF BIRDS ACROSS THE GLOBE RIGHT NOW. BUT WHY? VETS SAY IT ISN’T STOPPING THERE. YOU’RE WATCHING. MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA’S NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS MAGAZINE. IT’S SURPRISING TO SEE THE LACK OF EGGS ON GROCERY STORE SHELVES. EITHER THERE’S NOTHING THERE AT ALL, JUST EMPTY SHELVES, OR YOU GET LUCKY AND THERE ARE EGGS. AND THE PRICE TAG IS A SURPRISE OF ITS OWN. IT’S BECAUSE OF THE HIGHLY PATHOGENIC BIRD FLU. AVIAN INFLUENZA MADE ITS WAY HERE IN 2022 AND HAS AFFECTED WELL OVER 100 MILLION BIRDS. TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THE BIRD FLU WORKS AND WHY OTHER ANIMALS ARE CATCHING IT, I TALKED TO DOCTOR DEBORAH MCCAULEY, CO-FOUNDER OF THE VETERINARY INITIATIVE FOR ENDANGERED WILDLIFE. HOW UNUSUAL IS AVIAN INFLUENZA? WE’VE SEEN IT OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS CIRCULATING IN POULTRY INDUSTRY AND ALSO SPILLING INTO THE WILD BIRD POPULATION, THE FOWLS. BUT AS THIS POPULATION OR VIRUS IS INCREASING, WE’RE SEEING IT MORE IN A HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA, WHICH IS NOW SPILLING OVER INTO MAMMAL SPECIES. WHAT’S HIGHLY PATHOGENIC MEAN EXACTLY? A VIRUS SHIFTS AND CHANGES, AND SO WE CAN SEE THAT THE VIRUS IS DOING WHAT VIRUSES DO. THEY ADAPT. THEY GET BETTER. AND THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR IS IS REALLY WIPING OUT HUGE TENS OF MILLIONS OF BIRDS ACROSS THE GLOBE RIGHT NOW. IT WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO FIRST IDENTIFY OR EARLY ON IDENTIFY THIS DISEASE. IT WAS REALLY BECAUSE OF CLUES FROM CATS. SO IN TEXAS, THEY FOUND THE CAT COWS WERE HAVING A LOW MILK PRODUCTION AND NOT EATING VERY WELL AND GETTING SICK. BUT THEY ALSO STARTED TO NOTICE. THE VETERINARIAN NOTICED THAT THE CATS IN THE FARM, THERE WAS A LOT LESS CATS. CATS WERE DISAPPEARING. THEY WERE GETTING SICK OR DYING. AND THEY TESTED NOT ONLY THE COWS, BUT THEY TESTED THE CATS. AND BOTH HAD AVIAN INFLUENZA. AND NOW YOU CAN SEE WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT TODAY WE REALLY ARE NOW NOTICING THAT DISEASES AND VIRUSES CAN BE SHARED WITH PEOPLE, DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE. AS WE’VE SEEN WITH COVID. IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE LEARNED FROM COVID THAT WE CAN NOW THINK ABOUT AS WE LOOK AT WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH AVIAN INFLUENZA? I THINK IT’S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE LEARN THE LESSONS OF COVID AND AND BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD TO UNDERSTAND, TO IMPROVE OUR TESTING, PUT MORE RESOURCES INTO UNDERSTANDING CAUSES OF DEATH, OF WILDLIFE, UNDERSTAND THESE DYNAMICS OF GOING TO PEOPLE OR TO CATS. THEY’RE REALLY THE REASON WHY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO EVEN KNOW THAT THESE DISEASES ARE OUT THERE IS BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN STARTING TO IMPROVE OUR TESTING. BUT UNLESS WE PUT MORE RESOURCES INTO THAT TESTING, THEN REALLY WE’RE AT A AT A RISK GOVERNMENT AND AND PUBLIC EDUCATION RESOURCES NEED TO GO THERE BECAUSE WE NEED A NATIONAL STRATEGY PLAN. AND THAT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A PLAN TO UNDERSTAND AND THE RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT THOSE PLANS. DOCTOR DEBORAH MCCAULEY, IT’S SO NICE TO HAVE YOU IN STUDIO. THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH ME. NEXT ON MATTER OF FACT, HIS DAUGHTER HAD SOME FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR HIM. I DIDN’T WANT TO LISTEN, BUT HE DID. WHY? HE’S NOW ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO LISTEN TO. AND HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THE U.S. SPENDS ON FOREIGN AID? SURVEYS SHOW IT’S MUCH LESS THAN MANY PEOPLE THINK. WE’LL BREAK DOWN THE NUMBERS. IN 2021. THE MEDIAN WEALTH OF A BLACK HOUSEHOLD WAS $24,520. THAT’S JUST ONE TENTH THE MEDIAN WEALTH OF A WHITE HOUSEHOLD. $250,400. A NONPROFIT IS ADDRESSING THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP HEAD ON. IT’S A SYSTEMIC AND CHRONIC PROBLEM. THE SOCIETY FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HAS LAUNCHED FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMS AT CHURCHES AND BUSINESSES AND COLLEGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. OUR CORRESPONDENT, DIANE ROBERTS, TAKES US TO ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY, ONE OF THE MANY HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OFFERING ITS AMBASSADOR PROGRAM TO SEE HOW IT’S NOT JUST HELPING STUDENTS, BUT THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR FRIENDS. I BELIEVE ME, WITH THE LITTLE DOLLARS. I’M GONNA TEACH YOU HOW TO KEEP THEM. BE RIGHT BACK. KAYLEIGH DUNN IS ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, SHARING HER FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY WITH KIDS IN THE DUTCHESS. DIVAS AND GENTS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING. AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AT A MEETING OF THE WOMEN IN FINANCE CLUB, A CLUB SHE FOUNDED AT ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY. WHAT IS IT ABOUT FINANCE THAT GIVES YOU A FIRE BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR IT? THE TRUTH OF IT IS THAT FINANCES AND MONEY BUDGETS ARE KIND OF AT THE BASE OF A LOT OF DECISIONS AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR COUNTRY AND IN THE WORLD. AND NO ONE IN YOUR FAMILY HAS THIS INTEREST? NO. MY ENTIRE FAMILY IS MEDICAL BASED, SO THEY’VE ALL BEEN IN THE MEDICAL FIELD. MY BROTHER IS ACTUALLY AT MEDICAL SCHOOL RIGHT NOW, BUT I WAS THE LONE WOLF KAYLEIGH, A JUNIOR FINANCE MAJOR, IS A STUDENT AMBASSADOR WITH THE STUDENT FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, OR SFP. THE PROGRAM IS THE BRAINCHILD OF RETIRED FINANCIAL ADVISOR TED DANIELS, SFPD IS IN 70 HBCUS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND REQUIRES ITS STUDENT AMBASSADORS TO SHARE WHAT THEY’RE LEARNING ABOUT FINANCIAL LITERACY WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND THE COMMUNITY. YOU CAN SEE THERE’S A CLEAR DISPARITY BETWEEN AFRICAN AMERICANS AND WHITE HOUSEHOLDS IN THE AMOUNT THAT THEY INVEST AND AMOUNT THEY’RE MAKING FOR THEMSELVES. IN 2019, ONLY 34% OF BLACK AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS OWNED EQUITY INVESTMENTS, COMPARED TO 61% OF WHITE HOUSEHOLDS. HEARING INFORMATION LIKE THAT ENCOURAGED KAYLEE’S FRIEND LAUREN EVANS TO TAKE ACTION. SINCE I’VE HEARD HER PRESENTATION, I HAVE REACHED OUT TO AN ADVISOR AND I’VE STARTED INVESTING. STUDENT AMBASSADORS SHARE TIPS LIKE HOW TO ACQUIRE A CREDIT CARD, DIVERSIFY AND BUILD AN INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO, AND ACCUMULATE FUNDS FOR RETIREMENT. I WANT A HOUSE. I WANT A FAMILY. AND I ALSO WANT MY KIDS TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION WITHOUT HAVING FINANCIAL WORRIES. EVEN KAYLEE’S FATHER HAD SOMETHING TO LEARN, AND HE DID IN A BIG WAY. INCREASING HIS CREDIT SCORE MORE THAN 200 POINTS. I DIDN’T WANT TO LISTEN UNTIL SHE SAID, I’M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU. YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT WITH IT. AND SO GUESS WHAT? IT CHANGED MY SCORE FROM, I DON’T KNOW, 630 TO 830 SOMETHING. MY CREDIT SCORE AT 830. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT YOUR FINANCES, YOUR ASSETS, AND PASSING THEM ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION? WE HAVE ACTUALLY SAT DOWN AS A FAMILY TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT. THAT’S THE NEXT STEP OF WHAT KAYLA HAS PROVIDED. THE STEPPING STONE TO DOING THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO, WHICH MY DAD DIDN’T DO FOR ME. HIS GRANDFATHER DIDN’T DO FOR HIM. WE FOCUS ON FINANCIAL COMPANIES. WE CAN’T ALLOW OURSELVES TO LET THE KIDS NOT TEACH US. WE HAVE TO LEARN AS WELL. AND THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED WITH A LOT OF TIMES WITH THE WITH OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES. WE THINK THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE’RE SUPPOSED TO KNOW, BUT WE DON’T. SEEING THAT, I COULD HELP MY DAD, THE FIRST THING ONE OF THE PEOPLE I LOVED THE MOST IN THE WORLD. IT’S AMAZING. KAYLEIGH PROVIDING A STEPPING STONE FOR NOT JUST OLDER GENERATIONS, BUT FUTURE ONES TOO. I PROBABLY GET THE OCULUS. OKAY, SO YOU’RE AT $200 NOW. OH, SO YOU SEE THERE HOW, LIKE WHEN YOU WERE DECIDING WHAT YOU WANT TO PICK, YOU HAVE TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT AND WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON. IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, FOR A MATTER OF FACT. I’M DIANE ROBERTS. AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LOOKS AT CUTTING BACK FOREIGN AID, HOW DO PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT SPENDING MONEY TO HELP PEOPLE OVERSEAS? PLUS, REMEMBERING A KEY PART OF HISTORY THAT SHAPES THE UNITED STATES RELATIONSHIP WITH MEXICO TODAY. TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH MATTER OF FACT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT MATTER OF FACT. WE’VE. WELCOME BACK TO MATTER OF FACT. AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TAKES A SECOND LOOK AT OUR FOREIGN AID. LET’S BREAK DOWN JUST HOW MUCH IS SPENT, WHAT IT’S SPENT ON, AND HOW AMERICANS FEEL ABOUT IT. FOR THAT, WE TURN TO PEW RESEARCH CENTER. ITS DATA SHOWS THAT IN THE 2023 FISCAL YEAR, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SPENT NEARLY $72 BILLION IN FOREIGN AID. THAT’S A BIG NUMBER, BUT ACCORDING TO PEW, IT’S ONLY 1.2% OF FEDERAL SPENDING THAT YEAR, WHICH WAS OVER $6 TRILLION. WHAT DOES IT GO TOWARDS? WELL, IT’S A RANGE, BUT MAINLY HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EFFORTS TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY. FOR EXAMPLE, UKRAINE WAS THE BIGGEST RECIPIENT OF AID IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 AS IT WORKED TO FEND OFF RUSSIA’S AGGRESSIONS MILITARY. ANALYSTS NOTE THAT AID SPENDING IS OFTEN IN THE INTEREST OF PROTECTING AMERICAN NATIONAL SECURITY. HOW DO AMERICANS FEEL ABOUT IT? PEW DID A SURVEY BACK IN 2019, AND THEY FOUND THAT 35% OF PEOPLE FELT WE SHOULD INCREASE FOREIGN AID. 33% WANTED TO KEEP IT THE SAME, AND 28% OF PEOPLE THOUGHT WE SHOULD SPEND LESS. THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT WAS ON TRACK TO SPEND ABOUT $58 BILLION ON INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE. BUT THAT COULD, OF COURSE, DRAMATICALLY CHANGE UNDER THE NEW ADMINISTRATION. STILL AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, MEXICO ONCE INCLUDED LAND THAT’S NOW SEVERAL U.S. STATES. HOW THE MEXICAN AMERICAN WAR SHAPED A NATION AND A KEY INTERNATIONALAND FINALLY, IT’S B AMERICA’S FORGOTTEN WAR. THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR. IT’S AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR HISTORIC RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR NEIGHBOR TO THE SOUTH. AND THIS WEEKEND MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY OF A KEY BATTLE, THE BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA. AT ITS HEART, THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR WAS A BORDER DISPUTE. THE U.S. HAD ANNEXED TEXAS, BUT THERE WAS DISAGREEMENT OVER WHERE THE NEW BORDER WAS. SO IN 1846, PRESIDENT JAMES POLK SENT AMERICAN TROOPS DEEP INTO THE CONTESTED REGION, AGGRAVATING MEXICO AND STARTING THE WAR. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, DURING THE BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA, MEXICAN FORCES WERE UNABLE TO DEFEAT THE AMERICANS DESPITE OUTNUMBERING THEM 3 TO 1. IT WAS CONSIDERED A TURNING POINT, BUT THE TIME THE WAR ENDED IN 1848, THE U.S. HAD NOT ONLY ACQUIRED TEXAS, BUT MORE THAN 500,000MI, INCLUDING WHAT’S NOW CALIFORNIA, NEVADA, UTAH, NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA, AND COLORADO. PRESIDENT POLK OFTEN USED THE PHRASE MANIFEST DESTINY, THE BELIEF IN AMERICA’S RIGHT TO EXPAND INTO LANDS WHERE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND MEXICANS LIVED. IT WAS A TERM PRESIDENT TRUMP RESURRECTED IN HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS, BUT HE SAID HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN SPACE EXPLORATION. THAT’S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF MATTER OF FACT. I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. I’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK. TO WATCH MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ANYTIME, HEAD TO MATTER OF FACT OF.

FEBRUARY 22, 2025

This week Matter of Fact travels to Indiana to see the innovative way the state is addressing a national shortage of special education teachers.

This week Matter of Fact travels to Indiana to see the innovative way the state is addressing a national shortage of special education teachers. Plus, a wildlife veterinarian explains how the bird flu adapted over time. And, a financial literacy program encourages students to share advice with their families.

#FEBRUARY