Listener supported, WNYC Studios.

It's the Brian Laird Show on WNYC.

I'm Bridget Bergen, senior reporter in the WNYC and Gothamist Newsroom, filling in for Brian today.

Coming up on today's show, we'll talk about how residents of the Rockaway Peninsula, myself included, will be dealing with the suspension of the aid train for repairs for about four months early

next year. There are some alternate options, but it's still going to be really inconvenient

and isolating for residents of the Rockaways. Plus, later in the show, we'll hear about why there's

more to know about the mutation of the BRCA or BRCA gene beyond its link with breast cancer.

And we'll wrap today's show with your stories of how you reconciled after family estrangement.

If that's happened to you, how'd you do it? How's it going? We're going to take your calls on that

near the end of today's show, but we're going to start things off with a conversation about national politics and education.

President-elect Trump is moving forward aggressively to name new positions in his incoming administration.

Earlier this week, he announced longtime ally Linda McMahon as his pick for the U.S. Department of Education.

She ran the Small Business Administration in his first term.

Now, this pick comes even as Trump has talked about dismantling the Education Department,

which was also a key recommendation in Project 2025, that Heritage Foundation book that

may help shape the policies of his incoming administration.

So what does this mean on the ground? In classrooms and at schools? How will funding be affected?

How will, how soon will students, teachers, and families in this country experience changes?

Joining me now to answer my questions and yours is Erica Meltzer, National Editor at

Chalkbeat, where she covers education policy and politics.

Erica, welcome to WNYC.

Thanks so much for having me.

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