On July 25, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to the American Federation of Teachers – the primary union to approach her after she announced her candidacy for president.

Although she spoke to many teachers, Harris didn’t concentrate on teacher-specific topics. Rather, she spoke about general guidelines That’s what working people wantcomparable to sick leave and paid family leave. She also spoke in regards to the labor movement more broadly. “When unions are strong, America is strong,” she said.

Harris' vp, Tim Walz, appeared on the Democratic National Convention in August proudly asserted his identity as a teacher. On Instagram he described himself as “I have been a dues-paying, card-carrying member of my teachers' union for years.”

Public school teachers are usually not often cited as a significant force in national politics. They are usually not wealthy donors. She rarely hold public office. Many congressmen claim to have been “educators”.“But this also includes law professors, school fundraisers and faculty district leaders.

But teachers and their unions can influence policy—within the U.S. and around the globe. Walz's candidacy is causing her role to be reconsidered. Whose interests do they represent? Can teachers really speak on behalf of a bigger community?

Our view based on political science research What we and others have found is that teachers today are top-of-the-line – if not one of the best – organized groups in politics to advocate for the economic interests of working people.

The rise of teachers as political candidates around the globe

Tim Walz taught social studies at Mankato West High School in Minnesota for 20 years. When he served in Congress, he was certainly one of just one Handful of K-12 public school teachers. The The overwhelming majority of members of Congress are lawyers and business people They predominantly come from higher-income backgrounds and a disproportionate number study at elite institutions.

There are few obvious precedents for Walz's candidacy as a highschool teacher and later high-ranking politician within the United States. But Walz is anything but unique on this planet.

In many developing democracies Colombia To Indonesia And IndiaTeachers are a big group of public sector staff organized into powerful unions. All over the world, teacher candidates have risen politically. In Colombia, for instance, the teachers' union did this 270,000 membersThis makes it the most important union on this country. Quite a lot of leaders on this union have moved from the union presidency to the Senate of the Republic.

The book 2024 “Mobilization of teachers“documents the rise of teachers as a political force in Latin America three many years ago.

Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo is maybe best remembered for being ousted from office in 2022 after attempting to dissolve Congress. But its origins are remarkable. He was a humble elementary school teacher and a labor leader who improbably ascended to the presidency in 2021. In Mexico, national teachers union leader Alfonso Cepeda Salas became similar Senator from the ruling party in 2024.

Teachers unions are usually not all the time a force for good governance. Their use has been widely criticized in Mexico corrupt practices to influence politics, for instance by favoring teachers who’re near certain parties. However, within the Nineteen Eighties, teachers mobilized on the streets of Brazil, Chile and Mexico against military dictatorships and authoritarian rule, and Brazilian teachers' unions advocated for broader causes comparable to: the fitting to education and increased spending on public schools.

In the United States, K-12 public teachers don’t typically grow to be high-profile political candidates. However, within the late twentieth century additionally they emerged as necessary political actors in other ways. This was driven by economic changes comparable to automation and globalization, which affected the work of many unions – comparable to industrial unions – but not teachers. Today, Every fifth union member are teachers. And the teachers as an entire make it 8% of the college-educated workforce within the United States.

Through their unionsIn the United States, teachers are sometimes recruited as political candidates, particularly in state and native elections. However, their number is small. In 2018, for instance, teachers were on the ballot Record numbers but still presented fairly 3% of candidates.

Teachers and the general public interest

Teachers within the USA were criticized for this against reforms B. school alternative and linking teacher rankings to student test scores. Some scholars consider that these reforms could improve the standard of education.

In the US there are also concerns in regards to the strong influence on school board elections and Democratic Party primaries. Some researchers argue that teachers unions have disproportionate power because “they actively and intentionally participate in electoral efforts.” control their very own superiors” – school board members. In other words, unlike private sector staff, teachers unions use theirs political influence to decide on their very own bosses.

However, other researchers have shown that the policies teachers often follow oriented towards the interests of the scholars. Teachers' unions have long argued that higher working conditions for teachers also mean higher learning conditions for college kids, and that is precisely what they often advocate for.

Some states and cities have them serious teacher shortagewhich some analysts use to argue that teachers' low pay has made the career unattractive. These shortages not only impact the standard of education, but in addition reflect the economic concerns of the American middle class. Teacher salaries stagnatedalthough a Extensive economic research has shown that there’s a cause-and-effect relationship between increasing education spending and improved student performance, particularly when funding increases go toward teacher salaries.

In the last 16 years within the USA Teacher strikes have increased the salaries of teachers and other education staff comparable to custodians, bus drivers and administrative staff. Teachers have also highlighted the varieties of school quality concerns which might be top of mind for a lot of parents, comparable to: free school meals and set more Counselors, nurses and psychologists at schools.

The Role of Teachers in Upholding Democracy

Public school teachers are in a novel position to uphold democratic institutions – a For many scientists, that is the largest concern heading into this election. The teachers are deeply embedded within the local communities and organize repeatedly coordinate political efforts with other local nonprofits and grassroots groups. We consider that they’re certainly one of the few middle class groups that may still defend themselves against the growing power Large corporations, mega-donors and media corporations.

Neither Ohio Republican Sen. JD Vance nor Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz have the national standing of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. This gave the audience the chance to guage These two relatively unknown politicians will stand side by side for the primary time in a comparatively uncontrolled environment on October 1, 2024.

Much of the post-debate evaluation focused on the candidates' answers Questions about abortion and immigrationin addition to other controversial topics like those of Trump and Vance Refusal to acknowledge President Joe Biden's 2020 victory as legitimate.

But I wasn't listening rigorously what Vance and Walz said. Instead, I focused on her gestures, blinks, and smiles. That's because this has been the case for over twenty years I examined non-verbal behavior of political personalities.

My research has long focused on the Swiss Army Knife of facial behavior: the smile. A smile just isn’t just an indication of happiness. There are countless varieties of smiles, Each of those has its own social purpose.

At the core are Smiling is emotionally contagious – used as an indication to reassure others that we mean no harm and wish to cooperate.

The style of smile politicians are inclined to show can provide us insight into their personalities. Former President Ronald Reaganwhich as “Happy warrior“, had a smile that was extremely infectious and reassuring to each supporters and opponents.

However, smiling will also be used as a type of self-regulation. And they’ll signal dominance, self-confidence and contempt.

Walz tries to shake off his nervousness

Early on, it was obvious that Walz was under stress throughout the debate phase.

After shaking Vance's hand before the talk, Walz stood waiting after which flashed a so-called “sociable smile.” To do that, he needed to quickly pull the corners of his lips up before the smile disappeared. This style of smile is frequently under the person's control and is meant to point intent to cooperate.

Then Walz broke out right into a… Reward smilealong with his jaw relaxed, his teeth visible, and the muscles around his eyes tense. Such a smile during stressful moments could be used to alleviate negative emotions while reinforcing positive ones – and it seems that this type of self-regulation was Walz's goal.

Vance was pleased with himself

Although Vance was much less expressive than Walz, he appeared to flash a slight smile as he tried to get Walz to defend the small print of 2023 Minnesota Reproductive Freedom Defense Act. Among other things This law protects Out-of-state patients who travel to Minnesota to acquire an abortion are protected against criminal penalties and legal challenges.

Vance's smile appeared just because the audience went to business break. Maybe Vance was completely happy along with his behavior arose from an issue that stood in his way – and was just grateful to give you the option to maintain going.

Vance's lack of expressiveness throughout the debate might be seen as a stark contrast to Trump's larger-than-life personality. Maybe that was why Trump selected Vance as vp.

But while Vance presented a relaxed demeanor befitting his Ivy League law education, the very slight movements of his face gave little away — and will have left viewers uncomfortable connect with him emotionally as a possible leader.

Walz was caught in a lie

A reasonably interesting moment — especially for viewers used to public figures telling outright lies — wasn't actually a smile.

Walz blushed with embarrassment after entering into a situation Giddy about being in Hong Kong throughout the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. He tried to avoid the query, and as one among the moderators – Margaret Brennan – followed, Walz owned and said that he had “misspelled”..” Both Walz's indirect answer and the redness of his face showed his embarrassment.

For most individuals, the pooling of blood under the skin is an involuntary response to embarrassment. But it actually has the effect of creating them seem more trustworthy because blushes reliably refers to concern for others – and predicts attempts to enhance things through it. At the identical time, Walz's closed eyes and the knocking down of the corners of his lips while at the identical time pushing up his lower lip indicate a certain disappointment in himself.

Most Americans already know who they may vote for, and Few could change their minds through the talk performance of Vance and Walz. What could also be more vital is the candidates' nonverbal behavior and the resulting insights into how the 2 candidates might behave in office. Facial behavior typically – And smiles more specifically – Provide insight into personality traits and body movements typically is related to charisma.

Regardless of who wins, it is sensible to listen not only to what the candidates say, but in addition to how they smile, sneer, and scowl.

Since Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris selected Tim Walz As her candidate to run in August 2024, political commentators have offered different interpretations of Walz – he’s pragmatic or progressivecentrist or radicala grassroots leftist or a mainstream Democrat?

Walz could have a possibility to talk on to voters and possibly explain who he’s and what he stands for when he debates Republican candidate JD Vance on Oct. 1, 2024.

I’m a Scholar of populist politics in North America, and I understand why it's difficult to define where Walz suits into the Democratic Party.

On the one hand, Walz is a shock to the Democratic Party, which regularly supports elite, moderate politicians from each coasts of the country. Walz is a former public school teacher who graduated from a public college in Nebraska — and he's not afraid to embrace the nickname “A.” “progressive” which some Democrats reject to avoid false comparisons with socialists.

As Walz said in a fundraising appeal for Harris in August 2024: “Never shy away from our progressive values. One man’s socialism is another man’s neighborhood.”

Still, Walz differs from many other progressives within the Democratic Party. He is a gun owner and hunter – and was one in every of them “Best recordings in the congress” when he represented Minnesota in Washington, as people will remember. He uses sports metaphors to convey his messages, Democrats gather for instance, behind a “fourth quarter” comeback within the election.

But these seeming contradictions make sense if you consider that Walz follows a wealthy lineage of Midwestern progressive politics that begins with the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Partya state branch of the Democratic Party that maintains the traditions and values ​​of populist farmer politics within the American Midwest.

Farmer-Labor's roots within the Midwest

The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party is one in every of the primary major recognized political parties within the state. It began greater than 100 years ago as a type of populist protest against the harm that industrialization and urbanization inflicted on rural farmers on the turn of the twentieth century.

In the late nineteenth century, political movements similar to the Grangers and the Peasant alliances organized to attract attention to falling crop prices, rising railway fees for transporting crops and the monopolization of the agricultural industry.

In Minnesota, these farmer protest groups joined with American unions to construct a 3rd alternative to the Democrats and Republicans. This recent group referred to as the Farmers-Workers PartyFounded in 1918 to represent the interests of the agricultural population. The Farmer-Labor Party called on state officials to legalize union protections and offer subsidies to farmers, and unsuccessfully tried to bring private utilities and extractive industries under state control.

The Farmer-Labor Party was ideologically diverse – sometimes flawed – and united a variety of activists, even socialists, with the common goal of protecting working people. In 1936, the Farmer-Labor Party dynamic caught the eye of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and have become one Key member his New Deal coalition.

For a lot of the Twenties and Nineteen Thirties, Farmer-Labor challenged the Democratic Party with its more progressive ideas. However, under the leadership of former Vice President Hubert Humphrey, the party merged with the more moderate Minnesota Democratic Party in 1944 to form the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Over the following few many years, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party pushed for pragmatic and progressive policies inside the state Democratic Party. The movement's grassroots message focuses on protecting the country's rural backbone.

Influential politicians from Minnesota – including US Senator. Paul Wellstonewho advocated for environmental protection and picketed with Midwestern staff before his death in 2002 — was a member of the party.

The ideas behind farmer laborism

Today, the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party shares a lot of its platforms and policy positions with the national Democratic Party.

But Farmer-Labor's politics are characterised by the party's adoption of a Midwestern working-class identity and its opposition to monopolies, business elites and corrupt governments.

Among other political parties within the Midwest, similar to the Libertarian Party of Minnesota, Farmer-Labor is one of the progressive and successful. The party helped get through recent progressive lawssimilar to a public medical insurance plan and a general free school lunch policy.

Walz's predecessors within the farmer-labor movement also successfully spoke out against economic and political injustices from a position inside the working class and agrarian communities. Like walz, this movement took a populist stance against political and economic elites.

This Farmer-Labour tradition is in some ways a counterpart to the conservative populism that’s popular today. Unlike Trump's appeal to Middle America, this Minnesota-variety populism was not an attempt to save lots of white Christian masculinity. Instead, it was an actual recognition that working people—particularly those in Central America—needed to actively resist economic inequality and forces that threatened the center class.

The forgotten meaning of farmer-laboratory

It's still difficult for some people to position Walz and the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party inside the national Democratic Party.

This is partly since the Democratic Party has marginalized rural and working-class voters in recent many years. In 2016, the Democratic Party made the Strategic mistake There wasn't enough deal with the Midwest – and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton lost the Electoral College in key Midwestern states, including Wisconsin and Michigan.

President Joe Biden regained the support of some voters within the Midwest and won Michigan and Wisconsin in 2020.

In the 2024 election, the Democratic Party presents voters with Walz who can speak concerning the American dream from a well-recognized perspective. Walz embraces unions beyond lip service, chastises corporate greed and doesn't shrink back from rural voters, even in the event that they have cultural differences.

American voters said in September that they see it Walz is barely cheaper than Republican candidate JD Vancealthough they are saying they don't know either candidate well. The debate is meant to present voters a possibility to learn more about Minnesota's popular governor.

Conservatives, meanwhile, have tried to portray Walz as someone who… progressive political challenge the culture of rural American life. I’d argue that the reality is much from that. Instead, Walz, just like the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and a few of the rural activists it has produced, seeks to decouple small-town politics from the politics of fear and cultural isolation.

When Minnesota Governor Tim Walz first heard about it, Geographical information systemsor GIS, as a highschool geography teacher within the Nineties, he didn’t need much convincing of the usefulness of this solution.

“I said to my colleagues, ‘This will change the world,'” Walz said called back during a conference for professionals who use spatial data technologies similar to GIS and GPS in July 2024, just weeks before Vice President Kamala Harris elected him as her vice chairman within the presidential elections in November 2024.

As professors of geoinformation technology and maritime studies on the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, we will attest that GIS has indeed modified the world. We have witnessed firsthand its growing importance in quite a few sectors and expect this trend to proceed.

Started within the classroom

Before Walz entered politics, he taught geography – initially allianceNebraska, and later at West-Gymnasium in Mankato, Minnesota – where he was an early adopter of GIS. The technology allows users to visualise, analyze and interpret data using maps.

After visiting a National Geographic Summer InstituteWalz introduced his students to GIS and taught them tips on how to use the tool to link geographic data to historical events similar to the Holocaust during World War II. By overlaying multiple layers of knowledge—similar to environmental aspects similar to droughts and geopolitical issues similar to occupation and colonialism—they were capable of discover potential sites for future genocides.

Specifically, Walz led his students at Alliance High School in an exercise wherein they accurately predicted The Genocide in Rwanda 1994.

This experience had a profound impact on the scholars, which led many to affix non-governmental organizations and work to make a difference on a world level.

Government use

Even as governor of Minnesota, Walz continued to depend on GIS.

“As governor, it’s really important for me to use my knowledge of mapping to communicate complex issues and bring about change among people,” Walz said on the geospatial conference.

Walz is way from the one American governor using GIS's data-driven insights to tackle complex challenges.

Across the United States, GIS has turn out to be an indispensable tool for state governments. In California, for instance, former Governor Schwarzenegger promoted using GIS as a choice support tool to Fighting forest fires And Improving disaster preparednessIn Massachusetts, former Governor Charlie Baker invested in GIS infrastructure and used this technology to Opioid crisis and expand High-speed Internet access to rural areas. These examples are only a small glimpse of how GIS is getting used in states across the country to enhance public safety, resource management, and infrastructure planning.

But what exactly is GIS? And what impact could Walz's experience with GIS have on a Harris-Walz administration if the duo wins the November 5 presidential election?

A strong evaluation tool

At its core, GIS is a vital a part of geoinformation technology. It includes tools and techniques for collecting, analyzing and managing Geographical data. The data is then displayed as maps.

Given Walz's geographic background, it's no surprise that as governor he used his knowledge to handle a few of Minnesota's most pressing challenges. This was especially evident through the COVID-19 pandemic. GIS played a critical role within the Minnesota Department of Health's collaboration with other national bodiesThis collaboration resulted in several Public Dashboards These provided essential metrics similar to case numbers, hospital capacities and stocks of critical supplies.

GIS also played a key role in enabling more efficient Distribution of faculty meals and the preservation of critical wetlandsWalz also used it to expand fast web in rural areas and Replace lead pipes.

Why geography is vital

Political decisions are sometimes shaped not only by the various opinions and ambitions inside a government. They are also influenced by the geographical perspectives that politicians bring to the table.

The importance of GIS isn’t limited to policy, but extends to addressing a few of the most complex challenges we face today, particularly in resource management. Consider, for instance, the oceans, where unclear jurisdictional boundaries, climate change and the vulnerability of coastal communities all pose significant challenges. In this context, GIS and maps are critical. They help us discover threats to people and their Livelihood.

From our Experience working in marine environmentsnow we have seen how GIS Promote transparency and construct trust between organizations, government officials and community leaders.

GIS may also help officials evaluate and prioritize public policies. For example, when Minnesota implemented a Tax credit program for families with children under 18 — especially for many who are too poor to File taxes — Legislators used GIS to Identify communities with low tax rates.

Minnesota also offers extensive Cards on the topics of climate, jobs, employees and the economy.

Future use

With the upcoming US elections in the autumn, the brand new presidency faces major challenges, similar to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, combating poverty and resolving global conflicts.

As world affairs turn out to be increasingly complex, combining GIS with advanced technologies similar to artificial intelligence and large data is becoming essential for planning and decision-making. The challenge now’s to scale this approach at national and international levels, paving the way in which for a better-informed world.

Local news

Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance spoke on the Congress of the International Association of Firefighters in Boston on Thursday, a day after Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz spoke at the identical event.

Both candidates are vying for the support of one among the biggest unions, which represents nearly 350,000 employees.

An IAFF spokesperson told Boston.com that each campaigns had contacted the union about speaking on the event, but they didn’t provide an actual timeline for when each candidate would accomplish that.

After being introduced by Republican Rep. Carlos Giménez of Florida, Vance was greeted with a mixture of boos and cheers as he took the stage.

“Sounds like we have some fans and some haters,” he said. “That's okay.”

Vance began his speech by talking about his mother, who he said struggled with addiction.

“Believe me, believe a child who saw it with his own eyes,” Vance said. “Without some of the people sitting in this room, we probably wouldn't have a second chance with my mother.”

Vance said he was “proud” to be a “populist” and called former President Donald Trump a “different kind of Republican.”

“Our enemies and many Democrats call us populists as if it's an insult,” Vance said. “If being a populist means being on the side of working people and not the powerful elites who have hollowed out our middle class and pushed us into stupid foreign wars, then I'm in.”

The Senator from Ohio asked the union, the supported Joe Biden for president in 2020, but has not yet announced support for that race to think about supporting the Republicans this time.

“For decades, unions have supported Democratic candidates without paying much attention to Republicans,” Vance said. “What good has it done for you in this union to support Democrats for so long?”

The IAFF spokesperson told Boston.com that there isn’t a set timeline for a possible advice.

Vance acknowledged the union's “diverse” political beliefs and thanked his firefighter friend from Dayton, Ohio, for changing his mind about Trump.

“Some of you love President Trump, some of you obviously don’t,” he said.[Trump] modified my mind and he won my vote, and for the skeptics on the market, I hope he modified your mind too.”

On Wednesday, Walz was also conscious of the bipartisan demographics of his audience and made an appeal to the Republicans and undecided candidates in the room.

“When Republicans used to speak about freedom, they meant it – but not anymore,” Walz said. “These guys over there want the federal government to have the liberty to invade every corner of our lives, from our union halls to our kids's schools to our doctor's offices.”

But Vance said Trump “cares about the working people.”

“Many Democrats need to attack Republicans as anti-union, and sometimes that's true, but not me and never Donald Trump,” he said.

In his speech, Walz attacked Vance and Trump for their attitude toward workers and Project 2025.

“The only thing these guys find out about working people is how you can exploit them,” Walz said. “Project 2025 is a plan to reshape what America looks like by turning away from the center class and putting it back within the hands of the oligarchs and the wealthy at the highest.”

Vance asked for the union's support and endorsement.

“I would like your support,” Vance said. “We will fight for you whether we get it or not.”

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