In this episode, we examine the intersection of politics and social justice in public education, exploring how shifting policy and fractured representation deepen inequities across Houston ISD with educator and Houston Education Association president Michelle Williams. We unpack how withdrawn federal oversight, stalled DOE responses, and mid-decade redistricting have intensified the disenfranchisement of English language learners, special education students, and African American students. As congressional protections fade and state leaders pull back support, educators and communities are left to navigate a system that no longer serves its most vulnerable. This episode takes a focused look at these barriers and underscores why reading between the lines of political action—and staying civically engaged—is essential to protecting public education.