July 10, 2025

The Debrief - One on One w/ Sara Nelson

Show Notes

When corporate profits hit record highs but workers are still fighting for fair pay, safe conditions, and a seat at the table, something’s off.

In this premiere episode of The Debrief, a special series from Cuckoo 4 Politics, host Michael Desrosiers brings you one-on-one conversations and post-show commentary that go deeper than the main episode ever could. These are the follow-ups, the “after the mic” moments where the real talk continues and nothing’s left on the cutting room floor.

Michael sits down with Sara Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants, for a straight-talking conversation about the widening gap between booming business and the people behind it. Why are airline workers still battling for fair contracts in the wake of a post-pandemic surge? What happens when companies flood social media with curated half-truths? And how do you keep people united when the system is designed to wear them down?

Sara breaks down what’s in the tentative agreement and what’s not. She pulls back the curtain on the pressure to settle for less, the reality behind corporate messaging, and the danger of a labor movement losing momentum. Michael and Sara also zoom out to look at the bigger picture: outdated labor laws, the limits of collective power, and why organizing doesn’t stop at the bargaining table; it extends to ballots, policies, and public opinion.

This is a grounded, no-fluff look at where things stand, what’s at risk, and why staying loud still matters.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

01:40 Sara Nelson on Why She Never Backs Down

03:08 The Real Power of Worker Solidarity

06:06 What Mother Jones Got Right About Labor

08:12 The 4 D’s of Union-Busting

13:05 Clearing Up Misinformation About the Contract

15:06 Why Hotel Standards Matter in Union Negotiations

20:11 Protections Around Electronic Notifications

22:32 Can Labor Laws Actually Be Changed?

26:45 Why Healthcare Shouldn’t Be on the Bargaining Table