# Multimedia 

Multimedia 

---

- [Podcasts](/podcasts)
- [Cato Video](/multimedia/cato-video)
- [Video Series](/search/category/video-series)
- [Events](/multimedia/events)

[ 

Download Episode 

](https://feeds.acast.com/public/streams/5e28e0d8963f166217546493/episodes/6977d3bd689e1e802629f7fe.mp3)Subscribe:

[ 

Apple Podcasts 

](http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/cato-daily-podcast/id158961219) [ 

Spotify 

](https://open.spotify.com/show/4dHRhKEljj8zcLdl3Gvsv7) 

Cato Podcast • January 27, 2026 

# History Makes Clear: School Choice Is Necessary in a Diverse Society 

Cato’s Neal McCluskey is joined by Cheryl Fields-Smith, Matthew Lee, and Ron Matus to discuss the new book [*Fighting for the Freedom*](https://www.cato.org/books/fighting-freedom-learn) *to Learn* and the centuries-long movement for school choice in America. They challenge the myth that school choice is a modern or partisan project, showing how diverse communities, religious groups, progressives, and parents have long sought pluralistic education options, which is the only way to deliver education consistent with a free and diverse society.

[![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) 
This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/). 

##### Featuring 

[![Neal McCluskey Cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2023-11/mccluskey-cropped.jpg?itok=I-QI0yJD)](/people/neal-mccluskey) 

##### [Neal McCluskey](/people/neal-mccluskey)

Former Director, Center for Educational Freedom, Cato Institute

##### Cheryl Fields-Smith 

University of Georgia

[ 

](https://twitter.com/drcherylfields) 

##### Matthew Lee 

Kennesaw State University

[ 

](https://x.com/hmatthewlee) 

##### Ron Matus 

Step Up for Students

[ 

](https://twitter.com/RonMatus1)