This week on the podcast: State and local school leaders scramble to prepare for a new school year. But COVID-19 could throw plenty of wrenches in the works.

Meantime, Gov. John Bel Edwards hosts a who’s who of White House officials and Republican leaders, including Vice President Mike Pence, Dr. Deborah Birx and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. We hear more about the federal push to reopen schools, come hell or high water, with Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate columnist Stephanie Grace (be sure to read her latest column at NOLA.com).

And, a top researcher at Tulane talks about a new study of how schools have responded so far to the pandemic.

Behind The Lens is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play and Stitcher. And we broadcast the show on community radio stations 102.3 FM WHIV LP in Mid-City and 90.3 FM WAMF-LP in the Marigny.