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Mar 2025
18m 14s

Trump's College Crackdown

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL & GIMLET
About this episode

Columbia University gave in to President Trump’s demands after he revoked roughly $400 million in federal funding. WSJ’s Douglas Belkin explains how the university made its decision, and the impact that may have on campuses across the country.


Further Reading: 

- Universities Sprint from ‘We Will Not Cower’ to Appeasing Trump 

- Columbia Yields to Trump in Battle Over Federal Funding 


Further Listening: 

- Pro-Palestinian Protests and Arrests at U.S. Colleges  

- The 2024 College Financial Aid Mess 


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