logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
25m 11s

Why Trump’s university crackdown is driv...

Al Jazeera
About this episode

With academics leaving the US, funding cuts looming over universities for alleged failures to combat antisemitism, and foreign students facing deportation for pro-Palestinian activism, the Trump administration’s policies are being felt at colleges across the United States. What’s behind the fixation on universities and what will be its long term impact on higher education in the US?

In this episode: 

  • Marci Shore (@marci_shore), Professor of History, Yale University

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat and Tamara Khandaker with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Marcos Bartolome, Chloe K. Li, Kisaa Zehra, Remas AlHawari, Melanie Marich and our guest host Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Up next
Sep 27
Brief: Trump rejects Iran's proposal, why doesn't Gaza have wheelchairs?
This week: 361 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 1,402 Palestinians in Gaza. Donald Trump rejected an offer from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Israel continues to block aid from entering Gaza. Israel is carrying out sectarian cleansing in southern Lebanon. ... Show More
6m 4s
Sep 20
Brief: Iran's conditions for peace with US, what is in new US weapons shipment for Israel?
This week: 354 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 1,390 Palestinians in Gaza. Iran conveyed its conditions for a ceasefire to the US. Further escalation is likely between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi movement. The US has reportedly approved more weapons transfer ... Show More
5m 56s
Sep 13
Brief: Israel kills family in Gaza, why did Houthis launch offensive?
This week: 347 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 1,369 Palestinians in Gaza. Yemen's Houthi movement gained significant ground. Israel continued to violate the ceasefire in Gaza. School began in the occupied West Bank. Israel has killed at least 73,783 Palestinian ... Show More
5m 28s
Recommended Episodes
May 2025
Why is Donald Trump cracking down on international students?
Donald Trump's administration said it will revoke the visas of Chinese students studying at US universities. US embassies have also been instructed to pause new interviews. So, how much of this is politics? And what fallout could US universities suffer? In this episode: Clay Harm ... Show More
23m 42s
Sep 2025
Casualties of Trump’s War on Higher Ed
President Trump has a long list of grievances against many U.S. colleges and universities. He’s complained about antisemitism on campuses, of gender- and race-based course offerings, even communist indoctrination. To force change, the government has increasingly used the power of ... Show More
28m 38s
Mar 2025
Trump’s Escalating War With Higher Education
<p>In recent weeks, the Trump administration has put the American university system on notice.</p><p>It has pressed for changes, opened investigations — and in some cases withheld critical funds.</p><p>Alan Blinder, who covers education in America, explains how schools are respon ... Show More
27m 50s
Mar 2025
Trump vs the Universities
The Trump administration says at least 60 schools have violated Title VI for allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. Critics see this effort as a way for the White House to clamp down on freedom of speech, and to punish left-leaning institutions. On this weekend episode, our ... Show More
20m 6s
May 2025
Swamp Notes: Trump takes on higher ed
Description: US President Donald Trump is in an ongoing standoff with America’s top universities. Harvard lost $2.3bn in federal funding after it refused to comply with the administration’s demands on admissions and diversity, equity and inclusion. Columbia complied with a simila ... Show More
20m 35s
Dec 2023
Anti-Semitism and academic freedom: what’s happening on US college campuses?
The viral clip of Harvard President Dr. Claudine Gay - unable to condemn those on campus calling for genocide - has kicked off a wider debate about academic freedom and double standards. The president of University of Pennsylvania - who offered similar responses - has now resigne ... Show More
32m 16s
Aug 2025
What It’s Like To Have Trump Hold Your Science Research Hostage
The Trump administration’s crackdown on universities across the country for alleged antisemitism has made its way from the East Coast to the West Coast. Earlier this month, the administration demanded the University of California Los Angeles pay $1-billion to the federal governme ... Show More
21m 48s