This week, we interviewed two people with leading roles in the rapidly escalating conflict between the Trump administration and American higher education.
Today, we speak with Christopher Rufo, who led the conservative critique of, and assault on, critical race theory and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Mr. Rufo’s vision and campaigning have helped ... Show More
Jul 29
Israel, AIPAC and Difficult Questions for Democrats
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel lobbying group known as AIPAC, has spent a record amount of money in this year’s midterm elections to either oust or support candidates based on their support of Israel. Jonathan Mahler, a writer for The New York Times Ma ... Show More
39m 30s
Jul 28
The Iranians Who Want More War
Fractures in Tehran are pitting a faction favoring negotiation with Washington against hard-liners who oppose making a deal with the United States. Guest: Abdi Latif Dahir, a Middle East correspondent for The New York Times, covering Lebanon and Syria. Farnaz Fassihi, the United ... Show More
29m 18s
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
Sep 2025
The Grand Strategy Behind Trump’s Crackdown on Academia
<p>What is wrong with higher education in America? According to many on the right, a lot. This week, Ross Douthat talks to May Mailman, the lawyer behind President Trump’s battles with Harvard and Columbia, about the administration’s assault on the Ivy League and why “a glorifica ... Show More
59m 1s
Jul 2023
Meet the Man Driving the Right’s Culture War Panic
The Republican Party’s full embrace of the culture war as a political tactic — from drag queen story hour to critical race theory and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives — has been chiefly guided by activist and polemicist Christopher Rufo, author of the new book “Americ ... Show More
45m 30s