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
Today
The Bond Market Is Flipping Out. Here’s Why You Should Care.
For the past few months, you’ve probably been hearing about the turbulence in the bond market.Today, Ben Casselman, the chief economics correspondent for The New York Times, explains what has been happening, and why it matters.Guest: Ben Casselman, the chief economics corresponde ... Show More
28m 28s
Yesterday
The A.I. Researcher Whose Rebellion Is Changing Everything
In recent days, Jacob Coxon, a researcher at the artificial intelligence company Anthropic, quit his job and posted warnings about the risks of the technology. That kicked off a crisis that culminated in a call by prominent leaders of the industry to slow down A.I. development.He ... Show More
34m 13s
Sep 13
The Good, the Bad and the Good-Bad (Movie)
When it comes to movies we love, there are the artistic masterpieces and there are the foot-stomping crowd pleasers. But there’s another particular kind of beloved movie, the one that makes our friends groan, but that we rewatch incessantly; the one that we can quote line for lin ... Show More
37m 36s
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