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 glorification of victimhood” is changing the relationship between universities and the feder ... Show More
Jan 1
‘Making Sense With Sam Harris’ and Ross Douthat
This week we’re sharing an episode of ‘Making Sense With Sam Harris.’ The author and podcaster recently invited Ross on his show to discuss religion and politics. But they debated so much more: the existence of God, the mystery of the cosmos, the limits of consciousness, moral pr ... Show More
1h 47m
Dec 24
‘A Hard Time We Had of It’
Merry Christmas and happy holidays! This week Ross Douthat shares one of his favorite poems for the occasion, “The Journey of the Magi,” written by T.S. Eliot, to reflect on a year one might call “interesting.” See you next year! Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Appl ... Show More
4m 3s
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
Apr 2025
The University President Willing to Fight Trump
<p>This week, we interviewed two people with leading roles in the rapidly escalating conflict between the Trump administration and American higher education. </p><p>Today, we speak with the president of Princeton University, Christopher L. Eisgruber, about the institution’s path ... Show More
38m 49s
Apr 2025
The Conservative Activist Pushing Trump to Attack U.S. Colleges
<p>This week, we interviewed two people with leading roles in the rapidly escalating conflict between the Trump administration and American higher education.</p><p>Today, we speak with Christopher Rufo, who led the conservative critique of, and assault on, critical race theory an ... Show More
43m 49s
Jul 2025
Can college survive Trump?
American higher education is under attack. Project 2025 laid out the battle plan pretty clearly: Get rid of the Department of Education, shut off federal funding, take control of the accreditation system, and take down diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. And in the end, ch ... Show More
57m 42s
<p>Plus, why you’re wrong about your Zodiac sign.</p><p><strong>On Today’s Episode:</strong></p><p><a href="http://nytimes.com/2025/09/08/magazine/jeffrey-epstein-jp-morgan.html" target="_blank"><strong>How JPMorgan Enabled the Crimes of Jeffrey Epstein</strong></a>, <i>by David ... Show More
