Podcasts about Academic freedom

This week on CounterSpin: You may have seen videos of college commencement speakers telling students who've spent time and money learning how to read, write and think critically that that was dumb, cuz AI is going to be doing that from now on, so just get on the train or else—wait, why are you booing? That's far from the only disconnect between students and teachers who think higher education means engagement with a range of perspectives, and right-wing politicians and their administrative acolytes saying “not so fast.” We'll hear from Karma Chávez, professor at the University of Texas at Austin, at the center of this assault on academic freedoms. Also on the show: There is a US State Department memo that calls for “a line of action which, while as adroit and inconspicuous as possible, makes the greatest inroads in denying money and supplies to Cuba, to decrease monetary and real wages, to bring about hunger, desperation and overthrow of government.”Thing is: That memo is from 1960. So while Trump is making everything old, new—and ugly and violent—again, he isn't inventing it all. We try not to do media criticism by counterfactual, but consider: What if another country were cutting off resources to the US, in an explicit effort to cause us misery, in hopes that would make us overthrow our government? We'll talk about what sounds reasonable as long as it's about Cuba with Alex Main, director of international policy at the Center for Economic and Policy Research.   CounterSpin provides a critical examination of the each week's major news stories, and exposes what the mainstream media may have missed in their own coverage. Produced by the national media watch group FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting). The post CounterSpin – Karma Chávez on Academic Freedom, Alex Main on War on Cuba? appeared first on KPFA.

https://media.blubrry.com/counterspin/content.blubrry.com/counterspin/CounterSpin260522.mp3 Right-click here to download this episode (“Save link as…”). Texas Tribune (5/20/26) This week on CounterSpin: You may have seen videos of college commencement speakers telling students who've spent time and money learning how to read, write and think critically that that was dumb, cuz AI is going to be doing that from now on, so just get on the train or else—wait, why are you booing? That's far from the only disconnect between students and teachers who think higher education means engagement with a range of perspectives, and right-wing politicians and their administrative acolytes saying “not so fast.” We'll hear from Karma Chávez, professor at the University of Texas at Austin, at the center of this assault on academic freedoms. https://media.blubrry.com/counterspin/content.blubrry.com/counterspin/CounterSpin260522Chavez.mp3 CEPR (3/10/26) Also on the show: There is a US State Department memo that calls for “a line of action which, while as adroit and inconspicuous as possible, makes the greatest inroads in denying money and supplies to Cuba, to decrease monetary and real wages, to bring about hunger, desperation and overthrow of government.” Thing is: That memo is from 1960. So while Trump is making everything old, new—and ugly and violent—again, he isn't inventing it all. We try not to do media criticism by counterfactual, but consider: What if another country were cutting off resources to the US, in an explicit effort to cause us misery, in hopes that would make us overthrow our government? We'll talk about what sounds reasonable as long as it's about Cuba with Alex Main, director of international policy at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. https://media.blubrry.com/counterspin/content.blubrry.com/counterspin/CounterSpin260522Main.mp3

In our 40th episode of This F*cking Guy, Erin dives deep into the origins of anti-woke crusader turned CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. From her origins as an antagonizing student at Columbia University to a career of ill-researched op-eds and launching her own media company, to running CBS News and her relentless campaign to promote Zionism, this may be our most manipulative guy yet!For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.Meet the Renegades of the Intellectual Dark Web (NYT)Give 'em hell (X)Inside Bari Weiss's Hostile Takeover of CBS News (The New Yorker)Here is what the new apparent CBS News segment "Whiskey Fridays with Tony Dokoupil" may look like (Bluesky)Bari Weiss ‘Meddles' With ‘CBS Sunday Morning' Story on Palestine (Zeteo)Inside Bari Weiss' shaky, arms-length relationship with the president of CBS News as ratings hit all-time low (NY Post)‘CBS Evening News' Ratings Disaster: Tony Dokoupil Hits Rock Bottom (TV Insider)I'm Glad the Dyke March Banned Jewish Stars (NYT)Jewish marchers say they were kicked out of a rally for inclusiveness because of their beliefs (Washington Post)The Limits of ‘Believe All Women' (NYT)The Summer Bucket List of a 35-Year-Old Woman (NYT)Imagining Comey's Texts to His Wife (NYT)CBS News staffers rip ‘shallow' Bari Weiss for moderating ‘absurd' network town hall with Erika Kirk (Independent)We're All Fascists Now (NYT)The Free Press' Passage Into the Dark Side (The Unpopulist)Despite political differences, Jewish values unite Squirrel Hill couple (Jewish Chronicle)Columbia Unbecoming (2004) (YouTube)Sam Harris X Eric Weinstein: Israel-Palestine (The Portal)I Used to Hate Trump. Now I'm a MAGA Lefty. (The Free Press)Mad About Bari Weiss: The New York Times Provocateur the Left Loves to Hate (Hive)Ad Hoc Grievance Committee Report (Brooklyn College)Procedures Clarified and Enhanced Following Release of Ad Hoc Committee Report (Columbia Magazine)Bari Weiss Has Thrown the CBS News Killswitch (TNR)Megan Greenwell Tweet (X)Bari Weiss Tweet (X)Bari Weiss's Unasked Questions (Jewish Currents)Three Cheers for Cultural Appropriation (NYT)Tim Dillon mocks Bari Weiss for interviewing Mossad boss (Reddit)Bari Weiss Suuuuuuucks (SF Gate)The merit-first fantasy of Bari Weiss' “anti woke” university https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/the-merit-first-fantasy-of-bari-weiss-anti-woke-university The “Merit-First” Fantasy of Bari Weiss' Anti-Woke University (Current Affairs)The Petition (The New Yorker)Columbia's Own Middle East War (New York Magazine)NYT's Bari Weiss Falsely Denies Her Years of Attacks on the Academic Freedom of Arab Scholars Who Criticize Israel (The Intercept)Unbecoming Returns', Spurs Continued Debate (Campus Watch)AZM: Israel in the Write Light - Bari Weiss (YouTube)

Syngenta's tactics to suppress science and harass researchers show how corporate power manipulates public understanding and regulatory policy. #CorporateCorruption #PesticideLobby #ScientificFreedom #HealthTalks

Bongani Bingwa speaks to Phethiwe Matutu about growing concerns over governance instability and leadership crises at South African universities. The discussion explores allegations of political interference, procurement battles, weakened accountability and institutional capture on campuses, as well as the broader impact on students, academic freedom, research and public trust in higher education institutions. 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio7See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Universities now serve industry over public good, allowing corporate sponsors to own data, ghostwrite studies, and influence journal publications. #AcademicCorruption #MedicalJournals #Transparency

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Queer Raiders and others hold a fake “funeral” for “academic freedom” at Texas Tech because they are so queered-up they don't realize that they are simply reminding the public of how, even at Texas Tech, so-called academic freedom has strayed from scientific Truth. Wake For The Woke: Texas Tech Funeral For Gender Programs Texas Tech students plan on-campus funeral for academic freedom Texas Tech's targeted grad research warnings draw concern – this story is quite ridiculous as it tries to claim doing the action correctly with the most personalization is somehow terrible. Dr. Steven Balch well explained on yesterday's show what academic freedom was defined as by the AAUP – it isn't anything like what today's perverts and Leftists claim it to be.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Local sales tax receipt numbers released, it's up 7.7 percent of same period last year. Look up your city here.Attorney General Paxton investigating several school districts over compliance with SB10 & SB11. Lubbock ISD, Abilene ISD, Wichita Falls ISD, and many more are on the list.Two Muslim related stories: One is correct action by the state for breaking the law, the other is not and yet it is being praised by many of short sight.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Steven Balch, Ph.D. may be America's original D.E.I. on campus fighter!  Today we talk about this term “academic freedom” that so many on campus are throwing about, claiming such is under attack by new laws in Texas and elsewhere.Two, of many, recent stories I had in the stack are the background for the interview: Former Texas Tech professors criticize course content changes, cite academic freedom concerns Left-Wing Faculty Association Threatens To File Complaints with TAMU, Texas Tech Accreditor Dr. Balch is an American conservative scholar and higher education reformer. He was the founding president of the National Association of Scholars from 1987 to 2009. Balch received a bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, from Brooklyn College, City University of New York, in 1964. He received his master's degree (1967) and Ph.D. (1972) in political science from the University of California in Berkeley. It was during the Berkeley riots that he became a conservative and he is now a Republican. Dr. Balch was awarded the National Humanities Medal from President George W. Bush at the White House on November 15, 2007. The award cited him “for leadership and advocacy upholding the noblest traditions in higher education,” and went on to say that “his work on behalf of reasoned scholarship in a free society has made him a leading champion of excellence and reform at our nation's universities.”Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

Like many universities nationwide, the University of Washington is facing threats to federal funding, which they rely on for fundamental research and development. The erosion of federal support means universities like UW are facing decisions on how to survive and move forward, especially as today's social and political climate becomes more divisive. UC Davis law professor Brian Soucek explores this pivotal moment in his book, The Opinionated University: Academic Freedom, Diversity, and the Myth of Neutrality in American Higher Education. One could argue that universities must remain neutral in society's contentious issues in order to uphold the neutrality of truth and knowledge. But can a university ever truly be neutral in today's social and political climate? Soucek argues that this promise is doomed to fail—universities can't help being opinionated, and neutrality is an unattainable myth. Soucek takes a deep dive into several prominent campus controversies, including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts and restrictions on campus speech and protest. Each issue forces universities to choose a side in what they do and say. Soucek argues that those pushing for neutrality are only preventing universities from standing up for their long-held values, whether in today's current moment of crisis or in periods of political calm. Drawing from his conclusions in The Opinionated University, Soucek calls on universities like University of Washington to forget neutrality as a governing principle and focus instead on what their mission should be—and who should determine it. Their very existence may depend on it. Brian Soucek is a Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law at the University of California, Davis. A scholar of free speech and equality law, Soucek has shaped national policy on academic freedom, nondiscrimination, and campus speech through his work with the American Association of University Professors' "Committee A" on Academic Freedom and Tenure and the University of California's Academic Senate. Buy the Book The Opinionated University: Academic Freedom, Diversity, and the Myth of Neutrality in American Higher Education Third Place Books

 Could new federal rules change how colleges are judged and funded? Proposed updates to accreditation could shift who decides if schools qualify for federal aid and how their performance is measured, potentially giving the government more influence. Critics warn this could impact academic freedom and independence, while supporters argue it may improve accountability (Source: Inside Higher Ed). 

Der Academic Freedom Index wird einmal im Jahr erhoben, ein Ranking, das uns sagt, wie es auf der Welt um die Wissenschaftsfreiheit bestellt ist.

Former longtime Columbia University president Lee Bollinger discusses his book "University: A Reckoning," about the purpose and future of universities in the United States. He also talks about protests and free speech on college campuses and the targeting of Columbia, Harvard, and other institutions of higher learning by the Trump administration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Among the many controversial actions taken by North Carolina public university leaders since Republicans at the state legislature took control of the system and campus boards, few have provoked greater concern than a recent announcement that administrators at UNC Chapel Hill would begin secretly recording classroom lectures and discussions. In addition to their concerns about the basic and creepy Big Brother aspects of such a proposal, faculty members in Chapel Hill pushed back forcefully against the plan as an unwarranted move that would stifle learning and free discussion. Happily, the plan appears to have been scrapped, but that has not stopped efforts on the campus to restrict academic freedom, and recently, to learn more, Newline caught up with the interim vice president of the North Carolina Conference of the American Association of University Professors, Dr. Abigail Hatcher. Click here to listen to the full interview with Dr. Abigail Hatcher, the interim vice president of the North Carolina Conference of the American Association of University Professors.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with clinical psychologist Dr. Chloe Carmichael, author of “Can I Say That? Why Free Speech Matters and How to Use It Fearlessly.”

Free Speech, Cancel Culture, and the Mental Health Benefits of Speaking Up: Clinical psychologist Dr. Chloe Carmichael, author of “Can I Say That? Why Free Speech Matters and How to Use It Fearlessly,” frames free expression as a mental health and problem-solving issue amid rising polarization, self-censorship, and cancel culture. Carmichael says authentic speech deepens cognition, aids emotional regulation, and strengthens social support, while chronic suppression can lead to repression, denial, anxiety, depression, and resentment. She describes fear and professional risk after publicly opposing child masking during COVID and argues that labeling speech as “violence” distorts reality, though true threats and incitement differ from words. She distinguishes self-censorship from healthy restraint, offers the WAIT test (Want, Appropriate, Inoculate, Trust), and discusses groupthink, innovation, misinformation debates, time-place-manner limits, and examples from corporate and university settings.

Tenure is a defining feature of U.S. higher education, but these days the practice is in decline and under attack by critics. On this episode, Jeff and Michael talk with Jacques Berlinerblau, a Georgetown University professor who has written extensively about the tenure system, for an explainer on its colorful origins as well as a look at the dramatic changes that seem to be coming. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:50 - The Colorful History of Tenure 8:14 - A Distinctly American System 9:14 - How Tenure Works 13:26 - What Is the Legal Nature of Tenure? 14:46 - Which Types of Colleges Use Tenure? 16:19 - Is Tenure Different in Different Disciplines? 18:52 - How Difficult Is It For Colleges to Dismiss a Tenured Faculty Member? 20:40 - Can Tenured Departments Be Eliminated for Lack of Student Demand? 22:57 - Complaints Against the Tenure System 24:43 - A Turning Point in the 1990s 31:43 - A Renewed Campaign to Erode Tenure 34:31 - How Professors Are Partly to Blame for Tenure's Woes 37:33 - Will Only Elite Universities Keep Tenure? 38:49 - Are Younger Faculty As Excited About Tenure? 41:48 - What Can Professors Do in the Face of Tenure's Erosion? Relevant Links: “1915 Declaration of Principles on Academic Freedom and Academic Tenure,” and a history of the American Association of University Professors. “1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure,” from the American Association of University Professors. "Professors Lay Dying: Selecting a College Amidst an Educational Crisis," by Jacques Berlinerblau “They've Been Scheming to Cut Tenure for Years. It's Happening,” by Jacques Berlinerblau in The Chronicle of Higher Education. “Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines,” by David Pepper. “The War on Tenure,” by Deepa Das Acevedo Connect with Michael Horn: Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter Website LinkedIn X (Twitter) Threads   Connect with Jeff Selingo: Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You Sign Up for the Next Newsletter Website X (Twitter) Threads LinkedIn Connect with Future U: Twitter YouTube Threads Instagram Facebook LinkedIn   Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag! Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

In the latest episode of Elucidations, Greg Salmieri (University of Texas) joins us once again, this time to discuss freedom of speech.Free speech talk has been in the air, on the internet, for the past decade. But what exactly is going on with freedom of speech? Do I have the right to criticize my alderman's second term on my blog without getting thrown in jail? Do I have the right to publish cartoons that make fun of venerated religious figures without being physically attacked Do I have the right to tell my work colleagues who I voted for in the last election without getting fired? Do I have the right to express an opinion on whether R2-D2 or BB-8 is the superior Star Wars droid, without getting kicked out a group chat I have going with my friends? Which of these things is a right and which isn't? What even is a right?Our esteemed guest offers a few suggestions to help us navigate these questions. One core suggestion is that we should think of a right as something defining spheres of action: having the right to do something means that on such and such a question, deciding how to act and then acting that way is my purview, rather than anyone else's. It doesn't mean that every possible decision I make is the right one. I could have the right to make a given decision, even if the actual decision I end up making in that case ends up being morally wrong; that doesn't change the fact that it would also be morally wrong to block me from making it. For instance, even if I decide to regularly do drugs, knowing that it will turn into a harmful habit, that doesn't change the fact that I have the right to decide whether or not to get into drugs, and it also doesn't mean that it would be okay for others to prevent me from making that decision.This idea of a right as tied to spheres of action and decision making leads naturally to a distinction between the different examples on our original list. I do have the right to mock revered figures, or to express unfashionable political views, without being physically attacked or thrown in jail. However, there is no such thing as the right to say whatever you want to your friends in a group chat, without getting kicked out. Indeed, if there are any rights in the vicinity of that question, it's your friends who have the right to decide who they want to associate with and invite to their group chats. Why is that? The idea is that you aren't being physically forced away from a decision that's in your purview. If your friends don't want you in their group chat, it's their prerogative, and it would probably be best for you to find a group chat in which your hot takes on droids would be received more favorably.Salmieri then goes on to argue that similar reasoning applies to both social media platforms and workplaces. The overall view that emerges is that the right to free speech is central and important, but that in recent discourse, it has strangely been extended beyond its natural reach.I found this to be an illuminating conversation that had a big impact on how I think about freedom of speech. I hope you enjoy it.Matt Teichman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Peace Matters explores the underlying causes of today's crisis of political trust. Drawing on recent events, the discussion centers on the meaning of trust in democracy at a time when confidence in institutions is declining globally. The episode examines whether democracy can persist without widespread trust or if increasing skepticism toward political leaders may actually drive necessary change. The origins and scope of political disillusionment in 2026 are analyzed, alongside comparisons to previous periods of democratic strain. The episode also addresses the pressing question of whether democracies can adapt as digital transformation and artificial intelligence disrupt established norms, all while maintaining freedom and accountability. Is democracy unraveling, or is this simply another phase in its ongoing evolution? Guest: Tamara Kamatović is a Lecturer at the Yehuda Elkana Center for Teaching, Learning, and Higher Education Research, where she designs and teaches courses and facilitates workshops for doctoral students and faculty at CEU and partner institutions. Her work focuses on democratic and inclusive teaching, research-enriched teaching, technology-enhanced learning, and the history of education.She received her PhD from the University of Chicago, where she researched at the intersection of literature, history, and philosophy. Her current research investigates the relationship between democratic backsliding, technological solutionism, and teaching practice. She is the coeditor of a series on Democratic Universities and Academic Freedom.Accompanied by:Gjergj Loka, Project Assistant at the IIPThe episode was recorded on 27 February 2026.

Presidential Task Force on Institutional Voice Draft Report  October 2025 Update  Please provide feedback on the report  Members of our community —  whether students, staff, faculty, or alumni — feel deeply about many local, national, and world events, but does that mean that a university should opine on such weighty matters? Or should the university sit back and allow the individual voices of the community rise to the surface? Can it do both? And when the university does speak, who speaks for the university? What principles should govern this decision of when and how often to speak?  Last year, Cornell University created the Presidential Task Force on Institutional Voice to examine these questions and issue recommendations to the community. A draft report was released to the Cornell community during the fall semester outlining principles and providing suggestions to guide how the president, provost, deans, academic departments, and others should approach this issue. The Task Force was co-chaired by Cornell Law School Dean Jens David Ohlin and Deputy Provost Avery August. In this Keynote, Dean Ohlin and the Professor Nelson Tebbe will discuss the Task Force's findings. What You'll Learn: How Cornell University is studying the issue of institutional voice The principles and guidelines recommended by Cornell's Presidential Task Force on Institutional Voice The various approaches that other universities have taken on this issue Follow eCornell on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X.

Academic freedom in the U.S. is increasingly under attack. In this episode, Kent Kaufman joins us to discuss the legal and contractual origins of, current threats to, and the social benefits resulting from maintaining academic freedom. Kent is an Associate Professor of Business Law and MBA Programs Faculty Liaison in the Department of Economics and Finance at Purdue University. He is also the author of Navigating Choppy Waters: Key Legal Issues College Faculty Need to Know. A transcript of this episode and show notes may be found at http://teaforteaching.com.

On Thursday's show: Last week, the dean of the University of Houston's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences asked faculty he oversees to sign a document attesting they are not "indoctrinating" their students but are instead teaching them to think critically. One of those professors, Robert Zaretzky, responded with an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle saying he will not sign the document. He joins us to explain why.Also this hour: Houston's diversity shows up everywhere, including in foster care. We discuss how families navigate caregiving of children from different cultural backgrounds.Then, we visit this year's ongoing Mardi Gras celebrations in Galveston to learn how they're different from what happens in New Orleans.And, ahead of the Chinese New Year, which begins Feb. 17, we learn more about Chinese Americans' cultural and economic impacts here in Houston. And we talk about some of the Chinese constellations in the night sky with an area astronomer.Watch

For close to 90 years, most American universities and their faculty members have operated under a popular, useful and commonly understood definition of academic freedom – that is the notion that a free search for the truth and its exposition (one not beholden to politicians or the whims of public opinion) is at the heart of higher education's mission. Indeed, throughout this period, a national organization known as the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has made championing such a definition its guiding mission. However, in recent years, conservative partisans have been leading a relentless campaign to undermine academic freedom and, in recent months, that effort has given rise to a new initiative at the UNC System Board of Governors. And recently to learn more, Newsline caught up with an AAUP leader here in North Carolina – UNC Charlotte Associate Professor of Social Work, Anneliese Mennicke. Click here for the full interview with UNC Charlotte Associate Professor Anneliese Mennicke.

Monday Madness!   Chris Nanos at the U of A basketball game. We have thoughts.   Doug Ducey hits back at Regina Romero with....facts.  How many US females are on anti-depressants?   Academic Freedom advocate Jenny Clark talks ESAs and the new proposition collecting signatures from the teachers unions in AZ. Brother Joe in the 3rd hour:  where politics meets your portfolio! Only on the Live the Dream Media Network!

As the Trump administration wages an unprecedented attack on higher education, professors are organizing to defend academic freedom and fight authoritarianism.

Can a university ever truly be neutral in today's social and political climate? Pushing against the tide of universities increasingly pledging to stay neutral about contentious issues, law professor Brian Soucek argues that their promises are doomed to fail—universities can't help being opinionated.  Soucek says that neutrality is a myth, and he takes a deep dive into several prominent campus controversies of the day, including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts and restrictions on campus speech and protest. Each issue requires universities to choose a side in what they do, if not also in what they say. In everything from curricular and admissions decisions to their response to outside rankings and their evaluation of faculty, universities express the values at the heart of their mission. Soucek argues that those pushing for neutrality are only preventing universities from standing up for their values, whether in today's current moment of crisis or in periods of political calm.  Join us to discuss Soucek's timely and deeply engaging call for universities to dispense with neutrality as a governing principle and to focus instead on what their mission should be, and who should determine it. A Humanities Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. In association with the American Constitution Society. OrganizerGeorge Hammond  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is a bit more different then our last ones, we get to travel a bit in time. Back in April, we hosted a live conversation on academic freedom, what it means, why it's under attack, and how scholars navigate increasing political and institutional pressures. Revisiting it today reveals just how much the landscape has continued to deteriorate. With Alina Dragolea as host and contributions from Andrea Pető, Dina Gusejnova, Bernard Kleeberg, and Nadiya Kiss, we present here the Q&A section of the panel. Drawing on experiences from the US, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Russia, and beyond, the conversation explores how neoliberal governance, authoritarian politics, and market-driven university reforms erode critical knowledge, solidarity, and the public role of higher education. The discussion addresses self-censorship, resistance strategies, gender studies under attack, and the unequal burdens placed on students and academics.Produced as part of Protecting Academia at Risk project, with support from the Gerda Henkel Foundation.

On this episode of CounterPunch Radio, Erik Wallenberg and Joshua Frank welcome Ellen Schrecker to discuss the legacy of McCarthyism and the current right-wing attack on academic freedom in the U.S., and why the situation is even worse today than it was in the 1950s. Ellen Schrecker is an American historian and author who has written extensively about McCarthyism and American higher education. She is the author of many books, including The Lost Promise: American Universities in the 1960s, published by the University of Chicago Press, which provides the first comprehensive analysis of American higher education's most turbulent decade. She holds a Ph.D. from Harvard, taught there and at NYU and Princeton, and later joined Yeshiva University, from which she retired as a full professor. Head over and grab some books from the best shop, Pilsen Community Books. The post Resisting Attacks on Academic Freedom / Ellen Schrecker appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

When journalists are threatened, teachers punished, MAGA lies go unchecked, and the Pentagon dodges accountability, democracy doesn't slowly fade—it is actively dismantled.Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://politicsdoneright.com/newsletterPurchase our Books: As I See It: https://amzn.to/3XpvW5o How To Make AmericaUtopia: https://amzn.to/3VKVFnG It's Worth It: https://amzn.to/3VFByXP Lose Weight And BeFit Now: https://amzn.to/3xiQK3K Tribulations of anAfro-Latino Caribbean man: https://amzn.to/4c09rbE

Thank you Susan Jagoda, Jane B In NC

Today I have the immense honor and privilege to speak with Ellen Schrecker, who has been referred to as “the dean of the anti-anti-Communist historians.”  Well known for her classic studies of McCarthyism, today Schrecker explains how much worse Trump's regime is than what we saw in the 1950s and 60s.  A fierce defender of democracy, Ellen explains the central role education plays in creating a public culture and in maintaining democracy.  Our conversation takes many paths, including an indictment of Capitalism, of the dominance of economistic thinking and values, of the ways university leaders are bending a knee to Trump.  We talk about the value of the humanities, the importance of autonomous forms of education and mutual support such as we saw in the pro-Palestinian encampments, and one of the most remarkable differences between the days of McCarthyism—the phenomenon of mass protests like #NoKingsDay. I know you will treasure this conversation as much as I do.Ellen Schrecker is an American historian known for her research on McCarthyism, political repression, and American higher education. Among her books are The Right to Learn: Resisting the Right-Wing War on Academic Freedom (2024) edited with Valerie C. Johnson and Jennifer Ruth, (2024) winner 2025 Frederick Ness Book Award. American Association of Colleges and Universities; The Lost Promise: American Universities in the 1960s (2021); Many Are the Crimes: McCarthyism in America (1998); and No Ivory Tower: McCarthyism and the Universities (1986). A retired history professor from Yeshiva University, she is active in the American Association of University Professors and now serves on its Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure. 

In this episode of Passing Judgment, Jessica Levinson unpacks a significant federal court decision blocking the Trump administration from withholding or conditioning federal funds to UCLA in exchange for major campus policy changes. The discussion covers the court's reasoning under the Administrative Procedures Act, the First and 10th Amendments, and why the judge deemed the administration's actions coercive. Join us for a breakdown of this breaking legal news and its broader implications for university autonomy.Here are three key takeaways from the episode:Federal Funding Leverage Challenged: A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Trump administration from freezing, terminating, or conditioning UC research funds—pointing out that the administration's approach may violate legal requirements, including the Administrative Procedures Act, the First Amendment, and the Tenth Amendment.Academic Freedom & Speech Protected: The court found that forcing changes to speech policies, DEI efforts, gender healthcare, protest rules, and admissions could unlawfully coerce universities and chill free speech, especially among public university faculty and students.States' Rights and Spending Clause Limits: The judge ruled that federal conditions on funding can't be so extreme they essentially take away states' ability to decide their own policies—a “gun to the head” tactic that threatens economic stability and state sovereignty.Follow Our Host: @LevinsonJessica

The Trump administration is asking universities to sign an agreement in exchange for preferential access to federal funding. On this week's On the Media, how the arrangement would radically alter the relationship between the government and higher education. Plus, how university leaders are navigating the fight over academic freedom.[00:00] Universities were not always so vulnerable to the whims of politics. The whole system of taxpayer-funded, university-led scientific research came about at the end of World War II, and was the brainchild of a man named Vannevar Bush. He felt the partnership of government and academics had to be equal in order to yield breakthroughs. Today, the Trump administration is proposing a new “compact” that would make the President the dominant partner. We speak with one of the authors of the Trump compact, May Mailman.  On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

On our 300th episode, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice talks about her return to Stanford after years in government and the impact she sees rapidly advancing technologies having on democracy and public policy. She says the future demands greater collaboration among industry, academia, and government to ensure promising fields like quantum computing and AI are used for the greatest good—in education, medicine, and the sciences. We are in a race that we must win, Rice tells host Russ Altman on this special episode of Stanford Engineering's The Future of Everything podcast.Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to thefutureofeverything@stanford.edu.Episode Reference Links:Stanford Profile: Condoleezza RiceConnect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionRuss Altman introduces guest Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State and a professor of political science and political economy at Stanford University.(00:04:08) Returning to StanfordWhy Condoleezza returned to academia after serving as Secretary of State.(00:04:50) Higher Education & Public TrustPotential factors impacting universities' connection to the broader public.(00:07:31) Why Research Still MattersThe importance of curiosity-driven, federally funded university research.(00:09:32) Hoover's Emerging Tech InitiativeAn outline of the Hoover Institution's Tech Initiative and its policies.(00:12:11) Uniting Scientists & PolicymakersHow engineers and researchers are engaging with policy and ethics.(00:13:41) The Race For InnovationEmerging themes and key enablers in the technology innovation race.(00:19:17) Industry in the LeadHow private companies are now the primary drivers of innovation.(00:22:02) Global Tech & National InterestsThe tension between globalized tech firms and U.S. policy interests(00:24:35) AI & EducationUsing AI as a tool to enhance teaching and critical thinking in students.(00:28:30) Students Driving PolicyThe contribution students are making to Hoover's tech policy work.(00:29:23) Future In a MinuteRapid-fire Q&A: hope, innovation, time, humanity, and alternate careers.(00:31:09) Conclusion Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Joined by Drs. Nathaniel Brown, Darius Green, and Frank Gorritz, the panel explores the implications of the civil rights complaint, boundaries of academic freedom, and whether CACREP standards are veering away from neutrality in counselor training. This conversation will challenge assumptions and invite deeper reflection on the future of counselor education. For more on our guests, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit https://concept.paloaltou.edu/resources/the-thoughtful-counselor-podcast  The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University's Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu  

I sit down with Norman to discuss Israel, the holocaust, and his upcoming book, GAZA'S GRAVEDIGGERS An Inquiry into Corruption in High Places. Buy his book, GAZA'S GRAVEDIGGERS An Inquiry into Corruption in High Places, here: https://orbooks.com/catalog/gazas-gravediggers/ Buy his book, I'll Burn That Bridge When I Get to It! Heretical Thoughts on Identity Politics, Cancel Culture, and Academic Freedom, here: https://bit.ly/47vk7xX Riverbend Ranch Get $20 off your first order with promo code CANDACE at http://www.Riverbendranch.com PreBorn! Donate securely by calling 855-601-2229 or by visiting https://preborn.org/candace PDS Debt You're 30 seconds away from being debt free with PDS Debt. Get your free assessment and find the best option for you at https://PDSDebt.com/CANDACE. Tax Network USA Call 800-958-1000 or visit http://TNUSA.com/CANDACE to talk to a real expert at Tax Network USA. Take the pressure off. Let Tax Network USA handle your tax issues. Field of Greens Visit http://fieldofgreens.com and use my code CANDACE for 20% off your order! Home Title Lock Go to https://hometitlelock.com/candace and use promo code CANDACE to get a FREE title history report and a FREE TRIAL of their Triple Lock Protection! For details visit https://hometitlelock.com/warranty Nimi Skincare Save 10% on your order with promo code CANDACE10 at http://www.NimiSkincare.com Candace Official Website: https://candaceowens.com Candace Merch: https://shop.candaceowens.com Candace on Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/Pp5VZiLXbq Candace on Spotify: https://t.co/16pMuADXuT Candace on Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RealCandaceO Candace en Español: https://www.youtube.com/@CandaceOwensEnEspanol Candace Owens em Português: https://www.youtube.com/@CandaceOwensemPortugues Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration has cut federal funding to colleges and universities it says don't align with conservative priorities. And now, the White House says it will reward schools that follow in its ideological footsteps.Earlier this month, the administration sent a list of demands to nine schools. Officials are calling it the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.” Its stipulations include ending considerations of race and sex in admissions and hiring, capping international student enrollment, and limiting what faculty can say about certain issues.Five institutions — Brown University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Southern California, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Virginia — have rejected the proposal. The others have yet to comment.Trump's compact is the latest chapter in the story of how his administration is trying to exert influence over higher education. In March, the White House canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University over allegations of antisemitism.In this edition of “If You Can Keep It,” our weekly series on the state of democracy, we talk about higher education and what's at stake if academic freedom is compromised.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ atplus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Thursday, October 16th, 2025Today, dozens of Pentagon reporters have turned in their access badges and exited the Pentagon; Brown University rejects Trump's extortion bid; a federal judge has blocked Trump's federal layoffs; a different federal judge has issued a restraining order against Republican Rep Cory Mills; Los Angeles County declares a state of emergency over immigration raids; Young Republicans are losing their jobs over racist chat groups; one person is dead and another two are missing in devastating floods in Alaska; Mike Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries will debate on CSPAN; and Allison and Dana deliver your Good News.Thank You, IQBARText DAILYBEANS to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply. Guest: Leah Greenberg Co-Executive Director IndivisibleNoKings.orgLeah Greenberg | Indivisible, @leahgreenberg.bsky.social - Bluesky, @Leahgreenb - Twitter NO KINGS II October 18 10am-2pm - San DiegoStoriesNO KINGS! Tips for Protesting with PTS and Anxiety | MSW Media YouTubeTrump Administration Authorizes Covert C.I.A. Action in Venezuela | The New York TimesJournalists turn in access badges, exit Pentagon rather than agree to new reporting rules | AP NewsBrown University Rejects White House Deal for Special Treatment | The New York TimesJudge orders Trump administration to pause shutdown layoffs | The Washington Post1 dead, 2 missing after severe Alaska flooding Coast Guard official says left "absolute devastation" | CBS News‘It's revolting': More Young Republican chat members out of jobs as condemnation intensifies | POLITICOLos Angeles County declares state of emergency over immigration raids | ABC NewsCory Mills slapped with restraining order after Florida judge sides with accuser | POLITICOMike Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries will debate on C-SPAN | POLITICOGood TroubleFor all you good people in Clay Higgins' district - he is hosting a tele-town hall on October 16th at 6PM CSTCall in if you live there! Link To Stream: Town Halls - Congressman Clay Higgins**California! YOU have your prop 50 ballots. Fill them out and return them ASAP.Yes On Prop 50 | CA Special Election Phone Banks - mobilize.us**October 20 Deadline -Petition of America First Legal Foundation for Rulemaking**October 18 - NoKings.org **Vote Yes 836 - Oklahoma**How to Organize a Bearing Witness Standout**Fire Kilmeade - foxfeedback@foxnews.com, Requests - Fox News**Indiana teacher snitch portal - Eyes on Education**Find Your Representative | house.gov, Contacting U.S. SenatorsFrom The Good NewsFind Your Representative | house.gov, Contacting U.S. SenatorsLittle Free LibraryNoKings.org(Mark your calendar for November 14th, 2025 - Chicago, Illinois - Dana)Our Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - DonateMSW Media, Blue Wave California Victory Fund | ActBlueWhistleblowerAid.org/beansFederal workers - email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen. Find Upcoming Actions 50501 Movement, No Kings.org, Indivisible.orgDr. Allison Gill - Substack, BlueSky , TikTok, IG, TwitterDana Goldberg - BlueSky, Twitter, IG, facebook, danagoldberg.comMore from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | SubstackReminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Our Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - DonateMSW Media, Blue Wave California Victory Fund | ActBlueWhistleblowerAid.org/beansFederal workers - feel free to email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen. Find Upcoming Actions 50501 Movement, No Kings.org, Indivisible.orgDr. Allison Gill - Substack, BlueSky , TikTok, IG, TwitterDana Goldberg - BlueSky, Twitter, IG, facebook, danagoldberg.comCheck out more from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | SubstackShare your Good News or Good TroubleMSW Good News and Good TroubleHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?The Daily Beans | SupercastThe Daily Beans & Mueller, She Wrote | PatreonThe Daily Beans | Apple Podcasts Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“In Texas, a socialist professor is now in the fight of his life against MAGA's New McCarthyism,” scholar and author Bill V. Mullen writes in Jacobin. “Tom Alter, a labor historian and tenured professor of history at Texas State University, was fired from his job on September 10 after a far-right troll doctored a videotape of Alter speaking at a virtual Revolutionary Socialism conference. After viewing the video, university president Kelly Damphousse fired Alter on September 10 with what Alter and his supporters say was no due process.” While Alter was provisionally reinstated on Sept. 26, he and his family remain in limbo as they wait for a final decision from Texas State University regarding his firing. In this urgent episode of Working People, we speak with Professor Alter himself about the sequence of events that have made his case a flashpoint in the MAGA right's all-out assault on free speech, higher education, and the people who live, work, and study there. Additional links/info:  Texas State Employees Union - CWA Local 6186: “Reinstate Dr. Tom Alter | Defend Free Speech” Bill V. Mullen, Jacobin, “MAGA McCarthyism comes to Texas State” Russell Payne, Salon, “Fox News “expert” says Hitler went to heaven” Full video of Professor Alter's Revolutionary Socialism conference speech Edward Helmore, The Guardian, “US anti-fascism expert leaves country day after being blocked from flying to Spain” Featured Music:  Jules Taylor, “Working People” Theme Song Credits:  Audio Post-Production: Jules Taylor 

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Democrats in DC engineer a so-called government shutdown and it appears to be motivated by an insider struggle between factions of the Democratic Party. The public face of it is over funding for Medicaid but the Dems don't want you to know it's about giving illegal aliens Medicaid access. Schumer's Shutdown Another ‘Desperate' Attempt To Fend Off Upstart Far Left, Analysts Say Vance slams Dems over shutdown, sets record straight on illegal alien healthcare Speaker Johnson Lays Out How and Why Illegal Aliens Were Getting Medicaid, and What Was Done About It  Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.“Academic Freedom” has been perverted to mean things it never historically covered and teachers have been taught a false idea of what their freedom is in a public classroom. See: Charlie Kirk's murder has brought out the worst in many of the nation's teachers. Union Advises Texas A&M Faculty To ‘Resist' Reform and Accountability Four Texas Teachers Fired So Far Over Kirk Assassination Comments Democrat Talarico raises $6.2 million in first 20 days of US Senate campaign, out doing Colin Allred.Democrat rhetoric causing ‘innocent lives to be lost,' says Latina leader. Bobby Pulido has a long history of nasty talk.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

Legal scholar David Rabban discusses academic freedom during a moment when it is at risk. Also, Gazette reporters share their answers to reader questions as part of their Curious Iowa series.

Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse speaks with Raven Jard Castañeda and Nirva dela Cruz, two young Catholic leaders from the Philippines who helped pioneer the Humilitas March—a public act of reparation and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. What began in 2024 as a small prayer gathering in Davao has grown into a nationwide movement offering a faithful alternative to Pride marches. Raven and Nirva share how the marches unite clergy, youth groups, and Catholic organizations in joyful witness, public prayer, and Eucharistic devotion. They discuss the symbolism of holding the march in historic places like EDSA, the powerful conversions it has inspired—including former Pride marchers turning to Christ—and how the Sacred Heart devotion speaks to today's culture of confusion and despair. Raven Jard N. Castañeda is a Catholic apologist, lay catechist, and medical student dedicated to proclaiming the love and kingship of Christ through devotion to the Sacred Heart. A summa cum laude graduate of Ateneo de Davao University in Medical Biology and now a second-year student at Davao Medical School Foundation, he continues forming young Catholics in truth, humility, and devotion. In 2024, he pioneered the HUMILITAS March, a movement of young faithful united in public witness and reparation to the Sacred Heart, and founded the Association of Catholic Apologists – Knights of Saint Justin Martyr, which hosts conferences, apologetics training, and catechetical events. With experience in writing, public speaking, and debate, he defends the faith against rising wokeism in Catholic universities, most recently presenting on Truth, Academic Freedom, and Catholic Education at a 2024 philosophy conference. His deepest desire is to lead souls back to the beauty of the Catholic faith and the burning love of the Heart of Jesus. Link to Raven's website: Humilitas FB page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569082642573 Personal Blog (Simply Human): https://rjncastaneda.substack.com/  Nirva's conversion through the Catholic charismatic movement led her to missionary work in Indonesia and East Timor before serving with the Episcopal Commission on Youth and later as associate editor of CBCP News, where she covered World Youth Days and the 2015 Synod of the Family. A former pro-life radio host, she became the first Filipino fellow of the Center for Asia Leadership in 2018, studying leadership and design thinking in Kuala Lumpur. She later served as communications officer for the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation, documenting extra-judicial killings and advancing care for the homeless. An active Singles for Christ leader and international speaker, she has shared the faith across Asia and Europe. She loves the Traditional Latin Mass, baking, reading, and traveling, and most recently led Humilitas Metro Manila in June 2025 to promote devotion to the Sacred Heart. Links: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1556996025004746 - Humilitas Metro Manila FB group https://www.facebook.com/nirva.delacruz - Nirva Delacruz FB account (personal) Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refuting the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart speaks with UC Berkeley Professor Ussama Makdisi, who was recently informed that UC Berkeley shared his name, along with those of 159 other Berkeley faculty & students, with the federal government for "alleged incidents of antisemitism." Peter & Ussama discuss the absurdity of experience -- the accused have not been informed of any details of the allegations against them -- while looking at why UC Berkeley is not defending its faculty and students, how the Berkeley experience compares with how other universities have capitulated to the Trump administration, and whether academic freedom on campus will survive. Most urgently, they discuss how the attacks on universities are meant to distract from the genocide Israel is carrying out right now against Palestinians.  Resources on this topic include "UC Berkeley shares 160 names with Trump administration in ‘McCarthy era' move," The Guardian 9/12/25; "UC Berkeley professor warns of 'unprecedented crackdown' on academic freedom." NPR interview with Ussama Makdisi on 9/18/25 "When Universities Become Informants," by Judith Butler, 9/13/25 "Kafka-land at UC Berkeley," by Judith Butler, The Nation, 9/16/25 Dr. Ussama Makdisi is Professor of History and Chancellor's Chair at the University of California Berkeley. He was previously Professor of History and the first holder of the Arab-American Educational Foundation Chair of Arab Studies at Rice University in Houston.  During AY 2019-2020, Professor Makdisi was a Visiting Professor at the University of California at Berkeley in the Department of History. Makdisi was awarded the Berlin Prize and spent the Spring 2018 semester as a Fellow at the American Academy of Berlin. Professor Makdisi's most recent book Age of Coexistence: The Ecumenical Frame and the Making of the Modern Arab World was published in 2019 by the University of California Press. He is also the author of Faith Misplaced: the Broken Promise of U.S.-Arab Relations, 1820-2001 (Public Affairs, 2010).  His previous books include Artillery of Heaven: American Missionaries and the Failed Conversion of the Middle East (Cornell University Press, 2008), which was the winner of the 2008 Albert Hourani Book Award from the Middle East Studies Association, the 2009 John Hope Franklin Prize of the American Studies Association, and a co-winner of the 2009 British-Kuwait Friendship Society Book Prize given by the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies. Makdisi is also the author of The Culture of Sectarianism: Community, History, and Violence in Nineteenth-Century Ottoman Lebanon (University of California Press, 2000) and co-editor of Memory and Violence in the Middle East and North Africa (Indiana University Press, 2006). He has published widely on Ottoman and Arab history as well as on U.S.-Arab relations and U.S. missionary work in the Middle East. Peter Beinart is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. He is also a Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the City University of New York, a Contributing opinion writer at the New York Times, an Editor-at-Large at Jewish Currents, and an MSNBC Political Commentator. His newest book (published 2025) is Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

This Week: Educators across the country are facing investigations, professional sanctions, doxing, and being placed on public lists in states across the country for statements posted following the public execution of right wing leader Charlie Kirk. The chilling effect being felt by educators nationally, and especially in states like Florida, raises new concerns about the rights educators have to free speech and academic freedom, as well as questions about the impact this right wing backlash will have on the education our students receive. Long time friend of the show, and host of Too Dope Teachers and a Mic podcast Gerardo Muñoz joins us to discuss these important topics, and the stakes for schools and society in this moment.  MAXIMUM WOKENESS ALERT -- get your All of the Above swag, including your own “Teach the Truth” shirt! In this moment of relentless attacks on teaching truth in the classroom, we got you covered. https://all-of-the-above-store.creator-spring.com Watch, listen and subscribe to make sure you don't miss our latest content!Listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify Website: https://AOTAshow.comStream all of our content at: linktr.ee/AOTA  Watch at: YouTube.com/AlloftheAboveFollow us at: LinkedIn, Facebook.com/AOTAshow, Twitter.com/AOTAshow

First up, Thea Abu al-Haj joins the program to discuss the unprecedented censorship she and other academic authors experienced when Harvard administration pulled the plug on an entire issue of the Harvard Educational Review, an issue that would have been dedicated to Palestine. Thea discusses this new level of censorship as an attack on the very core mission of higher education. Then Robert Talisse joins the show to talk about what he calls “civic solitude:” the need to remove ourselves – albeit temporarily – from the ever-widening divisions in US politics, for the sake of personal and social well-being. Thea Renda Abu El-Haj is Professor of Education at Columbia University, specializing in the anthropology of education. Her research explores questions about belonging, rights, citizenship and education, in the context of globalization, transnational migration, and conflict. Robert Talisse is Professor of Philosophy and Political Science at Vanderbilt University. He has lectured around the world, and is the author of over 100 scholarly articles and 15 books.   The News That Didn't Make the News. Each week, co-hosts Mickey Huff and Eleanor Goldfield conduct in depth interviews with their guests and offer hard hitting commentary on the key political, social, and economic issues of the day with an emphasis on critical media literacy. The post The End of Academic Freedom / The Need for “Civic Solitude” appeared first on KPFA.

All of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file. - Newsom’s Posting Through It - Palestine and the American University feat. Dana El Kurd - How Democrats Passed North Carolina's New Anti-trans Laws, Part One - How Democrats Passed North Carolina's New Anti-trans Laws, Part Two - Executive Disorder: White House Weekly #31 You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today! http://apple.co/coolerzone Sources/Links: Newsom’s Posting Through It https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/us/newsom-trump-social-media.html https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2025/06/california-police-sharing-license-plate-reader-data/ https://calmatters.org/commentary/2025/03/gavin-newsom-podcast-judgment-problem/ https://x.com/GovPressOffice https://bsky.app/profile/grahamformaine.bsky.social/post/3lwqwj3rdgk27 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNl79l0SdMb/?igsh=bXphd3E2N3Y2N20w https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2qJw7xQfqh0 https://www.kpbs.org/news/racial-justice-social-equity/2025/03/11/san-diego-sheriff-says-disputed-ice-transfer-was-legal Palestine and the American University feat. Dana El Kurd Clifford Ando – The Crisis of the University Started Long Before Trump - https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-crisis-of-the-university-started-long-before-trump/ Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism - https://jerusalemdeclaration.org/ Ken Stern on IHRA definition - https://www.npr.org/2025/03/20/nx-s1-5326047/kenneth-stern-antimsietim-executive-order-free-speech 2023 Pew Research Center Poll on Black Lives Matter - https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/06/14/views-on-the-black-lives-matter-movement/ Marc Bousquet – How the University Works - https://nyupress.org/9780814799758/how-the-university-works/ PBS Reporting on Harvard University negotiations with Trump administration - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/harvard-nearing-settlement-with-trump-to-pay-500-million-and-regain-federal-funding The Intercept’s reporting on Columbia University settlement with the Trump administration - https://theintercept.com/2025/04/16/columbia-middle-eastern-studies-trump-attacks/ Middle East Studies Association statement on Columbia University settlement - https://mesana.org/advocacy/letters-from-the-board/2025/03/28/joint-statement-regarding-columbia-university-and-the-department-of-education Results of the Middle East Scholar Barometer - https://criticalissues.umd.edu/sites/criticalissues.umd.edu/files/November%202023%20MESB%20Results.pdf Human Rights Watch statement on the IHRA definition - https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/04/04/human-rights-and-other-civil-society-groups-urge-united-nations-respect-human Axios reporting on The Nexus Project and Trump’s use of antisemitism investigations - https://www.axios.com/2025/03/31/college-campus-antisemitism-trump-nexus-project American Association of University Professors – Academic Freedom - https://www.aaup.org/issues-higher-education/academic-freedom/faqs-academic-freedom 2024 Announcement of 40 new AAUP chapters - https://www.aaup.org/academe/issues/winter-2025/warm-welcome-new-or-reestablished-aaup-chapters Executive Order on Combatting Antisemitism - https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-combating-anti-semitism/ How Democrats Passed North Carolina's New Anti-trans Laws https://transnews.network/p/nc-dems-anti-trans-betrayals @davidforbes.bsky.social @avlblade.bsky.social Executive Disorder: White House Weekly #31 https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/india-us-lose-trump-tariffs-russia-wins-2025-08-27/ https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/about_14986.htm https://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed.htm https://www.newyorkfed.org/markets/domestic-market-operations/monetary-policy-implementation/repo-reverse-repo-agreements https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/RRPONTSYD https://www.newyorkfed.org/markets/rrp_faq.html https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/RPONTSYD https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2022/01/how-the-feds-overnight-reverse-repo-facility-works/ https://www.newyorkfed.org/aboutthefed/goldvault.html https://fortune.com/2025/08/09/trump-fed-pick-stephen-miran-existential-threat-central-bank-independence/ https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/notes/feds-notes/the-12-trillion-u-s-repo-market-evidence-from-a-novel-panel-of-intermediaries-20250711.html https://www.stlouisfed.org/in-plain-english/who-owns-the-federal-reserve-banks https://www.newyorkfed.org/medialibrary/media/research/epr/forthcoming/1202mart.pdf https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/us/politics/lisa-cook-fed-governor.html?unlocked_article_code=1.hE8.oyr3.s4yYTqcf14ZD https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/08/prosecuting-burning-of-the-american-flag/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/08/measures-to-end-cashless-bail-and-enforce-the-law-in-the-district-of-columbia/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/08/taking-steps-to-end-cashless-bail-to-protect-americans/ https://www.justice.gov/maxwell-interview https://www.foxnews.com/politics/national-guard-mobilizing-19-states-immigration-crime-crackdown https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/08/additional-measures-to-address-the-crime-emergency-in-the-district-of-columbia/ https://nbcmontana.com/news/nation-world/kennedy-announces-nih-study-into-psych-drugs-after-second-trans-school-shooterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe In this episode, I speak with Frederic Schuller, an award-winning theoretical physicist and professor, who insists the undergrad tale of energy sloshing between kinetic and potential is just talk unless the math says so. Borrowing Port-Hamiltonian thinking, he's building probability ports to pull measurement talk into actual quantum formalism—no change to QM, just sharper math. He also flips gravity: start from the matter action and construct the compatible gravitational dynamics—Maxwell in, Einstein–Hilbert out. And if nature ever breaks our current causal picture, the scheme points to richer structures (and the gravity to match)—a modest idea, pushed hard. Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e Timestamps: - 00:00 - Deriving Einstein from Maxwell Alone - 05:55 - Why Energy Doesn't Flow in Quantum Systems - 11:45 - How Modest Ideas Lead to Spacetime Revolution - 19:00 - Matter Dynamics Dictate Spacetime Geometry - 24:03 - Maxwell to Einstein-Hilbert Action - 31:00 - If Light Rays Split in Vacuum Then Einstein is Wrong - 38:04 - When Your Theory is Wrong - 46:10 - From Propositional Logic to Differential Geometry - 54:00 - Never Use Motivating Examples - 1:02:00 - Why Only Active Researchers Should Teach - 1:09:40 - High Demands as Greatest Motivator - 1:16:00 - Is Gravity a Force? - 1:27:00 - Academic Freedom vs Bureaucratic Science - 1:38:00 - Why String Theory Didn't Feel Right - 1:46:05 - Formal vs Conceptual Understanding - 1:54:10 - Master Any Subject: Check Every Equal Sign - 2:04:00 - The Drama of Blackboard Teaching - 2:13:15 - Why Physical Presence Matters in Universities Links Mentioned: - Frederic's Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations - Frederic's Lectures: https://www.youtube.com/@FredericSchuller - Frederic's Bio: https://people.utwente.nl/f.p.schuller - General Relativity Lecture Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist - Quantum Harmonic Oscillator [Lecture]: https://youtu.be/s3I_MGfGm-w - Constructive Gravity [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2003.09726 - Geometry Of Manifolds [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/0508170 - Jacob Barandes [TOE]: https://youtu.be/7oWip00iXbo - Roger Penrose [TOE]: https://youtu.be/sGm505TFMbU - All Possible Paths [TOE]: https://youtu.be/XcY3ZtgYis0 - Neil Turok [TOE]: https://youtu.be/ZUp9x44N3uE - Space-Time Structure [Book]: https://www.amazon.com/Space-Time-Structure-Cambridge-Science-Classics/dp/0521315204 - Greg Chaitin [TOE]: https://youtu.be/PoEuav8G6sY - Ivette Fuentes [TOE]: https://youtu.be/cUj2TcZSlZc - Ted Jacobson [TOE]: https://youtu.be/3mhctWlXyV8 - Eva Miranda [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6XyMepn-AZo - Jonathan Oppenheim [TOE]: https://youtu.be/6Z_p3viqW1g - String Theory Iceberg [TOE]: https://youtu.be/X4PdPnQuwjY - Sabine Hossenfelder [TOE]: https://youtu.be/E3y-Z0pgupg - Leonard Susskind [TOE]: https://youtu.be/2p_Hlm6aCok - What Is Energy? [TOE]: https://youtu.be/hQk9GLZ0Fms - Claudia De Rham [TOE]: https://youtu.be/Ve_Mpd6dGv8 SUPPORT: - Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join - Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal - Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9 - Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4 SOCIALS: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs Guests do not pay to appear. Theories of Everything receives revenue solely from viewer donations, platform ads, and clearly labelled sponsors; no guest or associated entity has ever given compensation, directly or through intermediaries. #science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1/2: #HARVARD: ANTISEMITISM IS NEITHER FREEDOM OF SPEECH NOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM. TAL FORTGANG, MANHATTAN INSTITUTE, CIVITAS INSTITUTE 1910 HARVARD YALE

2/2: #HARVARD: ANTISEMITISM IS NEITHER FREEDOM OF SPEECH NOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM. TAL FORTGANG, MANHATTAN INSTITUTE, CIVITAS INSTITUTE 1917 YALE

Preview: Colleague Tal Fortgang of the Manhattan Institute comments on Harvard University President Alan Garber asserting academic freedom to fend off Trump administration alarm at antisemitism tolerated on campus and in departments. More later. 1910