The Take Why Trump’s university crackdown is driving professors off US campuses
Apr 3, 2025
Marci Shore, a Yale University history professor specializing in Eastern European intellectual history, discusses the alarming exodus of academics from the U.S. due to tightening political climates. She highlights the consequences of funding cuts and growing intimidation in universities. Shore explores historical parallels to current authoritarian trends and the manipulation of anti-Semitism for political gain. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for a resurgence of courage in academia to preserve intellectual freedom and resist repression.
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Palin's Rise and Historical Parallels
- Marcy Shore felt fear in 2008 when Sarah Palin emerged, seeing parallels with 1930s Europe.
- She observed an alliance between the old right (McCain) and the new, radical right (Palin), reminiscent of historical patterns.
Trump's Vaccine Claim and Growing Fears
- Trump's 2015 claim about vaccines and autism alarmed Shore, highlighting an absence of accountability.
- This, coupled with observations of Russia and Ukraine, deepened her concerns about the U.S. political climate.
Anti-Semitism as a Political Tool
- Trump's administration uses anti-Semitism cynically as a pretext to suppress dissent.
- This tactic creates division and scapegoats Jewish people for the regime's abuses.