GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Trump vs higher education, with Harvard Law's Noah Feldman
Aug 9, 2025
Noah Feldman, a Harvard Law professor and expert on constitutional law, discusses President Trump's contentious relationship with institutions like Harvard and Columbia. He argues that the administration’s attacks on these universities are an assault on truth. Feldman explains how this climate undermines academic independence, promoting a dangerous political narrative. He also addresses the rise of antisemitism on campuses and the broader implications for American democracy if universities yield to political pressure.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Why Trump Targets Institutions
- Donald Trump targets universities, media, and courts because they assert independent truths.
- Attacking institutions helps him reshape public perception and energize his base.
Universities Pursue Multiple Kinds Of Truth
- Universities pursue scientific, social-scientific, moral, and literary kinds of truth through evidence and argument.
- Different disciplines use different methods but all seek better answers through critical conversation.
Hard Sciences Are Surprisingly Targeted
- Trump's policies have cut federal funding mostly hitting biology, physics, and chemistry rather than humanities.
- That undercuts jobs, defense-related research, and lifesaving discoveries common ground across politics.