Bonus episode: Re-evaluating American Higher-Ed – with Reihan Salam and Kevin Wallsten

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Nov 30, 2025

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INSIGHT

Prestige Is Self-Perpetuating

U.S. college prestige is circular: reputation begets reputation, not necessarily substance.
Rankings shape admissions behavior and cultural influence far beyond measurable classroom value.

INSIGHT

Curriculum Was The Missing Metric

Curriculum matters but is rarely measured because it's hard to quantify.
The Manhattan Institute added general education and DEI requirements to evaluate what students actually learn.

ADVICE

Prioritize Core Requirements

Require core courses like history, government, math, and science to ensure foundational knowledge.
Reward institutions that create civic curricula and reduce mandatory DEI trainings that replace core learning.

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City Journal's college ranking: https://collegerankings.city-journal.org/

The Wall St. Journal on rethinking higher ed: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/college-rankings-manhattan-institute-universities-free-speech-d9df60e2?mod=opinion_lead_pos1

City Journal's announcement: https://www.city-journal.org/article/2025-college-rankings

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Today’s episode:

Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed a deterioration within elite, higher education. From the explosion in antisemitism, to the entrenchment of wrongheaded DEI policies, many Americans have begun to doubt the real value of an elite college degree.

Last month, the Manhattan Institute – a public policy thinktank in New York City – launched its inaugural college rankings list that takes into account various factors that other popular rankings lists often don’t, such as the rigor of a school’s curriculum as well as the ideological balance of the school’s student body and professors. To discuss this new rankings system, Dan was joined by Reihan Salam, president of the Manhattan Institute, and Kevin Wallstein, Professor of Political Science at California State University and an Adjunct Fellow at the Manhattan Institute.

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive Producer

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Operations Director

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer