Amanpour Fighting Back Against Trump
Apr 16, 2025
Michael Roth, President of Wesleyan University, discusses the fight for academic freedom against Trump's political pressures, spotlighting Harvard's defiance. David Gibson explores the ideological clash between Pope Francis's advocacy for human rights and Trump's agenda. Kelsey Osgood shares insights from her book on millennial women's faith journeys, analyzing the balance of identity and organized religion. Together, they delve into the broader implications for democracy and the importance of protecting diversity in education.
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Harvard's Resistance
- Harvard is resisting Trump's demands to drop DEI measures and punish student protesters.
- Other universities, like Columbia, have buckled under the pressure, but Harvard, Princeton, and Wesleyan are fighting back.
Balancing Compliance and Resistance
- Universities must comply with federal law, even if they disagree with it.
- However, they should resist demands that are contrary to law, like dictating admissions or teaching methods.
The Danger of False Alliances
- The current administration's actions against universities are not truly about fighting antisemitism.
- They're a cover for other agendas, and Jewish people who support these actions do so at their own peril.