

Heather Mac Donald
Manhattan Institute fellow and author of When Race Trumps Merit, focusing on cultural, political, and legal issues.
Top 10 podcasts with Heather Mac Donald
Ranked by the Snipd community

88 snips
Apr 20, 2023 • 1h 42min
350. In the Name of Wokeness: Institutionalized Racism | Heather Mac Donald
Heather Mac Donald, a renowned author and fellow at the Manhattan Institute, shares her insights on the effects of wokeness on institutional practices. She critiques the ideology that prioritizes group identity over merit, advocating for merit-based hiring. The discussion explores the implications of cognitive testing on race and emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility in young men’s development. Mac Donald challenges contemporary identity politics, arguing for the promotion of bourgeois values as key to societal success and mental health amidst cultural shifts.

74 snips
May 22, 2025 • 60min
Ep. 243: Heather Mac Donald on Trump and free speech
Heather Mac Donald, a Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of "When Race Trumps Merit," shares her insights on free speech issues during the Trump administration. She discusses her own experiences of being silenced and highlights the plight of canceled professors like Amy Wax and Carole Hooven. Mac Donald critiques Trump’s controversial interactions with the media and his executive orders impacting law firms. She raises concerns about campus censorship while advocating for open dialogue and the protection of dissenting viewpoints.

39 snips
May 28, 2025 • 1h 40min
George Floyd Riots Damage Persists, DEI Jobs Disappearing, and Where are Epstein Files, with Heather Mac Donald and Alan Dershowitz | Ep. 1082
Heather Mac Donald, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of *When Race Trumps Merit*, dives into the lasting repercussions of the BLM protests, the vanishing DEI roles in corporations, and the media’s influence on harmful narratives about law enforcement. Then, renowned legal scholar Alan Dershowitz tackles issues of antisemitism at Harvard, the decline of meritocracy due to DEI policies, and his call for full transparency about Epstein's files, suggesting that powerful figures continue to evade accountability.

23 snips
May 8, 2025 • 2h 27min
Meritocracy Isn’t Racist. Lowering Standards Is. - Heather Mac Donald
Heather Mac Donald, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of "The Diversity Delusion," tackles the controversial impacts of racial preferences and DEI policies on meritocracy in America. She argues that lowering standards under the guise of equity is counterproductive and undermines high achievement. The discussion dives into racial identity in areas like music auditions, critiques of technology's alleged racism, and the broader implications of identity politics on societal discourse. Mac Donald makes a compelling case for preserving cultural values that foster excellence.

10 snips
Jun 2, 2025 • 36min
Americano: America's white guilt hangover
Heather Mac Donald, an influential author and fellow at the Manhattan Institute, joins Freddy Gray to tackle the decline of meritocracy and the rise of anti-Western ideology. They delve into the ongoing reflections five years after the Black Lives Matter protests, questioning whether meaningful societal changes have occurred. The discussion navigates the complexities of identity politics in academia, critiquing victimhood narratives while examining the broader implications on Western civilization. Mac Donald also reflects on the evolving landscape of race relations and policing in America.

5 snips
Apr 24, 2024 • 1h 23min
Truth About Violent Crime in America, Ignorant Campus Protesters, and Left Indoctrination, with Heather Mac Donald | Ep. 774
Heather Mac Donald, a Thomas Sowell Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of "When Race Trumps Merit," joins the conversation to dissect the recent anti-Israel protests on college campuses, attributing their rise to leftist indoctrination. She critiques the silencing of conservative voices and discusses the decline of merit in academia. The dialogue also tackles the myths surrounding violent crime rates in America, urging a closer examination of the real statistics and the challenges facing policing in communities. Mac Donald's insights reveal troubling trends in education and societal perceptions.

Mar 10, 2024 • 1h 18min
Universities Have Betrayed Their Own Purpose - Heather Mac Donald
Heather Mac Donald, a prominent political commentator and author, critiques the current state of universities in America. She argues that institutions have strayed from their foundational mission, emphasizing a growing culture of censorship that stifles diverse opinions. Mac Donald highlights the challenges of navigating free speech amid rising anti-Semitism and discusses the dangers of prioritizing diversity over merit in critical professions. She also connects poverty in the U.S. to family structures, emphasizing the need for cultural shifts alongside financial aid for meaningful change.

May 29, 2025 • 36min
America's white guilt hangover
Heather Mac Donald, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author renowned for her insights on race and meritocracy, joins to delve into America's evolving cultural landscape. She tackles the decline of meritocracy and the rise of anti-Western ideologies, pondering why the West seems eager to self-cancel. Mac Donald also discusses the repercussions of the Black Lives Matter movement, comparing societal reactions to protests and emphasizing the shifting narratives around policing and racial justice. It's a captivating exploration of accountability in today's America.

Jun 29, 2023 • 1h 36min
Supreme Court's Seismic Affirmative Action Ruling and More, with Jason Riley, Heather Mac Donald, Carrie Prejean, and Britt Mayer | Ep. 578
Join Jason Riley, a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and Heather Mac Donald, a City Journal editor, as they discuss the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on affirmative action and its potential impacts on educational equity. They delve into reactions from Justice Thomas and dissenting views while addressing media backlash. Later, Carrie Prejean Boller and Britt Mayer tackle California's controversial gender identity legislation and the responsibilities of parents, alongside a lively examination of activism during Pride Month, highlighting the growing polarization surrounding social issues.

Apr 23, 2023 • 13min
When Race Trumps Merit with Heather Mac Donald | 4.23.23
Heather Mac Donald, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and bestselling author, dives into the pressing issues of systemic racism and meritocracy. She critiques how current events, like the Chicago riots and recent violence, have overshadowed important discussions on individual merit in education and STEM fields. Mac Donald also explores the effects of anti-racism initiatives on the arts, questioning the repercussions for our cultural heritage. With sharp insights, she sheds light on the complexities of crime and policing in today’s society.