Harvard Law professor Noah Feldman unpacks the Trump administration’s legal and political escalations with elite US universities.
From lawsuits and executive orders to funding cuts tied to antisemitism claims, the Trump White House is targeting institutions like Harvard and Columbia in what Feldman calls an effort to undermine independent centers of truth. “Trump's gone after universities, he's gone after media, and he's going after courts,” Feldman tells Ian. “Each in its own way is an independent institutional voice telling people, ‘This is the way things are.’”
On the latest episode of the GZERO World Podcast, Feldman explains why this isn’t just about cancel culture or campus politics—it's about whether universities will remain places where truth is pursued freely, or "knuckle" under political pressure. He discusses Harvard’s legal fight with the administration, growing antisemitism on and off campus, and the deeper risks for American democracy if academic independence erodes.
Host: Ian Bremmer
Guest: Noah Feldman