We remain very open to continue talking to Harvard, but they have answered by filing a lawsuit on First Amendment rights. So I want to make it very clear this is not a First Amendment lawsuit. - This is about civil rights. - Civil rights for whom? [00:00:16] The university campuses or for the Trump administration. That was a weird point to make, but that was Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Now, Harvard University has officially filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its threats to cut federal funding to the institution. [00:00:35] Unless the Ivy essentially follows ideological rules or guidelines that have been forced upon it by the Trump administration. So let me just reverse a little bit, give you the context before we get to the details of this lawsuit in particular. [00:00:51] So last week, the federal government announced that it was freezing over $2 billion worth of funding after Harvard refused to comply with the instructions laid out in a letter from the Trump administration's [00:01:07] Joint Task Force to Combat anti-Semitism. Now it became pretty clear that anti-Semitism was just the flimsy cover story to what the Trump administration was really trying to do here. What was really going on is they were trying to get these college campuses [00:01:23] to kind of align more with, you know, conservative ideology. The ten demands, which the administration says are aimed at addressing antisemitism on campus include restricting the acceptance of international students who are hostile to the American values and institutions. [00:01:41] So that's vague, and I've never seen any indication that the federal government takes issue with speech or, you know, any type of criticism toward the United States. And that's a weird thing to also cite in the context of we are battling [00:01:59] anti-Semitism, but nonetheless, the administration also wants a third party to audit programs that it says fuel anti-Semitic harassment or reflect ideological capture. Additionally, they demanded that the university eliminate all Dei programs and reduce [00:02:16] the power of students and faculty members over the university's affairs report foreign students who commit conduct violations immediately to federal authorities, to the Gestapo, bring in an outside party to ensure that each academic department is viewpoint diverse. [00:02:33] Now, if you've been following up on the purges that have been taking place in the Defense Department, you'll know that the Trump administration really doesn't care about viewpoint diversity as it pertains to foreign policy in the Middle East. But apparently they want viewpoint diversity on college campuses. [00:02:48] And by the way, let me just say something. I actually agree that it's important to have viewpoint diversity in in a lot of different contexts, especially on a college campus, you should have your ideas challenged. That's like the area where you can grow, where you can learn, where you can evolve. [00:03:05] And so the notion that, you know, you should want everyone to agree is ridiculous. And I do think that there's been a little bit of ideological capture on some of these college campuses. With that said, though, the way the administration is going about this, you know, puts it in violation of the First Amendment, [00:03:23] and that's why Harvard has decided to, not only refuse to comply with the Trump administration, but pursue a lawsuit against the Trump administration, based on what they feel are violations to First Amendment rights. And it's obviously implied, by the way, that they want more conservative, [00:03:40] Trump friendly opinions on these campuses. Now, knowing how unconstitutional it is for the government to coerce private universities like this. Education Secretary Linda McMahon kind of changed, the narrative during a recent interview on CNBC. She's like, no, no, no, we were just, you know, this was just [00:03:59] like the opening bid in a negotiation. Take a look. We began our negotiations with Harvard in this letter that was sent to Harvard was a point of negotiation. We were talking about several different points with them. Harvard released this letter to the media. This was a negotiation letter. [00:04:18] It was really not a final offer of anything. We had hoped Harvard would come back to the table to discuss these. We would like to have you point diversity. We would like to have all of the things that students that are going to universities have a right to expect. So this is a negotiation to we hope Harvard will come back to the table. [00:04:36] We'd like to be able to move forward with them and with other universities. Linda, have a little bit of self respect man. Have a little bit of self respect. When you send a letter to Harvard demanding that they comply with these guidelines, and that letter comes with the threat [00:04:54] of pulling $2 billion in federal funding. No, this is not a negotiation. This is strong arming a campus into going along with your political project. They didn't expect Harvard to push back, because Columbia, of course, immediately caved and started kissing the Trump administration's ass [00:05:12] and telling the Trump administration they'll do whatever they want. In this case, though, Harvard's like, nah, we're not going to go along with this. This is wrong. We're going to fight back. And suddenly the Trump administration is changing its tune a little bit. Yeah. So of course, you know, we say that Columbia are cowards, but it's a little [00:05:31] bit misleading because they actually agree with the Trump administration. They, you know, the administration. And let's be honest, the donor class of the alumni of Columbia, don't want any criticism of Israel on Columbia's campus. [00:05:46] It makes them furious. They think it should be shut down. They love cancel culture. And they love ripping away academic freedom at Columbia, even though they're Colombia alumni, because they think that, you know, servitude to Israel is much more [00:06:02] important than any academic freedom. So now this is theoretically about anti-Semitism. Okay. So let's there's two parts to that. Number one. Wait, why is that the only thing that we're concerned about. So was there Islamophobia against, some of the Muslim students [00:06:19] at Columbia and at other colleges? As you know, the Israeli side said it was totally okay to massacre, Palestinian children. And that's a perfectly acceptable position to slaughter over 20, 25 to 30,000 women and children in Gaza. [00:06:36] And and that the Muslims had it coming and etc.. So is anybody concerned about that? No. The government says we don't care about that at all. You could be as vicious to Muslims as you like. It's not we don't we have no joint task force on it. Right. How about Christians? Oh yeah. You could bomb Palestinian Christians. You can. [00:06:52] Israel can murder them. But. And you could then make fun of Palestinian Christians or any Christians, or you could be vicious towards them rhetorically. It's okay. We don't care. There's no task force on it. On America, you could say the worst kind of things about America, by the way, you should be allowed to say all of these things because we have a First Amendment, [00:07:09] and I hate anti-Semitism. I think it's dumb. I think it's immoral. But are you allowed to have anti-Semitic views in America? Yes, it's in our Constitution. So this is so the task force instantly is unconstitutional. Instantly. And it's not about actions, guys. They're all these are all lies, right? [00:07:27] Lie on top of lie. Oh, no. We are worried that they are attacking Jewish students. Guys, I'd be worried about it if they were attacking Jewish students. And if you show me and say, look, I hate to say this, but I have a Jewish family that's a nephew and a niece on college campuses right now. [00:07:43] I want them to be perfectly safe. If you show me any kind of violence or assault or threat against Jewish students, let's take legal action against that. But this isn't that at all. This is. Oh, it is, they are vaguely anti-Semitic because they are protesting, [00:08:00] beloved, almighty Israel. Now, that's not anti-Semitic. Half the protesters are Jewish. This is so. This is just John again. And what is it? It's McCarthyism now. Now, who is, criticizing Israel? You will be stamped out. [00:08:16] Your money will be taken away, and you will have no academic freedom. Cancel culture for all of you. Oh, because I'm concerned about anti-Semitism and hatred and bigotry. I mean, it's a joke. It's totally an utterly indefensible. [00:08:31] Why do we only care, even if you believe them? Why do we only care about anti-Semitism and not any other form of hatred? So on Columbia's campus, you can go out there and use the N word a thousand times. You can get in the grills of of black students, LGBT students. [00:08:46] It doesn't matter. It doesn't. Nothing matters. The only thing that matters is Israel. So just keep it real in there. McMahon. What a fool. She's out there like the now a new dog of Israel. Oh, I am so concerned about anti-Semitism. That's why we're doing this. [00:09:03] And we were just negotiating. Andrew Ross Sorkin did a pretty good job of asking your questions, but the whole interview, Anna, it accidentally, subconsciously legitimized this task force as if there's a real debate over it. - Right? - I actually don't I don't agree. [00:09:20] I do think he did a good job with that interview. And in fact, I came away from listening to that exchange, realizing that concerns about antisemitism is really just the cover story for the Trump administration to pressure, [00:09:35] coerce these institutions to be ideologically captured on the other side of the political aisle. Right. Like, again, I do think, I do think there's a huge problem right now on some campuses where certain ideas are just not allowed. [00:09:51] And, I mean, you kind of see it play out when you have conservative speakers. Get invited by conservative student groups, and then they get protested and there's this big fight over it. No, listen, people aren't going to agree with you on everything. This is a university campus. All voices should be heard. [00:10:07] Doesn't mean you have to agree with everyone, but your ideas should be challenged. And if they are challenged and you still believe what you believe, great. The the whole point is to have that exchange of ideas, challenge yourself and grow as a person. That's the best part about higher education in my opinion. [00:10:24] Now with that said though, don't make the mistake of thinking the Trump administration is actually interested in genuine viewpoint diversity on these campuses. He just, you know, not just him. Christopher Rufo and people like Rufo, they don't like the left wing capture [00:10:42] of these institutions. They would like the right wing capture of these institutions. Whereas I would argue we need diversity of thought in these institutions in order for them to actually do what they have set out to do in educating people, teaching them to be critical thinkers, teaching them to be individuals [00:10:59] who are open and welcoming to individuals who want to challenge their ideas. Like, you know, conservatives talk a lot about how Americans have become so soft. And you know what? To some extent, I agree with them on that, because depending on whether or not you [00:11:15] align with a political tribe, anyone who challenges your tribe is an enemy, right? And must be silenced. I see that happening all the time, and I think that's an incredibly toxic society to live in. It's especially toxic on college campuses, and we need to get to a point [00:11:33] where we're strong enough as individuals to be challenged on our ideas and to say to ourselves, you know what? If I've changed my mind based on new information that's been presented to me, that doesn't make me weak. That actually shows strong moral character and open mindedness. [00:11:49] That's what Americans used to be like. But I feel like we've moved so far away from that. Yeah. So, look, I was, shouted down several times when I went to college, and I had opinions that the majority [00:12:05] of the, students, at least the student activists, didn't agree with. And, and so I'm super sensitive to, you know, censorship on campus and, diversity, in viewpoints, etc.. [00:12:23] But, guys, this is absolutely nothing to do with that. First of all, you can't enforce it. Like so. What are you going to say? Like, okay, now, conservative opinions are not allowed or liberal opinions are not allowed. Well, how does that help with diversity? That doesn't. Okay. So all right, well, Anti-turkish opinions are not allowed. [00:12:38] Pro-turkish opinions are not allowed. Wait, how does that help with diversity? Allow all opinions, whether it's about America or Turkey or something else. Okay. Now. But when. So that's true though. Good news. That's true of all categories, all topics, all policies, all countries except dot dot dot Israel. [00:12:57] And that is the one thing that you are not allowed to be critical of. And so that has to be shut down. And the entire. And now you're not going to get cancer research. You're not going to get any scientific research at Harvard or any of these other top schools, billions of dollars taken away from essential research that [00:13:12] could help your family members stay alive. Why? Because they wouldn't arrest and deport every single person criticizing Israel because they wouldn't change their curriculum. Columbia has agreed to change their curriculum so that there is a a politically correct thought police at Columbia's Middle Eastern Department, [00:13:30] and that person's job is to change factually correct history into politically correct history, where Israel is right about everything and the Muslims are all dirty, dangerous terrorists and you should hate them all. But hey, I don't want political correctness. [00:13:46] I I'm worried about bigotry. I mean, what a hilarious joke. What a joke. So, according. Yeah, according to the university's president, Alan Alan Gerber, he argues. Yeah. This isn't this isn't some, like, negotiation, that was started [00:14:04] by the Trump administration. In fact, they have doubled down on their threats. He says, doubling down on the letter's sweeping and intrusive demands. The government has, in addition to the initial freeze of $2.2 billion in funding, consider taking steps to freeze an additional $1 billion in grants. [00:14:20] The Trump administration also initiated numerous investigations of Harvard's operations, threatened the education of international students, and announced that it is considering a revocation of Harvard's 501 C3 tax exempt status. [00:14:36] Now, look, I, I have to mention that these Ivy leagues have significant endowments, and I kind of roll my eyes a little bit when they start panicking over a $2 billion federal, you know federal funding freeze. [00:14:52] But it's the intentions behind the federal funding freeze that I have deep, deep concerns about. You know I think Harvard's going to be fine. At the end of the day, I'd like to see that they're actually fighting back or pushing back against the Trump administration. But for those who might be panicking over the freeze of funding, [00:15:09] they've got an endowment. They've got tens of billions of dollars in said endowment. They're going to be fine. And as this situation works its way through the courts, I would be honestly shocked if the court sided with the Trump administration on this. It is such, such a brazen example of violating First Amendment rights, [00:15:28] you know, especially as it pertains to ideology, political speech and stuff like that. Yeah, I'm getting breaking news here. Oh, it looks like they've added you could. You're also not allowed to be anti-Christian. I'm just kidding. Of course you're allowed to be anti-Christian. You're allowed to be anti anything you like except Kept anti-Israel. [00:15:47] So, look, I love that Harvard is fighting back. And we need a giant institution that has a $53 billion endowment. This is when you like, if you ever needed that size of an endowment for any reason at all. And I'm not sure that you ever really did. [00:16:04] It's for right now. And so credit where credit is due. I've criticized Harvard in the past when they canceled, like, a Chelsea manning speech because the government complained. How dare you. That's a whistle blower. The government hates her, right? But now, and Harvard has not, pulled well before in freedom of press, [00:16:22] or freedom of speech, polling in in the past on college campuses. But this is a huge, huge step. You have to give them all the credit in the world that they're fighting back here. Great credit to their, to the head of the, university there that's taking this bold, stance. [00:16:38] And at the end of the day, it is 100% about academic freedom. And if you look, a lot of the right wing are on our side on this, but if you're on the right wing and you say, oh, well, Trump wants to do it. So I love it. And yeah, you know what? Of course, the only country you should never criticize is Israel, [00:16:55] and you should be arrested if you do. And let's burn our Constitution. And who cares? Let's all serve Israel. Okay, fine. You're on that side. Just don't say that you're not for cancel culture because you're. This is 100% cancel culture. Don't ever, ever, ever say you're for freedom of speech because you're not. [00:17:12] Because if you say if you criticize Israel, you should not be allowed to have freedom of speech. You should have your diploma canceled, arrested, and sent to a foreign country. So just own it. And that's who Linda McMahon is. She's now the new dog of Israel. So she she's doing this against the college's Bobby Kennedy junior [00:17:29] is somehow at Health and Human Services taking action against people boycotting Israel for no apparent reason. You know, all of the anti-war, officials at the Pentagon are being fired, right now because Israel wants to start a war with Iran. [00:17:44] This is a full out frontal assault on the American government by the government of Israel. And and I want to know who why all of these government officials are working for Israel, by the way. Breaking news. Trump is sending troops now to the Middle East. [00:18:02] So under the pretense of, oh, Yemen is so important. They are. The Houthis are bombing some ships headed to Israel. We must fight them on behalf of Israel. Why? Why was. Look, we saw signal gate. Even JD Vance is saying, wait, why do we have to fight their war for them? [00:18:20] He didn't say it in regards to Israel. He said it in regards to Europe. But I think it was more Israel is more affected than Europe. And I'm glad there's someone inside the government, including Tulsi Gabbard, that's apparently asking those questions. But right now, every branch of government is currently working for Israel and not [00:18:36] America, and they're brazen about it. Every time you ring the bell below, an angel gets its wings. Totally not true, but it does keep you updated on our live shows.