A University President Speaks Out (with Michael Roth)

Stay Tuned with Preet

Vox Media Podcast Network

Society & Culture, Politics, Government, News

4.8 • 32.3K Ratings

🗓️ 1 May 2025

⏱️ 76 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What is a university president’s role when the government attacks higher education? Wesleyan University President Michael Roth joins Preet to discuss academia’s leftward tilt, what the attacks on universities portend for civil society, and whether remaining “neutral” is a viable option. Plus, Preet answers questions about ICE agents wearing face masks during arrests and whether an Attorney General needs a law license. Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website. You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at [email protected], or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	From Cafe and the Vox Media Podcast Network, welcome to stay tuned.
0:06.0	I'm Preet Bharara.
0:08.1	What's at stake here is the freedoms of civil society.
0:11.4	What's at stake here is this great American tradition that you can work with the government.
0:16.6	You can even be subsidized by the government, but the government doesn't get to dictate how you think and how you behave.
0:27.9	That's Michael Roth.
0:29.8	He served as the president of Wesleyan University since 2007.
0:34.4	Beyond leading the small liberal arts school in Connecticut, Roth has emerged as a prominent voice in national debates on higher education.
0:41.9	He was one of the first university presidents to speak out against the Trump administration's attacks on colleges and free speech.
0:49.6	He has also weighed in on a range of contentious topics, including affirmative action, anti-Semitism,
0:55.9	and ideological diversity at universities. He joins me to talk about all of this and more.
1:02.1	And after the interview, I'll answer your questions about ICE agents wearing masks during
1:06.9	arrests and whether an attorney general needs a law license.
1:13.7	That's coming up. Stay tuned.
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